How good are we against the best?

That’s what the upcoming Mizuho Blue Challenge - The Kallang Football Series Singapore will let us find out.

With world-class Brazilian, Japanese & Paraguayan stars on show, we’ll be able to see just how far Gavin Lee’s boys have come against some of the very best in the world.

Here’s who you should keep an eye on during the tournament.

Vinicius Jr.

The Brazilian winger has been considered one of the very best players in the world for a few years now.

In 2024, he finished 2nd in the Ballon D’or — a trophy awarded to the world’s best player — behind Spain’s Rodri. Though many (including 5-time winner Cristiano Ronaldo) felt that Vinicius should have been the rightful recipient.

With lightning pace and a bag of tricks, Rhyhan Stewart & co will face an enormous task against the Real Madrid star, who is certainly one of the most exciting talents that local fans will hope to see up close at The Kallang this November.

Takefusa Kubo

It’s easy to see why Kubo was once dubbed the “Japanese Messi”.

With a wand of a left-foot, close control & low centre of gravity, Kubo certainly has the familiar characteristic qualities befitting of such a venerated comparison.

Coming through the ranks of Barcelona’s famed La Masia youth academy, great things have been expected of the 25-year-old for most of his career.

While a move to Real Madrid in 2019 did not represent the breakthrough to superstardom that many Japanese fans hoped for, Kubo has gone on to impress in Spain’s top-flight for various teams, and is currently plying his trade at Real Sociedad, as one of their most important players.

Even amongst a nation with technically-outstanding players, Kubo’s talent will surely catch the eye if he graces the grass of The Kallang.

Julio Enciso

If you are a fan of Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester City, the name Julio Enciso might trigger some traumatic memories.

“La Joya” — as he is known back home in his native Paraguay — has a penchant for producing incredible long-range strikes, especially against big name opposition.

Having featured in the Premier League first for Brighton & Hove Albion and now for Ipswich Town, Enciso is undoubtedly one of Paraguay’s leading lights.

Here’s hoping that Singapore fans will get to witness one of his signature screamers at The Kallang.

Nathan Mao

Do you remember the 2008 financial crisis? Nathan Mao doesn’t, he was just born.

What were you doing at 15? Nathan Mao was stepping onto the field for Lion City Sailors to become the youngest-ever debutant in Singapore Premier League history.

Having your first beer at 18? Not Nathan Mao, the only liquid he was involved with was probably his father’s tears when he pulled on the National Team shirt for the first time against Bangladesh in March.

Aside from making this writer feel very very old, the teenage attacker has also shown a keen eye for goal and tactical maturity beyond his years, despite the little time he has experienced in professional football.

Currently a full-time National Serviceman, this writer’s hopes are high that he’ll also be serving the nation in the form of goals and assists for the National Team.

One to watch, for sure.

Make The Kallang Roar great again

The Mizuho Blue Challenge is the opportunity to witness some of the world’s best footballers in the flesh, a privilege that fans should not take for granted.

As the last chance to see the Lions at home before their Asian Cup campaign kicks off in December in Saudi Arabia, come give your support and help rekindle the famous Kallang Roar.

Short on time? Two matches are playing out back-to-back on the third matchday, which means you can catch all four teams and their stars in action with just one ticket on Tuesday, 17 November.

13 Nov: 8pm - Singapore vs Paraguay

14 Nov: 6:15pm - Japan vs Brazil

17 Nov: 6pm - Singapore vs Brazil | Japan vs Paraguay

Tickets are on sale now, with prices starting at S$28.

Note that player line-ups are to be confirmed & subject to change.

This branded article made this writer try to pull on some boots last weekend and now he is injured for six months

A man and a woman died following an accident involving two cars and a motorcycle on Oct. 29 night at Tampines Avenue 12.

A male motorcyclist and his female pillion rider, both aged 24, died of their injuries after they were conveyed unconscious to the hospital, the police told Mothership in response to media queries.

Police looking for two others

The authorities are searching for a male driver and a female passenger who fled the scene before police officers arrived.

"Preliminary investigations revealed that they had left the scene after the accident. Efforts to establish their whereabouts are underway," the police added.

The police said a 25-year-old female driver of one of the cars in the accident was taken conscious to the hospital.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said two people were taken to Changi General Hospital and two others were taken to Sengkang General Hospital.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Aftermath of accident

Photos and videos of the aftermath of the accident showed three vehicles that were badly damaged.

A black car on the grass patch had its rear bumper dislodged.

Another dark-coloured car was on its side in the bushes.

A tree and a pole appeared to have been knocked over.

A motorcycle was left mangled on the road.

The road was covered in debris and vegetation.

An American man in California allegedly killed his wife's lover after he found the lover clothed only in underwear in bed alongside his wife and two young children.

34-year-old Ismael Pinedalopez purportedly stabbed Nicholas Garcia, 28, repeatedly with a pocketknife in the bedroom of Pinedalopez's Anaheim home on Oct. 24.

Garcia died from his injuries at the scene while Pinedalopez's wife and children were unharmed.

According to the New York Post, prosecutors said Pinedalopez's children, a two-year-old daughter and four-year-old son, were in the bed during the attack.

Charged with murder

Pinedalopez has been charged with one felony count of murder and one felony enhancement of personal use of a weapon.

He faces a maximum sentence of 26 years to life if convicted on all counts and was scheduled to appear in a California court on Oct. 27.

The Orange County District Attorney's Office's press statement added that Anaheim police received a call regarding a stabbing at the home and found a bloodied Pinedalopez.

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said: "Violence is never the answer, and it is truly heartbreaking that these young children had to witness their father commit such a horrific act of brutality in their own home."

The Ministry of Law (MinLaw) and the National Environment Agency (NEA) have announced the appointments to the Panel of Assessors.

The panel will carry out assessments on the 10 Singapore-based companies served legal notices regarding the haze.

The seven firms on the panel are investigations firms Control Risks Group (S) Pte Ltd., FTI Consulting (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Kroll Singapore Pte. Ltd., as well as law firms or legal advisors Dentons Rodyk & Davidson LLP, Toby Landau KC of Duxton Hill Chambers, TSMP Law Corporation and WongPartnership LLP.

According to the release, they bring expertise in forensic investigations, financial analysis, corporate intelligence, risk advisory, and legal services.

As mentioned in an earlier announcement, the government has appointed Davinder Singh Chambers (DSC LLC) as advisor.

DSC LLC will also coordinate the work done by the panel firms to ensure that their evaluation reports effectively address the issues and contain the information and evidence needed by the NEA for its assessment.

Companies identified by the government have been asked to engage a team selected by NEA, comprising an investigations firm and a law firm or legal advisor from the panel.

NEA will ask the assessors to evaluate the companies’ operations, corporate relationships and supply chains.

Companies are expected to cooperate fully.

The assessment will be conducted at the companies’ own expenses.

The assessors will submit an evaluation report to NEA, which will take the findings into account in determining whether further action is warranted.

The government intends to table amendments to the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act 2014 at the next parliamentary sitting to give legal force to this framework.

On Oct. 28, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong, and Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu met with senior leaders of the 10 companies.

SM Shanmugam, who is also Chairman of the Homefront Crisis Ministerial Committee, outlined how the companies would be assessed.

Assessment process

Each company is expected to engage a team of assessors from the panel, comprising an investigations firm and a law firm that advises the investigations firm.

Companies are expected to give assessors full access to information, documents, premises and people on their operations, corporate relationships, and supply chains.

They will also have to bear the costs of engaging these firms.

Assessors may engage third parties, such as remote sensing and geospatial analysts who study satellite hotspot data.

Assessors will submit a report to NEA through law firm DSC LLC, the government’s appointed adviser, which coordinates the panel’s work.

NEA will consider the report when assessing further steps.

Background

On Oct. 23, NEA announced that it had served legal notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act (THPA) to the 10 firms.

The 10 firms are:

• ⁠Asia Pulp & Paper Company Limited
• Asia Pulp & Paper Company (China) Limited
• Bumitama Agri Ltd
• Golden Agri International Pte Ltd
• ⁠First Resources Ltd
• Indofood Agri Resources Ltd
• Kencana Agri Ltd
• TSH Global Plantation Pte Ltd
• TSH Oversea Pte Ltd
• Wilmar International Ltd

All the firms were represented at Wednesday's meeting.

While employed as a behavioural therapist, a 29-year-old Singaporean woman dragged her then four-year-old patient off his chair and onto the floor after he repeatedly hit her in the face.

For this act, Tricia Lee Hsien was fined S$5,000 on Oct. 28. She had previously pleaded guilty to one charge of voluntarily causing hurt to a minor.

The boy has a background of Asperger's syndrome, a condition classified under the Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The incident, which was caught on CCTV, occurred in the boy's bedroom on Jun. 13, 2024, during their twice-weekly lessons.

A gag order has been enacted to protect the boy's identity.

Assigned to conduct lessons

Lee was employed by her organisation from January 2024 to Jun. 14, 2024. She was assigned to conduct lessons with the boy in February 2024.

The boy's parents installed a CCTV in the bedroom but did not intervene during the lessons as they trusted Lee to manage him.

On Jun. 13, 2024, at around 3pm, Lee went to the boy's home to conduct their scheduled lesson.

Only Lee and the boy were in the bedroom at all material times, according to court documents seen by Mothership.

At around 5:25pm, as Lee read to the boy by holding a book in front of him and pointing to its contents, he started fidgeting in his seat.

A minute later, Lee instructed the boy to place both of his hands on the table, called the "quiet hands" position, so that he would not act violently or snatch items away.

This was a technique Lee's organisation trained her to use to address behavioural issues in her students.

The boy did not comply and tried to hold the book Lee was reading.

Boy hit her face repeatedly

The boy then pulled the book away from Lee, who told him, "quiet hands", but he did not comply.

Instead, the boy hit Lee in the face, causing her spectacles to fall off.

Lee put her glasses back on and swung her left hand down twice; she also forcefully threw the book onto the floor beside her.

She picked the book back up, threw it on the table, before grabbing it once more and flinging it against the wall.

Court documents stated that in response, the boy hit Lee in the face again.

After being hit in the face for the second time, Lee pointed at the boy and firmly told him to not hit her again.

But the boy resumed and hit her in the face for the third time and grabbed her spectacles off her face.

Lee snatched her spectacles back and stood up from her chair.

Grabbed and dragged victim

At around 5:27pm, Lee used her left hand to grab the boy's right hand before dragging him off his chair and onto the floor, doing so with the intention to cause hurt to the victim.

This act constituted the charge she pleaded guilty to.

After the incident, Lee carried the boy out of the bedroom and reported to the his father that he had hit her in the face.

The boy's father ended the session for the day after numerous unsuccessful attempts to calm his son down, according to court documents.

At about 5:30pm, the father informed the boy's mother of the incident. The mother reviewed the CCTV footage and was shocked.

Afterwards, she contacted Lee's employer and extended a copy of the footage to them.

The mother also called the police at around 7:11pm to report the incident.

The next day, the boy's parents brought him to KK Women's and Children's Hospital to be assessed.

The physical examination noted no gross external injuries.

Lee's employment was terminated a day after the incident on Jun. 14, 2024. She cooperated with police during investigations and was arrested and released on station bail on Mar. 3, 2026.

Prosecution sought fine

The prosecution sought a fine of S$5,000 to S$6,000 as the case was an "exceptional one" where the harm caused was low, citing that the boy sustained no documented injuries and "the offence was an isolated act of ill-treatment which took place over the course of mere seconds".

According to CNA, Principal District Judge Toh Yung Cheong agreed that Lee's culpability was low but noted that she was a behavioural therapist "who could have taken other steps to deal with the situation".

An offender faces up to three years' jail and a maximum fine of S$5,000 or both for voluntarily causing hurt.

The maximum penalty doubles if the offence was committed against a minor under 14 years of age.

Several massage parlours offering "special services" have allegedly popped up along River Valley Road and Mohamed Sultan Road.

The police have raided and shut down the establishments, but they quickly reopen afterwards.

Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min) reported that a total of six massage parlours were found in the area (within 50m distance), with four of them suspected of providing sexual services.

An anonymous source claimed that two of the parlours belong to the same owner.

Investigation

According to Shin Min, the masseuses at two of the establishments appeared to be very cautious, preferring not to discuss services at the counter.

The Shin Min reporter was told to fill out a form with their name and IC number as part of police regulations.

However, once they entered the parlour, the masseuse said that "special services" were offered.

Halfway through the massage, the reporter was asked if they wanted a "prostate massage", priced between S$50 and S$100.

When they declined, the masseuse said that she would only receive S$10 in commissions from a regular massage, and that her pay would be docked if she did not meet the monthly target.

She also revealed that other masseuses work in the shop, and unless there is a special appointment, they are assigned walk-in customers on a rotating basis.

"Sometimes we only get one customer a day. We have no choice but to take this risk."

Business models

When the reporter visited one massage parlour, they were quoted a price of S$150, with regular massage fees added on top.

The reporter remarked that it was expensive and that they intended to inquire at another parlour, but was told that prices at both were the same.

Business owners in the vicinity corroborated Shin Min's findings that two of the massage parlours belonged to the same owner.

One of them was raided twice, in May and July 2026, but the business' licensee was changed afterwards and the parlour continued to operate.

A source claimed that these parlours are open 24 hours a day, but the masseuses rarely stand outside to solicit customers.

Instead, they promote their services online.

According to Shin Min, some of the parlours were found to be advertising themselves on Telegram groups, attaching photos of scantily clad women.

Legitimate ones unbothered

One of the legitimate massage parlours in the area told Shin Min that they were not concerned about the presence of those establishments, which have been increasingly popping up since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Having operated for more than 10 years, the owner said that they served a "different customer base".

"Most of my customers are local residents and regulars, and they know that we are legitimate," she said.

"I posted notices to declare that sexual services are prohibited here, and if anyone comes in inquiring about such services, I will show them the notice and they will leave."

Chinese actress Jiang Xin, 43, was attending a fashion show when a designer leaned in to kiss her.

In videos circulating online, the actress was seen laughing in surprise and slightly moving away from him.

She was then seen quickly composing herself and proceeding with the rest of the event without any hiccups, according to Lianhe Zaobao.

The incident happened at fashion brand MESSENTIAL's show on Oct. 27.

🚨 蒋欣被男设计师突然亲脖子，现场反应引发热议！

从画面看，她似乎被打了个措手不及。无论对方出于什么意图，未经同意的亲密接触都可能让人不适。

热情不是越界的借口，熟络也不代表可以随便亲！你怎么看？ https://t.co/h25zaTy7ag

— TrooperDongX🚀 (@dz0920) October 27, 2026

Online outrage

Many commenters online reportedly criticised the designer, saying that a public event or group photo does not justify such an act.

They emphasised the importance of asking for consent, with some going as far as to question if this can be considered sexual harassment.

The incident has since gone viral on Chinese social media.

A 47-year-old Singaporean man was charged for allegedly sailing his yacht on at least two occasions to the Southern Island Live Firing Area, a restricted military training zone used by the Singapore Armed Forces.

Quek Wee Teck faced two charges under the Military Manoeuvers (Firing Ground) Rules.

Sail

In charge sheets seen by Mothership, on Dec. 19, 2025, at about 2:52pm to 2:55pm, Quek allegedly sailed his yacht, named “Artemis 1”, into the firing ground.

He allegedly did that again with the same yacht on Jul. 10, 2026, at about 4:29pm to 5:09pm.

According to CNA, Quek told the court that he intends to plead guilty to the charges and will not engage counsel.

If found guilty of entering any firing ground, Quek could face a fine of up to S$2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.

The case was adjourned to Dec. 16.

Captain Q

According to Quek’s LinkedIn profile, he is the chief executive officer of yacht management and maintenance firm Hydrogen Era Marine.

He is also the managing director of Wanderlust Adventures.

According to Hydrogen Era Marine’s website, Quek is known as “Captain Q” and is the president of the Association of Boat Charter Singapore.

He is also a founding member of Marine Stewards Singapore, an organisation dedicated to promoting marine sustainability.

Singapore's Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI), the Energy Market Authority of Singapore (EMA), and the United States Department of Energy (DOE) released the preliminary findings of the second phase of the joint Feasibility Study on Regional Energy Connectivity in Southeast Asia on Oct. 28.

Key findings presented during SIEW

The Joint Feasibility Study was launched in April 2023, with the second phase being launched in October 2026.

The study’s key findings was presented on Oct. 28 by the National Laboratory of the Rockies and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, during the 19th Singapore International Energy Week.

The final report will be completed by early 2027.

The first phase of the study examined Southeast Asia's grid infrastructure, including subsea interconnections, and the socioeconomic benefits of regional energy interconnectivity.

For the second phase, Singapore and the U.S. brought together policymakers, industry experts, and researchers from the region to exchange perspectives and best practices in cross-border electricity trading and regional grid development.

Stronger regional governance and cooperation

Preliminary findings of this study highlight the need for stronger regional governance and cooperation.

It also recommended greater alignment of legal and regulatory frameworks across Asean to support subsea interconnection development.

The study also identifies approaches to financing meant to mobilise investment in subsea interconnection projects, including approaches to lessen project risks, as well as regional cost allocation methods to support wider investments as part of the wider Asean Power Grid.

The findings will help provide further practical recommendations to support the development of the Asean power grid, including regional initiatives such as the Asean submarine power cable development framework.

There is also hope that it will strengthen the Asean-US energy cooperation under the Asean Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation of 2026 to 2030.

The METI press statement said that Singapore and the U.S. looked forward to deepening cooperation on regional interconnectivity, energy security, and energy technologies, especially as the two countries marked the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Asean relationship in 2027.

Chinese actress Liu Tao, 48, was seen being touched inappropriately by the founder of luxury fashion brand Brunello Cucinelli during an event in Shanghai on Oct. 22.

A viral video on Weibo captured the brand’s founder, Brunello Cucinelli, repeatedly placing his hands on Liu’s shoulders and arms as they posed for photos.

#刘涛遭咸猪手# 冲上热搜第一，主角不是礼服，是一只不肯走的手。

10月22日上海 Brunello Cucinelli 活动，合影时品牌创始人那只手从肩滑到腰，最后停在腰胸之间。

她侧身、后撤、换方向挥手，笑容一帧没掉。

镜头一转，笑就收了。

真正的礼仪，是对方往后退的时候，你懂得松手。

PS：居然敢揩油妈祖娘娘的“化身”，不知道潮汕人民会不会抵制这个品牌方？

https://t.co/gdIBHVCsFv

— DaDa | 🕊️ (@0x99DaDa) October 28, 2026

As he directed her to pose for cameras, the 73-year-old also appeared to touch her chest with his hand.

Although Liu maintained a professional smile and behaviour throughout the event, she was later seen attempting to turn away and put some distance between the two of them.

Founder receives backlash

According to China Press, the videos drew criticism online, with many accusing Cucinelli of crossing physical boundaries.

Photos and videos of Cucinelli being close to other female celebrities were shared online as well, including actress Chen Duling.

He was reportedly seen placing his arm around Chen’s waist and standing close to her at the same event.

Online commenters also highlighted interactions involving other celebrities, such as Korean actress Kim Yoo Jung and Olympic skier Eileen Gu.