Upgrading works along the entire 2.3km Upper Bukit Timah Canal have been completed following the conclusion of works on its final 900m stretch, allowing the canal to carry 30 per cent more stormwater.

In a media release on Oct. 23, national water agency PUB said the upgraded canal can better cope with rainfall intensities comparable to storms that occurred over the past 15 years.

The improvements will benefit an approximately 1,000-hectare catchment comprising residential areas, commercial developments such as Beauty World Plaza, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre and Dunearn Village, as well as transport nodes like Beauty World and King Albert Park MRT stations.

Upgrading works completed after seven years

The final stretch of upgrading works, spanning approximately 900m between Rifle Range Road and Jalan Kampong Chantek, near King Albert Park MRT station, was completed in the third quarter of 2026.

Construction began in October 2019.

The works involved widening and deepening the canal, replacing its trapezoidal design with a U-shaped drain and box culvert to increase its stormwater capacity.

Five box culverts across Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road were also upgraded to improve the flow of rainwater from surrounding areas into the canal.

The completed works follow earlier upgrading works along the upstream section between Jalan Jurong Kechil and Rifle Range Road, which were completed in 2024.

According to PUB, the upgrading works faced several challenges, including limited working space between Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road.

To minimise disruptions along Bukit Timah Road and Dunearn Road, traffic was progressively diverted and replacement lanes were provided to create temporary working space for the upgrading works.

The works were also coordinated with the planned development of the Bukit Timah–Rochor Green Corridor (BTRGC) in the same area.

According to PUB, the upgrading works between Rifle Range Road and Jalan Kampong Chantek cost approximately S$60 million, including the construction of support structures for the Bukit Timah–Rochor Green Corridor within the canal.

Improved flood resilience, but not flood-proof

PUB's Deputy Chief Executive (Flood Resilience), Angela Koh, described the completion of the upgrading works as an important milestone in strengthening flood resilience in the area.

However, PUB cautioned that the upgraded canal does not eliminate the risk of flooding entirely.

"Given Bukit Timah's topography and land constraints and increasingly intense rainfall due to climate change, very intense storms can still overwhelm the catchment."

History of flooding

Bukit Timah has historically been prone to flooding, with its valley-shaped terrain channeling rainwater into the low-lying canal.

On Apr. 20, 2025, heavy rain caused flash floods in several parts of Bukit Timah, including Bukit Timah Road between Clementi Road and Blackmore Drive, Kings Road and Coronation Walk.

Certain areas experienced ankle-deep floodwaters.

PUB deployed officers to the affected areas, with the situation subsiding by 6:20pm.

The area also experienced flash floods on Aug. 24, 2021, affecting roads including Dunearn Road and Bukit Timah Road near King Albert Park.

Three drainage systems serve Bukit Timah

Over the years, PUB has progressively upgraded Bukit Timah's drainage infrastructure to reduce flood risk.

The catchment is now served by three separate drainage systems that direct stormwater towards different waterways.

The approximately 2.3km Upper Bukit Timah Canal, stretching from Beauty World to Maple Avenue, directs rainwater through the Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal (BTFDC) to Sungei Ulu Pandan.

The middle stretch, spanning approximately 5.1km from Maple Avenue to Balmoral Road, channels rainwater through the Bukit Timah Second Diversion Canal (BTSDC) to Kallang River.

Meanwhile, the approximately 2.5km lower stretch from Balmoral Road to Serangoon Road directs stormwater through Rochor Canal to Marina Reservoir.

The first and second diversion canals were completed in 1972 and 1990 respectively, directing stormwater towards Sungei Ulu Pandan and Kallang River.

PUB to study longer-term flood mitigation measures

PUB will call a tender at the end of 2026 for a feasibility study to identify longer-term solutions to strengthen flood resilience across the entire Bukit Timah catchment.

The study will also explore ways to integrate flood mitigation measures with existing infrastructure and future developments, as well as opportunities to enhance public spaces.

"We will continue to improve drainage and raise roads where feasible, while taking a holistic review of the catchment to identify more integrated solutions for the longer term," Koh said.

PUB added that no drainage system can eliminate flood risk entirely and reminded members of the public to remain vigilant during heavy rain.

Singapore has launched a pilot programme to import and use biomethane for its energy needs, starting in 2028.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong announced the programme on Oct. 23, revealing that Keppel Energy, Sembcorp Utilities and Tuas Power Generation have been appointed to import and supply biomethane into Singapore as part of the pilot.

This announcement came as part of remarks made by Gan at the inaugural Singapore Industry Decarbonisation Forum, hosted by the Economic Development Board (EDB) in partnership with A*STAR and the Advanced Energy and Decarbonisation Office.

Aside from the biomethane pilot, Gan also highlighted several other new METI initiatives aimed at helping Singapore cut carbon emissions across industries.

Singapore aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Why biomethane?

Biomethane is a renewable gas produced from organic waste.

It can serve as a low-carbon alternative to natural gas, a fossil fuel.

Crucially, biomethane is compatible with Singapore's existing gas infrastructure, allowing easy adoption without costly modifications.

95 per cent of Singapore's electricity comes from natural gas, making biomethane a subject of interest.

Gan announced that METI had established a "regulatory sandbox" in 2025, allowing Singapore to tackle the various obstacles needed for biomethane adoption – supply chains, commercial arrangements, and regulatory frameworks.

The goal is for biomethane to support up to 300 megawatts of energy from 2028, with the pilot ultimately seeking to enable industry to deploy new low-carbon solutions.

Focus on industry

In his speech, Gan also noted that Singapore's industries account for around 65 per cent of our emissions, including the electricity that they consume, and therefore have to be addressed as part of Singapore's net zero goals.

The challenge is to keep these industries competitive while helping them decarbonise, he added.

He also stressed that Singapore suffers from many constraints, such as limited land and renewable energy resources, industries with complex operating requirements, and the fact that low carbon technologies from other countries may not be entirely suitable in Singapore.

As such, the government is dedicating S$800 million to the Decarbonisation Grand Challenge (DGC), which aims to support promising technologies that can lower emissions.

R&D

Under the DGC, S$143 million will go to the Industry Decarbonisation Funding Initiative.

Of this sum, S$100 million will be set aside to support research & development spearheaded by companies, including defining their own decarbonisation challenges and co-developing solutions with Singapore.

The initiative will also seek out partners, such as clean energy investors and accelerators, to collaborate with Singapore and develop low-carbon technologies.

Existing partners include Temasek Holdings, Energy Impact Partners, Breakthrough Energy and SG Growth Capital.

New partnerships have also been formed with various funds and organisations from abroad, namely Main Sequence Ventures, Extantia and Rocky Mountain Institute.

The government will further provide funding to connect researchers with industry, allowing them to pilot and test new technologies in actual operating contexts.

Another S$62 million will be dedicated to the Low-Carbon Technology Translational Testbed, or LCT³, to be hosted at the A*STAR Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment.

It is a test-bedding platform on Jurong Island that allows companies and researchers to test new technologies, such as converting carbon dioxide into sustainable aviation fuel, or an ammonia-to-hydrogen production technology.

Gan added that three industry users have been secured: IHI Corporation, Amogy and Metha8.

He reiterated Singapore's approach in its net zero journey:

"Across all these efforts, our goal is the same: lower emissions from our factories and plants, and keep industries competitive and continue to provide good jobs."

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The 16-year-old Malaysia student who livestreamed his axe attack on a teacher reportedly wrote online that he felt lonely and isolated.

The attack took place in a Kuching, Sarawak school on Oct. 21.

Malaysian police have recorded statements from 24 individuals in relation to the case.

The individuals interviewed by police include the parents of the teen, other students, the victim, medical officers, arresting officers, the family driver and school officials.

Teen had expressed feeling lonely and isolated

Sarawak's Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister urged the public to avoid condemning, labelling or shaming the 16-year-old without understanding circumstances surrounding the incident, MalayMail reported.

The minister also expressed concern about what the student reportedly shared on Facebook.

“I am particularly concerned by the words reportedly shared by the adolescent on Facebook: ‘I have no one. I have no significant other. I have no one to rely on. I was born alone and will die alone’,” she said, according to MalayMail.

Investigations ongoing

According to The Star, Sarawak's acting police commissioner said that the 16-year-old's health is being taken into account in the ongoing investigation.

CCTV footage showed the 16-year-old entering a classroom and attacking a teacher.

He also attempted to attack other students before he was restrained.

The teacher sustained cuts to her hand and received treatment before being taken to the hospital, New Straits Times reported.

The teen's livestream of the incident circulated on social media.

The police commissioner also emphasised the sensitive nature of the case and said that the authorities are prioritising the welfare of the victim and affected students.

He also said that the 16-year-old is still receiving medical treatment.

A 65-year-old Singaporean man was fined S$7,000 in court for running an unlicensed massage parlour in Orchard Towers in 2022.

During a police raid, his wife was also found to have provided sexual services to customers.

Background

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the man, Leng Kheng Chiang, had been the owner and sole proprietor of Fragrance Beauty, located within the Orchard Towers, since January 2022.

At the time, the mall had not yet undergone a makeover, which began in late 2023.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, Fragrance Beauty did not have a valid massage establishment licence.

It was notified that it could operate as an exempted massage establishment, but it breached the exemption conditions because massages were not done in full public view.

Leng's wife, Wang Aimei, also worked as a massage therapist at the shop.

Police raid

On Jul. 7, 2022, police conducted an enforcement check at Fragrance Beauty.

While giving a customer a massage, Wang was found to have offered him sexual services for between S$100 and S$150.

Leng was also found to have known that Wang provided massage services at the establishment, despite the shop not being licensed as such.

Court documents noted that it was styled as a business offering facial and beauty care services.

However, Leng permitted his wife to continue providing her services.

He was also mostly uninvolved in the business' operations and rarely visited its premises.

By running an "establishment for massage", as defined under the Massage Establishment Act 2017, without a valid licence, Leng was found to have committed an offence punishable by a fine of up to S$10,000, up to two years' jail, or both.

He was not arrested and did not spend any time in remand.

In court on Oct. 22, he pleaded guilty to one count of violating the Act and was fined S$7,000 in default for four weeks' imprisonment.

The fine was paid upfront, according to the court.

"Pursuit of Jade" actor Zhang Linghe's application to visit Taiwan for fan meetings and other exchange activities has been rejected.

According to Taiwan's Central News Agency (CNA), Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) said Zhang had repeatedly published posts undermining Taiwan's status, and that the purpose of his proposed visit was unclear.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) then criticised the decision on Oct. 21, accusing Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities of restricting cross-strait cultural exchanges for political reasons.

In response, the MAC explained its reasons for rejecting Zhang's application.

China criticises rejection of Zhang's application

At a regular press conference on Oct. 21, China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhang Han was asked about Zhang's rejected application to visit Taiwan for fan meetings and other exchange activities.

According to the official transcript published by the TAO, a reporter from the Global Times and Global Times Online had asked about the rejection.

Zhang Han replied that cultural exchanges involving mainland Chinese entertainers were a form of people-to-people interaction welcomed and anticipated by people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

She said such exchanges helped enhance mutual understanding between people across the strait.

She added:

"The DPP authorities, driven by political motives, disregard the wishes of the people on the island, especially Taiwanese youth, and refuse to allow mainland performers to visit Taiwan for exchanges."

Zhang Han then urged the DPP to respect the shared desire of people on both sides for greater interaction and abandon what she described as "political manipulation" and "unreasonable restrictions".

Taiwan responds, citing past social media posts and Straits Forum appearance

In response to China's criticism, Taiwan's MAC explained on Oct. 21 why Zhang's application had been rejected.

According to CNA, the MAC said it welcomed entertainers from mainland China visiting Taiwan for cultural exchanges but such activities must not involve United Front efforts, under which "peaceful unification" could be promoted.

The council said Zhang had repeatedly published social media posts undermining Taiwan's status.

In addition, Chinese authorities apparently deliberately arranged for Zhang to deliver a speech at the Straits Forum, which the MAC described as a platform for United Front activities.

The Straits Forum is a China-driven initiative touted as the largest platform for youth, cultural, and economic exchanges between two sides of the straits. 

The council added that the purpose of Zhang's proposed visit to Taiwan was unclear.

His application was therefore rejected.

The MAC also responded to China's accusations of political manipulation by referring to recent incidents involving Taiwanese entertainers.

According to CNA, the council cited recent events involving Taiwanese television personality Kevin Tsai, as well as an incident in which comedian Huang Yi-hao was reportedly targeted by a vehicle and had waste thrown at his performance venue.

The MAC then questioned which side was suppressing or intimidating entertainers for political purposes, adding that the public could make its own judgement.

A woman returning 29 cans and bottles at a Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) machine said she was “publicly shamed” by a primary school boy who grew impatient while waiting to return his two cans.

Chermaine Kumar was about halfway through depositing her items when the boy arrived with his helper and began commenting about the number of cans she had.

The boy allegedly did not ask to go first but instead expressed his frustration, exclaiming phrases like “Oh my God” and “I give up”.

The interaction was posted to Instagram, where netizens expressed mixed views with some saying that Kumar should've let the boy go before her while others felt the boy was entitled.

The boy complained that she had "hundreds" of cans

Speaking to Mothership, Kumar said the interaction happened on Oct. 20 at around 1:42pm.

She said no one was waiting when she arrived to deposit her two tote bags of recycled items.

About a minute later, she started feeding her items into the machine when the boy and his helper arrived.

When he saw Kumar’s bags, the boy made his first comment about how many cans she had.

Kumar told Mothership the boy’s helper appeared embarrassed but did not intervene.

The boy then became louder, at one point complaining that he had two cans and was waiting for Kumar to finish returning “500 cans”.

“I was stunned by the audacity and also started to feel stressed,” Kumar said.

She did not speak to the boy during the encounter and does not recall seeing him join the queue after making the remarks.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chermaine 雪敏 (@chermainekumar)

Considered letting him go first

Kumar said she briefly considered letting the boy use the machine before she finished.

However, she ultimately decided against it because of the way he had behaved and because stopping midway would have been troublesome.

By the time Kumar had finished depositing her 29 cans, a queue had formed behind her, but she said no one else responded to the boy’s remarks.

The entire process of depositing her 29 cans took two minutes and 49 seconds, she said.

Courtesy or an expectation?

Kumar’s post prompted a discussion about whether someone with fewer cans should be allowed to go first.

While many viewers agreed that the boy should have waited his turn, others felt Kumar could have let him go first as a courtesy because he had only two cans.

In a follow-up video, Kumar questioned whether having fewer cans should automatically give someone priority.

She compared the situation to joining a supermarket queue with one packet of Mentos while the person in front had a trolley filled to the brim.

While she would hope to be allowed ahead, she said she would accept it if the person declined.

“If I were to ask the person nicely whether I could go first and the person said no, I need to accept that this person said no,” she said.

She added that even if the boy had asked, she would still have told him no because other people were also queueing behind her.

Otherwise, Kumar asked, what would happen if another person arrived with only one can? Would the boy then be expected to let that person go first?

“There’s a thing called the queue, and we need to respect the rules of the queue, which is first come, first served,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Chermaine 雪敏 (@chermainekumar)

Kumar said the video was not intended to single out the boy

In response to Mothership's queries, she clarified that she did not intend to rant or single out the boy by sharing the video.

Her posts had begun as a “day in my life” style documentation, and the encounter was simply one of the moments captured that day, she said.

However, the responses prompted her to reflect on the broader questions of queueing, courtesy and how people navigate shared public spaces.

“Courtesy is important, but so is recognising that it involves consideration for everyone sharing the same space,” Kumar said.

She added that the discussion had highlighted the expectations placed on others to accommodate us, as well as the “often-overlooked costs” of giving way.

Kumar said she hoped the conversation would encourage people to think more deeply about balancing consideration for others with fairness, and about practising courtesy without treating it as an obligation.

Accumulated 29 items after four failed attempts to use the BCRS machine

Kumar later explained that the 29 cans had accumulated after she found the machine full on four previous visits.

The Oct. 20 visit was her fifth attempt to return them in eight days.

Kumar said she had contacted BCRS to report that the machine kept filling up.

She later learned that she could check the machine’s availability online.

Kumar said she rushed down after seeing on the BCRS portal that a machine in her estate had space for her returns.

“Because I already came five times, I was determined to clear all the cans that time,” she told Mothership.

A 30-year-old motorcyclist has died after being involved in a traffic collision with a lorry near West Coast Park on Oct. 20.

Photos circulated on social media, showing traffic police cordoning off an area of a three-way junction with cones, with a visibly damaged motorcycle bearing a Malaysian licence plate lying on its side.

A spot on the road appeared to be bloodstained.

Passers-by can be seen looking on at the site, with traffic police officers managing the flow of traffic.

In response to Mothership's queries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to an accident involving a motorcycle and lorry at the junction of West Coast Ferry Road and Harbour Drive around 7:30am that day.

The motorcyclist was unconscious and conveyed to the National University Hospital by the SCDF, where he died.

The 24-year-old male lorry driver was arrested for driving without reasonable consideration causing death.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Less than 24-hours since the launch of the iPhone Duo in Singapore on Oct. 23, 2026, it is already being listed on online resale platforms at prices higher than its retail price.

The Star White version of Apple's first-ever foldable, dual-display phone with 256GB of storage was going for as high as S$8,888 on Carousell, The Straits Times reported.

Price

The iPhone Duo is released in two colour: Night Sky and Star White.

The retail price of the iPhone Duo are as follows:

• S$3,099 (256GB)
• S$3,399 (512GB)
• S$3,999 (1TB)
• S$4,899 (2TB)

iPhone Duo listings on Carousell and Shopee

Checks by Mothership on Carousell at about 1:45pm on Oct. 23 found that there were over 200 listings of the product.

Prices ranged from over S$3,000 to over S$6,000 depending on the colour and storage space.

A certified listing on the platform stated that there were only five phones in stock.

The Night Sky and Star White versions with 256GB of storage space were going for S$4,188.

The model with 512GB of storage space was priced at S$4,888, and a Night Sky version with 2TB of storage space was going for S$6,888.

Shopee

The iPhone Duo was priced at S$3,098.90 on Shopee, but it appeared to be unlisted.

Lazada

Checks by Mothership on Lazada the same afternoon showed that the phone was out of stock, but pre-orders could be made, available starting Oct. 23.

Oct. 23 launch in Orchard

The iPhone Duo's launch in Singapore followed the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on Sep. 18, 2026.

On Oct. 23, 36-year-old Adnan Mehta from Mumbai, India, was the first walk-in customer in the queue.

He arrived in Singapore on Oct. 22 and queued for over 10 hours.

Mothership arrived at the Apple Store in Orchard at about 4:30am, where crowds and long queues had already formed before the store opened its doors at about 8am.

About 200 people were seen gathered outside the Apple Store.

Those in the queue were issued a wristband a day before on Oct. 22, which allowed them to get in line to purchase the phones as walk-in customers.

Repeat customer Vu Tran, a 30-year-old Vietnamese, previously queued for the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in Singapore in September 2026.

He bought two sets of the iPhone Duo for himself and his family.

This is his 15th year visiting Singapore to buy newly launched Apple products, he said.

"It's so exciting because the new colour is very nice," Tran said, commenting on the iPhone Duo's aesthetic.

"It's just so beautiful," he added.

Singaporeans aren't the only ones embracing the Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS).

Migrant workers too have been spotted using the Return Right machines.

Shin Min Daily News reported that migrant workers have been spotted queueing up with big bags of bottles and cans at the Woodlands Recreation Centre, turning it into a "recycling hotspot".

Temporarily out of service

Upon visiting the site on Oct. 19, Shin Min observed the machine, which was located outside a supermarket, was out of order.

Within the span of 30 minutes, 15 migrant workers arrived with large bags of bottles and cans, but left disappointed after realising the machine could not be used.

Earning S$150 to S$160

A 32-year-old employee of a nearby mobile phone shop told Shin Min that many migrant workers living in dormitories nearby would line up on weekday evenings to recycle items.

"I don't actually use the machines here myself, because there are just too many people," she said.

Another female business owner who wished to remain anonymous said she heard that some migrant workers reportedly earned S$150 in a day just from the refunds.

The machines are cleaned and maintained about three or four times a week, the supermarket employee said, adding that should any unusual odour be detected, staff would be sent to clean them.

They would also remove bottles and cans from the machine whenever it is full, Shin Min reported, adding that employees were observed wiping the machine surfaces and cleaning the floor,

One 39-year-old migrant worker told Shin Min that he works in Woodlands and returns the empty bottles and cans collected from his dormitory when he visits the supermarket for grocery shopping after work.

He said he visits the machine about twice a week with 200 cans each time.

As such, he is able to earn about S$160 a month from refunds.

Long wait, arguments

A staff member from a nearby supermarket machine told the Chinese paper that the Return Right machine is cleaned three to four times a week, likely from the high demand.

During the visit, the Shin Min reporter also observed that the ground near the machine was filled with straws, beverage packets and bottle caps.

Business owners nearby have observed customers in the queue having disputes with those in front of them when waiting times were too long.

A man went to a mobile phone store in Hougang, posing as a customer who wanted to take a look at an iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, he simply snatched the phone and ran away.

Shin Min Daily News (Shin Min) reported that the employees attempted to give chase, but were unsuccessful in apprehending him.

Immediately gave chase

The incident occurred on Oct. 20, around 1pm at Block 811 Hougang Central.

One of the store's employees named Jiang Jin Qi (transliterated), who was working at the time of the incident, claimed that the young man asked to see the iPhone, but only took a cursory look before suddenly grabbing it and running away.

Jiang employee immediately gave chase but could not track him down, and went back to the store to enlist other co-workers to assist him.

He told Shin Min that three of them searched the area for 15 minutes till they were "out of breath", but were still unable to locate him.

They made a police report afterwards.

Identity concealed

According to the employee, the man, dressed in white, appeared to be in his twenties and had tattoos on his left arm.

He wore a helmet with a reflective visor, which helped to conceal his identity, suggesting that the crime was premeditated.

Shin Min noted that the store had more than 10 CCTV cameras, in addition to other police surveillance cameras nearby, which ultimately did not deter him from committing the crime.

The stolen iPhone was worth nearly S$2,000, which the employee fears they will never recover.

A shaken Jiang added that it was the first time such an incident had happened in his five years of running the shop, prompting him to be more careful and keep an eye on a customer's "every move".

In response to Mothership's queries, the police confirmed that a report had been lodged regarding the incident.

Investigations are ongoing.