A 61-year-old man has been arrested in Hong Kong following a suspected drink-spiking incident involving Japanese former AV actress-turned-DJ Mao Hamasaki at a private party in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The man was arrested in Central on Nov. 2 on suspicion of administering a harmful substance with intent to injure, according to RTHK.

The 33-year-old woman, also known as DJ Mao, was taken to hospital after becoming unwell in the early hours of Nov. 1.

Became unwell after drinking at event

According to RTHK, police received a report shortly before 5am on Nov. 1 involving a woman who became unwell after consuming a drink at a bar along Mody Road in Tsim Sha Tsui.

She was conscious when taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for treatment.

HK01 reported that Hamasaki had been invited to perform as a DJ at a Halloween event before moving to another venue for a second performance.

Became unwell during DJ performance

In a post on X, Hamasaki said she had consumed a couple of shots of an orange-flavoured cocktail before her second DJ performance.

She recalled noticing a cloudy substance at the bottom of her glass but assumed it was orange pulp.

About 40 minutes to an hour later, she began performing.

Hamasaki said her memory subsequently became hazy and she experienced severe dryness in her eyes.

While performing, she later toasted with customers using the same orange-flavoured drink.

Shortly after finishing the drink, she said her body began to stiffen.

She said she could no longer move her arms or legs and had no memory of what happened next.

"The next thing I knew, I was in an ambulance," she wrote in Japanese.

Hamasaki said she was told that hospital drug tests had returned positive results in four categories.

She did not specify which substances were detected.

Hamasaki recovering, says she will cooperate with police

Hamasaki attributed the incident to her own lack of caution and thanked those who had reached out to express concern.

She added that she had regained consciousness and was recovering steadily.

She also expressed hopes of raising awareness about drug abuse prevention to prevent similar incidents.

Hamasaki said she would cooperate with Hong Kong police after being discharged from hospital.

Suspect detained for questioning

According to RTHK, the 61-year-old man was detained for questioning after his arrest on Nov. 2.

HK01 reported that police were still investigating the relationship between the man and Hamasaki, as well as the suspected motive.

皆さんお騒がせしてます💦

本当に自分の不注意でやられてしまいました。

そして、沢山連絡ありがとうございます！

今香港の病院で治療中でして、意識もはっきりと戻り着々と回復に向かっております！

午後から精神科のお医者さんにも見てもらえるみたいで何事もなければ退院できそうです！

Xでは自分からなにも発信してなかったので

大まかに説明すると

香港のハロウィンイベントにDJとして参加させてもらい、その後にまた他の場所に移ってまたDJする予定だったのですが

2件目のDJ前にオレンジジュース味のカクテル？みたいなショットを2杯ほど口にしました。

この時にショットグラスの底には確かに何かが濁っていて溜まっていたのですが私がてっきりオレンジジュースの果肉なのかなとか思いだいぶ油断してしまっていました。

その後40分〜1時間？ほど経ってDJを開始し、この時はまだお酒飲んで楽しい😆状態でした。

その後DJ開始してからは記憶が少し曖昧なのですが、目がひどく乾く感覚があったのを覚えています。そのあとにまたDJ中にお客さんと、例のオレンジジュースで乾杯したのですが、飲みきってすぐに私の体が硬直し始めました。足も腕も体が全部動かなくなってそこから記憶はありません。

気づいたら救急車にいました。

痙攣を起こしていたそうです。

そこからは病院の方がすぐに処置してくださり、無事に今この文章が書けてます。

本当に自分の不注意と油断でした。海外には行き慣れていると、すっかり安心しきっていました。

病院にて薬物検査で4項目に陽性反応出ていたそうで、とても危険だったと病院にも言われました。そして病院についてからは意識も戻っていたのですが、すごくすごく不安で不安で辛くて辛くて、でもその辛い理由もわからずひたすらしんどいしんどいと言ってました。

沢山取り上げていただきありがとうございます。拡散するべきだと私も思いました。

本当に油断は禁物です。少しでも異変を感じたのにまあ大丈夫でしょうと自分を過信してしまいました。皆さんがコメント欄で仰ってる通り、自分で開封したもの、そして少しでも席を立ったりして飲み物が放置された状態が少しでもある時は飲み物は取り替えましょう。それか、自分の飲み物は自分で常に持っておきましょう。

今回の件で、私は人生で初めて薬物というものに直面しました。そして、その恐ろしさと害悪を身をもって痛感しています。今後は、二度と私のような被害者を出さないためにも、薬物乱用防止（禁毒）の啓発や注意喚起を、自分にできる形で少しでも多くの人に発信していきたいと考えています。

今後退院をしてからは現地の警察の方と聞き取り調査が始まるので、この件は私の口から発信するのはこのツイートで最後にさせてもらいます！

皆さん本当に沢山の心配と温かいメッセージをいただき、本当にありがとうございました。皆様の言葉にとても救われています。

まずはしっかり体を休め、現地の警察にも協力して手続きを進めてまいります。

また元気な姿で皆さんの前でDJができるよう、しっかりと回復に専念します。皆さんも海外や夜のイベントの際は、どうかくれぐれも気をつけてくださいね！

— 浜崎真緒® - DJ Mao - Mao Hamasaki® (@Hamasaki_mao) November 2, 2026

As Singapore takes on the Asean chairmanship in 2027, it will work with other member states to establish a haze control centre in Indonesia, said environment minister Grace Fu in parliament on Nov. 3.

The centre, which will be named the Asean Coordinating Centre for Transboundary Haze Pollution Control (ACCTHPC), will be responsible for coordinating the management of land and forest fires and transboundary haze.

It will only come into effect after six Asean member states have ratified the establishment agreement of the centre.

Tackling the root problem

Singapore will submit its ratification "in the next few days", said Fu, who also encouraged other Asean member states to do so.

She added that the centre's implementation will be part of efforts to strengthen the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP).

The AATHP is the key framework for Asean member states to work collectively in preventing, monitoring and mitigating land and forest fires and the resultant haze.

Singapore has also hosted the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) since 1993, which has provided member states with regional weather, climate and haze assessments and information, as well as advised on regional alert levels.

By using this system, Singapore acted ahead of the 2026 dry season, said Fu.

It also warned member states to step up vigilance and strengthen regional cooperation ahead of time.

"Where preventive measures fail, Singapore stands ready to assist Indonesia where needed and welcomed," she said, reaffirming Singapore's agreement with Indonesia on environmental cooperation signed in June 2026.

Aid includes support for Indonesia's firefighters and operational support for cloud seeding.

As Indonesia said it was able to handle the situation and not require foreign assistance on Oct. 19, Singapore respects its sovereignty, Fu said.

But beyond that, she added that Singapore will also work with member states to enhance the implementation of other Asean sectoral initiatives to tackle the root causes of transboundary haze.

Initiatives include sustainable land and peatland management, and guidelines on crop burning, said Fu.

Human activities leading to haze

Earlier in her speech, Fu explained to the House that human activities are the primary sources of peatland and forest fires.

She said that healthy peatlands are wet ecosystems that do not burn spontaneously, but human activities such as draining of peatlands and slashing and burning practices can cause the fires.

The El Nino conditions in 2026 also caused a longer dry season in the region, making fires easier to start and become more intense.

A traffic accident involving a bus, van, and a car occurred at Choa Chu Kang on Oct. 30.

According to a video posted online by Instagram account @sgfollowsall, the car was seen to have collided with the right side of the bus, around the driver's cockpit.

The van was seen next to the car, with the hood severely damaged.

Wreckage was strewn around the crash site.

In response to Mothership's enquiries, the police and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed that they were alerted to an accident around 5:50pm that day.

They said the 54-year-old van driver and a 29-year-old female bus passenger were conveyed to Tan Tock Seng Hospital.

The car driver, 68, is assisting with ongoing investigations.

A young nursing assistant was killed while providing medical assistance to a few teenagers who were injured in a clash between two rival groups in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Kanokrat Yottiwong, who worked in the observation ward at a Chiang Mai hospital, was off duty at the time.

This was shared in a tribute post on Facebook by the Faculty of Medicine at Chiang Mai University, where she had studied.

The clash

The incident happened along a highway at about 12:05am on Nov. 1, after the teenagers got into a motorcycle accident.

The local police later found that the two rival groups had had a dispute on social media, then decided to meet and fight it out, Thaiger reported.

Patrol officers broke up the fight, but the teenagers continued to chase one another along Chiang Mai's Highway 11, also known as the Superhighway.

They attacked one another in their vehicles, and several gunshots and explosions were heard, Khaosod reported.

Stopped to help

Yottiwong was riding past the scene on her own motorbike when she noticed that some people were injured and stopped to help them.

While she was providing assistance, a pick-up truck knocked her down.

She was critically injured and later passed away.

According to local media, the truck was driven by a member of one of the rival groups.

The driver told police he did not see Yottiwong because he was driving with his head lowered to avoid getting shot at by the other group, Khaosod reported.

But the police questioned his account and suspected he might have been speeding at the time.

Police investigations are ongoing to identify the people involved.

"Although she was not on duty at the time, her inherent kindness and generous spirit led her to step forward to help those in need — an act that ultimately resulted in her passing," the Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Medicine wrote in their post.

Related stories

Singaporean actor Chew Chor Meng is leaving Mediacorp after 36 years.

In an Instagram post on Nov. 3, the 57-year-old reflected on his 36-year acting career, thanking those who supported him over the years.

The Celebrity Agency, which managed him, also shared in an Instagram post on Nov. 3, thanking the actor for his years of dedication.

Chew began his career with Mediacorp after winning the talent competition Star Search in 1990.

His notable roles include Ah Bee in the long-running sitcom Don’t Worry, Be Happy, and You Yongfu in Wok of Life.

Gratitude

The actor also shared a compilation video of moments from his acting career, saying he has no regrets and only gratitude.

He thanked those who had given him opportunities, support and encouragement throughout his career, as well as audiences who had accompanied him over the years.

“My time on stage is over, but the wonderful life goes on,” Chew shared.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Rafael 周初明 (@chewchormeng)

In 2008, Chew revealed that he had been diagnosed with Kennedy's disease and has been open about the challenges of living with the condition.

Outside of showbiz, Chew has also made a name in the F&B business, having co-founded Tam Chiak Kopitiam and 888 Mookata.

The U.S. has hit Iran again, according to US officials speaking to CBS.

The BBC reported that American strikes were launched at Qeshm Island, an island in the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian media reporting explosions on the island on Nov. 2.

U.S. officials called the strikes "limited", saying that they were in response to Iran firing on a U.S. aircraft.

Just a few hours before reports of the strikes, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that a deal with Tehran "could happen".

"Iran wants a settlement, as soon as possible."

He also told Axios that he was "in no rush" to decide whether or not to resume strikes on Iran.

Talks between Iran and the U.S. were underway, but beset by friction on both sides.

On Oct. 31, Al Jazeera reported Trump as saying that there were still nuclear sites in Iran that the U.S. wanted to deal with, while Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly met with senior military leaders to prepare for "maximum deterrence".

Midterms

The strike comes just before the conclusion of the U.S. midterm elections, which determine control of the legislative branch of the U.S. government.

Polling shows that the Democratic Party is the favourite to win back the House of Representatives, and possibly the U.S. Senate.

The BBC reported that Trump has been facing falling polling numbers and internal pressure from his party to put an end to the war in Iran.

If the Republican Party loses control of both houses of the U.S. legislative branch, Trump will no longer be able to pass legislation with the same ease.

This affects domestic policy, forcing him to reconsider controversial bills.

The Associated Press previously reported that sources said Trump was planning to strike Iran again after the conclusion of the midterms, with Trump making promises during campaign efforts that the war would soon come to an end.

He made a speech on one campaign stop, saying: “Somebody asked me before, when will the war in Iran end? I said, ‘Whenever I want it to end.’ It’ll be very quick, but we have to have it end properly, with total and complete – a total statement, they will never have a nuclear weapon.”

On another occasion, Trump also mooted the idea of attacking Iran's Pickaxe Mountain, which is believed to be linked to Iran's nuclear programme.

As the haze situation in Singapore improves, almost 30 per cent of eligible Singaporeans have collected free N95 masks as part of the government's mask distribution exercise as of Oct. 29.

According to environment minister Grace Fu, nearly one-third of Singapore's population are now eligible to collect the masks after the eligibility age was lowered from 67 to 60 on Oct. 23, during the second round of distribution.

She was speaking in parliament on Nov. 3 in response to questions from Members of Parliament about Singapore's response to the haze crisis, including the take up rate of the free N95 masks.

Vulnerable individuals prioritised

In response to a question on whether her ministry will consider extending distribution to all residents if the haze persists, Fu said the government will continue prioritising Singaporeans who are more vulnerable to the health effects of the haze, or who may have limited means.

This includes senior citizens, pregnant woman, children, individuals with specific medical conditions, or holders of Chas orange and blue cards.

As haze does not involve the risk of people-to-people transmission, it does not require all Singaporeans to wear a mask.

The government will therefore consider the severity and predicted duration of the haze, prevailing health risks and the needs of vulnerable groups when deciding on the activation of mask distribution, said Fu.

She also expressed her gratitude towards those who have been involved in the distribution of masks, including People's Association's (PA) staff, grassroots volunteers, contractors and retailers.

No plans to change air quality readings

Fu also responded to queries on whether her ministry would consider including more granular air quality readings by increasing the number of PM2.5 forecasts.

The National Environment Agency's (NEA) current system of using daily forecasted 24-hour PSI readings and hourly PM2.5 readings have worked well, she said, pointing out that they can be used to plan for next-day outdoor activities.

She explained there is no need to include 12-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour PM2.5 forecasts, as having too many indicators may "complicate our public messages".

"NEA will continue to review how its forecasting and public information services can be enhanced to provide more useful guidance."

Using climate vouchers

Lastly, Fu responded to concerns about ensuring good indoor air quality during periods of haze, particularly in centres serving vulnerable groups.

Indoor air quality is managed through standards, guidelines and advisories, as well as sector-specific measures implemented by premise owners, she said.

In spaces like schools, healthcare institutions and community care providers, response measures can include closing windows, deploying air purifiers and adjusting outdoor activities.

In larger air-conditioned buildings, the Singapore Standard's Code of Practice has recommendations for indoor air quality parameters and measures, including enhanced air filtration.

On that note, Fu highlighted that households can use climate vouchers to purchase eligible DC fans with air purifying functions.

These products can help improve air circulation and filtration, she said.

A proposed Certificate of Entitlement (COE) scheme to introduce rebates and surcharges on mass-market and luxury cars, respectively, has been supported by the majority of respondents, said Minister for Transport and Second Minister for Finance, Jeffrey Siow, on Nov. 3.

Siow, speaking in Parliament, noted that the new "feebate" scheme aims to restore a permanent price distinction in COE premiums.

The questions asked by Members of Parliament (MPs) concerned the proposed changes, such as whether prices for mass-market cars would remain within reach, and whether it would influence electric vehicle (EV) adoption.

The scheme proposed by Holland-Bukit Timah MP Edward Chia uses rebates and surcharges where a lower-value car receives a rebate on its COE price while a higher-value car gets a surcharge.

"Feebate" with five bands to reduce cliff effects preferred

Siow said that LTA concluded public consultation on COE categorisation on Nov. 2 and is studying the submissions and has not decided on the outcomes. 

He added that "Most people preferred a 'feebate' with five bands, to reduce cliff effects."

LTA proposed either a three-band or five-band system. The biggest rebate and surcharge are S$15,000 in both systems.

Depending on the structuring of the bands, the difference could be as large as S$30,000.

This comes as the gap between Category A and B COE premiums has diminished with the growing popularity of EVs.

EV power outputs can be adjusted using software by manufacturers and workshops, allowing the same car to qualify for different COE categories, stated Siow.

Hence, Category A premiums for smaller and less powerful car models exceeded Category B premiums for larger cars multiple times in 2026.

Existing Category A and B COEs will be merged into a single category for cars under LTA's proposal.

EV adoption support to remain separate and govt studying transport grant option

MP for Chua Chu Kang, Choo Pei Ling, asked how the government would prevent the system from disincentivising the adoption of high-performance EVs, which often carry a higher Open Market Value (OMV) and ensure that mass-market car buyers are not financially crowded out by luxury car buyers.

Siow responded, saying that a separate "feebate" structure for EVs was proposed but would make the system too complicated.

EV adoption will be supported through the Vehicle Emissions Scheme rather than through COE policies, added Siow.

MP for Marine Parade-Braddell Heights Tin Pei Ling questioned if the proposed "feebate" scheme in the latest LTA public consultation on proposed changes to the COE system will drive up demand for lower-valued vehicles and bolster the prices of mass market cars.

Tin also asked about support for large Singaporean families with car needs.

Siow said he acknowledged that larger families with young children may find it difficult to travel together on public transport, but any support would also have to consider families that choose not to buy a car.

The government is studying a transport grant option, with more details to be given later.

LTA to finish review by end-2026

Siow said: "The reality is that we cannot even grow the car population much further."

Siow stated that there are 660,000 passenger cars today and roads occupy more than 12 per cent of Singapore's total land area.

LTA expects to finish its review by the end of 2026 and reveal its findings and recommendations in the first half of 2027.

To follow a "trend", a man in Singapore made a TikTok where he was seen taping a phone to the back of an SBS Transit bus while it was stationary along Jalan Besar.

The rest of the video, supposedly filmed from the taped phone, showed him on a motorbike apparently following behind the bus.

There were several other vehicles on the road beside him.

"When public transport becomes your film crew," the video caption read.

SBS Transit has since lodged a police report on the incident.

In response to Mothership's queries, SBS Transit spokesperson Grace Wu said, "We take a very serious view of this incident, which we do not condone, as it may put the safety of the individual and other road users at risk."

Reactions

The video, posted on Nov. 1, was filmed at 7am, according to the caption.

It added that "no law was broken", and asked viewers to follow the account and stay tune for the second part of the story where the man would explain how he got his phone back.

Several commenters questioned why the man filmed the video, believing he would likely get fined.

Some pointed out that he was riding in the bus lane, to which the man replied that the video was filmed at 7am.

The restricted hours for travelling in the bus lane starts at 7:30am.

A stunt?

In a subsequent video, the TikTok user posted an update in response to "very negative comments" left on his first video.

He shared that there was a "plot twist": he did not leave the phone taped on the bus, but had someone else film him on the road using a DJI camera mounted on another motorbike.

"We filmed the entire video at 7am, so nothing was illegal," the man said in the video.

He added in the caption that he would share the full behind-the-scenes process next.

Mothership has reached out to the man for more details.

A new bill was introduced in parliament on Nov. 3, 2026, requiring courts to consider reformative training or imprisonment as punishments for convicted young scam offenders.

In its first parliament reading, introduced by Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming on behalf of Senior Minister and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam, the bill would make these punishments the default sentencing options for youths aged 21 and below who commit scam-related offences.

Exceptions would only be allowed in exceptional circumstances.

High court ruling

The bill's proposal comes after a High Court ruling on Sep. 10, in the case of Mohamed Erzan Taib Zohri v Public Prosecutor, where the court ruled that reformative training or imprisonment should not be the default sentence for young offenders who commit scam-enabling offences.

Some offenders in that case, who were aged between 16 and 20 at the time of committing the scam-related offences, had their sentences substituted with probation instead after appeal.

In response, SM Shanmugam said in parliament on Oct. 6 that greater weight should be given to deterrence in such cases, instead of treating rehabilitation as the primary consideration because of their age.

According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Parliament's intent has always been that swift and decisive deterrence of scams and scam-enabling offences is needed, and that the court should consider reformative training or imprisonment as the primary and default sentencing options, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

The Bill's introduction thus sets out and reiterates this intent, it said.

If passed, the legislation will apply to the sentencing of scam and scam-enabling offences committed before, on or after the Act's commencement date.

The ministry added, "If a deterrent approach is not taken, Singapore’s scam and youth offending situation could deteriorate."

Scams most prevalent crime type in Singapore

According to MHA, scams remain the most prevalent crime type in Singapore.

The Singapore police received an average of 90 scam reports in the first half of 2026, amounting to S$2 million in losses per day.

Elderly victims aged 65 and above remain the age group suffering the highest average losses from scams.

In 2025, the police also investigated more than 1,000 youths in connection with scam reports.

The number of youths who committed cheating and related offences increased by 37 per cent, from 814 in 2024 to 1,114 in 2025.

Most youths involved in these offences were involved in scam cases as mules, said MHA.

As scammers,  often use bank account, local SIM cards and Singpass accounts to perpetuate scams, disrupting the supply of these enablers is therefore key, said MHA.

Since 2023, the ministry has passed five Bills to deter scam mules, including creating new offences to penalise mules.

Caning for scam and scam-enabling offences was also introduced.