A dryer allegedly overheated and caught fire, prompting four residents in a Tampines flat to flee.

The fire severely damaged the kitchen and living room of the unit, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) confirmed with Mothership that they were alerted to a fire at Block 714 Tampines Street 71 on Oct. 18 at about 4:45pm.

SCDF added that the fire involved the contents of a kitchen and service yard in a unit on the 13th floor.

Four persons evacuated from the unit before SCDF's arrival.

SCDF extinguished the fire using a water jet.

There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire is under investigation, SCDF said.

Dryer started to smoke

The owner of the unit, Zhuo (transliteration), told Shin Min on Oct. 19 that he lived there with four tenants, but he was not home at the time.

He learned of the fire after receiving a call from one of his tenants, who told him that there was smoke from the dryer and the clothes inside were on fire.

"I told her to open the dryer and try to put it out with water, but the flames grew too fast, and it was too late, so they had to run for safety," he said.

Zhuo explained that the dryer was purchased about six or seven years ago.

It had been running for about two hours at the time of the incident.

Residents evacauted

Zhuo also told Shin Min that the tenants knocked on doors to notify their neighbours to evacuate while they were fleeing.

A male resident living below the apartment told Shin Min that he noticed white smoke coming from upstairs, followed by a burning smell.

Shortly afterwards, rescue personnel told them to evacuate.

They were allowed to return home about an hour later.

Other residents downstairs said they heard a loud explosion when it happened.

According to Shin Min, the SCDF investigation lasted until around 9pm that night before the cordon was lifted.

Advisory

SCDF said the top three causes of fires in residential premises are unattended cooking, electrical fires and unattended lighted materials.

"Residents are strongly advised not to leave cooking unattended, and to keep stove-tops, cooker hoods and ovens clean and free of grease," they said.

"They should also avoid overloading power sockets or charging devices overnight without supervision. Lighted materials such as incense sticks or cigarettes should never be left unattended and must be fully extinguished before disposal," SCDF added.

An elderly man in Singapore was scammed out of more than S$21,000 he had saved for his retirement after falling for a lottery scam on Facebook.

The 71-year-old, known as Yang (transliteration), came across an advertisement in late August that promised lottery wins, reported Shin Min Daily News.

The scam

Yang first placed a call to the number in the Facebook advertisement, but it didn’t go through.

However, the scammer returned his call in early September.

The other party then told Yang that they knew people in Singapore Pools who could provide the winning numbers ahead of each draw, reported Shin Min.

But Yang would have to pay for it: numbers for the first prize cost S$1,988, second prize S$1,688, and third prize S$1,388.

He reportedly told the scammers that he could not afford those, and they instead asked for S$500 to set up his account, and another S$500 for five sets of 4D numbers.

On Sep. 5, Yang was given the five sets of numbers and promised S$300,000 if he won.

However, none of the numbers matched, and he questioned the scammer.

The scammer then claimed that the numbers were "sold out" due to their popularity and hence couldn't be drawn, but promised to get his insider to alter the tickets for Yang to strike the lottery.

Yang then received a text the next day informing him that he had won the first prize, accompanied by a photo of a cheque for S$300,000.

Asked to transfer more

Yang was asked to transfer the scammer another S$1,488, the remainder of the first prize fee, which he obliged.

On Sep. 9, the scammer said that transferring the prize money, which was a large sum, may raise suspicions of money laundering, and asked for S$5,850 in “handling fees”.

Two days later, he was asked to transfer another S$7,840 for the same reason.

By Sep. 16, Yang had yet to receive the promised prize money and made a police report.

However, he still transferred the scammers another S$3,500 in hopes of receiving the prize money at the beginning of October and on Oct. 16.

Yang finally realised he had been scammed when they asked him for more money, and read reports of such cases in the Chinese newspapers a few days ago.

The man said that he is now penniless and unemployed as his contract for cleaning work had expired, and can only survive on instant noodles and bread daily, according to Shin Min.

Through this ordeal, Yang said he lost a total of S$21,688.

Police investigations are ongoing.

Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) has been handed a temporary restriction notice by the Singapore Environment Council (SEC) regarding its enhanced Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS+) certification.

As a result, it will be subjected to daily fire response reporting and strict monitoring.

Of the 10 Indonesian companies issued preventive measure notices by the National Environment Agency after hotspots were detected on lands they operated, at least three are listed as suppliers to APP.

APP is a Singapore-incorporated company.

The issuance of the temporary restrictions notice was announced in a statement by SEC on Oct. 19.

Must provide daily fire reports, risk losing green label

Under the notice, SEC explained that APP must provide daily fire response reports for the concession areas managed by Indonesian companies PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries.

The three entities are wood-fibre suppliers to APP and operate concessions in South Sumatra, Indonesia.

These same entities were issued preventive measures notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act by the NEA on Oct. 16, along with four other non-SGLS+ entities, SEC said.

If APP's additional reporting is unable to demonstrate that strengthened monitoring, fire prevention and suppression measures are implemented effectively, the SGLS+ certificate may subsequently be suspended.

If so, the use of the SGLS+ logo on products associated with the certification would have to cease.

What is the SGLS+ certification?

The SGLS+ certification for pulp and paper products was launched by SEC in 2017 after the 2015 haze episode.

It incorporated requirements to reduce fire risks on plantations, such as having robust fire prevention measures and strict zero-burning compliance throughout a company's supply chain.

Around 58 pulp and paper products, such as printing paper and hygiene paper, are certified under the SGLS+ certification.

The label aims to empower customers to make informed purchasing decisions and support more environmentally responsible products, SEC said.

APP lost green label in 2015 over haze, products pulled from shelves

In 2015, APP products were pulled from supermarket shelves after SEC suspended their green certification.

APP products only returned four years later in 2019 when it received the SGLS+ certification from the SEC.

SEC is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that manages an eco-labelling programme in Singapore.

Senior Minister K Shanmugam shared on Oct. 19, 2026 that the government was looking into several companies, including APP, over possible links to forest fires in Indonesia that have caused the haze experienced in Singapore in the past weeks.

A 73-year-old man in Singapore raped his underage daughter after watching pornography in her presence sometime between 2021 and 2022.

He silenced her by telling her he would go to jail and she would not be able to see him anymore.

The sexual abuse continued for years, from when the girl was 10 until she was 13.

In 2024, the girl finally told a friend and the man was arrested after the Child Protection System was alerted.

The man was sentenced to 13.5 years in jail on Oct. 19, according to CNA. He cannot be caned as he is above the age of 50.

He cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, who is now 15.

He pleaded guilty to four charges, including aggravated statutory rape, aggravated molestation and sexual exploitation of a child.

Six other charges were taken into consideration for the sentencing.

What happened

The victim lived in a flat with her father.

He was married at the time of the offences to the victim's mother, his lawyer, Joseph Yoong of Dominion LLC, confirmed with Mothership.

Sometime between 2021 and 2022, when the girl was in primary school, the man watched pornography on TV while she was in the same room.

According to court documents seen by Mothership, the victim was lying on a mattress, and he approached her to make her perform a sex act on him.

He then committed rape against the victim and later told her not to tell anyone about what happened.

The man said that he would be imprisoned and she would never be able to see him again if she did so.

Worried, the victim complied.

The sexual abuse happened again in 2023, in which he molested and performed oral sex on her.

While he did so, she remained immobile as she was fearful.

He continued to sexually assault her between May and October 2024, and between July 2024 and August 2024.

While she was disgusted by his acts, she did not react as she was afraid of being scolded by him, court documents stated.

Victim told friend

In October 2024, the victim told a friend that her father had been sexually assaulting her since 2021.

She said she wanted to kill herself, according to court documents.

The friend told a teacher, and the matter was referred to the Child Protection System.

A police report was lodged, and the man was arrested the next day.

According to the man's lawyer, he was a taxi driver who often returned home late.

He is still married to his wife, who is now a Singapore permanent resident, CNA reported.

The prosecution had asked for a sentence of 14.5 to 16 years’ imprisonment, calling the man's act a "gross abuse of trust, authority and influence".

"Over a span of about three to four years, the accused betrayed the victim’s trust in him and robbed her of her innocence in their home, which should have been a safe place for the victim," the prosecutor said.

Lin Ting Dao (transliteration) passed away peacefully at home on Oct. 16, reported Shin Min Daily News.

Through decades of hard work and frugality, he managed to raise eight children and even sent his youngest son to study overseas.

Built kampung houses before becoming newspaper vendor

Lin moved to Singapore from Puning, Guangdong province, China, with his parents when he was a teenager.

He later married Wang Xiang Qing (transliteration), now 91, and the couple had eight children: two sons and six daughters.

According to his youngest son, Lin Gui Cheng (transliteration), 55, his father worked as a construction apprentice in his younger years.

After learning the trade, the older Lin earned a living building wooden, stilt and attap houses for kampung residents, supporting his family of 10.

As the government began building HDB flats, demand for traditional houses gradually declined, prompting Lin to switch careers and become a newspaper vendor past his middle age.

Around 1987, he started selling newspapers at the foot of Block 130 Simei Street 1, where he ran his stall for more than a decade.

Besides selling newspapers, Lin also collected cardboard.

He was a familiar face to residents in the neighbourhood.

Family took turns running newspaper stall

Gui Cheng said he used to help his father sell newspapers at the stall every day after his classes at polytechnic.

The experience left him with many fond memories and gave him precious time with his parents.

He recalled to Shin Min,

"My mother would prepare dinner early, and my father would head downstairs to set up the stall after eating. Once my mother finished cleaning up, she would head down. When I returned from school, I would take over so they could rest or use the toilet."

Lin stopped selling newspapers around the year 2000.

Saved S$40,000 for son's overseas education

Despite being unable to read or write, Lin placed great importance on his children's education.

He would personally take them to and fro school on his bicycle.

Through hard work and frugal living, he managed to put both his sons through university.

When Gui Cheng was preparing to study in the UK, Lin gave him S$40,000 to support his education.

"My father was very thrifty. When he gave me S$40,000 to study in the UK, I told myself that failure was not an option," Gui Cheng said.

Remembered for his perseverance

Lin's funeral procession will take place on the afternoon of Oct. 22.

Gui Cheng said his father left behind not just memories, but also a spirit worth passing down to future generations.

"We will carry forward and pass down our father's spirit of hard work and perseverance," he told Shin Min.

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will be asking questions of seven Singapore-listed agriculture companies and their possible links to the forest fires in Indonesia that have caused haze in Singapore over the past weeks, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said at a doorstop on Oct. 19.

The seven companies are:

• Golden Agri Resources,
• Bumitama Agri,
• First Resources,
• Wilmar International Limited,
• Kencana Agri,
• Indofood Agri and,
• TSH Resources.

The government will look into Asia Pulp and Paper, which is incorporated in Singapore.

It will also be asking questions of First Borneo Plantations, which has ownership links to Singapore-incorporated companies, The Business Times reported.

Companies which are responsible for the fires "should not underestimate the Singapore government's determination to act", the minister said.

Whether they have a presence in Singapore or not, the government will use "every legal and regulatory lever at [its] disposal to exert pressure where it matters", including on their access to financing, Shanmugam warned.

Additionally, three more Indonesian companies have been issued with preventive measure notices by the National Environment Agency (NEA), bringing the total to 10.

Also at the doorstop was Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, who delivered remarks in Mandarin.

Singapore to look into corporations and groups

On the Indonesian companies issued with prevention measure notices, Shanmugam said that the Attorney-General Chambers has advised that the companies may raise "some technical and legal issues".

"We will see. If we assess that the companies are not cooperating, we will see who they are linked to, either in Singapore or internationally, and we will see what further actions we can take," Shanmugam said.

Singapore will look past individual concession holders and investigate large corporations and persons which control them, the minister explained.

He named Singapore-incorporated Asia Pulp and Paper (APP) as an example.

Of the seven Indonesian companies named last week by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, three are pulpwood suppliers for APP.

The government will "drill into this further", SM Shanmugam said.

Owned by Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mars, APP incorporated in Singapore in 1994.

Statements not good enough: Shanmugam

Apart from APP, the minister also mentioned Singapore-listed agricultural companies First Resources and Bumitama Agri and said that some of the fires and smoke-sourced points seem to be associated with these companies.

He also mentioned privately-held First Borneo Plantations.

These companies were named in a Greenpeace report as parties responsible for haze-causing fires in Indonesia.

"We will be asking more questions of these companies," the minister said.

While companies such as First Resources have issued a statement on its zero-burning policy, Shanmugam said that such statements are "not good enough".

He said:

"Show us the evidence. Where did the fires start? Who owns those lands? Can they identify who started fires? What exactly did they do to stop the fires? Did the fires conveniently only burn down old trees, or did the fires also burn productive trees? We will ask for the full facts, and we will act based on the facts."

Companies cannot play "hide-and-seek" with corporate structures or escape responsibility simply because their actions take place across national borders, he warned.

Legal and regulatory levers to exert pressure

Shanmugam gave examples of the kinds of legal, regulatory and economic measures that Singapore could take against companies found responsible.

Shanmugam said that the SGX has also asked the seven aforementioned SGX-listed companies about their operations and possible linkages to the haze.

The Singapore Exchange Regulation said in a Oct. 16 statement that it has engaged listed issuers with agricultural operations and plantations in Indonesia to seek information on their operations.

If these companies have a potential connection to haze-causing fires in Indonesia, Shanmugam said that banks would then have to consider the risks arising from environmental and legal issues.

Shanmugam said that the banks have asked these companies several questions.

As the regulator, the Monetary Authority of Singapore also has "supervisory jurisdiction" over the banks to ensure they "manage their risks properly", he added.

Additionally, the government will examine if companies linked to the haze are enjoying benefits in Singapore, such as government grants or incentives.

"These benefits are contingent on lawful and responsible conduct — so we will need to see if they still meet the bar."

Will amend legislation if necessary to ensure cooperation: Shanmugam

Some companies may try to deny responsibility, think it is hard for Singapore to get evidence or that they can "escape scrutiny".

However, Shanmugam warned that they should not underestimate the Singapore government's determination to act.

Singapore will use "every legal and regulatory lever" at its disposal to "exert pressure" on the companies "where it matters", such as on their bottom lines, through their access to financing and standing with investors.

Shanmugam emphasised that such pressure will be sustained even after the haze passes, and that companies cannot "simply wait things out".

"If necessary, we will amend current legislation or introduce new laws on an urgent basis to ensure further cooperation," the minister shared.

Adding to his warning, Shanmugam said that companies responsible for the haze should be "under no illusion" that they can just wait for the haze to clear and return to business as usual.

"We will pursue this matter for as long as it takes."

Singapore's and Indonesia's interests aligned

At the doorstop, Shanmugam was asked about his thoughts on experts who opined that Singapore's decision to pursue legal actions against errant companies could bring about diplomatic implications.

He replied: "What do these experts think we are supposed to do? Shiver in our shoes before we take any legal action to protect our own people? That's not the Singapore approach."

He also commented that there should not be any bilateral issues with Indonesia, owing to aligned interests.

"The Indonesian public is suffering as well, and it is in Indonesia's interest as much as ours to deal with the companies that are causing these problems," the minister remarked.

He added that Singapore's actions against errant companies are in line with those announced by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, and hoped for Indonesia's "full cooperation" in going after the companies responsible.

It is "disappointing" that an Indonesian official said Singapore's oxygen comes from Indonesia's forests, especially against the backdrop of the current haze crisis in the region, Senior Minister K Shanmugam said on Oct. 19.

He was referring to remarks made by Syahganda Nainggolan, head of Indonesia's Government Communications Agency, who said Indonesia's forests send oxygen to Singapore and Malaysia when there is no haze.

"We're not just sending over the haze. When there's no haze, we send oxygen. The oxygen from Singapore and Malaysia is from our forests, right?"

Syahganda also described the fires as "beyond human error" and a natural phenomenon.

Separately, SM Shanmugam also praised the efforts taken by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to solve the haze problem.

"Not right" for the official to make such a remark

During a media doorstop, SM Shanmugam acknowledged the impact of the current haze crisis on the health of Singaporeans.

"The haze is affecting our health seriously. Senior citizens, young children, those with illnesses particularly, but everyone else too, and it is really unacceptable."

As such, it was "disappointing" that Syahganda had made such a comment, he said.

"Frankly, it is not right to say this when this entire region is suffering as a result of the bad behaviour of companies breaching regulations in Indonesia, and the people suffering the most are Indonesians themselves," SM Shanmugam said.

However, he added that Syahganda's view does not reflect that of the wider Indonesian government or public.

Shanmugam added that it must be made clear where the responsibility for the haze lies.

"I have previously spoken about the haze situation in 2013, and again in 2015," he said. "I said this was not simply an act of nature, but a problem driven by companies pursuing profits."

Appreciative of Prabowo's efforts

Separately, SM Shanmugam said he appreciated the steps taken by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and his administration to tackle the haze problem.

He noted that Prabowo had removed the head of the agency overseeing firefighting and disaster relief, and appointed a new one.

He added that Prabowo had personally expressed commitment to tackling the problem, as well as put in place directives prohibiting slash-and-burn practices on peatland.

The Indonesian president has also said he wants to prioritise fire prevention as a long-term solution, SM Shanmugam said.

"Some of these steps are quite unprecedented," he said. "They show what President Prabowo and his Administration's approach and thinking are."

Singapore welcomes Prabowo's approval of foreign assistance

He added that Singapore also welcomes President Prabowo's approval of foreign assistance to combat the fires.

"We, Singapore, have offered our assistance, and we will do our part to support," he said.

Earlier on Oct. 10, Environment Minister Grace Fu acknowledged that the current El Nino is producing "very dry weather" in the region, which makes forest fires a lot harder to put out.

She said Singapore is aware of Indonesia's efforts to do that, and "stand ready to assist" wherever they can.

The driver of a Singapore-registered car apparently got punched in Johor Bahru, Malaysia during a confrontation with a lorry passenger.

The incident took place along Jalan Sutera on Oct. 17 at around 4:10pm.

The car driver had apparently stopped to confront the occupants of a lorry after an object was allegedly thrown at the car.

Footage of the incident was shared to the SG Road Vigilante (SGRV) Facebook page.

Car allegedly crossed double white lines

The post alleged that the white MG car, which displayed a probationary “P” plate, had driven across double white lines.

According to Lianhe Zaobao, the car made a U-turn from the opposite direction and cut in front of a Malaysia-registered lorry in the slow-moving right lane.

Part of the car briefly obstructed traffic on the left lane.

A man in the passenger seat then wound down the window and threw an object resembling tape towards the car, apparently upset at the driver for cutting in.

Conflict got violent

The car subsequently stopped.

As the vehicles drew closer, the lorry passenger gestured towards the car driver.

When the car driver opened the door, the lorry passenger got out and approached the car.

The lorry passenger threw at least two punches that appeared to have made contact with the car driver as the vehicle's window was down.

The lorry passenger then hit the vehicle with his fist and damaged the right side mirror.

Reactions

The video drew mixed reactions from online commenters.

Some said the acts of violence were unwarranted, while others cautioned drivers from Singapore to be more deferential when travelling overseas.

This is especially so if they do not know the local environment and driving rules and etiquette well.

Others said the driver of the Singapore car could have been more apologetic in such a situation, given that they were causing an inconvenience to other road users.

Singapore will add three viral haemorrhagic fevers to its list of prescribed infectious diseases from Oct. 31, 2026.

The three are Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF), Lassa fever and Marburg virus disease (MVD).

The change follows recent amendments to the Infectious Diseases Act and regulations in Sep. 30.

Doctors and laboratories required to report cases

From Oct. 31, doctors who suspect that a patient has any of the three diseases, as well as laboratories that detect them, will be required to notify the Director-General of Health under the Infectious Diseases Act (IDA).

The Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) told The Straits Times that it has already been monitoring the three diseases, which can cause severe illness and spread between people.

CDA said the additions were meant to “strengthen our overall surveillance and preparedness efforts.”

The agency said Singapore's risk level from the three diseases remains low.

According to ST, CDA said the reporting requirement would help authorities detect cases early and respond promptly through measures such as isolation and contact tracing.

Also classified as ‘dangerous infectious diseases’

The three diseases will also be added to the Infectious Diseases Act's list of “dangerous infectious diseases”, bringing the total to eight.

The five diseases currently on the list are Ebola disease, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection (MERS-CoV), plague, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and yellow fever.

CDA will also include CCHF, Lassa fever and MVD in its weekly infectious diseases bulletin from November, ST reported.

How do the 3 diseases spread?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), CCHF is primarily transmitted through tick bites or contact with infected livestock.

It can also spread through contact with bodily fluids from an infected person.

Lassa fever is mainly transmitted through food or household items contaminated with urine or faeces from infected rodents.

MVD can spread from infected fruit bats to humans, and subsequently between people through contact with infected bodily fluids.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there are currently no approved specific treatments or widely available vaccines for the three diseases.

However, vaccines for Lassa fever and MVD are under development.

Indonesia has dropped 2.4 tonnes (2,400kg) of dry ice as a solution to get rid of the haze from forest fires.

The "weather modification" operation on Oct. 15 and 16 saw dry ice deployed from a plane over South Sumatra province on Sumatra island in the area around Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II International Airport in Palembang, The Guardian reported.

Thick haze had disrupted flights.

National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre oversaw the operation, according to state news agency Antara.

Visibility at the airport reportedly improved from 1,000m to as much as 3,000m during the operation.

Effectiveness of dry ice

However, it was not known if the improvement was caused by the dry ice or other weather factors.

In theory, dry ice, which is frozen solid carbon dioxide, could weaken atmospheric conditions that trap smoke near the ground, potentially allowing it to rise and improve visibility.

South Sumatra was the first Indonesian province selected to test the dry-ice technique.

It was carried out on the direct instructions of President Prabowo Subianto to accelerate efforts to mitigate the impact of the fires, it was reported.

The area is among six provinces prioritised by Indonesia for forest and land fire prevention and response.

The other areas are Riau, Jambi, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, and South Kalimantan.

Other methods to combat fires

Another method to fight fires and smoke is to use a suppressant made from cassava flour and a Portuguese powder, Realiza Antichamas.

The fire-suppressing gel forms when mixed with water and apparently does not harm wildlife or kill plants.

But the gel might not stop fires occurring deep underground.