Schools and educational institutions in Johor, Malaysia, will remain closed from Oct. 12 to 16, as hazy conditions continue to plague the state.

This was announced by Muhammad Naqib Md Ghazali, the Johor Education and Information Committee chairman, on Oct. 10, local media outlet The Star reported.

The state government had earlier shut schools for two days on Oct. 8 and 9.

All eight areas in Johor recorded unhealthy air quality readings of between 151 and 178 as of 12pm on Sunday, according to the Air Pollutant Index Management System (APIMS).

"The state government believes that early preventive measures must be prioritised to reduce the risk of prolonged exposure to polluted air," Naqib was quoted as saying.

"The decision also takes into account the need to ensure a safe and conducive learning environment before face-to-face schooling can resume."

Reasons for the extension

According to The Star, the decision aligned with a decree by Johor Regent Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim to prioritise the safety, health and well-being of Johor residents.

He said the state government also considered health reports and the risk of respiratory problems among children, students, and education community members.

Naqib also noted that winds forecast to blow from Kalimantan between Oct. 13 and 15 could also carry transboundary pollution into Johor.

With regard to academic assessments and examinations scheduled during the closure, Naqib said these will be postponed and rescheduled.

Where appropriate, students will continue learning at home to minimise disruption.

He added that the state government will keep a close watch on air quality and update the public through official channels.

Should the 24-hour Pollution Standards Index (PSI) cross 200 and enter the "very unhealthy range", the Singapore Government will distribute N95 masks to Singaporeans who may be more vulnerable to the effects of haze or who may have limited means of obtaining the masks.

Such persons include individuals with medical conditions, the elderly, pregnant women or children aged seven to 16.

24-hour mask vending machines will complement the distribution effort by the People's Association (PA) grassroots organisations.

The machines will be located at 37 public transport hubs and social services offices.

They will serve the following eligible persons:

• Pioneer Generation (PG)
• Merdeka Generation (MG)
• CHAS Orange card holder
• CHAS Blue card holder
• Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC) holder
• Recipients of ComCare Assistance

Each pack consists of two masks and can be collected at the vending machines with an NRIC.

Family members or friends can also make the collection on behalf of an eligible person using their NRIC.

Pregnant women, children aged seven to 16 and individuals with medical conditions may collect masks at PA venues with their NRICs.

These vending machines have been prepared and are on stand-by to be deployed.

As at 11am on Oct. 11, the 24-hour PSI reading for Central Singapore is 149, in the "Unhealthy" range.

Given the possibility of the haze situation deteriorating, the government has convened the Haze Taskforce (HTF), the National Environment Agency said in a media release on Oct. 9.

N95 mask distribution is part of a slew of measures announced in anticipation of a worsening haze.

A strike on an airport in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 10 has killed at least 12 and left over 300 people injured.

According to a report by BBC, the incident took place at King Khalid International Airport.

Those killed included 4 Saudis, 2 Bangladeshis, and 1 national each from the U.S., Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt.

A Saudi-led military coalition has blamed the Iran-backed Houthis for the attack, calling it a "war crime" and vowing to respond to it.

Footage from Terminal 3 at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh following an Ansar Allah missile strike.

It remains unclear whether the missile was ballistic or cruise, with conflicting reports on the type of weapon used. https://t.co/OaahGp6xfO

— OSINTWarfare (@OSINTWarfare) October 10, 2026

Eyewitnesses saw people lying injured on the ground

The Saudi civil aviation authority said in a statement on Saturday that some of the injured were "in critical condition", BBC reported.

It added that damage to the airport was being assessed.

All flights were diverted from Riyadh and operations at the airport were temporarily suspended, Reuters reported.

Speaking to Reuters, an eyewitness at the airport said they saw an explosion, followed by multiple people lying injured on the ground inside.

Several ambulances were also spotted rushing to the scene.

A traveller who was injured told the news agency they saw something fly across the sky outside the airport before part of the ceiling near a departure gate collapsed.

The strike came a day after authorities said three Saudis were killed in two Houthi attacks on two Saudi airports on Oct. 6 and 7, reported BBC.

When asked if Washington planned to join Saudi strikes on the Houthis, U.S. President Donald Trump said they may.

"​We're going to look at it. We just found out about the recent attack, so we'll make a decision. We move very quickly," he was quoted as saying.

The attacks were also condemned by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He described them as demonstrating "a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life", Reuters reported.

Background

The Iran-backed Houthis have justified the attacks by pointing to Saudi Arabia’s support for Yemen’s government in the civil war.

According to Reuters, a Saudi-led coalition was formed in 2015 after Arab countries joined forces to stop the Houthis from taking over Yemen.

A temporary ceasefire, which was brokered in 2022, began to unravel in July this year, after the Houthis seized strategically important stretches of the Red Sea coast.

The Saudi-backed Yemeni government launched an offensive this week to retake the territory.

The Houthis have since declared Saudi airspace a zone of military operations and warned airliners to avoid it.

Indonesian officials have expressed their appreciation at Singapore's and Malaysia's readiness to help tackle the haze, The Straits Times reported on Oct. 11.

On Oct. 10, Singapore's Minister for Environment and Sustainability said that the Republic is aware of Indonesia's efforts to battle forest fires and "stand ready to assist".

She also said she was been in touch with her Indonesian counterpart and offered her support.

Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had also spoken to Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto and expressed his concerns over the haze situation, The Star reported.

Anwar also told local media that Malaysia had expressed its readiness to extend cooperation over the past several weeks.

In Singapore, the 1-hour PM2.5 reading has crossed into the "unhealthy" range on multiple occasions this past week.

According to the Indonesian Ministry of Forestry, as of Oct. 9, satellites have detected 437 hotspots across the region, an increase of 50 from Oct. 8.

Low visibility will hinder aircraft operations

The acting spokesman for Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Berton Panjaitan, told ST that in terms of assistance from neighbours, ground personnel is preferred over aircraft.

Visibility is low, Berton explained, suggesting that conditions might hinder the operation of aircraft.

Berton also noted that this was his personal assessment and not an official request for aid, according to ST.

In a quote to ST, Ristianto Pribadi, the spokesman for Indonesia's Ministry of Forestry, expressed appreciation for the concern and readiness of Malaysia and Singapore to help tackle the forest fires in Indoneisa.

He said that Indonesia regards this as a "demonstration of friendship and the spirit of regional cooperation".

Neither Berton nor Ristianto could confirm if the country has accepted Singapore's offer of assistance, ST reported.

While Ristianto explained that such international collaboration was coordinated by Indonesia's foreign ministry, the Ministry of Forest is ready to support technical coordination according to operational firefighting needs on the ground.

Indonesia's rice crop targets

Indonesia's deputy forestry minister Rohmat Marzuki said on Friday (Oct. 9) that president Prabowo had communicated with Malaysia's and Singapore's leaders on strengthening joint efforts to prevent and control forest and land fires, Jakarta Globe reported.

According to The Jakarta Post, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, President Prabowo Subianto’s younger brother and Indonesia's special envoy for climate and energy, said at a sustainability forum on Oct. 6 that the government has attained its rice crop production target three years early.

This meant it no longer needed to proceed with planned crop fields and thus no longer needed to clear more forest land.

However, Ristianto cautioned that this did not mean ongoing forest-clearing activities would stop.

The ongoing haze is the result of raging forest and peatland fires across Indonesia, mostly in Kalimantan and South Sumatra.

Dry conditions brought on by El Nino have exacerbated the fires.

Indonesian firefighters battling the blaze have said that this year's fires are "much worse" than those of the past years, according to the BBC.

Eligible Singaporeans can now get subsidised treatment for haze-related conditions at participating general practitioner (GP) clinics and all polyclinics from Oct. 12, under the Haze Subsidy Scheme (HSS).

Speaking to reporters at an event at Bukit Canberra on Oct. 11, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said the current haze conditions are expected to persist for the next few weeks.

As of 10am on Sunday, the 24-hour PSI readings stood at 118 in the north, 115 in the south, 136 in the east, 151 in the west and 149 in the central region.

The air quality is classified as unhealthy if the PSI is in the range of 101 to 200.

Ong added that Singapore has seen a week-on-week increase in patients with respiratory issues at emergency departments.

He urged the public to seek treatment at clinics if their respiratory symptoms are not serious, while those with more serious conditions can continue to go to emergency departments.

"We are very careful in protecting that resource because people need to go there for life-and-death situations," he said, referring to emergency departments.

It is not yet clear how long the HSS will run.

The HSS will be rolled out through the Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC) scheme, which coordinates primary care responses and provides subsidised care during health alerts and emergencies.

Who is eligible?

Singapore citizens who will be eligible for the HSS at PHPCs include children (aged 18 and below), and the elderly (aged 65 and above).

Individuals on the following schemes will also be eligible:

• Public Assistance (PA);
• Pioneer Generation (PG);
• Merdeka Generation (MG);
• Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) – Blue and Orange cardholders only; and
• Medical Fee Exemption Card (MFEC).

All Singapore citizens are eligible for HSS at polyclinics.

How much will one have to pay?

PA cardholders will receive fully subsidised care for haze-related conditions at PHPCs and polyclinics under HSS.

PG and MG seniors will pay no more than S$5, while other eligible Singapore Citizens will pay no more than S$10.

The conditions covered under the HSS include allergic rhinitis, asthma, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, upper respiratory tract infection, and their complications.

More information on the HSS, including the list of PHPCs, is available on the Ministry of Health's website here.

Patients can also identify participating clinics by the PHPC decal or HSS poster displayed at the clinics.

There are just over three weeks to go until the U.S. midterm elections, which will determine control of the legislative branch of the U.S. government.

On Nov. 3, the U.S. will go to the ballot box to elect all 435 members, about one-third of the Senate (35 out of 100 seats), as well as decide on a host of state and local contests, such as governors' races in 36 states, like California.

So how is the makeup of the U.S. government expected to change, are there any unexpected outcomes, and how might it affect the world?

Democratic resurgence

Just after Republican Donald Trump had won back the White House over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.

When Republican Donald Trump won back the White House over Democratic nominee Kamala Harris in 2024, pessimism about the Democrats’ future was at a fever pitch.

So for polling to show two years later that the party is heavy favourites to take back the House of Representatives, the lower house, and has a realistic chance of winning the Senate, implies a remarkable turnaround in their fortunes.

The Silver Bulletin, the outlet set up by polling analyst Nate Silver that tracks U.S. polls, shows the Democrats leading Republicans on a generic ballot.

The generic ballot is a general question about which party respondents prefer, without dealing with the specifics of individual candidates (for example, you may not like a political party, but you may like your local MP from that party, affecting how you vote).

The Economist’s model suggests, at the time of writing, that the Democrats have a 94 per cent chance of winning the majority, and a likely outcome is that they would win enough seats to give them a significant majority.

Trade tariffs, energy prices, and cost of living

Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election by targeting cost-of-living issues, and claimed that his opponent, Kamala Harris, would lead the U.S. to a new war.

Since taking office in 2025, he has introduced punishing trade tariffs on practically every country on the face of the earth, started a trade war with China, and an actual war with Iran.

While Trump claimed that it would be the tariffed countries that would ultimately pay more to sell to the U.S., in actuality, the price of the tariffs has been passed on to the U.S. consumer.

The Iran war's impact has been wide-ranging, even going so far as to potentially damage U.S. global prestige, but its most salient impact has been the restriction of energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

That restriction of the Strait has led to surging energy prices globally, and in the U.S. the price of diesel has risen by about two-thirds since the start of the war.

Diesel is used in significant quantities by both the logistics and the farming industries, meaning that if Trump's recent actions to lower the price of diesel do not succeed, it will exacerbate the cost of living even more than it already has.

This is not to mention that even if he were to be successful, it might already be too late to impact the midterm elections.

These two factors have contributed significantly to rising inflation, resulting in the U.S. Federal Reserve raising interest rates.

And the Senate too

The House changing hands is not that surprising; it is not uncommon for the midterms to be punishing incumbents.

The House went to the opposition against Trump in 2018, but also against Joe Biden in 2022, Barack Obama in 2010, George W. Bush in 2006, to give a few examples from this millennium alone.

Losing the Senate is not exactly rare either, but this year was expected to be particularly difficult for Democrats, as strong Republican states are holding elections for senators, such as Texas, Kansas, Alaska, and Ohio, to name but a few.

The Atlantic described a Democratic victory in the Senate as “far-fetched” as late as a year ago, but now predicts the party has a 60 per cent chance of pulling it off.

Another factor is that Trump’s falling popularity in states considered “safe”, such as Texas, is having a knock-on effect on Senate races.

Trump recently held a third rally in Texas in a single month. He was supporting Texas Republican Ken Paxton, against Democrat James Talarico.

While Reuters reports the rally was “packed”, it took resources away from other races, just to ensure victory in a state that he won by a huge margin just two years ago.

What does it mean if the Republicans lose the House and Senate?

If Trump loses the midterms, there are concerns, or hopes depending on where you stand, that he will effectively be a “lame-duck” president.

This means that he will no longer be able to effect significant policy, especially domestically, as a hostile legislature forces him to either retreat from or significantly water down controversial policies.

While the House and Senate cannot unilaterally withdraw troops from conflicts like Iran, they can place limits on funding, limiting what actions can be taken.

There is an expectation that the Democrats will try to impeach Trump again, as well as investigate him and his allies for rule breaches, although it should be noted that even a successful impeachment requires a supermajority in the Senate to remove Trump.

But perhaps most prominently, should a Supreme Court justice step down or pass away after the midterms, it will be the Democrats who decide whether Trump’s nominee will be accepted, or if it will come to a vote at all, as a Republican-controlled Senate did in the final year of an Obama administration.

This is less of a hypothetical issue than usual, with Samuel Alito hinting that he was considering retiring soon.

Overall, a change in midterms is expected to significantly change how Trump behaves.

While his opponents hope that it will limit his actions, some believe that the lame-duck scenario will lead him to behave more aggressively and erratically.

But the prospect of a total loss, once thought nigh impossible, now verges on reality.

Singer Bella Astillah's children, Ayden and Ara, expressed their happiness at being able to call Malaysian politician Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman "daddy" after the couple officially married on Oct. 10.

Livestreamed on Malaysian channels and online platforms from 9am, the solemnisation ceremony took place at Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka 118, with 200 guests in attendance, an earlier report mentioned.

Someone to call Dad

Ayden told Malaysian media outlet Gempak that they are very excited about the addition of a new member to their family.

"And I have someone to call daddy!"

Ayden added that the two of them were very much looking forward to welcoming a new member into the family.

Ara also similarly expressed happiness at the new addition to the family.

The two have been very welcoming of Syed Saddiq, with Ayden even openly calling him "daddy" since a few months back.

That affection has been very much returned.

The couple previously got engaged on Mar. 28, 2026, where the engagement ceremony was livestreamed on Astro's social media platforms.

It took place at 3:30pm that day and was attended by family and close industry friends.

In his speech, Syed Saddiq said he was speaking not as a member of parliament or debater, but as the "luckiest man on this earth".

Politicians attended

A separate report also mentioned that among the guests on Oct. 10 were Singapore's Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, whom Syed Saddiq previously invited to his wedding.

Syed Saddiq had joked that the invitation marked an "upgrade" in bilateral ties between the two countries.

Others in attendance included former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo.

Wedding reception, community receptions

Over the next few weekends, the couple will hold another wedding reception in Kuala Lumpur as well as community receptions in Syed Saddiq's constituency in Muar and Kota Kinabalu in Bella's home state of Sabah.

Describing it as a kenduri rakyat (the people's feast), the receptions in Muar and Kota Kinabalu openly invite the public to celebrate the happy occasion with them.

To give back to the community, the couple has prepared 10,000 wedding doorgifts for receptions in Muar and Kota Kinabalu.

The doorgifts and food will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, but Syed Saddiq said the couple will be there to "spend time with the guests who attend", according to Malay Mail.

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Local air purifier sales have seen an increase due to the worsening haze, with appliance stores interviewed by Lianhe Zaobao experiencing a significant increase in sales.

Demand

A Gain City spokesperson told Zaobao that September 2026 air purifier sales increased by 76 per cent compared to August 2026.

They are currently working closely with various brand suppliers to ensure supply, as well as restocking some popular models weekly to meet market demand.

Gain City sells more than 100 air purifier models. Besides purification efficiency, consumers are increasingly looking at whether a product can filter PM2.5, pollen and other airborne particles, the spokesperson said.

A Courts spokesperson also told Zaobao that its air purifiers saw an increase of more than fourfold in sales in the last three to four weeks.

With a significant increase in the number of customer inquiries, the spokesperson added that many have enquired about the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of air purifiers.

They have also asked about other factors, including lifespan and frequency of filter replacements.

Zaobao cited Courts as saying they still have sufficient air purifier inventory online and across its 12 stores islandwide.

It also maintains its inventory of products at different prices and specifications by working with brand partners and supply chain distributors.

Electronics and home appliance retailer Audio House's founder and executive director also told Zaobao that there has been a 100 per cent increase in air purifier sales as compared to non-haze periods.

As concerns about haze in Singapore rise, the Ministry of Education (MOE) would consider closing schools and postponing national exams if the next day’s forecast enters the hazardous range, which is a 24-hour PSI above 300.

For now, Minister for Education Desmond Lee said lessons and national exams will continue in enclosed venues with air purifiers.

Schools are also ready to step up measures if required.

For students who are unwell and unable to sit for their exams, they may apply for Special Consideration through their schools.

In his Facebook post on Oct. 10, Lee shared that any decision to close schools will be announced around 8pm the day before through schools and the official channels.

"We will continue to monitor the situation closely each day and review whether schools should stay open or be closed the next day."

"I know many parents are concerned about the haze, especially those with children who have medical conditions or are sitting for national examinations. I assure you that the health and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority," Lee said.

Under MOE's haze management measures, when the 24-hour PSI forecast is in the unhealthy range (101-200), schools are to avoid strenuous outdoor physical activities that require a lot of energy or effort and continuous exposure for several hours.

All classrooms are to have air purifiers, and students who are unwell or have pre-existing lung or heart conditions will be exempted from all outdoor physical activities.

As of 6pm on Oct. 10, the 24-hour PSI reading sits in the unhealthy range, with the central area at 168.

Haze Task Force convened

With the possibility of haze conditions worsening in the upcoming days, the Singaporean government's Haze Task Force (HTF) has convened and stands ready to roll out the next tier of action plans and advisories to protect the health and well-being of the public.

The HTF is led by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and comprises 28 government agencies.

The HTF outlined the measures it was preparing to take to ensure public health, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, pregnant women, children, and those with chronic lung and heart diseases.

NEA said that the 24-hour PSI may exceed 200 and enter the very unhealthy range as the haze situation has deteriorated over the past week due to an increase in hotspots in southern and central Sumatra, as well as unfavourable wind conditions.

Should the PSI enter the very unhealthy range, the People's Association (PA) grassroots organisations will start distributing N95 masks to eligible Singaporeans, such as those who may be more vulnerable to the effects of the haze or may have limited means of obtaining N95 masks.

Eligible Singaporeans can collect N95 masks or ask family members or friends to collect masks on their behalf using the eligible person’s NRIC at vending machines at selected public transport hubs, Social Service Offices and PA venues.

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Some cast members from the new Singapore mockumentary, The Sandbox, went to surprise some moviegoers at one of the screenings.

However, the excitement quickly turned to slight apprehension.

Documented on his Instagram, one of the stars, Nathan Hartono, shared that only seven people were in the cinema.

But the stars took it in their stride, and thanked the fans for supporting the movie.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Nathan Hartono 向洋 (@nathanhartono)

"This is the reality of releasing independent films in Singapore," wrote Hartono in the caption.

"All the good intentions in the world can never replace butts in seats."

The Sandbox is a new Singapore mockumentary by director James Thoo.

The plot follows a struggling stunt training school in Singapore that suddenly fills with applicants after a rumour that Marvel is looking to cast its next superhero from Singapore.

It's a zany premise, with some well-known local names like Benjamin Kheng, Hartono, Oon Shu An and Fauzi Azzhar.

Cast members also commented on Hartono's post, thanking those who came to the screening.

Thoo, the director, said: "We keep fighting".

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Nathan Hartono 向洋 (@nathanhartono)

Interestingly, a point mentioned in the video about Singaporeans waiting for streaming was also touched on by Fauzi.

He made this observation:

"Not every Singaporean film is guaranteed streaming release. It really depends on the theatrical runs in the cinemas or if you got budget.

And most of the time both also not met as a criteria. So if we then keep waiting for films to appear on streaming platforms instead of supporting them in cinemas, how do we then expect our local film industry to grow anyway?"

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A post shared by Fauzi Azzhar (@fauziazzhar)

The cast and director of The Sandbox recently sat down with Mothership to discuss artificial intelligence and its impact on Singapore's arts scene, as well as the inspiration behind the movie.

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A post shared by Mothership (@mothershipsg)