Premiering 24 October 2026

The alert was cancelled eight minutes later, after authorities determined that a magnitude-6.9 earthquake in eastern Russia had been incorrectly detected by Japan's warning system.

Japan's weather agency apologised for the false alarm. It ruled out a cyberattack as the cause, and is investigating what went wrong.

Minister Grace Fu said it is something they will consider.

If the 24-hour PSI forecast exceeds 200, employers should avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor work, minimise outdoor work for vulnerable workers and provide N95 masks to those working outdoors for extended periods.

If the PSI forecast exceeds 300 and enters the hazardous range, she said employers should further minimise outdoor work, including for healthy workers.

For jobs that cannot be done from home, employers are encouraged to offer flexible leave options, including paid time off or advance use of next year’s annual leave, Ms Lau added. #singapore #sgnews #haze

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu announced this at a news conference on Friday (Oct 16).

Lawyer Marshall Lim says on the Deep Dive podcast no system can completely prevent the misuse of confidential information, as overly stringent safeguards could come at an unfair cost to other civil servants. What matters is whether the penalties in place are strong enough to deter others from breaking the rules.

Air quality worsened across Singapore overnight, with the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings in three regions reaching the very unhealthy level.

The 24-hour PSI in central Singapore entered the very unhealthy range at midnight and hit 227 at 9am, a new high for the year. At noon, it stood at 226.