News about Singapore: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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Due to the worst air quality in Singapore in more than a decade, running clubs moved their training sessions into shopping malls: more than 80 runners circled the corridors of Marina Square before the stores opened, preparing for international marathons.
Otabek YusupovSchools in the southern Malaysian state of Johor have reopened after a 10-day suspension that affected more than 1,000 schools and about 600,000 students. The decision was made after air quality improved, but the situation remains tense in Sarawak and Singapore, while Indonesia continues to battle fires.
Aziz KarimovAccording to the updated Henley Passport Index ranking, Uzbekistan took 82nd place among 106 states, dropping nine positions compared to April 2026. Citizens of the country can visit 57 states without a visa or with a visa on arrival. First place is retained by Singapore (193 destinations), the last — Afghanistan (22).
Javlon TursunovOn the second day of Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's working visit to the UAE, President Sheikh Mohamed held talks with him in Abu Dhabi. The sides agreed to expand cooperation in the economy, investment, advanced technology and AI, including establishing a joint task force on energy and agreements in higher education and healthcare.
Sevara AzamovaThe 2026 ranking, based on Lloyd's List data for 2025, is led by Shanghai: its container throughput is more than five times that of the largest US port, Los Angeles. Chinese ports accounted for nearly half of the total throughput of the 30 ports on the list. Singapore, operating as a 'transit hub,' took second place and is expanding capacity through the Tuas project.
Javlon TursunovSheikh Khaled bin Mohamed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, held a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to the UAE. The sides discussed relations between the two countries, after which the Crown Prince accompanied the guest on a tour of the Zayed National Museum.
Javlon TursunovThe Nusantara Atlas monitoring project estimated the area burned by fires in Indonesia from January to the end of September at more than 1.9 million hectares, calling the figure conservative. This is 38% more than by the same point in 2019. Jakarta declined foreign assistance, while Singapore reported 15 consecutive 'unhealthy' air quality days — more than during the 2015 crisis.
Otabek YusupovThe OECD presented PISA results in September 2026, involving more than 760,000 15-year-old students from 91 countries and economies. Four regions of China lead in science (597) and mathematics (612), Singapore in reading literacy (535), and Macao in computational problem solving (572). A decline in OECD countries' average scores over 2015–2025 and a growing share of students not reaching the baseline level were noted.
Aziz KarimovSingapore announced it has sent 'preventive notices' to seven Indonesian companies whose lands, according to an investigation, were the source of fires causing haze across Southeast Asia. In Indonesia, four people died while fighting fires on Java. Air quality in Singapore reached 'very unhealthy' levels, while in Palangka Raya it was hazardous.
Otabek YusupovFour members of a firefighting team died and two suffered severe burns while battling forest fires in Bromo Tengger Semeru national park in East Java. Months of fires and toxic smoke forced school closures in Malaysia, worsened air quality in Singapore and Jakarta, and affected more than 2,000 flights. Singapore is investigating companies linked to the fires and is considering action under its transboundary haze pollution law.
Aziz KarimovThick smoke from forest fires burning in Indonesia for several months hid Palangkaraya on October 15 and reached Singapore. The haze also covered Malaysia, the Philippines and East Timor, where schools were closed for three days.
Otabek Yusupov
