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            <title>Mothership.SG - News from Singapore, Asia and around the world</title>
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                    <title>Ex-BigBang member Seungri, 35, marries pregnant girlfriend in her 20s</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/ex-bigbang-member-seungri-married/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-28T11:42:29</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Gracia Yap ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/ex-bigbang-member-seungri-married/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Korean media reports state that the couple have registered their marriage and are legally married. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/seungri-married.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Former K-pop band BigBang's Seungri has registered his marriage to his non-celebrity girlfriend in her 20s, and both are set to become parents in January 2027.</p><p><a href="https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20261028/seungri-already-married-to-pregnant-girlfriend-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Korea Times</em></a> reported that the couple, who are now legally married, are expecting a baby boy.</p>
<p><h2>No wedding</h2></p><p>According to <a href="https://www.mk.co.kr/en/culture/12187996" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Maeil Business</em></a>, the disgraced member, whose birth name is Lee Seung Hyun, did not hold a wedding ceremony and is focusing on prenatal care with his pregnant wife.</p><p>The couple have a newlywed home prepared in Gangnam, <a href="https://www.chosun.com/english/kpop-culture-en/2026/10/28/B6SNKH5JOFG5NF2QXSFVRQRNTE/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>The Chosun Daily</em></a> reported.</p><p><h2>Police investigation</h2></p><p>However, Lee, 35, is under police investigation and was sued for aggravated assault.</p><p>In August 2026, he allegedly threatened a man with a soju bottle and assaulted him at a restaurant in southern Seoul, <em>The Korea Times</em> reported.</p><p>Though Lee's side acknowledged picking up a soju bottle, they denied swinging it or using it to assault the man.</p><p>As such, the investigation is expected to determine the specific circumstances of the incident since both sides have differing accounts.</p><p><h2>Previously jailed</h2></p><p>Earlier <a href="https://mothership.sg/2024/05/seungri-private-party-malaysia/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">reports</a> mentioned that Lee was previously slapped with multiple charges, such as facilitating prostitution and gambling overseas related to the Burning Sun nightclub sex scandal.</p><p>It also included other celebrities like solo singer Jung Joon Young, Choi Jong Hoon of F.T. Island, and Lee Jong Hyun of CNBLUE.</p><p>Rape, prostitution and drug trafficking had allegedly occurred in the Seoul nightclub, and the scandal broke when a video of a girl allegedly being assaulted in the club surfaced in January 2019.</p><p>According to <a href="https://www.rfi.fr/en/ex-k-pop-star-seungri-jailed-for-3-years-for-arranging-prostitution" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>AFP</em></a><span> </span>and<span> </span><em>Yonhap</em>, he had arranged prostitutes from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and other countries for foreign investors on 24 occasions over five months from September 2015.</p><p>Lee was also charged with misappropriating about 528 million won (S$613,561) from club funds. Additionally, he had gambled in Las Vegas from December 2013 to August 2017 with a total of 2.2 billion won (S$2.56 million).</p><p>He was <a href="https://mothership.sg/2021/08/big-bang-seungri-jail/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">sentenced</a> to <a href="https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230210000554" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">18 months' jail</a> in 2021 and released in February 2023.</p><p>On May 24, 2024, Hong Kong authorities refuted claims that Lee had applied for a visa in order to open a nightclub in the region, according to the <a href="https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3263864/hong-kong-government-says-south-korean-fallen-star-seungri-has-not-applied-visa-settle-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>South China Morning Post</em></a>.</p><p><h2>Debuted in 2006</h2></p><p>Prior to this, Lee had debuted as a member of BigBang under YG Entertainment in 2006.</p><p>The group shot to fame with popular song such as Haru Haru, Fantastic Baby and Bang Bang Bang.</p><p>Lee subsequently left the group in 2019 and announced his retirement from the entertainment industry.</p><p><h2>Related stories</h2></p><iframe class='post-embed title='Ex-BigBang member Seungri, 35, marries pregnant girlfriend in her 20s' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2024/05/seungri-private-party-malaysia/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><iframe class='post-embed title='Ex-BigBang member Seungri, 35, marries pregnant girlfriend in her 20s' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2021/08/big-bang-seungri-jail/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><iframe class='post-embed title='Ex-BigBang member Seungri, 35, marries pregnant girlfriend in her 20s' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2019/03/what-is-seungri-scandal/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
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                    <title>HK actress, 32, marries politician, 73, who has known her father for 26 years</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/hk-opera-performer-marries-politician-73/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-28T11:39:13</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Izza Sofia ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/hk-opera-performer-marries-politician-73/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ The groom drove a red Ferrari 348 Spider convertible to pick up his bride. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Untitled-design-15.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Hong Kong Cantonese opera actress Yemina Yu Chung-yan, 32, tied the knot with politician Lo Wai-kwok, 73, on Oct. 11, 2026.</p><p>The couple has a 41-year age gap. Lo has also known Yu's father, veteran horse-racing commentator Yu Pak-lok, for 26 years.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.hk01.com/%E6%94%BF%E6%83%85/60399366/%E7%9B%A7%E5%81%89%E5%9C%8B%E5%90%91%E5%B9%B4%E8%BC%95%E5%A4%96%E7%88%B6%E6%95%AC%E8%8C%B6%E6%9B%9D%E5%85%89-%E7%9B%B8%E8%AD%9826%E5%B9%B4%E8%A8%B1%E9%85%8D%E5%8D%83%E9%87%91%E4%BA%88%E8%80%81%E5%8F%8B-%E6%94%BF%E5%A3%87%E8%AB%B8%E4%BA%8B%E7%94%BA" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>HK01</em></a>, Yu shared photographs from their wedding on her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10163959482354582&amp;set=pcb.10163959521214582" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook</a>, including one showing Lo serving tea to her father during a traditional Chinese tea ceremony.</p><p><h2>Groom has known bride's father for 26 years</h2></p><p>Lo has been friends with Yu’s father for 26 years.</p><p>According to <em>HK01</em>, Yu's father had previously expressed his support for the marriage, saying he believed his daughter had carefully considered her decision and therefore had no objections.</p><p>He also praised Lo as someone who valued relationships.</p><p><h2>Couple held wedding at Hong Kong Jockey Club venue</h2></p><p>The couple held their wedding at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Beas River Country Club in Sheung Shui.</p><p>Yu said the couple chose the venue because of their shared love for horses.</p><p>Lo has owned several racehorses, while Yu, a practising veterinarian, enjoys horse riding and show jumping. Her father had introduced her to equestrian activities when she was young.</p><p>Two ponies were also brought to the wedding venue for guests to interact with.</p><p>Around 300 guests attended the celebration.</p><p>In her Facebook post, Yu thanked her family, friends, veterinary professors and veterans of the Cantonese opera industry for their well-wishes.</p><p><h2>Groom picks up bride in 1994 Ferrari</h2></p><p>For the wedding, Lo drove a red Ferrari 348 Spider convertible to pick up his bride.</p><p>Yu revealed that the car was manufactured in 1994, the same year she was born.</p><p>“This red Ferrari was made in the same year I was born, making the occasion even more special,” she wrote.</p><p>Looking ahead, Yu shared her hopes for their marriage.</p><p><iframe width="500" height="805" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhelliyeminachung%2Fposts%2Fpfbid02W46estDBsTYjdbNBgEo5KQynd6BRBbCzNc39AhJ6fRXFQ7ycefu1DHkPGXEE4tTrl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p></p> ]]>
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                    <post-id xmlns="com-wordpress:feed-additions:1">1181251</post-id>
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                    <title>Couple bump into Chris Hemsworth at Changi City Point, go online to confirm it's really him, take photos together</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-changi/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-28T11:24:25</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Belmont Lay ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-changi/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Thor in Singapore. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-05.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A couple went to Changi City Point to have dinner on Sunday, Oct. 25 — and bumped into Hollywood actor and "The Avengers" superstar Chris Hemsworth.</p><p>Photos and an account of what happened were shared with <em>Mothership</em> by Ziyad.</p>
<p><h2>Noticed tall Caucasian man</h2></p><p>He said he and his wife were strolling around the mall and sat down in front of a clothing store for a short break.</p><p>Ziyad then noticed "a tall Caucasian man" walking with two young boys.</p><p>"He was dressed very casually, wearing a cap, sunglasses and a face mask," Ziyad said about the man's appearance.</p><p>That was when they heard the man speak.</p><p>Ziyad said: "It sounded incredibly familiar, and I immediately recognised it as Chris Hemsworth’s distinctive voice!"</p><p><h2>Followed him</h2></p><p>The husband then told his wife what he suspected and they tailed Hemsworth discreetly to ensure they got a positive match.</p><p>"We managed to get a closer look at his tattoos, including the Avengers-related tattoo on his arm, which matched what we had seen in pictures online. We also recognised his children’s faces from photographs we found on Google," Ziyad explained.</p><p>When these identifiers checked out, the couple grew confident they were right.</p><p>Ziyad said: "After he came out of the toilet and removed his face mask, he started making his way out of the mall. We decided to take our chance, followed him outside and called out to ask if we could take a photo with him."</p><p>To their astonishment, Hemsworth "immediately agreed" to pose for photos and was "incredibly friendly".</p><p>Ziyad added: "I managed to get a photo with him, and I even told him that I couldn’t wait for 'Avengers: Doomsday'. He responded with a friendly, 'Thanks, bro!'"</p><p>"Honestly, the whole experience felt like a dream. You never expect to bump into someone of his calibre during an ordinary Sunday outing in Singapore, let alone have such a friendly interaction with him."</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-06.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="1280" class="size-full wp-image-1181236" /> Photo via Ziyad
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</figure>
</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
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    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-07.jpg" alt="" width="960" height="1280" class="size-full wp-image-1181235" /> Photo via Ziyad
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</p><p><figure id="attachment" aria-describedby="caption-attachment" style="width: 720px" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
  <figcaption id="caption-attachment-468423" class="wp-caption-text">
    <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/chris-hemsworth-in-singapore-08.jpg" alt="" width="720" height="1280" class="size-full wp-image-1181234" /> Photo via Ziyad
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</p><p><h2>He is in Thailand filming</h2></p><p>On Oct. 28, Hemsworth <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DfBNGssCM1-/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">posted</a> on social media that he was finishing up filming "Extraction 3" in Thailand.</p><p>He wrote: "Crazy few weeks of filming Extraction 3 but managed to fill the weekends with some fun non work adventures too!"</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Couple bump into Chris Hemsworth at Changi City Point, go online to confirm it's really him, take photos together' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2019/09/chris-hemsworth-singapore-f1/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe></p> ]]>
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                <item>
                    <title>DPM Gan Kim Yong runs into WP's Alexis Dang & volunteers at Punggol, pose for picture together</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/gan-kim-yong-picture-alexis-dang/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-28T11:13:10</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Nicolas Wong ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/gan-kim-yong-picture-alexis-dang/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Mutual respect. ]]>
                    </description>

                    <content:encoded>
                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/GKY-run-into-wp-at-koufu.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Politics doesn't have to be confrontational.</p><p>In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1C9aybobbv/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">picture </a>shared on both Facebook and Instagram on Oct. 27, <span>Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Energy, Trade and Industry (Trade) Gan Kim Yong posed with a group of Workers' Party (WP) volunteers.</span></p>
<p>This included GE2025 hopeful Alexis Dang, who stood against him in the same GRC contest in Punggol.</p><p>He wrote in the caption: "Met WP activists at Koufu and they graciously agreed to take a photo with me."</p><p><iframe width="500" height="250" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGANKIMYONGPAGE%2Fposts%2Fpfbid032WnnWSZL77KS3NkeLhqz2719dttveeKk9UBW4HS82U4gBHEmQcM3VGZkNdUSmrqbl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></p><p>In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14tcfNc8BQ2/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">previous post</a>, Gan stated that he had been doing house visits in Punggol, and stopped at Koufu in Punggol Plaza for food with his volunteers.</p><p>Gan is a Member of Parliament (MP) for Punggol GRC, formerly serving in the same capacity at Chua Chu Kang GRC.</p><p>The group presumably ran into the WP volunteers at the same Koufu.</p><p>Seated at the middle of the WP table was Alexis Dang, who also ran as a candidate in Punggol GRC in the 2025 election.</p><p>Fielded in a team with Harpreet Singh, the WP side garnered 44.83 per cent of the vote, losing to the PAP.</p><p><h2>Responses</h2></p><p>Commenters praised both sides for maintaining amity despite being political opponents.</p><p>Some pointed out that both parties were working for the good of Singapore.</p><p><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-28-at-11.01.05 AM.png" alt="" width="906" height="166" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1181241" /> <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-28-at-10.59.16 AM.png" alt="" width="670" height="308" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1181243" /> <img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-28-at-10.58.51 AM.png" alt="" width="650" height="182" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-1181244" /></p></p> ]]>
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                <item>
                    <title>Netanyahu's govt hangs in the balance as exit polls show effective tie in Israel general election</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/netanyahu-tie-israel-general-election/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-28T10:55:37</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Tan Min-Wei ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/netanyahu-tie-israel-general-election/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Both blocs look set to win less than the 61 seats needed to form government.  ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Copy-of-Cover-image-2026-10-28T105711.511.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a> <a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/whatsapp-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a>Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tenure could be in jeopardy, as early exit polls for Israel's first general election since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack indicated a virtual tie with the opposition.</p><p>The <em><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/27/israel-election-too-close-to-call-as-exit-polls-give-netanyahu-bloc-slightly-fewer-seats" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Guardian</a></em> reported that exit polls indicated that the opposition bloc of parties would win more seats than Netanyahu’s coalition, although with no clear overall winner.</p><p><h2>High Turnout</h2></p><p>The election took place on Oct. 27, and <em><a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/10/27/nx-s1-6019381/israel-elections" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NPR</a></em> reports a turnout of 77.7 per cent, the highest since 1999.</p>
<p>Some have <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3j47l4kdez4o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">called</a> it one of the most pivotal elections in Israel's history, as it is currently in the middle of ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Iran, with further conflicts brewing with neighbours such as Syria.</p><p>Netanyahu is personally unpopular, with the <a href="https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/poll-shows-widespread-dissatisfaction-with-pm-and-ministers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Times of Israel</em></a> reporting that 58 per cent of Israelis rate his performance as poor, as many Israelis <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5zjx7xx3487o" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">blame</a> Netanyahu for the Oct. 7 attacks, viewing it as a security failure.</p><p>His most prominent opponent, the former head of the Israeli Defense Forces, Gadi Eisenkot, is also very security-minded, and has promised to oust the Palestinian militant group Hamas from Gaza.</p><p>Netanyahu’s Likud party has emerged as the largest individual party in exit polls, but an analyst speaking to the <em><a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cqpvgnlm9944t?post=asset%3A63aefe4e-52e0-4581-a50d-270b3429a931#post" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBC</a></em> called it a “meaningless consolation prize” as his coalition appears to have been eclipsed by Eisenkot’s bloc.</p><p>However, later exit polls would show that the two blocs are effectively tied, predicted to each have won around 51 seats, with each needing 61 seats to form a government.</p><p><h2>Coalition forming</h2></p><p>The <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cqpvgnlm9944t?post=asset%3A16bf6b5a-9a09-4488-b595-c98e239a4c33#post"><em>BBC</em></a> also reported that opposition parties have begun to declare the end of Netanyahu’s government, pledging to work together to form a government.</p><p>The leader of the left-leaning Democrats party said it was willing to “work with all its partners” to form a new government, and that the Netanyahu government had been “ousted.”</p><p>Former prime minister Yair Lapid said that Netanyahu’s coalition had suffered a “crushing defeat.”</p><p>But it may take several days before a winner is ultimately decided, as the many parties in the Knesset, Israel's parliament, jostle to form a coalition with a governing majority.</p><p>Experts said that Netanyahu might still be able to find his way back to government by appealing to centrist parties.</p><p>Netanyahu might be on his way out if the exit polls are accurate, but the electoral process is far from over.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>'Smoke can cross borders, so can money': S'pore, Indonesia to set up joint task force to investigate firms linked to forest fires</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/singapore-indonesia-joint-task-force/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-27T23:44:02</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Nyi Nyi Thet ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/singapore-indonesia-joint-task-force/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Joint task force. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Untitled-Design-87.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Singapore and Indonesia will set up a joint task force to hold companies accountable for forest fires.</p><p>The initiative was announced by Indonesian Foreign Minister Arrmanatha Nasir following talks with Singapore foreign minister Vivian Balakrishnan on Oct 27 at a joint press conference.</p>
<iframe class='post-embed title=''Smoke can cross borders, so can money': S'pore, Indonesia to set up joint task force to investigate firms linked to forest fires' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/10/vivian-balakrishnan-jakarta-foreign-minister/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p>In <a href="https://www.channelnewsasia.com/shorts/singapore-indonesia-setting-up-joint-task-force-probe-firms-linked-forest-fires-6496426" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">announcing the proposed task force</a>, Arrmanatha said that "smoke can cross borders, so can money", which is why he said it was important to follow the money trail these companies leave behind.</p><p>Arrmanatha said the they discussed establishing a joint task force on "strengthening business responsibility".</p><p>He said the proposed task force would facilitate information sharing, financial intelligence and cross-border evidence gathering with, and when possible, asset recovery.</p><p><h2><strong>Keep channels of communication open: Vivian </strong></h2></p><p>Vivian said that he had a fruitful discussion on strengthening Singapore and Indonesia's bilateral ties and tackling shared challenges, including the transboundary haze.</p><p>Vivian noted that Singapore and Indonesia share an enduring partnership built on mutual trust and respect.</p><p>"We will continue to keep channels of communication open, including through a hotline between the ministries", Vivian said.</p><p><h2><iframe width="380" height="476" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1135127348880900%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=380&amp;t=0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p><p>Appreciated the efforts of Indonesian President Prabowo</h2></p><p>According to Vivian, the joint task force will ensure that there is "very close" coordination between Indonesia and Singapore, and expects the deterrent impact of the joint task force to make a difference.</p><p>He also gave his assurance that Singapore will exercise all legal and regulatory power and are prepared to use an even wider range of legal, regulatory and economic measures to deter future violations by companies.</p><p>Vivian also said he appreciated the efforts of Indonesian President Prabowo in handling the situation, and noted Prabowo's firm commitment to hold the companies responsible for the fires.</p><p><iframe width="267" height="591" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1116713534620441%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=267&amp;t=0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he'd like to take learnings from S'pore's NS to Germany</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/german-chancellor-friedrich-merz-singapore-lecture/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-27T18:58:29</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Tan Min-Wei ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/german-chancellor-friedrich-merz-singapore-lecture/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Merz was delivering the 49th Singapore Lecture at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Copy-of-Cover-image-2026-10-27T183059.858.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/whatsapp-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>Chancellor of Germany Friedrich Merz delivered the 49th Singapore Lecture at the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute on Oct. 27, during his two-day official visit to Singapore.</p><p>Merz met with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong earlier in the day at Parliament House and the Istana, before delivering the lecture in a session chaired by Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo.</p><p>Teo noted in her introduction of Merz that he was the first Chancellor to deliver a Singapore Lecture in 15 years, entitled “Germany and the Indo-Pacific: Partnership, Competitiveness and Resilience in a Changing World.”</p>
<p><h2>Threshold of a new era</h2></p><p>Merz opened his lecture by emphasising that countries like Germany, Singapore, Japan, and South Korea, the latter two countries being next on his itinerary, stood on the “threshold of a new geopolitical era.”</p><p>It would be an era shaped by “new dynamics among great powers”, as well as technological revolution, and the  international order that had been “forged over decades,” now faced an erosion that was “at odds with our fundamental values and interests.”</p><p>He spoke about Europe and Germany’s own experience, in the form of Russia pursuing a “militant, revisionist agenda” when it invaded Ukraine unprovoked, sending shockwaves through Europe but also the Indo-Pacific.</p><p>But Merz said that the new era brought new opportunities, the chance to deepen ties and cooperation between Europe and Asia, in trade, technology, security policy, and the renewal of the international order.</p><p>He said that the German government’s approach to the world’s upheavals was fourfold:</p><p><ul></p><p> 	<li>Investing in global alliances</li></p><p> 	<li>Strengthening its resilience</li></p><p> 	<li>Investing in the international order</li></p><p> 	<li>Pursuing dialogue and diplomacy</li></p><p></ul></p><p><h2>On one-sided dependencies</h2></p><p>Merz spoke at length about building a network of partners with whom Germany shared core values, not just with Singapore, but other Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, India, and Vietnam.</p><p>However this did not mean that these partners would have to agree on everything, something that not even the closest of European allies did.</p><p>Merz said that he considered European and Indo-Pacific security issues as linked, saying that NATO worked closely with the Indo-Pacific Four, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand.</p><p>Despite the geographical distances, Merz said that the challenges faced were very similar and that: “Your security has a direct bearing on ours. Our security has a direct bearing on yours.”</p><p>In China relations, Merz spoke about a realistic, distinctly European, China policy for Germany.</p><p>Realism did not mean decoupling, a mistake that make  Germany neither safer nor more prosperous, but involved derisking and diversification, something that applied to all great powers.</p><p>He rejected “unhealthy, one-sided dependencies”, regardless of the partner involved, but Germany would not withdraw from cooperation and dialogue.</p><p><h2>Singapore-German ties</h2></p><p>He spoke warmly of Singapore-German ties, noting Germany training the SAF to operate German-built Leopard 2 tanks, and agreements to cooperate on submarines and cyber security.</p><p>There were also non-security cooperation initiatives, such as between Schaeffler and the Nanyang Technological University’s deepening cooperation in humanoid robotics, the German European School Singapore, the largest German school abroad in Asia, and the Singapore branch of the Technical University of Munich, TUM Asia.</p><p>Merz also cited Germany’s joining Singapore’s Guiding Principles for Underwater Infrastructure Defence Exchanges (GUIDE) along with 16 other countries, aimed at encouraging cooperation to enhance the security of undersea infrastructure like undersea cables.</p><p><h2>Learning from each other</h2></p><p>During the question-and-answer session that followed his lecture, he was asked twice what Germany could learn from Singapore and vice versa, once at the beginning and once at the end of the session.</p><p>Merz gave different answers each time.</p><p>To the earlier question, he emphasised the structural similarity between the German and Singaporean economy; both have a significant emphasis on industry and manufacturing, at least 20 per cent of GDP in Germany’s case.</p><p>He said both countries had to preserve this “strong basis for the wealth of our people”, and that countries should not rely on services only.</p><p>He also praised Singapore’s education system, especially what Teo helped identify as the Work Study Programme, which allows individuals to combine full-time employment with structured academic learning.</p><p>He noted that Singapore had adapted this type of education from the German system, and said that this was “a very successful transfer to Singapore,” and that he would like to see more of such exchanges.</p><p><h2>Ukraine and learning from National Service</h2></p><p>He was asked again at the end of the session by a student from the German European School Singapore (GESS), after Teo encouraged their delegation to ask Merz questions.</p><p>Merz had just answered a separate question about German and European roles in the Ukraine war’s peace process, to which he answered vigorously.</p><p>He said that no peace agreement by the U.S. and Russia could exclude Ukraine, and that “Ukraine is a part of Europe and belongs to the European Union” as Ukraine wanted to become a member.</p><p>Europe, he said, would be involved in the security setup of postwar Ukraine, and he said that he wanted no doubt that it “is in our European interest to defend (Ukraine) because we are not just defending the territorial integrity of this country; we are defending the entire political order of the European continent, and that's the reason why we are so engaged.”</p><p>It was after giving that answer that he answered the GESS student’s question by saying that he would like to learn from Singapore’s national service.</p><p>He suggested that many in Germany and Europe were reluctant to realise the security threat represented by Russia.</p><p>Merz said a key question for European societies was whether they were “willing” to defend their freedom, values, peace, and themselves, and that question was why Germany was discussing military service again.</p><p>Singapore’s military service, he noted, was “not disputed”, and that “the vast majority of the young people are agreeing with your system.”</p><p>Germany, Merz said, was far from that, and that was something he would like to learn from “and take this to Germany.”</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>Bus driver, 56, caught speeding 3 times in 2 days along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/bus-driver-speed-3-times/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-27T18:37:42</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Belmont Lay ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/bus-driver-speed-3-times/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ No speeding. ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/bus-speed-thrice.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>A 56-year-old man was caught speeding thrice in two days on Jul. 26 and 27, 2026.</p><p>He was caught twice on Jul. 26 alone.</p>
<p>He was slated to be charged in court alongside five other motorists, who were caught speeding between July and August 2026.</p><p><h2>Caught thrice</h2></p><p>The man was first caught on July 26 when he drove a bus along Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE) towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 76km/h, exceeding the vehicle’s imposed speed limit of 60km/h.</p><p>On the same day, he was again driving a bus along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 73km/h.</p><p>On July 27, he was also involved in another incident, where he drove a bus along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 73km/h.</p><p>The motorist will be charged for speeding.</p><p><h2>Another bus driver caught twice</h2></p><p>He was not the only driver who was caught more than once.</p><p>On Jul. 18, a 47-year-old man was driving a bus along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 73km/h, which exceeded the vehicle's imposed speed limit.</p><p>He was also involved in another incident on Jul. 26, where he was driving a bus along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 75km/h.</p><p><h2>Other four motorists</h2></p><p>Two other drivers were also caught speeding along the BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint.</p><p>On Jul. 12, a 59-year-old man was driving a truck along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 74km/h.</p><p>On Jul. 25, a 64-year-old man was driving a bus along BKE towards Woodlands Checkpoint at a speed of 74km/h.</p><p><h2>Two caught on AYE</h2></p><p>Two other drivers were caught speeding along Ayer Rajah Expressway (AYE) towards Marina Coastal Expressway (MCE).</p><p>On Aug. 1, 2026, a 52-year-old man was driving a bus along AYE towards MCE at a speed of 81km/h.</p><p>On Aug. 2, a 38-year-old man was driving a prime mover along AYE towards MCE as well, but at a speed of 63km/h, exceeding the vehicle’s imposed speed limit of 50km/h.</p><p><h2>Penalties</h2></p><p>"The traffic police will not tolerate motorists who speed or exceed prescribed speed limits, especially heavy vehicles, given the significant damage and harm such vehicles can cause in accidents," the news release said.</p><p>The offence of speeding carries a fine of up to S$1,000, a jail term of up to three months, or both.</p><p>In the case of a second or subsequent conviction, motorists are liable to a fine of up to S$2,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both.</p><p>Offenders may also face disqualification from driving all classes of vehicles.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>S'pore & Germany unveil new Joint Work Plan for next stage of relations</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/spore-germany-joint-work-plan/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-27T18:13:16</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Tan Min-Wei ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/spore-germany-joint-work-plan/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ Singapore and Germany's enjoy warm ties in areas such as trade and defence relations.  ]]>
                    </description>

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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/Copy-of-Cover-image-2026-10-27T141410.342.jpg"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>On Oct. 27, German Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz made an official visit to Singapore’s Parliament House, where he met with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.</p><p>This is Merz’s first visit to Singapore. The Chancellor of Germany is the head of government and equivalent to Singapore's prime minister.</p>
<p>While at Parliament House, Merz and PM Wong held a joint press conference, where they paid tribute to the strong ties between the two countries.</p><p>During the visit, PM Wong and Merz over saw the issuing of a refreshed Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between the two countries.</p><p>It also saw the release of the Joint Work Plan for 2027 and 2028, following on from the 2025 to 2026 Joint Work Plan.</p><p>The Joint Work Plan would guide Singapore-German cooperation across five pillars, namely:</p><p><ul></p><p> 	<li>Political, Defence, Security and Intelligence</li></p><p> 	<li>Trade, Investment, Transport, and Urban Development</li></p><p> 	<li>Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence</li></p><p> 	<li>Research, Science, Technology, and Innovation</li></p><p> 	<li>Energy Transition, Green Economy and Climate.</li></p><p></ul></p><p><h2>Warm welcome</h2></p><p>PM Wong said that Singapore and Germany enjoyed a long-standing and substantive partnership built on mutual trust and shared interest.</p><p>Germany was an important partner in Singapore's development, and over the decades, the relationship had grown from strength to strength. Current cooperation spans many areas, underpinned by the Strategic Partnership which was agreed upon in 2024.</p><p>Germany is one of Singapore's largest trading partners in the European Union, with bilateral trade in goods and services having increased significantly since 2019, when the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement entered into force.</p><p>PM Wong also lauded the strong defence ties between the two countries, giving examples such as Singapore's Leopard tanks and Invincible-class submarines, and the first Sentinel-class offshore patrol vessel, all of which were built in Germany.</p><p>PM Wong said that Singapore also deeply appreciated Germany's long-standing support of the SAF’s armour training in Oberlausitz and submarine crew training in Kiel.</p><p><h2>Future cooperation</h2></p><p>PM Wong highlighted four areas where both countries could do more under Singapore's strategic partnership with Germany, elaborating on four areas covered by the 2027/2028 Joint Work Plan.</p><p><h3>Digital economy and AI</h3></p><p>The first area was the digital economy and artificial intelligence, where PM Wong said that there was enormous potential for digital technologies and AI to transform both economies and create new opportunities for businesses and workers.</p><p>Both countries wanted to go further, particularly in the development and deployment of industrial AI, where PM Wong believed the strengths of both countries could complement each other.</p><p>But he also recognised that AI brought new risks and challenges, and it was important to ensure that AI deployment is done in a way that remains “safe, trusted, and human-centred.”</p><p><h3>Research and innovation</h3></p><p>PM Wong recognised the strong German academic and research presence in Singapore, saying that they had brought researchers and institutions closer together, creating valuable opportunities for collaboration.</p><p>2026 also saw the launch of the Singapore-Germany Year of Innovation, and both countries intended to build on this momentum and pursue more joint research and innovation projects in areas such as AI, advanced manufacturing, green technology, semiconductors, quantum, and space technologies.</p><p><h3>Strengthening regional cooperation</h3></p><p>Both countries are deeply connected to the global economy, depending on open markets and strong international partnerships.</p><p>However, PM Wong warned that the world was becoming more fragmented, with the "zeitgeist" turning against openness and trade.</p><p>He said that the correct response could not be to turn inwards, but instead should be to work with like-minded partners to build new connections.</p><p>He welcomed Germany becoming an Asean sectoral dialogue partner in July and said that, as Asean chair next year, Singapore would work to deepen Asean's partnerships with both Germany and the EU.</p><p>Both PM Wong and Merz also discussed strengthening linkages between the EU and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).</p><p>These efforts would help strengthen integration within and across regions, allowing for the diversification of economic links and building greater resilience against global uncertainties.</p><p><h3>International rules-based order</h3></p><p>For the final point, PM Wong said that both Singapore and Germany were natural partners in upholding the international rules-based order.</p><p>PM Wong said that Singapore would continue to work closely with Germany and other like-minded partners to uphold international law and the UN Charter, and strengthen multilateral institutions, including the WTO.</p><p>He said that he acknowledged the international order was far from perfect, but the answer was to reform and strengthen it rather than abandon it.</p><p><h2>Questions and answers</h2></p><p>During the Question and Answer portion of the press conference, PM Wong was asked what opportunities Singaporean businesses would see from the partnership, to which PM Wong said Singapore and Germany brought complementary strengths to the table.</p><p>He gave the example of Germany being a world leader in industrial capabilities and engineering, and Singapore's investments in digital technologies and AI.</p><p>If the strengths of both countries were combined, it was possible to make progress in areas like industrial AI, particularly in areas such as robotics and automated solutions in manufacturing and logistics.</p><p><h3>Opportunities for Singapore in AI application</h3></p><p>PM Wong elaborated more in a second question, when he was asked what role middle powers had in AI and whether they would be able to compete with AI superpowers like China and the U.S.</p><p>PM Wong acknowledged that much of AI's frontier development or model building was taking place in the U.S. and China, but Singapore's focus was more on the application of AI.</p><p>He believed that in that arena, Singapore had some advantages to offer, such as being small, compact, and highly connected as a society.</p><p>Singapore also had the rule of law and clear protection for intellectual property, and saw a lot of opportunities in sectors like healthcare, logistics, finance, and advanced manufacturing.</p><p>In these areas PM Wong said it was possible to truly “push the frontiers in terms of the deployment of actual AI solutions, and that is a space where we are investing in.”</p><p>These were the areas where Singapore was making progress and was keen to work further with Germany.</p><p><h2>Shared views</h2></p><p>Merz for his part said that he completely shared PM Wong's view, suggesting that Singapore, like Germany, had an important industrial sector, leading to a shared perspective, especially regarding the application of AI.</p><p>He also emphasised the regulatory framework in Europe, which he said allowed the development of AI applications to proceed very quickly.</p><p>Merz said that if these projects were undertaken together, then the combined influence would be significantly greater.</p><p>In response to a question about closer ties between the EU and Asean, PM Wong said that as Singapore would be Asean Chair next year, it will find a meaningful way to mark the 50th anniversary of the EU-Asean partnership in 2027.</p><p>PM Wong also shared that steps are being taken towards an EU-Asean Free Trade Agreement.</p><p>While it will be complex and challenging, one could take confidence in the fact that individual Asean countries have been discussing their own trade agreements with the EU.</p></p> ]]>
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                    <title>Woman, 25, killed in Telok Ayer accident, planned to marry fiancé with flat on the way</title>
                    <link>https://mothership.sg/2026/10/woman-died-telok-ayer-car-accident-engaged/</link>
                    <pubDate>2026-10-27T18:00:52</pubDate>


                    <dc:creator>
                        <![CDATA[ Xueting Wu ]]>
                    </dc:creator>


                    <guid isPermaLink="false">https://mothership.sg/2026/10/woman-died-telok-ayer-car-accident-engaged/</guid>
                    <description>
                        <![CDATA[ She was waiting for her Grab ride that was only a minute away when a car hit her. ]]>
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                        <![CDATA[ <img class="type:primaryImage" src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2026/10/coverimage-2026-10-27T141734.951.png"/> <p><a href="https://bit.ly/3qgqzHg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/07/telegram-button.png" alt="Telegram" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872229" /></a></p><p><a href="https://bit.ly/3KjTj94" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><img src="https://static.mothership.sg/1/2023/08/wa-button.png" alt="Whatsapp" width="700" height="73" class="aligncenter wp-image-872230" /></a></p><p>The 25-year-old woman, who died six days after she was <a href="https://mothership.sg/2026/10/cross-street-accident-woman-dies/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hit by a car at Amoy Street</a>, had recently been promoted at work, and was planning to get married next year.</p><p>She and her fiancé, engaged for nearly five years, had secured a BTO flat.</p>
<p>At about 12:45am on Oct. 17, Tan Mei Zhen was outside Birds of a Feather at Amoy Street, where she worked at, waiting for her Grab ride home when she was tragically struck, <a href="https://www.stomp.sg/trending-now/woman-25-who-died-after-chinatown-accident-had-just-gotten-promoted-work-was-planning-get-married" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>Stomp</em></a> reported.</p><p>The accident involved three cars, one of which crashed into a nearby hoarding.</p><p>A 37-year-old woman who drove one of the cars was arrested for drink driving.</p><p>Tan, along with her manager whom she was waiting with, were conscious when they were taken to the hospital.</p><p>She was in emergency surgery for nearly 13 hours, and later pronounced brain dead.</p><p>She passed away on Oct. 23.</p><iframe class='post-embed title='Woman, 25, killed in Telok Ayer accident, planned to marry fiancé with flat on the way' style='min-height: 350px;' clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);' src='/2026/10/cross-street-accident-woman-dies/embed/' width='600' frameborder='0' marginwidth='0' marginheight='0' scrolling='no'></iframe><p><h2>No time to react</h2></p><p>Tan's fiancé had learnt what happened from another manager at the restaurant who was not involved in the accident.</p><p>He recalled feeling shocked and stunned by the sudden news.</p><p>"Her manager said their Grab ride was only a minute away when this car suddenly appeared out of nowhere," he told <em>Stomp</em>.</p><p><blockquote><p>"They had no space, or rather, no reaction time at all to move anywhere. The impact was very fast and very big."</p></blockquote></p><p>At the hospital, when the family was allowed to see her, she was put fully on life support as her condition was very critical.</p><p>The sudden tragedy was hard for her family to bear.</p><p>Tan had been on the phone with them just minutes before the accident, telling her father she had the next day off work.</p><p><h2>Cheerful and hard-working</h2></p><p>Tan had eight siblings, who described her as a cheerful person who took good care of her family.</p><p>They shared that despite her own financial struggles, she would work hard to earn money instead of asking her parents for it, and paid her own school fees.</p><p>She would also make sure to give money to her parents.</p><p>"She spent all her time taking care of our family and working," Tan's brother said, crying.</p><p><blockquote><p>"Just like that, she’s gone at 25. It’s not fair."</p></blockquote></p><p>Tan's manager similarly told <em>Shin Min Daily News</em> that she was friendly and hard-working.</p><p>She had been working nearly four years at the restaurant, starting out as an intern, he shared. She received a promotion just about two months ago.</p><p>Her colleagues, who visited her in hospital, were deeply sad to hear of her death.</p><p>Flowers were left for Tan at the scene of the accident.</p><p><h2>Seeking justice</h2></p><p>Her family hopes there will be justice and that the offence of drink driving will be taken seriously, they told <em>Stomp</em>.</p><p>First-time offenders convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol may be fined between S$2,000 and S$10,000, jailed for up to 12 months, or both.</p><p>In the case of a subsequent conviction, the offence carries a fine ranging from S$5,000 to S$20,000, and a mandatory jail term of up to two years.</p><p>Tan's siblings questioned the appropriateness of this penalty.</p><p>"Is my sister’s life worth only a sentence of two or three years?" they asked.</p><p><h2>The driver did not stop</h2></p><p>According to Tan's manager, the female driver who was arrested had first crashed into a car parked outside the restaurant before hitting Tan and her other manager.</p><p>He told <em>Shin Min</em> that the female driver did not stop afterwards, but continued going fast towards the main road and then onto the sidewalk across from it.</p><p>The car subsequently hit another car, and eventually hit a hoarding at a nearby building.</p><p>According to a video of the incident, a driver believed to be among the victims went up to the female driver in anger, <em>Shin Min</em> reported.</p><p>She apologised to him and repeatedly said, "This is all my fault."</p><p>Police investigations are ongoing.</p></p> ]]>
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