Pope Leo XIV, an American citizen, has cast his vote in the United States midterm elections.

This marks the first known time that a pope has voted in a political election.

According to Vatican News, citing a statement from the Holy See Press Office on Oct. 30, the head of the Catholic Church submitted his mail-in ballot in Chicago, U.S.

“Pope Leo XIV has exercised his right to vote as a United States citizen, whenever he was eligible to do so,” the statement read.

The Chicago-born pontiff also reportedly confirmed that he had voted in previous elections and “exercised his right to vote whenever he was eligible to do so” when he was a missionary in Peru.

The Pope also holds Peruvian citizenship.

“The Holy Father expresses his belief in the right and the duty of citizens to participate in democratic processes,” the statement read.

A rift earlier this year between U.S. president Donald Trump and the pope was reported internationally.

Leo and Trump repeatedly clashed over papal criticism of the harsh crackdown on immigration in the U.S. and of the war on Iran.

Trump called the pontiff "weak" on crime and "terrible" on foreign policy.

The pope said he was "not afraid" of Trump.

Leo called on everyone to do their part for peace in April after Trump threatened to destroy Iran.

The head of the Catholic Church urge people to "contact the authorities - political leaders, congressmen - to ask them, to tell them, to work for peace and to reject war and violence".

The U.S. midterm elections are scheduled for Nov. 3.

A total of 158 migrant workers staying at Westlite Accommodation's dormitories were given the chance to visit Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Singapore on Oct. 3.

Speaking to Mothership, a company spokesperson said the workers were Westlite resident ambassadors across its 10 dormitories, as part of an in-house resident engagement initiative.

Westlite Accommodation provides dormitories for migrant workers across various industries in Singapore and Malaysia.

The company said the outing was a gesture of appreciation for the ambassadors and their contributions to their resident communities.

"We wanted to give them an enjoyable break from their usual routine and the opportunity to experience something new together," the company said.

Halloween Horror Nights

The migrant workers got to enjoy the rides and haunted houses.

They were also given Halloween-themed hairbands and glasses to wear throughout the night.

Videos shared on Westlite's social media showed the workers enjoying themselves as they interacted with the scare actors.

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The company also organised a photo contest with prizes, encouraging residents to capture and share their favourite moments.

Each resident received a S$10 food voucher for refreshments, while chartered transport was arranged to and from the event.

Residential events

This is not the first time the company has organised such an event.

It holds an annual appreciation event for its resident ambassadors.

"Beyond this, residents can enjoy weekly activities across our dormitories through our in-house Resi-Life Programme, supported by dedicated managers who plan and coordinate regular events," the company said.

The company also works closely with community partners and non-profit organisations to offer a diverse range of programmes that promote social integration, personal growth and a stronger sense of community.

Besides local excursions to attractions, such as the Museum of Ice Cream and Gardens by the Bay, the company also organises annual overseas excursions to destinations, such as Kuala Lumpur, Genting and Malacca.

Other activities include an annual inter-dormitory cricket tournament and volunteering initiatives.

Residents can also sign up for upskilling programmes, such as computer classes.

"Together, these activities give residents opportunities to have fun, learn new skills, pursue their interests, connect with others and contribute to the wider community," the company said.

A male motorcyclist and his female pillion rider, both 24, died following a traffic accident at Tampines Avenue 12 involving two cars and a motorcycle.

The incident occurred on the night of Oct. 29 along Tampines Avenue 12.

The authorities were alerted at 10:35pm.

Audi involved

The incident reportedly involved a blue Audi “that was travelling in the opposite direction” of the motorcycle that got hit, according to The Straits Times and Shin Min Daily News.

The car apparently crashed through the centre divider and hit the motorcycle before hitting another black car.

Eyewitnesses reportedly saw the couple on the motorcycle flung into the air as a result of the impact.

The female pillion rider landed on the covered walkway about one metre from the road, while the male motorcyclist was thrown onto the grass patch nearly two metres from the road.

A 64-year-old retiree told Shin Min that she went to check out what happened after hearing about it.

She apparently saw the motorcyclist and his pillion rider “lying on the ground”.

“The man was vomiting a lot of blood, and his leg was broken. It was very horrifying,” she said.

Public tried to help

A 39-year-old resident in the area told Shin Min that he rushed to the scene to render aid after hearing a loud crash.

He reportedly found the motorcyclist and the pillion rider lying face down and unconscious.

The resident attempted to render aid and tried to “wake them”.

“They did not respond, and their pulses were already very weak,” he said.

He added that residents brought an automated external defibrillator (AED) and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the injured.

Emergency responders arrived shortly and took over.

Driver and passenger fled

A man and woman, who were believed to be a couple, were seen trapped inside the overturned Audi, which crashed through the centre divider.

After passersby freed them, both of them abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene.

The resident claimed that both individuals fled towards nearby blocks.

This reportedly made those at the scene angry as they realised the couple left after causing a serious accident.

According to a resident that Shin Min spoke to: "Everyone at the scene was very angry. How could they cause an accident, kill someone, and then run away?"

Arrests

Police subsequently arrested both individuals, a man, aged 30, and a woman, aged 29, on Oct. 30.

The man was charged on Oct. 31.

He faced nine charges, which included dangerous driving causing death, driving under disqualification as a repeat offender, failing to render assistance, and displaying a false licence plate.

Aftermath

Shin Min reported that traffic was blocked after the incident.

An electrical box was apparently damaged, and several trees and signboards were knocked over.

A nearly 3m-long section of the central divider railing was reportedly damaged.

Bloodstains, debris and shattered glass from the incident were also apparently seen at the site.

Several workers were reportedly seen cleaning up the incident site.

The deceased were a married couple, and the woman was one month pregnant at the time of the incident.

They leave behind their six-year-old son.

These days, whenever someone asks me for my age, I typically respond by saying, “In my 20s”.

Being vague and evasive is my way of avoiding the fact that I am a year away from turning 30.

Sadly, no matter how much I try to hide from this fact, nature finds a way to remind me that I am no longer as young as I used to be.

However, it’s not all doom and gloom. I’ve realised that there are some things that I could only learn with the experience of age.

For example, I’ve learned that it’s important to make your home and room, where you would spend large parts of your time, comfortable with the right appliances.

Here are some wisdom I’ve unlocked as I’ve levelled up in the game of life.

Cherish the moment

Approaching 30s, wedding invites and adult talk have become the norm.

This is most stark whenever I head back for reservist.

The same group of people whom I used to goof around with have now replaced fun nonsense with serious discussions about ceiling fans, water dispensers and furniture.

It never fails to remind me of how fast time flies, how everyone has embarked on adventures of their own, and the need to cherish the moment.

Despite the unbelievable maturing that my friends have undergone, one thing has stayed the same — we have each other’s backs.

This adult talk is often accompanied by the trading of useful tips and tricks, such as their go-to brand or product considerations.

Showing more love to your parents

The adult talk also features one common theme — the awareness of the need to take care of our parents.

I’ll admit, I used to be quite an angsty and rebellious child. I saw my parents’ advice as restraints on freedom.

Now, looking back, I’ve realised that there were many things that my parents did that I took for granted.

As my parents themselves age, I’ve also realised it’s important to show up for them the way they did for me.

Apart from things like getting my mum a bouquet, I’ve also been thinking about how I can do my part in the household and help make my parents' life easier.

One idea I’ve had is to take the initiative to upgrade certain things at home, such as sharing with my parents my newfound love for water dispensers.

Some people like my parents are habitual creatures who have gotten so used to boiling water with a kettle and hearing its whistle, but I find access to instant cold or hot water so much better.

Reflecting on all these, if there’s a brand that I could pick to represent my friends and I as we approach our 30s, it might just be home-grown EuropAce.

EuropAce's home appliance catalogue reflects much of the excitement, anxieties and realisations of young adulting.

Balancing aesthetics with functionality, EuropAce has spent the past 30 years building products that stylishly fit the needs of the Singaporean household.

Investing in appliances that make life better

So, just as my friends have my back, allow me to have yours with some home appliance tips.

For starters, get a hot and cold water dispenser, as I’ve said.

It’ll take your home into the future, and you can start with the sleek-looking StronPure 2.7L instant hot and cold water purifier.

Want to enjoy a drier environment indoors amidst Singapore’s humid weather? EuropAce has got you covered with its Melody series 25L smart dehumidifier, which promises to fit seamlessly into your home or room aesthetic.

Another great addition to a home would be a bladeless fan, so you don’t have to rely on just your air-conditioner to keep cool.

With its air-purifying function, EuropAce’s Smart Slim and Compact Air Purifying Bladeless Fan will keep your house cool and air pure at the same time.

For those with a taste for the finer things in life, EuropAce also has a cool wine and beverage chiller that gets the job done without losing its youthful vibe.

Check out the LumiCool Series Wine and Beverage Chiller.

Got lobang must share

Again, don’t say I not brother. Here’s a good deal for you.

From now until Dec. 31, 2026, EuropAce is running its “Ace of Home” campaign, which features Gift-with-Purchase rewards.

There are three reward tiers. Here’s what you get.

So, here’s how I would sum up the lessons I’ve learned from life so far: take it easy, listen to your parents and drink more water.

Also, shop EuropAce’s tried-and-tested home appliances. There’s a good Gift-with-Purchase promo going on from now until Dec. 31, 2026.

This branded article made the writer nostalgic.

The driver who fled the scene of a fatal crash along Tampines Avenue 12 that killed a motorcyclist and his pregnant wife was charged on Oct. 31.

Muhammad Zulfiqar Abdul Aziz, 30, was handed nine charges, including one count of dangerous driving causing death, The Straits Times (ST) reported.

His full list of charges:

• Dangerous driving causing death
• Dangerous driving causing hurt
• Driving under disqualification
• Failing to stop after an accident
• Failing to render assistance after an accident
• Using a motor vehicle without insurance coverage
• Using a deregistered vehicle
• Using a vehicle without a licence
• Exhibiting a false licence plate

On Oct. 29, a blue Audi driven by Zulfiqar crashed through a road divider and slammed into a motorcycle and another car along Tampines Avenue 12.

The couple on the motorcycle were conveyed unconscious to the hospital where they passed away.

The driver of the other car, a 25-year-old woman, was taken to hospital conscious.

According to an earlier police press release, he had driven a deregistered car with a cloned licence plate while disqualified.

Zulfiqar appeared in court via video link wearing a white polo shirt, ST reported.

He had golden hair highlights, a goatee, stretched earlobes and appeared to have a heavily tattooed left arm.

He looked down as the court read the charges to him in Malay, ST reported.

A 31-year-old Singaporean former youth worker at a home was sentenced on Oct. 29 to two years and six months' jail after he took advantage of an underage former resident and had sex with her.

Court documents seen by Mothership stated that the man had initiated a relationship with the girl who had a crush on him.

The Straits Times reported that he pleaded guilty to three counts of sexually penetrating a minor, with five other charges taken into consideration during sentencing.

A gag order was imposed to protect the girl's identity.

Met at a home for victims of abuse

According to court documents, the girl, who was 15 at the time, was placed in the home due to family violence.

The pair became acquainted as the man worked there, though his duties did not formally involve her.

However, they got to interact with one another when the male and female residents would sometimes play games together, which included staff members.

Contact details

When the girl was eventually scheduled to be moved to another home in February 2022, she wrote farewell cards to various staff members, including the man, who was 27 at the time.

In her note to him, she included her mobile number and her Instagram account handle as a means of contacting her.

The girl then personally passed the farewell note to him as she had a crush on him.

Asked girl to be girlfriend

Court documents stated that in March 2022, a few weeks after the girl moved out of the home, the man contacted her via Telegram.

They began to chat regularly, although the man knew that he should not have contacted a resident or former resident in his personal capacity.

Sometime in April 2022, they decided to meet in person, where the man rented a car and used it to pick the girl up from her school in the afternoon.

He had a second job as a private-hire vehicle driver.

The man then drove the girl to a car park near the new home she was residing in, where they talked and held hands.

He also asked her to be his girlfriend that day and she agreed.

Met more often

The pair then began to meet more often, where the man would pick her up from school.

On some occasions, when they spent time together in private, the man kissed the girl and touched her, sometimes making skin-on-skin contact.

In May 2022, the pair were in the man's car when he asked the girl to perform a sexual act on him.

Court documents stated that she "did not really want to do so but she agreed after he persuaded her to do so because she felt that she loved him".

On May 25, 2022, the man invited the girl to his house and had sex with her.

Arrested

His actions eventually came to light as a staff member at the girl's home had noticed her wearing an army administrative t-shirt.

She eventually admitted to a staff member that she was in a relationship with the man who was a staff member at the girl's previous home.

The man then resigned from his role soon after upon learning of the allegations.

Court documents stated that he was arrested on Jun. 22, 2026, and released on bail on Jun. 23, 2026, after he was produced in court.

Aggravating factors, sentencing

In seeking a sentence of 30 to 36 months' jail, the prosecution argued that the man took advantage of the girl's crush on him.

He chose to enter into a romantic relationship with her despite being 12 years older than her, and pressured her into various sexual acts.

Court documents stated that he did so despite knowing he was not supposed to contact former residents of the home he was working at, much less date them.

The prosecution also highlighted aggravating factors that warranted an uplift from the sentencing benchmarks.

While the man did not abuse a position of trust in the context of the offending conduct, he got to know the girl in a situation where he was placed in a position of trust and authority.

The man also initiated the romantic relationship with the girl even though he ought to have known better, and pressured the victim into sexual acts until she complied.

The third factor was the duration of offending and the taken into consideration charges.

He faced five other such charges in relation to the girl.

He was in a romantic relationship with her for around two months, where they engaged in sexual acts and kissing.

The prosecution said it sought a sentence of around 43 to 52 months' jail if the man had claimed trial, noting that such a sentence appropriately reflects the man's overall culpability and is not crushing.

The couple who died in the fatal hit-and-run accident at Tampines Ave 12 on the night of Oct. 29 left behind a six-year-old son.

According to Berita Harian, the married couple, both 24, were expecting a second child as the wife was one month pregnant.

The woman's sister told Berita that her sister was about a month pregnant.

The couple were laid to rest side by side at Choa Chu Kang Muslim Cemetery on Oct. 30.

Around 200 people reportedly gathered at Masjid Pusara Aman in Choa Chu Kang on Friday to pay their final respects to the couple.

Fatal accident

The couple died following an accident involving two cars and a motorcycle.

A male driver and his female passenger initially fled the scene before police officers arrived, but have since been arrested.

The driver was slated to be charged on Oct. 31.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man operated a deregistered car with a cloned licence plate while under disqualification.

The man faces nine charges under the Road Traffic Act and related legislation, including dangerous driving causing death, driving under disqualification as a repeat offender, failing to render assistance, and displaying a false licence plate.

What happened

The sister also shared with Berita that the family has been gathering evidence following the incident.

In one dashcam video clip she showed Berita, a car coming from the opposite direction appeared to lose control, skid and crash through a road divider.

The vehicle then collided with the couple's motorcycle.

Another clip showed the blue car that had crossed into the opposite lanes flip onto its side and end up in the bushes near the footpath.

A witness told Berita the impact flung through both motorcycle riders to separate spots — one onto the footpath and the other onto a nearby grass patch one to two metres away.

"Singapore will continue to be a staunch supporter of the court, whose work is fundamental to the international legal order," Singapore's Law Minister Edwin Tong reiterated at the UN General Assembly debate on the annual report of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Oct. 29.

This is part of Tong's official visit to New York from Oct. 28 to Nov. 4 for International Law Week and the ICJ elections.

The ICJ is the UN's principal judicial organ.

All states sovereign equals

In an increasingly contested world, upholding international law and the UN Charter is critical to ensuring that might does not make right, especially for small states, he said.

Tong noted that the UN membership had grown from 51 to 193 countries since 1946.

As such, the ICJ, which is well-suited to settle disputes between states from all regions and on a wide range of topics they choose to submit to the court, more fully embodies its identity as the "World Court", he added.

Tong said: "All states, big or small, old or young, are treated as sovereign equals before the court."

International law

In that regard, the court must reflect the contemporary membership of the UN, he added.

"Its judges must be eminently qualified and collectively represent the world's principal legal traditions," he said. "The court's task is to interpret and apply international law in a principled and impartial manner."

Tong noted, however, that "the law does not operate in a vacuum".

"Such diversity in the judges' legal traditions, backgrounds, and perspectives sharpens judicial reasoning and strengthens the legitimacy of the court's decisions."

Survival

Tong pointed out that for small states, governance by international law is not a matter of choice, but one of survival.

He reiterated that an effective and strong multilateral rules-based international order is an imperative for all states.

He said: "I call on all member states to support this crucial institution that serves as the bedrock of the international rule of law and is fundamental to the peaceful settlement of disputes."

UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate

On the same day, Tong also delivered a statement on behalf of the Oceans Four – Fiji, Jamaica, Malta and Singapore – at the UN Security Council High-Level Open Debate.

He said: "For small maritime nations, safety and security in the oceans and seas is critical. Our countries actively contributed to the negotiations and conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

"We remain committed to upholding it as the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out."

Emerging technologies carry promise, challenges

Noting that emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and autonomous ships carry both great promise and challenges for maritime security, Tong emphasised a few points.

Firstly, he said innovation, safety, and security should advance hand-in-hand.

"The international community must work together to harness new technologies to strengthen maritime safety and security, whilst at the same time upholding and respecting navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with UNCLOS," he said.

Tong added that while AI can enhance maritime domain awareness by improving navigational, communications, and early warning systems for all states, these benefits must be underpinned by robust safeguards promoting accountability, transparency, and human oversight.

"We therefore welcome the adoption of the IMO's non-mandatory Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code and support continued efforts towards the development of a mandatory framework, ensuring the safe integration of autonomous and remotely operated commercial ships into global shipping," he said.

He added: "We also support broader international efforts to advance responsible AI governance, including through the Global Dialogue on AI Governance and Global Digital Compact."

Weaponisation of new technologies

The second point Tong made was the importance of collectively guarding against the weaponisation of new technologies.

They can be deployed to disrupt or damage critical underwater infrastructure, including subsea cable networks, he said.

Tong added: "Drones or autonomous vessels can be used to interfere with the safe passage of ships."

"Recent attacks against civilian vessels have further highlighted the risks to maritime safety and the protection of seafarers."

He warned that cyber-attacks pose real-world consequences for maritime security, compromising navigational safety and disrupting port operations.

Such technologies could also be exploited to take control of vessels for unlawful purposes.

Thirdly, Tong said the international community must guard against all actions that threaten international peace and security, and reject unlawful restrictions on transit passage through straits used for international navigation.

He said actions that deny, hamper, impede, impair or suspend the right of transit passage would violate UNCLOS, and that the right is also firmly entrenched in customary international law, which binds all states whether or not they are parties to UNCLOS, in times of peace and war.

“When transit passage is disrupted, consequences reverberate across the global economy,” he said.

Sustain rule of law

On Nov. 3, Tong will also be attending the 2026 elections for ICJ Judges at the UN.

Singapore has nominated Ambassador for International Law Rena Lee for election as an ICJ Judge for the 2027 to 2036 term.

Her candidature reflects Singapore's commitment to contributing to the court's work in the peaceful settlement of disputes between states, the Ministry of Law said.

It added that beyond his engagements at the UN, Tong will meet various counterparts at the UN to discuss international developments and strengthen legal cooperation.

He will also meet U.S. law firms and Singapore lawyers based in New York to deepen professional ties and explore opportunities for collaboration with Singapore's legal sector.

"Singapore advocates for an international order where sovereignty is respected, trade can flow and disputes can be resolved peacefully," Tong said.

He said: "We must all play our part to sustain the rule of law, strengthen its application, and contribute to the institutions that uphold international law."

The couple who fled the scene of a hit-and-run accident at Tampines Avenue 12 on Thursday night have been arrested.

Traffic Police officers established the identity of the man, aged 30, and the woman, aged 29, using police cameras and CCTVs, as well as extensive ground enquiries.

They were arrested in the vicinity of West Coast Road on Oct. 30.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the man operated a deregistered car with a cloned licence plate while under disqualification.

The man faces nine charges under the Road Traffic Act and related legislation, including dangerous driving causing death, driving under disqualification as a repeat offender, failing to render assistance, and displaying a false licence plate.

He will be charged in court on Oct. 31.

The accident, which took place on the night of Oct. 29, involved 2 cars and a motorcycle.

The motorcyclist and his pillion rider, both 24, passed away. They leave behind a 6-year-old son.

The driver of the other car, a 25-year-old woman, was conveyed conscious to hospital.

Police reiterated that firm action will be taken against motorists who recklessly endanger road safety.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry (METI) said "piped natural gas imported from Indonesia is for domestic use, and not for export", in response to Mothership's queries.

The statement comes after Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia claimed, without providing evidence, claimed that Singapore resold some of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) it imported from Indonesia to other countries rather than using it for domestic consumption, reported The Straits Times (ST).

Bahlil also doubled down and said that his country's decision to cut gas exports to Singapore does not violate contracts.

What he said

Speaking to Indonesian reporters, Bahlil was quoted as saying: "I believe that not all of the 148 cargoes we send are used for Singapore’s own needs, but some are traded and subsequently exported to other countries."

Bahlil, who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources and chairman of the Golkar Party, did not specify when the cargoes were shipped nor provide any evidence to substantiate his allegations.

The 148 cargoes refer to LNG transported by sea, which is separate from the Piped Natural Gas (PNG) from Indonesia's Natuna and Sumatra gas fields that were subject to supply cuts.

LNG "usually moves from source to destination country directly"

Bahlil's statements come amid calls for the easing of bilateral tensions over energy supplies and transboundary haze.

The METI spokesperson noted that Singapore is an international trading hub, including for LNG, with "more than 50 Singapore-based companies that buy, market, and trade LNG sourced from markets around the world, including Indonesia".

The spokesperson added that these companies' top source markets include the U.S., Australia and Malaysia.

"While Singapore-based traders make the commercial decisions relating to the cargo, the actual LNG cargo usually moves from source to destination country directly and does not physically pass through Singapore."

Transactions regarding LNG trading and re-exporting are subject to supply agreement terms.

SKK Migas, Indonesia's upstream oil and gas regulator, first broke the news at an energy industry awards ceremony in Jakarta, stating that 31 billion British thermal units per day (BBTUD) were to be cut.

Singapore's Energy Market Authority (EMA) then confirmed that the actual reduction was around 17 billion British thermal units per day over 18 days, which was less than 2 per cent of Singapore's daily gas demand.

Previous comments

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had previously said on Oct. 25 that Singapore expected all parties to "honour their commitments" under commercial contracts, two days after Indonesia announced gas export cuts.

On Oct. 26, Bahlil directly responded to PM Wong's remarks, stating that the gas supplied to Singapore meets minimum contractual levels.

"Our nation is a nation that honours contracts, rules. So don't teach Indonesia on how to honour contracts."

According to Indonesian media outlet Kompas, on Oct. 28, Bahlil explained that the total gas export volume from Indonesia to Singapore stood at 409.5 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD), with the cut being 31 MMSCFD.

Bahlil claimed that this still exceeds the minimum threshold stipulated in the contract.