North Korea leader Kim Jong Un, 42, was seen in photos visiting a clothing and shoe trade exhibition in Pyongyang with his wife and daughter.

The photos were released and published by North Korean state media on Oct. 20, 2026.

They came in the wake of rumours that Kim had died.

What photo showed

One photo showed the supreme leader inspecting a pink sneaker held by his daughter, Kim Ju Ae, 13.

The photos were apparently taken on Oct. 19.

Rumours of Kim's death

Social media posts on Oct. 18 had alleged that Kim suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and went into "coma", Korea Times reported.

The posts even claimed that Kim was transferred to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in China due to North Korea's poor medical facilities.

But there was no evidence to back those claims.

The social media posts were shared on Sunday by Xie Wanjun, who lives in the United States.

He identifies as the chairman of the banned China Democracy Party.

Rumours over the years

Kim came to power in 2011.

Since then, there have been multiple rumours of his death over the years.

For example, he was rumoured to have died following failed heart surgery, and was at one point said to have been assassinated.

His health has been the subject of scrutiny over the years, owing to limited access to information about North Korea.

His father and grandfather both died from heart attacks, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

In 2014, he used a cane to walk.

This was after he reappeared in the media following a prolonged absence.

Lee Biscuits, also known as Nam Lee, a 92-year-old biscuit brand, will close its factory in Pontian, Johor and stop manufacturing by the end of October 2026.

The brand is known for its Marie biscuits, lemon sandwich biscuits, and iced gem biscuits, and their products are still available for purchase on supermarket websites and online retailers.

The New Straits Times (NST) reported that the move is part of a restructuring program.

The firm's parent group is leaving snack production to focus on its core holdings and consolidate its assets, which include rubber and palm oil.

According to China Press, suppliers and customers were informed of the manufacturing freeze since September, while the factory reportedly laid off employees.

Malaysian assemblyman confirms closure

Pontian's Pekan Nanas assemblyman Tan Yong Ming told China Press that he received news that the factory was closing down.

Checks by Mothership also found that the Lee Biscuits website was inaccessible.

This is the second food-handling factory the group has closed in Johor in three years.

Their pineapple canning plant, which was located in Skudai, closed on Nov. 1, 2023.

According to China Press, the brand was established in 1934 by entrepreneur and philanthropist Lee Kong Chian.

Singapore was the brand's base for 21 years before it relocated to Malaysia in 1955 to leverage Malaysia's agricultural supply chains and industrial space, reported The Rakyat Post.

On Aug. 9, 2026, as National Day celebrations got into full swing, one Singaporean was on the cusp of ending a very long journey.

Over the past 100 days, Ian Huang has travelled over 20,000km on his motorcycle from Singapore to Cape St. Vincent, Portugal.

According to his calculations, this is the farthest point from Singapore that can be reached by road.

As he reached the lighthouse of Cape St. Vincent, dramatically shrouded in mist, Ian said he felt overwhelmed.

"I could not fight back the tears upon reflecting on the sheer difficulty of getting there. Yet, [a] part of me didn't want it to end."

Farthest road trip possible

Ian, 32, first spoke to Mothership in June, relatively early into this long ride.

But the origins of the journey, which he started on May 1, had been forming for a while.

Ian had gotten his license back in 2022 and had been enamoured by the freedom it would provide.

"The thought of travelling on my own terms and machine always seemed so liberating."

He had made shorter trips up north before, mainly to southern Thailand, but wanted to take sufficient time off to go on the “farthest road trip” possible.

“The world outside of the well is vast and more interconnected than we’re led to believe,” Ian said.

Incredible support

Ian wears many hats aside from his matte-black full-face motorcycle helmet.

He works as a flood modeller and geographic information systems specialist, as well as a drum instructor.

All these workplaces were “incredibly supportive” and have placed him on hiatus until his return.

Among the cheers he received from all corners, there was also a small number of people that were "skeptical" or thought that he was "crazy", but it never fazed him, Ian said.

It was all love as he set off though.

On the day of Ian's departure, a crowd of about 40 friends, family members, colleagues, and members of the public gathered at Singapore’s first biker bar, The Handlebar, to see him off.

15 per cent of the event’s sales were donated to charity, split equally between Willing Hearts and SPD.

A convoy of 10 bikers also rode alongside him all the way to Tuas Checkpoint.

Memorable moments

Keen-eyed motorcycling enthusiasts might have spotted it already from the pictures above, but Ian was not chugging along on a "purpose-built adventure motorcycle", he was riding his trusty Yamaha XSR900, a choice which he admitted would add some difficulty to this already daunting journey.

"An overpowered naked bike built for the streets and track which considering the harsh terrain of the Eurasian continent, adds another layer of physical and mechanical difficulty."  

He covered an average of around 300km each day, typically setting off before noon, and stopping midway at gas stations or popular attractions along the route before checking into his next accommodation.

He passed through many countries, including China, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Spain.

Collecting stories in various languages, some good, some bad.

One memory etched deep into his memories was riding through Shangri-La's mountain ranges and canyons, where he saw perhaps “some of the most scenic and otherworldly landforms [he had] ever seen”.

It was not all ethereal marvels crafted over centuries that Ian witnessed. He also managed to take part in more trendy happenings, like the Chongqing motorbike one, but with his own twist of course.

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Ian Huang (@theuntravelledman)

Full-blown welcome party

Geological marvels and viral trends are all good, but a standout occasion for him began with him trying to wash his bike.

In Turkey, which he raved about for its "majestic geology and culture", Ian was planning to take a nondescript trip to wash his bike.

The good people of Turkey were having none of that.

The day of washing somehow turned into a bunch of locals throwing a welcome party for him.

They ordered him regional specialties, took him on joyrides in their customised cars, and "absolutely refused to let [him] pay a single cent".

"It was one of many surreal interactions where people offered me tea, lodging, or guided tours of the incredible wind-shaped cave dwellings in Cappadocia," Ian said.

Too many close calls to mention

But Ian's journey wasn't all smooth sailing, with “too many close calls to mention”.

While rushing to reach a border town before nightfall in Laos, a truck veered into his lane at a bend, forcing Ian to tip over and roll down a hill for a couple of meters.

“The bike and I escaped unscathed thanks to crashbars and body armour," Ian said.

Ian also faced an 8-hour wait to enter Kazakhstan, requiring assistance from the Honorary Consulate of Singapore in Almaty.

Shortly after crossing the border, Ian was faced with a ruptured valve stem, stranding him 80km from the border as he waited for a tow truck to arrive.

He had to wait in 40°C heat for three hours while battling a fever and a gout attack due to the immense physical strain and heat.

Those hours of waiting, of pain and discomfort marked the "worst possible day" of Ian's expedition. Some might think it must have been a bit of a relief when his bike was towed away to be fixed, and he could get some well-deserved rest, and maybe a few easy miles for what had been a deeply uneasy day.

Not Ian though, as soon as he recovered and his bike had been fixed, Ian backtracked to where he was towed from to resume his journey.

"I backtracked to where I was towed because those tow truck miles don't count!"

Ian’s next challenge began with the Russian consulate, which would not shorten its two-week processing time for his transit visa to enter Russia. That left him in a "precarious situation" as he had just over four days to cover about 3,000km to the other side of Kazakhstan before his legal stay expired.

"This pushed me directly into the peak summer heat of the vast steppe," Ian said, adding that he went through over four full days of riding, averaging 700km a day.

"Temperatures regularly hit 45°C in the afternoon, yet I couldn't afford to rest, frequently riding deep into the night just to cover ground and reach the border town of Atyrau [in Kazakhstan]."

Ian was hit by a new set of problems when he entered Russia.

"Due to critical fuel shortages, cities had run completely dry, and I barely made it to a gas station 400km into the country," Ian said.

And with e-SIMs blocked and GPS services jammed, his only means of navigation was offline maps and a compass.

Frustrated by the lack of fuel and the effort it took to navigate, Ian made a push for the Georgian border at dusk. Successfully.

"I knew I had it in me after the past 99 days"

Towards the end of his journey, Ian found himself five days behind schedule.

On the 98th day, upon reaching Barcelona, Spain, in the afternoon, Ian would then set off at midnight to make a 1,621km dash to Cape St. Vincent to honour his goal.

Ian spent the last stretch of his journey in the saddle, taking only quick breaks at gas stations.

"It was the toughest challenge yet," Ian said.

"But I knew I had it in me after the past 99 days."

And so he did.

As he reached the lighthouse at Cape St. Vincent, dramatically shrouded in mist, Ian felt overwhelmed.

"I could not fight back the tears upon reflecting on the sheer difficulty of getting there. Yet, [a] part of me didn't want it to end; each day felt different, with surprises waiting at every turn."

Unable to find lodging nearby and overcome with exhaustion, Ian capped off his journey of a lifetime sleeping along the cliffs that night.

What comes after

After wrapping up his journey, Ian was pleasantly surprised with a congratulatory letter from the Honorary Consulate of Singapore in Kazakhstan.

The journey might have ended, but the charitable purpose has just begun. Ian is now fundraising for the Children of the Mekong, pledging one dollar for every kilometre ridden.

Here is the link to the fundraiser.

The proceeds will go to children in Laos.

"I allocated the funds to Laos because of what I saw riding through it," Ian said.

He touched on how young children tended to crops on the roadside as massive freight trucks blew past them. The same trucks that had caused him to tip over and roll down a hill near the Chinese border.

Ian said the proceeds will fund these households directly, allowing children to attend school instead of working in the fields.

To belong, to be understood, to be loved

"I embarked on this journey to answer a simple question: Just how far can I go on my motorcycle?"

100 days and 27,166km later, Ian said he has gained far more than he ever set out to find.

"I've learnt that regardless of borders, politics, or where we are, we all desire the same things: to belong, to be understood, to be loved. There was never a point where I experienced severe "culture shock". Instead, I saw subtle yet discernible shifts in language, culture, and architecture as I traversed west. Despite the portrayals of 'us versus them,' most people are inherently kind," Ian said.

"Personally, I've discovered that with sheer will and consistency, seemingly mountainous feats appear as mere pebbles in hindsight."

The iPhone Duo launched in Singapore on Oct. 23, 2026.

It is Apple’s first-ever foldable, dual-display phone.

The launch followed the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in Singapore on Sep. 18, 2026.

The wait

When Mothership arrived at the Apple Store in Orchard at about 4:30am, crowds and long queues had already formed.

About 200 people were seen gathered outside the Apple Store.

Those in the queue were issued a wristband a day before on Oct. 22, which allowed them to get in line to purchase the phones as walk-in customers.

The Apple Store opened its doors at about 8am.

The foldable phone was also available at Courts Nojima at The Heeren located next door, which saw about 40 people queueing outside.

A sign later showed it was sold out.

Ken, a 39-year-old Singaporean in line, had been queuing since 4:30am.

He was the 250th in line.

When asked about his thoughts on queuing for products overnight and if it was outrageous, Ken said it was “a life experience”.

“If you don’t experience it, you do not know,” he said.

Store opened at 8am

Just like previous product launches, Apple staff did the obligatory 10-second countdown before the doors opened.

Customers were seen documenting the moment, which included inspecting the foldable phone and making purchases.

Overseas customers

The first walk-in customer in the queue was Adnan Mehta, a 36-year-old from Mumbai, India.

He arrived in Singapore on Oct. 22.

Mehta said he queued for more than 10 hours.

The iPhone Duo launch also attracted at least one repeat customer.

Vu Tran, a 30-year-old Vietnamese, previously queued for the release of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in Singapore in September 2026.

He bought two sets of the iPhone Duo for himself and his family.

This is his 15th year visiting Singapore to buy newly launched Apple products, he said.

“It’s so exciting because the new colour is very nice,” Tran said, commenting on the iPhone Duo’s aesthetic.

“It’s just so beautiful,” he added.

He purchased both colourways of the iPhone Duo.

Scalpers

However, it appears that not all those who bought the new iPhone Duo intended to keep it for their own use.

Within two hours, iPhone Duos 2TB models were resold on Carousell for S$5,500

Price

The iPhone Duo is released in two colourways: Night Sky and Star White.

The retail price of the iPhone Duo are as follows:

256GB: S$3,099

512GB: S$3,399

1TB: S$3,999

2TB: S$4,899

Malaysia civil servants will have to find other ways to navigate the roads after prime minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a ban of the app within the civil service.

In an Oct. 21 post on Facebook, the Prime Minister's Office in Malaysia cited the need to protect government information and user data from the threat of abuse by the Israeli regime.

Waze, via a spokesperson, rejected the allegations in a statement sent to Reuters: "Waze operates under strict privacy policies that protect user data and comply with global legal data protection standards."

Waze was founded in Israel and uses satellite signals and ​crowd-sourced data from drivers to offer real-time traffic information, reported Reuters.

It was acquired by Alphabet-owned Google ​in 2013.

However, Anwar said the company was still subject to Israeli laws.

He also encouraged all Malaysians to stop using the app and switch to local alternatives like Tuju, a navigation app developed by the Malaysian Highway Authority.

App could collect data even when not in use: national security director-general

The Malay Mail reported that Malaysia's government will stop short of introducing a blanket ban on the app.

"We always need to strike a balance between security and human rights consideration and freedom of expression, freedom to choose,” said National Security Council director-general for National Security Nushirwan Zainal Abidin.

Civil servants will not be able to use the app while on official duties, and have been encouraged to uninstall it from their personal devices.

"The application could continue collecting data even when users were not actively using it, depending on its permissions and device settings," warned Nushirwan.

A kind-hearted Institute of Technical Education (ITE) student has won praise from her school and the internet for helping an elderly man find his way back home.

According to a Facebook post by ITE, Naira Maisara Binte Abdullah was about to cycle home when she heard the man asking for help at a bicycle parking area near JEM.

It was around 8pm and the 77-year-old was struggling to find his way back home.

He had been in the area to renew his passport and was without a phone to contact his family.

When she realised that the man was unsure of the directions that she had given him, Naira decided to walk him home instead of leaving him on his own.

She checked his NRIC to confirm the man's address and accompanied him for the 30-minute walk.

When they arrived at the man's home, she found out that his family had been searching for him all afternoon.

She stayed until the rest of his family returned, relieved to see him reunited with his loved ones.

Family wrote to ITE

The family later wrote to ITE to commend the student for the care she showed a stranger.

According to ITE, Naira thought about how she would feel if her parents or grandparents were in a similar situation, and that spurred her to help.

"The elderly man told me he was proud of my parents for raising me to be helpful, and he was grateful I was there to help him," she said.

"I felt really appreciated and touched by his words."

Gratitude for her compassion

On Facebook, the post, which at the time of writing has over 5,800 reactions, attracted commenters who applauded Naira's efforts.

"Kudos to this little girl. Her empathy and grit will take her far," wrote one commenter.

"What a beautiful, kind and thoughtful gesture. Proud of you young lady," added another.

A woman who identified herself as the man's niece also chimed in with praise for the student:

"From the bottom of our hearts, thank you so much, Naira. ❤️ Our family was desperately searching for my uncle and was so worried about his safety. We are truly grateful that you were there to help him get home safely. Your kindness and compassion mean more to us than words can express. May you and your family always be blessed with happiness and kindness."

Indonesia's former deputy foreign minister has pushed back against accusations that GIC and Temasek were behind a stock market rout in the Southeast Asian archipelago.

In an Oct. 22 video posted on Instagram, Dino Patti Djalal did not name ex-Indonesian trade minister Muhammad Lutfi specifically, but addressed the latter's allegations that Singapore was conspiring to cripple Indonesia's capital markets.

Lutfi had previously accused the two Singaporean institutions of pressuring MSCI, a global index provider, to downgrade Indonesia’s market status and devalue Indonesian shares, allowing them to purchase assets cheaply.

"Far from the actual reality"

In the video, Dino Patti described Singapore as a country with "goodwill, trust, and a proven track record of cooperation with Indonesia."

He pointed out instances where Singapore came to Indonesia's aid, such as in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster or the Covid-19 pandemic, or through various partnerships regarding investment and education.

Singapore has also made several investments to develop parts of Indonesia, such as the Batam-Bintan-Karimun Free Trade Zone or the Kendal Special Economic Zone in Java.

He noted that Singapore has a vital interest in the economic and political stability of Indonesia.

This is because Singapore is one of the countries most affected by crises in Indonesia, he explained:

"As a small country geographically squeezed between Indonesia and Malaysia, it is taboo and forbidden for Singapore's political elite to conspire to harm Indonesia. Just as it is taboo and forbidden for Indonesia to harm Singapore."

He added that Singapore's working policy towards Indonesia is based on cooperation and mutual trust, not malice and sabotage.

The haze

Regarding recent issues with the haze, Dino Patti said it was a "test case" of how President Prabowo Subianto's administration "can conduct diplomacy with wisdom".

He added that it presented an opportunity for Indonesia to show how it can "continue to be a good neighbour" and that it "can handle the haze crisis in a way that further affirms Indonesia' greatness rather than its smallness".

Dino Patti served as the Indonesian ambassador to the U.S. from 2010 to 2013 before resigning to pursue an unsuccessful presidential bid in 2013.

He then served as deputy foreign affairs minister in 2014 and now heads the Foreign Policy Community of Indonesia, an Indonesian think tank focused on international relations.

The second of three planned phases of retrenchments at the Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech) took place on Oct. 22, the agency confirmed in response to Mothership's queries.

Following a review which primarily concerned roles structured around traditional project delivery, 38 officers were retrenched.

106 officers will remain in their current roles while another 106 are eligible for conversion and apprenticeship pathways to transition into new roles.

Employees from about 20 teams were affected, Mothership understands.

GovTech previously retrenched 93 workers in July 2026.

At the time, the statutory board said the move resulted from efforts to evolve its operations to deliver “faster, more secure, and more responsive digital services” for all Singaporeans.

GovTech intends to let go of seven to nine per cent of its workforce, affecting staff deployed to 23 government agencies.

One-on-one consultations on Oct. 22

Responding to Mothership's queries, GovTech confirmed that one-on-one consultations with affected staff took place today.

"GovTech is implementing the second phase of its workforce transformation, as part of our shift towards taking greater ownership of the digital products and services we build and operate," the agency said.

It said that the roles affected in this phase are primarily those structured around traditional project delivery.

Officers on apprenticeship programmes are at different stages of the conversion, the agency explained.

"We will continue to support them through the assessment and transition process," GovTech said.

GovTech also said:

"We recognise that these changes are difficult for affected colleagues. We will continue to work with PSD, SWDA, and AUSBE to provide support, including career coaching, job matching and placement assistance, and help officers move into suitable opportunities across Public Service and in the private sector."

Union providing support to affected workers

In response to queries from Mothership, Gabriel Ng, General Secretary of Amalgamated Union of Statutory Board Employees (AUSBE), said the union is aware of GovTech's latest phase of layoffs.

It is working closely with the agency to support affected officers, Ng said.

Ng said that the second phase of GovTech's layoffs is expected to be completed by November 2026.

"Since the first phase of retrenchment in July 2026, AUSBE’s priority has been to safeguard the interests of affected officers," Ng said.

"The union has been working with GovTech Singapore to explore alternatives, including opportunities for retraining, apprenticeship and redeployment for the affected officers," Ng added.

Ng shared that AUSBE had successfully negotiated an enhanced support package beyond the provisions of the collective agreement for officers exiting the agency.

"The package was negotiated at the onset of the restructuring exercise and will continue to apply to affected officers across all phases," Ng said.

The National Trades Union Congress' Employment and Employability Institute has also invited affected workers to a virtual tech job opportunities briefing on Nov. 12.

Strategic shift over next two years

Explaining the retrenchments in July, GovTech's chairman Chng Kai Fong said that the agency must move from managing projects delivered by vendors to owning and running products itself.

This requires a different mix of skills, he said, adding that critical systems increasingly demand in-house capabilities so the agency can respond and adjust quickly to national needs.

Changes to effect such a shift will take place during the next two years in three phases.

The first phase covered six Government Digital Transformation (GDT) Forward Deployed Teams and one central GovTech function, Chng said.

The other two phases are expected to cover the rest of GDT’s Forward Deployed Teams.

GovTech also clarified back in July that the move was not driven by artificial intelligence, adding that it was not a cost-cutting or downsizing exercise.

“GovTech is changing shape, not shrinking… It will be a different GovTech, and not every current role maps onto it,” Chng said.

The affected roles are mainly in traditional project and vendor management, which are expected to become less necessary as more products are developed and operated in-house.

GovTech outlined four possible pathways for affected staff: capability development (apprenticeship), alternative public service placement, operational continuity and transition and support package.

The July retrenchment affected 93 staff, with GovTech retaining 102 officers in their roles and retraining 110 for new roles through apprenticeships.

In total, 131 GovTech staff have been let go so far across the two phases.

A 25-year-old female Chinese tourist's stay at a resort in Sabah, Malaysia, took a dangerous turn when she narrowly escaped being sexually assaulted.

HK01 reported that she managed to get away from the alleged perpetrator in the wee hours of Sep. 19 and had to hide overnight in the bushes before being rescued.

The perpetrator was reportedly an 18-year-old security guard at the resort the woman was staying at. He was later arrested by local police.

Man broke in

According to HK01, the woman, Huang (transliterated), stayed at the resort while travelling alone in Malaysia.

The man then allegedly broke into her room while she was asleep, and she reportedly woke up to him grabbing her hand and undressing her.

They wrestled when she fought back; Huang eventually managed to escape by tricking him into the bathroom to take a shower.

In the process of her escaping, however, the guard reportedly dragged the woman by her hair and attempted to force her on the ground.

Escaped, discovered by staff

Huang then fled into some bushes located on a mountain near the resort and hid there, according to China Press.

She was bitten by ants and mosquitoes, and staff did not discover her until morning.

The man, who was worried about the resort's surveillance cameras, did not chase after her.

Images published on HK01 showed Huang suffered multiple wounds from the ordeal.

Investigation

Following the incident, Huang alleged that the resort contacted her but did not offer her any compensation plan, other than a small sum for medical fees and three nights' accommodation at an alternate hotel.

The woman has since retained a lawyer to resolve the matter.

She added that local police were investigating the man and found he was a foreign national, HK01 reported. He is alleged to have entered Malaysia illegally and was staying without valid documents.

The police said they would take action against employers hiring illegal immigrants or individuals without valid work permits.

According to HK01, Huang said on Oct. 15 that the man had been sentenced to two years' jail for trespassing, while the investigation for sexual assault remains ongoing.

Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Downstreaming and Energy Transition Bahlil Lahadalia has threatened to stop energy exports to countries that "disrespect" it.

Speaking at the official launch of a natural gas infrastructure on Oct. 22, Bahlil said he "will conduct an evaluation" into energy export contracts Indonesia currently has with other countries, according to Antara.

He also urged countries that have issues with Indonesia to discuss them amicably and resolve the problem on the principle of mutual respect.

Bahlil, who is also Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, was quoted as saying, "Don’t come begging when you need something, but when there is another issue that can actually be discussed, behave like a relative who has no manners. This is what we do not want."

Conversely, he said that he is willing to draw up contracts with countries that have respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with Indonesia, even if there is currently no existing one.

However, he did not name any specific country.

He emphasised Indonesia's adherence to its national sovereignty, which he described as a long struggle.

Indonesia in 'survival mode'

Earlier on Oct. 21, Bahlil mentioned considering not extending gas exports to neighbouring countries as Indonesia is supposedly in "survival mode".

"So, if other countries have different perspectives for us, they should be careful. I may also consider not extending my gas exports to neighbouring countries," he said in Jakarta, according to Kompas.

"Because we have to survive, we must first meet our domestic needs."

He added that other ministries will also implement measures aligned with this goal, echoing Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto's earlier calls for his country to safeguard its natural resources and prioritise national interests.

"Now it is politics based on strength. Those who are strong will survive, and we can see what happens in the Middle East and elsewhere; those who are weak will perish," Prabowo said on Oct. 21.

According to The Straits Times, Indonesia exported natural gases to several countries in 2025.

Japan received about 3.8 million tonnes, followed by China with about 3.79 million tonnes, while Singapore received the third most natural gas with 3.22 million tonnes.

Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong also cited Indonesia as one of Singapore's main sources of natural gas, with existing contracts set to expire by the end of 2028.