A 28-year-old man was allegedly kidnapped in February 2026 in Jimbaran, Bali, Indonesia, while on holiday with his 25-year-old girlfriend.

Both are Ukrainian.

Igor Komarov’s remains were discovered weeks after his kidnapping on a beach situated on the Indonesian island.

His girlfriend, Yeva Mishalova, has since spoken up on the incident.

Podcast

In a podcast uploaded on Oct. 26 with Ukrainian influencer Basil Tymoshenko, Mishalova spoke about her final interactions with Komarov.

She said they were taking motorcycle lessons and were enjoying their holiday in Bali.

On the night of Komarov’s disappearance, Mishalova was apparently watching American Netflix drama “Bridgerton” in her hotel room.

Motorcycle training

According to Mishalova, Komarov left for motorcycle training between 8pm and 9pm.

He had said he would return shortly.

“I’ll text you in half an hour. Order me a club sandwich,” he apparently told her.

At about 9:30pm, Komarov returned to collect his helmet and said his instructor wanted to take him beyond the hotel grounds to practise “cornering”.

Mishalova was “washing” her hair at the time and barely saw his face, but warned him that riding outside the hotel in the dark sounded dangerous.

“No, no, kitten, kitten, don’t worry. I’ll be back soon,” he told her.

At about 10pm, Komarov messaged Mishalova and then stopped replying an hour later.

Recordings

At about midnight, Mishalova received voice recordings from an unknown sender.

The sender also sent her videos of Komarov’s injuries and demanded that she send cash.

“They started sending videos and saying, ‘10 million, 10 million, 10 million’,” she said.

In the podcast, Mishalova recounted what the alleged kidnappers did to Komarov.

“First they beat him very badly. Then there was what they did to his fingers. Then his ribs,” she said.

“I don’t know who exactly cut off his fingers, who broke his ribs, or who did everything else. They all did it together. All of them. Every single one of them took part. They’re not human,” she added.

Mishalova also claimed she had additional unpublished videos of Komarov’s torture which she possessed.

“I’m trying not to listen to them again now, because they’re the last things he said,” she said.

Videos of Komarov’s torture and pleas allegedly begging his father to pay his abductors' demanded ransom of US$10 million (S$12.8 million) were circulated online.

Cover up

Mishalova said she apparently posted old photos on Instagram while the search for Komarov was ongoing to prevent her parents from finding out about the incident.

She claimed that she wanted to stay in Bali to help find Komarov.

“I understood that if my parents found out, they would do everything to get me out of there, and I wasn’t leaving without Igor,” she said.

Incident

The alleged kidnapping occurred on Feb. 15, The Sun and AFP reported.

Komarov was reportedly kidnapped while riding on a motorcycle with a friend and was forced into a car by a group of assailants.

His friend was left behind and later lodged a police report regarding the incident.

Mishalova claimed that the motorcycle instructor Komarov was with had left Thailand the day after the kidnapping and alleged he was likely an accomplice.

Komarov’s remains were discovered by locals on Feb. 26 near Ketewel Beach in the Gianyar regency of Bali, Jakarta Globe reported.

Subsequent searches led to the discovery of additional body parts, including his head, torso, arms, and legs, along a nearby river and coastline.

Local police identified the remains as belonging to Komarov through DNA samples taken from the dismembered body and compared with those of his mother.

The police later arrested the man who had rented the car used in the kidnapping.

An international manhunt is also underway for six suspects, including Russian, Ukrainian and Kazakh nationals, who were allegedly involved in the incident.

Business dealings

Komarov was reportedly the son of a wealthy Ukrainian businessman.

In May, private investigators working with Komarov’s family announced a £75,000 (S$107,817) reward for information leading to the suspect’s capture.

Investigators said the incident was professionally organised and suggested possible involvement of intelligence services.

The videos circulated online depicted Komarov admitting involvement in fraudulent call centre operations targeting Russians.

However, Mishalova claimed Komarov’s business dealings involved metals and grain and were legitimate.

“Someone who is being tortured will say absolutely anything,” she said.

“Even if they’d written ‘I am Elon Musk’ on that piece of paper, he would have read out that he was Elon Musk,” she added.

Investigations are ongoing.

More than 95 per cent of transactions at Beverage Container Return Scheme (BCRS) reverse vending machines were refunded on the spot as of October 2026.

A considerable proportion of unsuccessful transactions appeared to be due to users being unfamiliar with the refund process, said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Nov. 4.

He was responding to questions from MP Lee Hong Chuang about unsuccessful refunds at reverse vending machines and measures to improve the refund process.

Refund processing time reduced to 10 working days

Since Oct. 1, scheme operator BCRS Ltd has been progressively rolling out a digital refund portal to streamline the processing of unsuccessful refunds.

Instead of emailing the company, users can access a pre-filled online form through a QR code to submit their personal details and request a manual refund.

Under the new process, refunds are expected to be made within 10 working days, down from 13 working days previously.

Authorities may consider further penalties

Lee also asked what safeguards would protect consumers who had returned their beverage containers but encountered machine or system errors, and whether there would be a mechanism for immediate manual verification and resolution.

He also asked whether service standards would be established for machine reliability, maintenance and refund processing times, and whether penalties or other corrective measures would be imposed if these standards were not met.

In response, Janil said BCRS Ltd was already subject to service and reporting standards covering availability and reliability.

He added that the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) would continue working with the operator to improve its processes, including those involving refunds.

The authorities would also consider introducing further penalties if necessary.

Christmas is always a good excuse to indulge a little, whether that means treating yourself to a good sub or getting everyone together over a spread.

Subway is bringing back their Double Cheese subs, and will be introducing a limited-edition party platter right in time for the festive season.

Double the cheese, double the joy

The Double Cheese subs come loaded with Jalapeno Cheese and Old English Cheese. Each sub is made with quality ingredients on freshly baked bread, assembled to order.

Depending on which meat you’re feeling that day, there are two options for you to choose from. If chicken is your go-to, the Double Cheese Chicken sub is available at S$9.50 for a 6-inch à la carte, or S$15.50 for a footlong.

Those who prefer beef can opt for the Double Cheese Steak sub at S$10.50 for a 6-inch à la carte and S$16.50 for a footlong.

If you’re looking for a treat to sweeten the meal, you can add a cookie and a 16oz drink to any Double Cheese sub for an additional S$1.60 (U.P. S$3).

You can also top up S$0.20 to upgrade to a Lemon Cranberry Cookie, which has 50 per cent less sugar*.

Something for everyone

Of course, the festive season isn’t just about treating yourself.

If you’re planning a get-together, why not consider Subway’s limited-edition party platter?

Priced from S$52, each platter comes with three footlong subs, and you get to pick up to three flavours. Of course, you’d still get to customise your subs as usual, barring additional costs for add-ons and seasonal items.

Wondering about the savings? You’ll be glad to know that you can save up to 30 per cent as compared to ordering them à la carte**.

The platter also comes with eight sauces, four drinks, four sides and six cookies to sweeten the deal, with the drinks and cookies being packed separately.

The platter is available in-store and for pick-up only, so make sure you remember to set aside time to swing by your neighbourhood Subway to collect it.

*50 per cent less sugar per 100g compared to the average sugar content of Subway Singapore’s standard cookies (White Chip Macadamia Nut, Chocolate Chip, Double Chocolate Chip and Raspberry Cheesecake).

**Actual savings may vary depending on the subs selected and by restaurant. Valid at participating restaurants for a limited time only. While stock lasts. Terms and conditions apply.

This Subway-branded article made this writer excited for the season of feasting giving.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has refuted a report in Malaysian media that attributed traffic congestion along the Causeway and on several roads in Johor Bahru on Nov. 4 to a power outage at Woodlands Checkpoint.

The Star, a newspaper in Malaysia, had reported that the congestion started at about noon on Wednesday and was caused by a "massive power outage" at Woodlands Checkpoint.

No power outage, only planned electrical maintenance

ICA told Mothership: "ICA would like to clarify that no power outage was experienced at Woodlands Checkpoint on that date."

The authority said it carried out planned electrical maintenance works and a build-up of Singapore-bound traffic occurred.

The works were carried out at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday.

Lorry clearance continued at Woodlands Checkpoint, even though Old Woodlands Checkpoint was temporarily unavailable for the clearance of arriving lorries during the works, ICA added.

Some Singapore-bound cargo traffic built up on the Causeway during this period, before operations at the Old Woodlands Checkpoint resumed at around 4pm.

2 vehicles broke down on Malaysia side

ICA added that two lorries subsequently broke down on the Malaysia side of the Causeway at 4:30pm and 6:30pm, which led to traffic tailing back into Malaysia.

"The breakdowns blocked one of the three arrival lanes, contributing to traffic queues extending from the lorry breakdown sites into Malaysia," ICA said.

"The congestion was exacerbated by the higher volume of vehicles during the evening peak period."

The first lorry was removed only at 9:50pm, while the second was removed at around 12:22am on Thursday, ICA said.

Traffic towards Woodlands Checkpoint was disrupted as a result.

ICA posted advisories on Facebook to alert travellers to the vehicle breakdowns and expected delays, and notify them when the affected lane reopened.

According to The Star, all counters were operating at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar (BSI) customs, immigration and quarantine complex on the Malaysia side of the Causeway.

Malaysian media further reported that Malaysian authorities opened additional lanes in an effort to resolve the congestion.

Additional police personnel were deployed around BSI and roads to manage the peak-hour rush of workers leaving Singapore, it added.

Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow and Labour chief Ng Chee Meng were among the four leaders co-opted into the People's Action Party's (PAP) 39th central executive committee (CEC), the party announced on Nov. 5.

The CEC is the PAP's highest decision-making body, and the 39th committee will steer the party from 2026 to 2028 as it prepares for the next General Election. 

Second minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Sim Ann and 2025 Aljunied GRC PAP candidate Chan Hui Yuh, whose team lost to the Workers' Party during the 2025 General Elections, were also co-opted into the committee.

They join 14 other members: 12 elected at the party conference on Oct. 25, and two co-opted on the same day.

No changes in officeholders

There were no changes made to key officeholder roles within the CEC.

Prime Minister Lawrence Wong retained his role as the party's Secretary-General, while Education Minister Desmond Lee remained the party Chairman.

Social and Family Development Minister Masagos Zulkifli, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung will also continue in their roles as Vice-Chairman, Assistant Secretary-General and Treasurer respectively.

The complete line-up of the 39th CEC is as follows:

• Chairman: Desmond Lee
• Vice-Chairman: Masagos Zulkifli
• Secretary-General: Lawrence Wong
• Assistant Secretary-General: Chan Chun Sing
• Treasurer: Ong Ye Kung
• Assistant Treasurer: Chee Hong Tat
• Organising Secretaries: Grace Fu, Edwin Tong
• Members: Lee Hsien Loong, K Shanmugam, Indranee Rajah, Vivian Balakrishnan, Tan See Leng, Zaqy Mohamad, Jeffrey Siow, Ng Chee Meng, Sim Ann, Chan Hui Yuh

Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo and GE2025 Sengkang GRC PAP candidate Lam Pin Min, who were co-opted into the 38th CEC in 2024, were not included in the new line-up.

Changes to PAP HQ

Meanwhile, the PAP's headquarters executive committee saw a number of new appointments.

The Exco will now consist of three Assistant Organising Secretaries: North West District mayor Alex Yam, Senior Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office Desmond Tan, and Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth and Manpower Dinesh V Dash.

Yam and Tan retained their roles, while Dinesh replaced former Assistant Organising Secretaries Low Yen Ling and Tan Kiat How.

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth David Neo was also appointed chair of the PAP Seniors Group (PAPSG), taking over the role from Trade and Industry Minister (Energy and Industry) Tan See Leng.

Senior Minister of State for Social and Family Development and for Home Affairs Goh Pei Ming was made the new chair of the PAP Climate Action Group, replacing former Senior Minister of State for Manpower and for Health Koh Poh Koon, who resigned from political office on June 1.

The new HQ Exco line up is as follows:

• Chair, HQ Exco: Chan Chun Sing
• Assistant Organising Secretaries: Alex Yam, Desmond Tan, Dinesh V Dash
• Chair, PAP Seniors Group: David Neo
• Chair, PAP Malay Affairs Bureau: Zaqy Mohamad
• Chair, PAP Women's Wing: Sim Ann
• Chair, Young PAP: Alvin Tan
• Chair, PAP Mental Health Group: Janil Puthucheary
• Chair, PAP Policy Forum Council: Chee Hong Tat
• Chair, PAP Climate Action Group: Goh Pei Ming

53-year-old Michael Oh was cycling to work on Oct. 5 when he fell, landing face-first on the pavement.

At the time, he did not realise how serious his injuries were.

Luckily, Labrador Park MRT station was nearby, so he went into the station to clean his wounds in the MRT toilet.

However, the bleeding did not stop, no matter how hard Oh tried to stem it with tissues.

A passer-by eventually noticed him and alerted an SMRT Trains staff member.

The staff member, assistant station manager Muhammad Taufik bin Mohamed Rais, 32, quickly went over to assist Oh.

Seeing the severity of the gash on Oh's forehead, Taufik called station manager Luqmannul Hakim bin Yahya (Hakim), 37, to bring over a first-aid kit.

The pair bandaged Oh's wound and later paid for a Grab ride for him after he declined their offer to call an ambulance.

Speaking to Mothership on Nov. 3, the two SMRT Trains staff members recounted the events of that day.

What happened

Taufik recalled that he was at the station's passenger service centre when a commuter alerted him to an injured cyclist.

He went over and saw Oh, who was bleeding profusely and had a large gash on his forehead.

Taufik quickly called Hakim, who was attending to other duties, to retrieve the first-aid kit.

When Hakim arrived, he noticed that Oh was repeatedly touching his forehead and mumbling in response to questions.

The pair administered first aid and helped stop the bleeding. They also offered to call an ambulance, as the wound appeared to be "quite deep".

"Along the way, we told him this injury need to go for hospital, but he still [declined] as he want to go back first to put his bicycle," Taufik said.

Going beyond their responsibilities

The pair accompanied Oh back up to the ground floor, where Hakim eventually decided to book a Grab ride home for him.

"Since he don't want to take the ambulance, I was like, 'Just book the Grab for him lah'," he said.

Hakim paid for the ride, which cost about S$27, out of his own pocket.

The pair recalled that Oh was very thankful and appreciative of their generosity.

He even took down their names so that he could thank them later.

The two were more sanguine about their role in helping, saying that it was their duty to help passengers.

Cyclist's brother came to thank them

The following day, on Oct. 6, Oh's brother, Amos Oh, visited Labrador Park MRT station to reimburse the pair for the Grab fare.

However, they declined his offer, Amos told Mothership.

Money can be earned back, but safety is more important, was their takeaway.

Amos eventually bought snacks for them and insisted that they accept the items as a token of appreciation for helping his brother.

"I just want to take this opportunity to say a great thank you to all of them who had helped Michael, when he fell, in one way or another. Words can’t express our gratitude, please keep up the good work guys," Amos said.

He added that he felt their actions deserved to be commended and could also encourage others to "lend their helping hands whenever possible".

Training paid off

This was the first time the pair had encountered such an incident, as they were more accustomed to handling cases involving fainting or seizures.

They admitted that they were initially shocked when they first saw Oh, but felt a sense of accomplishment after helping him.

As part of their jobs, the pair shared that they are trained in first aid and attend refresher courses every two years.

Hakim, who has been with SMRT Trains for 13 years, shared that besides overseeing and supporting the station's day-to-day operations, they also respond to incidents and emergencies, including train-related incidents and medical emergencies.

Taufik, who has been with SMRT for six years, added that the safety of the station and its commuters always comes first for them.

Cyclist hospitalised but recovered well

Thanks to the two staff members' assistance, Oh was able to get help quickly.

Amos shared that after Oh reached home, their other brother, Sean, quickly drove him to the emergency department at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital (KTPH).

Oh said was subsequently diagnosed with multiple facial bone fractures.

The fall also left him with a deep cut on his forehead that caused heavy bleeding, as well as significant swelling and bruising around his left eye.

He underwent two operations and was hospitalised for almost 10 days, from Oct. 5 to 14.

He was eventually discharged on Oct. 14 and is now in stable condition.

However, a full recovery is expected to take a few months, Amos shared.

As of Nov. 4, Amos said Oh was recovering well, although his fractured bones would still need a few more months to heal.

"He would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone again, who had rendered him assistance then," Amos said.

The U.S. midterm election ballot counts have nearly all concluded, with a historic win for the Democratic Party eliciting various outpourings of celebration and shock from Democratic and Republican leaders respectively.

In a rare – though slight – case of bipartisanship, former U.S. President Barack Obama and U.S. Vice-President JD Vance both agreed that Republican missteps led to the result.

On various social media platforms on Nov. 4, Obama wrote that Americans had sent a "clear message" at the polls, and called on Democrats to "prevent further damage" over the next two years.

Vance tweeted later that day that the reason for the Republican loss was "obvious", referring in great part to the war in Iran launched by the U.S. and Israel in February 2026.

"Lay the groundwork"

Obama declared that Americans "want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them", as well as concrete solutions to the problems they face. 

He gave credit to the "outstanding candidates" on the Democratic side that stepped forth, even in areas "once considered long shots".

What united this disparate field of candidates was a set of shared values, belief in public service, and a commitment to putting their people first, he wrote.

Tonight, the American people sent a clear message — they want a politics that brings people together rather than divides them, and leaders who offer concrete solutions to the challenges they face.

These results were only possible because outstanding candidates stepped forward in every region of the country — including in areas once considered long shots. They came from different backgrounds and represented a range of political perspectives, but were united by shared values, a belief in public service, and a commitment to putting the people of their districts and states first.

We also owe a debt of gratitude to the thousands of election officials and volunteers from both parties who helped ensure a smooth election and carried out one of the most essential functions of our democracy.

While this administration has another two years in office, our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 4, 2026

He also thanked election officials and volunteers for carrying out the election smoothly.

But he also called on Democrats to take action despite the fact that the Trump administration still has another two years in office:

"...our job now is to roll up our sleeves, make changes wherever we have the power to do so, prevent further damage, and lay the groundwork for the future."

The Guardian reported that Obama was particularly active on the campaign trail throughout the election, travelling across states to rally for a new wave of Democratic candidates.

Obama also raised eyebrows by publicly campaigning with candidates from the left wing of the party, such as Abdul El-Sayed, who had previously criticised the president.

Vance: "The reason we lost is the war"

On the other side, Vance made a set of strikingly critical comments about his own faction.

Trump previously also attributed the loss to Iran, but defended the war and said that his party would have won "by a landslide" if he was on the ballot.

In contrast, Vance admitted that the reason for the loss "is obvious to almost everyone" despite what the ensuing debate might say.

He claimed that despite a "genuine sense of optimism" on the Republican side, the polls showed in advance that the Democrats would win big.

"The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026," he wrote. 

One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was merely OK, in other states it was downright amazing, and in no state was it catastrophic. There was a genuine sense of optimism on our team: our people were showing up.

So, I asked the smartest data guy I know, does that mean we're going to shock the world? "No," he told me. "We might do better than the polls suggest. But the data is telling us that a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters are pissed and planning to vote for the other guys. Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us."

Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.

There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect told me that our economic messaging wasn’t sharp enough down the stretch. I’m sure that’s true.

But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone.

Another pollster—one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we’d lose the generic ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. He asked those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers, accounting for nearly all of the responses were:

1) End the war

2) Focus on cost of living/inflation

3) Put America First

4) Change our relationship to Israel

Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. (She’s also a great person.)

In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you.

The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.

If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.

But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.

I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: you’re right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.

— JD Vance (@JDVance) November 4, 2026

Subsequently, referencing a pollster's findings, he claimed that the top four demands of the electorate were:

1. End the war
2. Focus on cost of living/inflation
3. Put America First
4. Change [America's] relationship to Israel

Vance then denied that the solution to his party's electoral woes was "amnesty" – such as changing they way they enforce illegal labour and immigration laws.

Instead, he reiterated: "The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night."

"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.

But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there."

He concluded by stating that he remained hopeful for the U.S. and called on supporters to continue "saving the country".

In response to Vance's words, Trump told Fox News that it was "largely true" that the Iran war contributed to their defeat.

"But at the same time, if I had to do it again, I'd have to do it again."

A Singaporean full-time national serviceman was amongst three convicted in Malaysia for illegal racing and vehicle performance testing along the Second Link on Nov. 3.

Singaporean Syajahan Alfian Abdullah, 19, was charged alongside two Malaysians, Muhammed Daniel Hakim Mohamed Rashid, 24, and Gonzales Mckhovic Anak George, 18.

Syajahan reportedly rode a motorcycle at high speeds at about 2:10am on Oct. 18, 12.5km south of the expressway, according to Malay Mail.

In response to Mothership's queries, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said Syajahan, who holds the rank of private, has been convicted and fined by the Malaysian courts for an offence committed in Malaysia.

He was in Malaysia in his personal capacity at the time of the incident, the ministry said.

MINDEF added that it would like to remind all National Servicemen to conduct themselves well in public, and abide by the laws of countries that they visit.

Convicted

Syajahan pleaded guilty and asked for leniency on the grounds that he was still young, and had to take care of his sick father, Lianhe Zaobao reported.

Rashid and George, meanwhile, were accused of riding motorcycles and racing at about 2am on Oct. 18, from 7.8km north of the expressway.

They both also pleaded guilty.

George asked for leniency on the grounds that he was only 18 years old, is about to enter society, and has limited savings.

Rashid told the court that he had moved to Johor Bahru for a month, and had to pay for his motorbike maintenance in addition to supporting his two younger siblings alone.

The prosecution asked for the offenders to be punished harshly as speeding on the expressway posed a danger to the lives and safety of other drivers.

The judge ordered the teenagers to pay a fine of RM3,500 (S$1,104) each.

They were released after paying the fine.

A number of Telegram group chats are suspected of using massage as a front for prostitution services in Singapore after some of them advertised services with explicit content.

Explicit content

Checks by Mothership showed that as of Nov. 5, there were at least 10 such groups claiming that they promoted massage services.

However, explicit messages in the group chat advertised sexual services, and attached photos of various women with their personal information and the specific services they could provide.

Messages also highlighted that the women tested negative for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).

The number of members in each group chat ranged from over 7,000 to over 30,000.

Locations islandwide

One Telegram channel that Mothership found was created on Oct. 1, 2024, and is still active to date.

The services are apparently available islandwide, in locations ranging from Bishan to Lavender.

Advertisements are posted at various times throughout the day, promoting services by women from various countries.

Shin Min Daily News reported that some groups even directly list "shops" across different parts of Singapore, as well as extending their services to Johor Bahru, Malaysia.

The list reportedly includes close to 100 locations like Changi, Aljunied, Ang Mo Kio, Yishun, Bedok, Redhill, and Toa Payoh.

Some of the groups were the same as telegram groups reported in previous instances of illicit activities in purported massage parlors.

Residents shocked, worried

Residents in the area expressed shock regarding this when Shin Min visited neighbourhood communities.

A 62-year-old woman said she was worried that these sexual services would have a negative impact on society.

"These days, if you want to find sex services, you can find them online, it's unbelievable," she said.

"Even if you don't intentionally seek them out, it's hard to guarantee you won't come across them when friends share information with each other every day!"

Another woman, 67, told Shin Min that she was more familiar with WhatsApp and Facebook.

She had seen similar massage advertisements on Facebook before, but the content was quite subtle and not as explicit as Telegram.

"We older folks aren't very tech-savvy, and we never expected to find this kind of thing online. It's really indecent!"

One of the women asked Shin Min how to find such group chats and identify if there were any massage parlours near her home.

"I feel like I could find one just two blocks away. I need to check if there are any near my house," said the woman, who wanted to prevent her husband from "going astray in his old age."

Penalties

Speaking to Shin Min, a 27-year-old woman said there are various ways to seek out sexual services online, adding that there are many ways for a partner to cheat if they wish to do so.

A 28-year-old man noted that he had received messages advertising similar services, but chose to ignore them.

Under Section 146A(1) of the Singapore’s Women's Charter 1961, any person—whether inside or outside Singapore—in the course of business uses a remote communication service with a Singapore link to offer, facilitate, organise, manage, or supervise paid sexual services involving a woman or girl in Singapore commits an offence.

There will also be new changes to the regulatory regime for massage establishments, the Singapore Police Force announced on Nov. 5, 2026.

Under the new regime, operators of open-concept MEs (OMEs) will no longer be exempted from licensing.

In addition, all OME operators must comply with the OME requirements.

These include the following:

Customers and members of the public must have an unobstructed view of massage services being provided at all times from both inside and outside of the premises.

The premises must not contain rooms, partitions, cubicles, curtains or other features that would allow massage services to be provided in private.

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has dismissed his chief of staff, Listyo Sigit, after Sigit was arrested for allegedly illegally wiretapping him.

The decision was announced at a press conference on Nov. 4, with Aryo Windutomo appointed as the acting chief of staff, according to Indonesian media outlet Kompas.

It was reported that Sigit's purported wiretapping targeted Prabowo, state officials, political figures, the media, and civil society organisation leaders.

Two high-ranking Indonesian police officers, Police Legal Affairs Division Chief Inspector General Ahrie Sonta Nasution and Inspector General Eko Hadi Santoso, were also named in the case as suspects on Nov. 3.

Alleged wiretapping occurred in 2025 and 2026

Indonesia's Head of the Criminal Investigation Agency of the National Police, Commissioner General Asep Safrudin, said the alleged acts occurred throughout 2025 and 2026.

Kompas reported that Indonesian police also believe that the suspects deleted evidence of the wiretapping through the Lawful Interception Management System (LIMS).

LIMS is a platform that handles interception requests and distributes such information to legally authorised institutions for investigations, according to CNN Indonesia.

The phone numbers of the targeted figures were allegedly entered into the system without verification and intercepted without due process.

Kompas reported that Indonesian police seized 11 mobile phones, one iPad tablet and four USB flash drives in connection with the case.

The suspects were charged under local law and face a maximum jail sentence of six years, with Indonesian authorities applying for an additional charge that carries a prison term of up to eight years.

Sworn in on Oct. 1

Nikkei Asia reported that Sigit was sworn in as Prabowo's chief of staff on Oct. 1, 2026. He was formerly head of the Indonesian National Police.

The Indonesian State Secretary, Prasetyo Hadi, said on Nov. 4, "We think that what they did could be classified as... leaning towards treason".

Prasetyo noted that Prabowo was "deeply concerned" about the investigations.

According to Nikkei Asia, wiretapping is legal in Indonesia under strict conditions such as court authorisation.

Politicians weigh in

Former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took to X in a cryptic statement seemingly aimed at the alleged wiretapping.

He questioned: "How did our country end up like this? How did our politics become so unrestrained?"

"It seems that any means of gaining power (political power) is considered justified. It does not matter whether they are good or bad. Moral or immoral."

Susilo added that he worried Indonesians would eventually feel afraid or unable to live peacefully in their own country, calling for Prabowo to "revive civilised politics".

Nikkei Asia also quoted the secretary-general of Prabowo's Gerindra Party, who said the wiretapping was serious and "if elements meeting the legal criteria are established, the possibility that the act amounted to an attempt to overthrow the President should also be investigated".