While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 25, 2026
Paris protests turn violent; Trump votes early in Florida. Also: new ETFs, Thailand tourism targets, Singapore water safety, yen surge, PAP leadership.
N. Korea’s Kim Jong Un returns from China after war memorial visit: State media
Kim Jong Un returned from a surprise one-day trip to China’s Dandong, visiting a Korean War memorial and highlighting “unbreakable” ties amid efforts to boost trade before Trump’s November visit.
Trump votes early in Florida for US midterm elections
Trump voted early in Florida for the midterms, saying he voted Republican, and repeated baseless claims about the 2020 election. Polls suggest Republicans may lose Congress.
China urges US to halt proposed expansion of outbound investment curbs
China urged the U.S. to halt its proposed expansion of outbound investment curbs, opposing the move as harmful to normal economic and trade cooperation.
Falling deeper into debt, foreign domestic worker in Singapore worries about what comes next
Filipino domestic worker Michelle fell into debt after a disputed paluwagan, borrowed from loan sharks, and now fears losing her job and returning home.
‘I’ve been exactly where they are’: She overcame her own debt trap, now helps other domestic workers
Filipina domestic worker Monette overcame her own debt trap and now helps other foreign domestic workers facing similar loan-shark struggles.
Albania police use tear gas, rubber bullets as anti-government student protests turn violent
Albanian police used tear gas and rubber bullets against violent anti-government student protests in Tirana, demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation.
Iran has ramped up efforts to target US personnel, intelligence memo warns
A US intelligence memo warns that Iran has stepped up efforts to target US personnel, with lethal plotting against American citizens reaching advanced stages.
AI spending fears threaten to swamp Big Tech’s strong earnings
Big Tech earnings expected strong, but AI spending fears loom. Investors punish higher capex, as seen with Meta's stock drop. Market fragile amid macro risks.
Billionaire Trump backer says Ben-Gvir, Smotrich should not serve in next Israeli government
Bill Ackman, a billionaire Trump supporter, urged Israel's next government exclude far-right ministers Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, citing reputational damage, two days before elections.
Trump adds Norway to vulgar list of countries, citing Nobel snub
Trump at a Michigan rally called Norway a “s*** house country” and said he doesn’t want Norwegian immigrants because Norway’s Nobel committee hasn’t given him a Peace Prize.
Govt to tackle living costs, secure better jobs as part of full agenda this term: PM Wong
PM Wong vows to tackle living costs, secure better jobs, and support Singaporeans from education to retirement, assuring no one is forgotten.