• A potential turning point for the war in Gaza has emerged after Israel said on Thursday (Oct 17) that it killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, mastermind of the Oct 7, 2023 attack which triggered the conflict.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “the beginning of the end” of the war in Gaza, but vowed to press on with the military offensive until all hostages are released.
• Observers told CNA that despite such optimism, some things could still stand in the way, including who Hamas chooses to succeed Sinwar.

• The death toll from Hong Kong's worst fire in nearly 80 years has risen to 128 and about 200 people remain missing from the high-rise residential complex that was engulfed by the blaze, the city's security chief said on Friday (Nov 28).
• Rescue efforts had now been concluded and at least 79 people, including 12 firefighters were injured, said Hong Kong Security Chief Chris Tang at a press briefing.

• Pride mingled with grief as the family and loved ones of the Hong Kong firefighter who died while battling Wednesday's (Nov 26) disastrous high-rise inferno shared their feelings of tragic loss.
• The girlfriend of the deceased firefighter Ho Wai-ho posted a heartfelt message on social media on Thursday, revealing her grief and longing for her boyfriend.
• The No 5 alarm inferno in Tai Po had claimed at least 94 lives, including Ho, and left dozens hospitalised as of Thursday evening, while full-scale rescue operations were still underway.

• Five ancient cat breeds native to Thailand were approved as national pet symbols by the government on Nov 18.
• The move aims to help conserve rare native breeds, standardise them and protect Thailand’s ownership of them. 
• Players in the Thai feline industry and animal activists cheer the decision, though some urge greater attention to a growing stray-cat problem.  

• The 2025 SEA Games to be held in Thailand will see some events shifted to Bangkok after devastating floods in the Songkhla province that have lasted several days.
• The Sea Games organising committee approved the venue changes following the flooding in Southern Thailand.
• A government spokesperson said that flood-related deaths in Songkhla province surged from six to 55 on Thursday, sending the overall death toll across seven provinces to at least 82 people.

• Indonesian disaster officials said on Friday (Nov 28) that the death toll from floods and landslides has risen to 84.
• Rescuers on Indonesia's flood- and landslide-hit Sumatra island had rushed on Thursday to pull stranded residents out of fast-flowing muddy waters that smashed through homes and forced thousands of people to flee a rare tropical cyclone in the area.

• The share of resident employees in permanent jobs hit a record high of 90.8 per cent in 2025, the Ministry of Manpower said in an advance release of its labour force report on Friday (Nov 28).
• The proportion of residents participating in the labour force fell for a fourth straight year to 67.9 per cent, and is expected to continue declining until population ageing stabilises.
• Real incomes grew in 2025 for earners at both the bottom 20th percentile and the median, and annual real income growth for lower-income earners has outstripped that of median earners in recent years.

• The proportion of workers who changed jobs in the past year fell to 6.2 per cent this year, with the drop most pronounced among workers aged 25 to 29, according to the latest labour force data on Friday (Nov 28).
• The decline may reflect greater caution among workers amid external uncertainties this year, said the Ministry of Manpower.
• Job switching fell in the infocomm, financial and professional services sectors, which typically tend to see high job mobility, and this could be due to a few high-profile restructurings and more cautious hiring sentiments, said MOM.

• The verdict for Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh's appeal against his conviction for lying to a parliamentary privileges committee has been fixed for Dec 4.
• During the appeal on Nov 4, Justice Steven Chong questioned both the prosecution - led by Deputy Attorney-General Goh Yihan - and the lead defence lawyer, Mr Andre Jumabhoy, on their respective submissions.

• Most markets squeezed out gains on Friday (Nov 28) at the end of a strong week for equities fuelled by growing expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates again next month. 
• A string of top Fed officials have lined up to back a third straight reduction, mostly saying that worries over a weakening labour market trumped still elevated inflation.
• Markets see around an 85 per cent chance of a cut next month and three more in 2026.

• Lethal autonomous weapon systems, or so-called killer robots, have raised humanitarian, security and legal concerns.
• The potential regulation or prohibition of existing weapon systems underscores the importance of Southeast Asian states joining and shaping the debate.

• Gavin Lee was on Friday (Nov 28) named as permanent head coach of the Singapore men's national football team. 
• The 35-year-old was officially unveiled at a press conference at the Jalan Besar Stadium.  

• Amanda Yap, 16, made history last month by becoming the first Singaporean gymnast to make a world championships final.
• Her historic feat came while she was taking her O-level exams, flying between Singapore and Jakarta to compete and study.
• She credits family support, mental resilience and her sister’s guidance for helping her balance academics and sports.

• US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Nov 27) he planned to suspend migration from what he called "third world countries", a day after an Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers in Washington.
• Trump added that he would end all federal benefits and subsidies to non-US citizens, as well as deport any foreign national who is a security risk or "non-compatible with Western Civilization".

• Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Friday (Nov 28) promoted a US-educated senior security official as a new vice defence minister to help oversee military reforms and as the government pushes US$40 billion in extra spending for the military.
• Hsu Szu-chien, a fluent English speaker who is currently an advisor to Taiwan's National Security Council, has strong experience in international affairs, the presidential office said in a statement.
• China, whose warplanes and warships operate almost daily around the island, has never renounced the use of force to bring Taiwan under its control. This week, it denounced Lai's plans for stepped-up military spending.

• The United States has become the world’s largest recipient of Chinese loans, despite years of warning other nations about the risks of borrowing from China, a new study has found.
• China's lending and grant giving totalled US$2.2 trillion across 200 countries in every region of the world from 2000 to 2023, said research lab AidData.
• The report, published earlier this month, revealed a broader shift in China’s lending strategy – moving away from developing nations toward high-income economies, according to the study. 

• The UK government said it will approve China's new embassy in London, which will be the largest diplomatic compound in Europe.
• The "super embassy" has become the biggest obstacle to the UK's hopes of a reset in relations with China, says Matthew Brooker for Bloomberg Opinion.

• Hong Kong authorities said on Friday (Nov 28) the death toll from the city's worst fire in decades had risen to at least 94, with the blaze almost entirely extinguished and rescuers scouring torched high-rise buildings for scores of people still listed as missing.
• Authorities have begun investigating what sparked the blaze - the financial hub's worst in almost 80 years - including the presence of bamboo scaffolding and plastic mesh wrapped around the structures as part of an estate-wide renovation.

• The Hong Kong high-rise fire, which spread across multiple buildings in a large residential complex, has killed dozens, with hundreds reported missing.
• This catastrophic fire highlights how difficult it is to evacuate high-rise buildings in an emergency.
• As high-rises grow taller and populations age, the assumption that everyone can evacuate by stairs no longer holds, say these academics.

• President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Nov 27) that a National Guard member had died after being shot in an ambush by an Afghan national near the White House, an attack that drew accusations from his administration of Biden-era immigration vetting failures and prompted a sweeping review of asylum cases.
• Sarah Beckstrom, 20, died of her wounds and her fellow Guardsman Andrew Wolfe, 24, was "fighting for his life", Trump said, as investigators conducted what officials said was a terrorism investigation after Wednesday's shooting.
• The FBI searched multiple properties in a widening probe, including a home in Washington state linked to the suspect, who officials said was part of a CIA-backed unit in Afghanistan before coming to the US in 2021 under a resettlement program.

• US President Donald Trump has ordered a widespread review of asylum cases approved under former President Joe Biden's administration and Green Cards issued to citizens of 19 countries, Department of Homeland Security officials said on Thursday (Nov 27).
• USCIS director Joseph Edlow said in a statement he was also directing a "full-scale, rigorous re-examination of every Green Card for every alien from every country of concern" at Trump's request.

• When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan again in 2021, women and girls were barred from playing sports. Many left their families behind to survive.
• Now, some Afghan female athletes are rebuilding their lives – and their sporting careers – in Australia.
• Four years on, these athletes are fighting for a future where they can compete freely. They see sport as a form of resistance and a voice for Afghan girls.

• The Israeli military carried out another series of strikes against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon on Thursday (Nov 27), exactly a year into the ceasefire with the militant group.
• The Lebanese military has said it is carrying out its plan to disarm the group, but Washington and Israel have accused Lebanese authorities of stalling the process.

• Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (Nov 27) that outline draft peace proposals discussed by the United States and Ukraine could become the basis of future agreements to end the conflict in Ukraine, but that if not Russia would fight on.
• Putin mixed a clear public expression of readiness to engage with the Trump administration over a possible peace plan for Ukraine with several warnings that Russia was prepared to fight on if necessary and take more of Ukraine.

• Two Swiss lawmakers asked prosecutors to examine whether gifts by Swiss business leaders to US President Donald Trump, including a Rolex watch and a gold bar, violated Switzerland's anti-bribery laws, although a source close to the delegation said they complied with the laws of both countries.
• Raphael Mahaim and Greta Gysin, both Green Party members of parliament, said in a letter to the public prosecutor that the legality of the gifts should be assessed by the judicial system.

• Despite heightened calls for climate urgency, the COP30 climate summit concluded in Brazil last weekend without addressing the one issue many experts have called non-negotiable: A pathway to phase out fossil fuels. 
• The omission sparked disappointment across many countries and environmental groups, who warned that the world is not winning the fight against climate change. 
• “There was basically no outcome for the meeting. At the end of the day, (rich nations) refuse to pay and this is where the big divide is,” professor James Chin tells CNA938. 

• Japan denied on Thursday (Nov 27) a Wall Street Journal report that said US President Donald Trump had advised Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi not to provoke China over Taiwan's sovereignty. 
• The row between Asia's two biggest economies was triggered by a suggestion from new premier Takaichi that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on the island, which China claims as part of its territory.
• "The president didn't want friction over Taiwan to endanger a detente reached last month with Xi, which includes a promise to buy more agricultural products from American farmers hit hard by the trade war," the WSJ said.

• The government will provide a one-off property tax rebate of up to 15 per cent in 2026 for owner-occupied residential properties, the MOF and Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore (IRAS) said on Friday (Nov 28).
• All owner-occupied HDB flats will receive a 15 per cent property tax rebate. Owner-occupied private residential properties will get a 10 per cent rebate, capped at S$500 (US$385).
• All property owners will receive their 2026 property tax bills in December.

• Acting on information received, the Central Narcotics Bureau and other enforcement agencies swept across a Woodlands migrant worker dormitory in an anti-crime raid from late on Thursday (Nov 27). 
• They arrested 12 male foreign nationals in an operation that lasted more than four hours amid a heavy downpour at some points. 
• In a first, the media accompanied authorities for a raid at a dormitory. 

• Fugitive lawyer Charles Yeo Yao Hui has been struck off the rolls, with the Court of Three Judges saying that he had shown himself "thoroughly unfit to wear the mantle of membership in this venerable profession of law".
• Yeo absconded from Singapore in 2022 while facing criminal charges and was last known to be in the United Kingdom.
• The court found that Yeo "revealed numerous character defects" which rendered him "plainly unfit to remain as a legal practitioner in Singapore".
• Justice Chong also referenced Yeo's "total absence of remorse and contrition for his misconduct", and how he has not offered any apology to date.

• ​​​​​More than 240 personnel from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Home Team took part in an interagency exercise at sea to take down a “hijacked vessel” planning to conduct a terrorist attack on Singapore.
• The simulation was part of the five-day Exercise Highcrest, which concluded on Friday (Nov 28), and also included scenarios such as fighting a fire at sea and evacuating casualties.
• Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K Shanmugam said that the waterways and sea lines around Singapore are critical to its prosperity, with maritime trade making up about 7 per cent of the nation's GDP.

• Former DBS CEO Piyush Gupta has been appointed chairman of Temasek India. 
• Mr Gupta, who retired from his post at the bank in March, will take on the new role from Dec 1, said Temasek in a press release on Friday (Nov 28).

• Prime Minister Lawrence Wong has written to Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee on Friday (Nov 28) to express the Singapore government's condolences to those affected by the fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po district.
• In his letter, Mr Wong said he is "deeply saddened by the tragic loss of lives" caused by the fire, which broke out on Wednesday.
• "On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Singapore, I extend my heartfelt condolences to all those affected. My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and those who have been injured, including in the process of saving lives."

• A 35-year-old man was charged on Friday (Nov 28) over a hit-and-run accident that killed an elderly power-assisted bicycle (PAB) rider.  
• The police were alerted at about 2.30pm on Monday to an accident involving a car and a PAB at the junction of Tampines Avenue 7 and Tampines Street 42. 
• The 67-year-old rider was unconscious when taken to hospital, where he subsequently died. 

• The Housing Board's latest sample household survey showed that while households in Singapore are still predominantly made up of families, the proportion of single households has been rising, reflecting societal shifts such as an ageing population and changing housing preferences.
• The survey, conducted once every five years, also showed that household sizes in Singapore have continued to shrink.
• Overall, the number of Singapore citizens and permanent residents living in HDB flats has gone up to 3.18 million, from 3.15 million in 2018.

• This follows BlueSG’s decision to pause its car-sharing operations. TotalEnergies, which had about 1,400 charging points, was BlueSG’s appointed charge point operator.
• All of its charging points will be transferred to other operators by Dec 31. 

• A former shampoo scientist, Maggie Ka Ka Lee once worked for a global beauty giant.
• Seeing the hidden cost of consumer habits on the planet led her to switch to conservation work.
• At WWF, she’s using science and strategy to create real environmental impact.
• Through her children’s books, she’s inspiring young minds to protect the world they’ll inherit.

• The Honor Magic8 Pro impresses with its 200MP camera, offering clearer 10x low-light zoom than the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
• Its AI tools enhance photos, automate settings, and support real-time subtitles and content editing.
• A Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip and 7,100mAh battery deliver strong performance and all-day use.
• Priced at S$1,499 (512GB) and S$1,699 (1TB), it runs MagicOS 10 with iOS-style design and full UI customisation.

• Ahead of Blackpink’s Deadline concert in Singapore, some lucky Blinks found themselves lucky after bumping into Lisa at Universal Studios Singapore on Thursday (Nov 27).
• The 28-year-old Thai member was seen having a day of fun at the local tourist attraction with her good pal, Thai K-pop singer Sorn, when they were spotted by large groups of tourists and fans.
• Blackpink's Deadline shows run from Nov 28 to 30 at the National Stadium.

• This year's edition of the MAMA Awards will proceed in Hong Kong, despite the recent apartment fire that has claimed more than 90 lives and left dozens missing.
• In a statement to media outlets on Thursday (Nov 27), organisers confirmed that this year's event will continue with a "restrained production" and will also include a moment of silence for victims of the tragedy.
• It is set to take place on Nov 28 and 29 at Hong Kong's Kai Tak Stadium, with viewers in Singapore being able to watch it via streaming platform HBO Max and tvN Asia.

• Suhring becomes Thailand’s second three-Michelin-star restaurant, joining Sorn and cementing Bangkok’s rise as a global fine-dining capital.
• Inddee and Anne-Sophie Pic at Le Normandie move up to two stars, while a wave of one-star debuts — from Sushi Saito to Nusara — showcases Thailand’s increasingly diverse culinary landscape.
• Michelin highlights sustainability and chef-producer collaboration, noting Thailand’s vibrant dining scene as the guide marks its 125th anniversary and nine years in the Kingdom.

• On Thursday (Nov 27), playwright Goh Boon Teck and painter Nai Swee Leng were awarded this year's Cultural Medallion for their contributions to Singapore's arts scene.
• Thursday's ceremony also saw five other arts practitioners receiving the Young Artist Award.

• South Korea's highly prized Hanwoo beef is now available in Singapore for the first time through supplier and retailer Culina.
• The milestone comes after six years of negotiations with South Korean authorities and the Singapore Food Agency.
• Culina signed a deal with Jeju-based Daehan F&B to import 200 head of Hanwoo and 52 tonnes of pork.
• They have already received strong interest from top restaurants including Meta, Nae:um, Les Amis and Odette.

• Thiruben Thana Rajan is one of Singapore's top middle-distance runners, and is the holder of several national records including the men's 800m.
• But he also oversees marketing and sponsorships for the Singapore Athletic Association, helping grow the sport's online presence and securing major sponsorships.
• A torn hamstring at 18 left him depressed and directionless, but therapy and family support helped him rebuild.
• He now hopes to make waves in the upcoming SEA Games and Commonwealth Games.
   

• The fear of missing out, wanting to maximise precious annual leave days and money spent on flights and hotels fuel this desire to do as much as possible while on holiday.
• Holidays overpacked with activities are common, but instead of being rejuvenating, they can leave us mentally drained due to the planning needed, constant decision-making and navigation.  
• Experts said holidays can still feel fulfilling even with fewer activities and time allocated for just "exploring". Practical strategies include ruthlessly prioritising one or two "anchor" activities per day and structuring trips around themes rather than checklists.

• The year-end season, packed with travel plans and social events, creates a perfect storm for overspending, says financial author Dawn Cher.
• Psychological traps like "I've worked hard, so I deserve this" weaken self-control, leading to unplanned spending that accumulates quickly.
• The writer advises mindful strategies such as a "one big, three small" treat rule that can help balance enjoyment with long-term financial health.

• More than half of SME founders in Singapore have no succession plan, despite 81 per cent wanting to keep their businesses in the family. 
• Experts told CNA TODAY that succession is often hindered by emotional attachment, lack of planning, younger generations' career preferences and SMEs' inability to attract talent due to limited resources and cultural expectations.
• They warned that without clear leadership pipelines and early planning, the widespread closure of SMEs could threaten jobs, reduce productivity and undermine Singapore's long-term economic resilience.

• At eldercare facilities and active ageing centres across Singapore, technology is no longer a novelty, but already beginning to change how seniors connect, heal and age.
• As Singapore hurtles towards becoming a “super-aged” society, such tools are automating labour-intensive, repetitive work, finding new ways to combat elder isolation and collecting helpful data for healthcare providers.
• Still, experts say the challenge lies in balance – ensuring that technology enhances, rather than replaces, the empathy, trust and human touch needed for good eldercare.

• Children in Singapore are spending less time enjoying free, unstructured play as parents increasingly prioritise enrichment classes and stricter supervision.
• Parents also noted that public spaces are less conducive for children's play these days and it is more common for neighbours to complain about noise, so it is not as easy for children to run around unsupervised.
• As a result, digital socialisation is becoming more common, especially among older teens, but the benefits of face-to-face interactions cannot be fully replicated, experts say.