CATEGORIES

US envoy in Beirut amid hopes for Hezbollah-Israel truce

US envoy Amos Hochstein landed in Beirut on Nov 19 for talks with officials on a truce between armed group Hezbollah and Israel, Lebanon's state news agency said, hours after a proposal drafted by Washington won a nod from the Iran-backed group.

European nations denounce Russian hybrid attacks

European governments accused Russia of escalating hybrid attacks on Ukraine's Western allies on Nov 19, as Baltic nations investigated whether the cutting of two fibre-optic telecommunication cables in the Baltic Sea was sabotage.

Ex-congressman is Trump's pick to head transportation dept

US President-elect Donald Trump said he will nominate former congressman Sean Duffy as the head of his Department of Transportation.

Trump confirms he,ll use US military in mass deportations

Immigrant advocates question legality of proposal, raise alarm about potential fallout

Tens of thousands march in NZ Maori rights protest

Booming Indigenous Maori \"haka\" chants rang out across New Zealand's capital on Nov 19, as tens of thousands rallied against a conservative push to redefine the nation's founding treaty.

Johor rejects 30% of applications to open data centres

State's focus is on conserving resources, ensuring maximum gain for local economy

South Korea opposition leader Lee indicted for misuse of public funds

South Korea's main opposition leader Lee Jae-myung was indicted on Nov 19 over allegations that he used more than 100 million won (S$96,300) of public funds for personal purposes when he was a governor, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Driver arrested after many children hurt in car crash at school in China

A 39-year-old male driver of a vehicle that ploughed into pupils in Changde, a city in southern China, has been arrested, according to local police.

Singapore and Zambia to team up on carbon credits

Move paves way for carbon trading in the future, to the benefit of both countries

S'pore and S. Korea reaffirm ties, discuss more collaborations

Singapore and South Korea reaffirmed their \"robust and long-standing partnership\" during Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's working visit to the country.

UN climate chief renews plea for national plans

Every bit of preparation against climate change impacts makes the difference between life and death for millions of people around the world, UN climate chief Simon Stiell stressed.

Jakarta may offer third tax amnesty plan despite criticism

Indonesia is considering the possibility of a new tax amnesty programme, a senior lawmaker said on Nov 19, which would be the country's third in the past decade despite criticism that repeatedly offering the relief could lead to more tax avoidance.

Indonesia unlikely to ease local-content rule to allow i Phone 16 sale

Any concession would be unfair to other smartphone companies, says researcher

US, Philippines sign military intel-sharing pact

Agreement potentially ensures ties remain strong under second Trump presidency

Floods damage thousands of houses in northern Philippines

Floodwaters reaching more than 4m high swamped thousands of houses in the storm-battered northern Philippines on Nov 19 after rivers overflowed following heavy rain and release of water from a dam.

All 45 HK pro-democracy activists jailed for subversion

International condemnation is swift; longest sentence of 10 years given to 'mastermind'

What is driving some Chinese to wreak vengeance on society?

A shocking spate of \"revenge on society\" attacks is calling attention to the increasing socio-economic pressures that the Chinese face and the problem of social inequality.

China unveils raft of measures to support Global South

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a raft of measures designed to support the Global South at a gathering of leaders of the Group of 20 (G-20) major economies in Rio de Janeiro, China's state television CCTV reported on Nov 18.

Singapore, Germany to upgrade ties to a strategic partnership

Singapore and Germany will work more closely in areas such as security, artificial intelligence (AI) and clean energy, following a decision to elevate ties between both countries to a strategic partnership.

Fight global poverty through open trade and investments: PM Wong

Skills training also key to take on new job opportunities, he tells G-20 leaders

Divided G-20 fails to agree on climate and Ukraine

G-20 leaders failed on Nov 18 to break a deadlock in UN climate talks at a summit in Rio that was dominated by divergences over the war in Ukraine and Donald Trump's impending return to the White House.

S'pore, Sweden share commitment to fair, just world order: President Tharman

The two nations are partners in many areas, and have strong economic ties, he says

Only 26% of families on Com Link-I- scheme send children to pre-school regularly

The majority of children from families on a new scheme to give low-income households a leg-up did not attend pre-school regularly.

New plan to overhaul flagging local fish farming industry

Aims include boosting production, providing avenue to sell products

Smaller share of families returned to get temporary financial aid from scheme

A smaller proportion of lower-income families received help again to tide them over their financial difficulties, within three years of them leaving a government financial aid scheme.

Ex-Riize member Seunghan to make solo debut in 2025

South Korean singer Seunghan had to leave K-pop boy band Riize due to controversy surrounding his private life. But he is set to rise again as a solo artiste in the second half of 2025.

Ex-Riize member Seunghan to make solo debut in 2025

South Korean singer Seunghan had to leave K-pop boy band Riize due to controversy surrounding his private life. But he is set to rise again as a solo artiste in the second half of 2025.

Spore-born hitmaker S. Atan wrote over l,000 songs

Singapore-born lyricist, composer and producer S. Atan died at his home in Selangor, Malaysia, on Nov 16. He was 75.

Obsessive fans pose threat to K-stars' safety

The darker side of fame continues to haunt stars, as the South Korean entertainment scene was recently rocked by a series of incidents involving \"sasaeng\" obsessive fans who engage in behaviours that invade the privacy of celebrities, including stalking.

Denmark's Victoria Kjaer Theilvig crowned Miss Universe

Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned Miss Universe on Nov 16, the first contestant from Denmark to achieve the honour.