Finding a way to make cybersecurity standards work across borders was something that took priority in closed door discussions at Singapore International Cyber Week. Digital Development and Information Minister Josephine Teo said this when she spoke to the media at the end of the four-day event. Nicolas Ng reports.

A new initiative among five nations to share aviation safety data is aiming to take flight by the end of the year. Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand will work together to reduce operational risks, identify hazards and develop mitigating measures. Chen Chuanren, Regional Editor of Air Transport World at the Aviation Week Network, talks about the initiative and how it can ensure safer skies in light of extreme weather and bomb hoaxes. He elaborates on the expected tangible results of such a collaboration and importance of early alerts to emerging trends and hazards.

Changi Airport Group has three new types of sea craft to conduct rescue operations if airplane incidents occur out at Singapore's waters. These were on show at an annual crisis simulation exercise. Nearly 20 partner agencies took part. Rachel Teng with more.

A new two-year pilot programme by Credit Counselling Singapore (CCS) aims to help debt-distressed people resolve their financial troubles, starting with a group of low-income families. There were close to 1,150 requests for help in the first half of this year, an 18 per cent increase from the last six months of 2023. Tan Huey Min, General Manager of CCS, talks about what it means to be debt-distressed and how someone usually ends up in this situation. She discusses the counselling services provided by CCCS and how the new programme can benefit low-income families.

A former Workers' Party (WP) cadre was exposed during a trial of party chief Pritam Singh for lying and hiding information. Ms Loh Pei Ying served as aide to former WP MP Raeesah Khan, who was hauled before the Committee of Privileges after making a fake anecdote about a sexual assault victim in Parliament in 2021. At the trial, Ms Loh admitted to lying about the real reason she had a message redacted in the evidence she submitted to the committee. Alif Amsyar reports from the State Courts.

Iran has warned Israel of retaliation should Israeli forces launch attacks on Iranian targets again. Tel Aviv has vowed revenge after a missile attack by Tehran earlier this month, sparking fears that what is already a war on multiple fronts could morph into an all-out regional war. Israel is pressing on with its military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israeli warplanes hit Bekaa Valley, shortly after the army warned residents to evacuate immediately. Sarah Coates reports from Tel Aviv.

A court in Vietnam has sentenced local tycoon Truong My Lan to life imprisonment on money laundering charges related to the country's biggest financial fraud case. This is the second time Lan is being tried in relation to that case. She was sentenced to death in April during the first trial on separate charges and she is currently appealing that sentence. Tung Ngo reports.

China says a painful downturn in its property sector has bottomed out after three years of adjustment. The housing minister Ni Hong struck a positive tone at a much-anticipated press briefing in Beijing on Oct 17. Mr Ni confirmed that credit support for unfinished housing projects will nearly double to four trillion yuan or about US$560 billion by the end of the year. CNA's Tan Si Hui reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Brussels and he hopes to convince European and NATO leaders of his five-point victory plan against Russia, as the war drags on. During talks with the EU, he stressed that support from Western allies is key for the plan's success and to ending the war "no later than next year". Will Denselow reports from Brussels.

The US presidential election is just weeks away and a key issue that Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Kamala Harris differ significantly is their vision for climate policy. The vice president helped usher in America's most ambitious climate initiative to date, while the former president once withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement and could do it again. Whichever candidate prevails in November will have a major impact on global climate change efforts. Ira Spitzer with more.

You've started a new job but your boss is already making you work overtime and it's affecting your health. How do you tell your boss that you've hit your limit? Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

You've started a new job but your boss is already making you work overtime and it's affecting your health. How do you tell your boss that you've hit your limit? The Work It podcast answers a listener's question (thanks Overloaded!). Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

North Korea on Tuesday (Oct 15) blew up sections of the deeply symbolic roads connecting it to the South. While the move could be seen as a “low stakes reaction” given that the roads and rail lines were not in use, it is a continuation of the months of escalating tit-for-tat actions between the two sides, political scientist Meredith Shaw told CNA’s Asia First on Thursday. The visiting scholar at government-funded South Korean think tank Korea Institute for National Unification says the move is a “very visual, symbolic way” of showing that North Korea is no longer interested in the prospect of a detente with the South. Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub Subscribe to our news service for must-read stories: Telegram - https://cna.asia/telegram WhatsApp - https://cna.asia/whatsapp Follow us: CNA: https://cna.asia CNA Lifestyle: http://www.cnalifestyle.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/channelnewsasia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/channelnewsasia Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/channelnewsasia TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@channelnewsasia

One Direction singer Liam Payne was found dead outside a hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Police on Wednesday (Oct 16) said the 31-year-old fell from his third-floor room balcony.

Just when he thought he was clear of the classroom after being grilled by pre-schoolers on going plastic-free, CNA Correspondent Matthew Mohan finds himself back in the hot seat with Liling Tan on Climate Conversations, taking even tougher questions from kids about all things plastics. Can they answer them all? See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Singapore is aiming for the next bound of sporting excellence by being more accessible and inclusive to all. Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong listed out key strategies to build upon the country's sporting success, such as improving the high-performance sports system. On Oct 16, Parliament moved a motion to honour the achievements of Singapore athletes at this year's Paris Olympics and Paralympics. Mr Tong said the best way to honour them is to build upon their legacies. Muhammad Bahajjaj reports.

Second Finance Minister Chee Hong Tat has reassured parliament that Singapore remains committed to upholding its status as an open, rules-based and pro-enterprise business hub. A new law was passed today to have the Culture, Community and Youth Ministry's view be considered in applications related to insurers that are either a co-op or linked to one. During the four-hour debate, over 15 MPs from the ruling and opposition parties, as well as Nominated Members of Parliament, rose to speak. MPs raised concerns on how the government's intervention to block the proposed deal between NTUC Income and German insurer Allianz could affect investor confidence and stability of laws in Singapore.

The defence lawyer for Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh has continued to question the credibility of prosecution witness, former Workers' Party MP Raeesah Khan. On the third day of the Workers' Party chief's trial, the defence also tried to show that Ms Khan did not need any guidance from party leaders to come clean about her fake anecdote. Singh is accused of lying to a parliamentary committee over a case involving Ms Khan. The defence made two more applications to impeach Ms Khan as a witness, but both were rejected by the judge. Jeraldine Yap reports.

Also on East Asia Tonight (Oct 16), Chinese Premier Li Qiang says ready to boost ties with Russia; Hong Kong leader John Lee promises economic reform and measures to ease the housing crisis; North Korea says more than a million young people applied to join the army; why more Chinese students are pursuing higher education in Malaysia.

Nearly all public housing flats for singles were oversubscribed on the opening day of October's Build-To-Order exercise. There were more than seven single buyers vying for each flat in Ang Mo Kio. This is the first time singles can buy BTOs in mature estates. Buyers of Plus and Prime flats in choicer locations at this month's BTO exercise will also be subject to a subsidy clawback. The government will take back at least 6% of the value when such flats are resold. One analyst said these subsidy recovery rates are unlikely to lead to higher resale prices after the minimum occupation period of 10 years.