While You Were Sleeping: 5 stories you might have missed, Oct 29, 2025
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Palestinian children walking next to the rubble of destroyed buildings in Gaza City on Oct 28.
PHOTO: EPA
Israel strikes Gaza after accusing Hamas of violating US-brokered ceasefire
Israeli planes launched strikes in Gaza on Oct 28 after Israel accused the militant group Hamas of violating a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory, the latest test of a fragile deal brokered earlier this month by US President Donald Trump.
At least eight people were killed in the strikes, including three in Gaza City’s Sabra neighbourhood and five in a car targeted in Khan Younis, according to local health authorities.
The Israeli military did not immediately comment on the strikes, the latest violence in a three-week-old ceasefire and which followed a statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office saying he had ordered immediate “powerful attacks”.
The statement did not give a specific reason for the attacks but an Israeli military official said Hamas had violated the ceasefire by carrying out an attack against Israeli forces in an area of the enclave that is under Israeli control.
Rio raids kill 64 ahead of COP30-related events
At least 64 people died on Oct 28 in Rio de Janeiro’s most deadly police operation ever, which targeted a major gang days before the city hosts global events related to the United Nations climate summit known as COP30.
Police have often conducted large-scale operations against criminal groups ahead of major events in Rio, which hosted the 2016 Olympics, the 2024 Group of 20 summit and the Brics summit in July.
Next week, Rio hosts the C40 global summit of mayors tackling climate change and Prince William’s Earthshot Prize, which will feature celebrities including pop star Kylie Minogue and four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel.
Hurricane Melissa hits Jamaica, weakens to Category 4
Hurricane Melissa weakened slightly to a still powerful Category 4 hurricane after making landfall in Jamaica on the afternoon of Oct 28 as the strongest-ever storm to directly hit the Caribbean nation of 2.8 million people.
Melissa made landfall near the town of New Hope, 62km south of Montego Bay, packing maximum sustained winds of 295kmh, the US National Hurricane Centre (NHC) said in an advisory, well above the minimum strength of a Category 5 storm, the most powerful level on the Saffir-Simpson scale.
By 2000 GMT (4am on Oct 29 in Singapore), it had weakened to 241kmh, the NHC said.
US military officials required to sign NDAs, sources say
US military officials involved with President Donald Trump’s expanding operations in Latin America have been asked to sign non-disclosure agreements, three US officials say, a development that raises new questions about a military buildup that Venezuela fears may lead to an invasion.
The step is highly unusual, given that US military officials are already required to shield national security secrets from public view, and comes as lawmakers in Congress say they are being kept in the dark about key aspects of the mission.
The officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity did not know how many members of the US Defence Department had been asked to sign the agreements and did not offer further details on the scope of the NDAs.
Suspended jail terms sought in cyberbullying case
French prosecutors on Oct 28 sought suspended prison terms of three to 12 months for defendants accused of cyberbullying First Lady Brigitte Macron by spreading unsubstantiated claims about her gender.
Prosecutors also requested fines of up to €8,000 (S$12,000) against the 10 defendants – eight men and two women, aged 41 to 65 – who have been accused of cyber-harassment targeting the French first lady.
The heaviest sentences were sought for three defendants described by prosecutors as “instigators,” while the seven others were labelled “followers”.
