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A catastrophic high-rise blaze in Hong Kong, deadly floods sweeping Southeast Asia, and new warnings from China to Japan over Taiwan anchor today’s edition. We’ll walk through what happened, why officials are struggling to respond, and how these stories connect to broader risks from climate to great-power politics.

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A towering fire at Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court complex has killed at least dozens of people and injured many more, with crews still dousing hotspots in the gutted blocks.

Authorities say the blaze spread rapidly through multiple towers, trapping residents in their homes and stairwells, and leaving some firefighters among the dead in what officials call the city’s worst fire in decades, according to a detailed incident report.

Investigators are probing whether cladding and other exterior materials helped the flames race up the building, an issue that has haunted high-rise safety debates since the Grenfell disaster in London.

Local media have highlighted past complaints about fire doors and escape routes at Wang Fuk Court, while residents described smoke-filled corridors and jammed exits in interviews compiled in a scene reconstruction.

The tragedy lands at a sensitive moment for Hong Kong’s government, already under scrutiny over housing safety, ageing estates, and widening inequality.

How regulators handle accountability, building inspections, and support for hundreds of displaced families will shape public trust in city management long after the smoke clears.

Days of torrential monsoon rain have triggered floods and landslides across Southeast Asia, killing scores of people and displacing many more across Thailand, Indonesia, and neighboring countries.

In Thailand’s south, floodwaters have submerged vast swaths of farmland and villages, with officials warning that some communities remain cut off despite stepped-up evacuations described in a national situation update.

The disaster is also hitting the region’s economy: Thailand’s Rubber Authority says inundated plantations could slash production by up to 90,000 metric tons, a loss worth around $140 million, according to a new impact assessment.

Officials are exploring the use of drones and other tools to speed search-and-rescue operations as rain-swollen rivers continue to threaten downstream communities, a push laid out in a separate response brief.

While individual storms are driven by local weather patterns, climate scientists have long warned that warmer oceans and air can supercharge extreme rainfall events.

The unfolding crisis is likely to sharpen debates over flood defenses, land use, and insurance in a region that is both heavily exposed to climate risks and central to multiple global supply chains.

China’s defense ministry has warned that Japan will pay a “painful price” if it “steps out of line” over Taiwan, responding to Tokyo’s plan to deploy new missiles on an island just about 100 kilometers from the self-ruled territory.

The warning, carried in a sharply worded military briefing, follows Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent comments that a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Japan.

Behind the scenes, former U.S. President Donald Trump has urged Takaichi to avoid further escalation with Beijing, according to people familiar with a recent call described in a separate diplomatic account.

Trump has been courting both Tokyo and Beijing while pushing for trade deals and ceasefire arrangements elsewhere, prompting concern among some Japanese lawmakers about Washington’s long-term security commitments.

The exchange underscores how Taiwan’s status is entwined with broader power politics across the Indo-Pacific.

China’s warning, Japan’s missile deployments, and Trump’s balancing act all signal that missteps or miscommunication could carry far-reaching consequences for regional deterrence, alliance cohesion, and the risk of military confrontation.

Myanmar’s military authorities have granted amnesty to more than 3,000 prisoners and dropped charges against thousands more ahead of elections set for next month, according to a government announcement.

Rights groups say many of those freed were jailed for opposing army rule, and warn that the vote will be neither free nor fair while key opposition figures remain behind bars.

One year after a ceasefire was supposed to quiet fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, airstrikes in Beirut’s southern suburbs have killed the group’s military chief and inflamed fears of a new war.

A detailed regional analysis notes that cross-border fire and political paralysis in Lebanon have eroded trust in the truce, raising questions about how long the arrangement can hold.

Israel has returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza a day after Hamas handed over the remains of an Israeli hostage, the latest exchange under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework.

Officials quoted in a conflict update say the first phase of the deal is winding down even as violence and arrests continue in the occupied territories, complicating efforts to move to broader talks.

South Korea has successfully launched its largest satellite yet aboard the domestically developed Nuri rocket, the fourth of six planned missions through 2027.

Aerospace officials quoted in a launch report say the vehicle placed a 516-kilogram science satellite and 12 microsatellites into orbit, a milestone for the country’s ambitions in both commercial and defense space projects.

A new study of more than 51,000 births found that children whose mothers had thyroid dysfunction before or early in pregnancy — and whose condition remained untreated through gestation — had more than double the risk of being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder compared with children whose mothers had normal thyroid levels or whose dysfunction was treated.

Proper management of thyroid levels before and during pregnancy appeared to mitigate the elevated risk.

New 3D mapping of Easter Island’s main quarry suggests that its famous moai statues were carved in dozens of distinct workshops rather than a single centralized operation.

A research summary in science coverage says the pattern supports a picture of Rapa Nui as a politically decentralized society of small communities, challenging myths of a monolithic culture that collapsed solely through environmental overreach.

U.S. stocks notched a fourth straight day of gains as traders increased bets that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates at its December meeting.

A market closing recap notes that all three major indexes advanced, with tech shares leading and rate-sensitive sectors rebounding as Treasury yields eased.

The U.S. dollar is on track for its largest weekly fall in four months as thin holiday trading coincides with expectations that the Fed will be among the first major central banks to ease policy next year.

Currency strategists cited in a forex review say the shift is boosting the yen and high-yielding currencies, while undercutting the dollar’s recent momentum.

Global equity markets climbed as investors embraced the idea of imminent U.S. rate cuts and revived enthusiasm for artificial intelligence-linked shares.

A market overview says European and Asian indices followed Wall Street higher, even with U.S. markets closed for Thanksgiving, underscoring how tightly global valuations are tied to Fed policy signals.

Researchers have identified methylene blue, a century-old dye and medication, as a promising treatment for cerebral malaria in primate studies, using biomarkers to track disease progression and recovery.

A recent paper summary explains that the compound, combined with existing therapies, appeared to reduce brain swelling and improve survival, potentially offering a new tool against one of malaria’s deadliest complications.

Scientists studying young adults with obesity have found blood markers of inflammation, liver strain, and neuronal injury that resemble patterns seen in cognitive impairment, with low choline levels closely linked to the changes.

According to a research brief, the findings suggest that subtle nutrient deficiencies and metabolic stress may quietly damage the brain long before symptoms appear, raising questions about diet, screening, and supplementation.

India has unveiled a quantum diamond microscope and new cryogenic facility designed to improve early cancer detection and treatment planning.

Officials quoted in a technology announcement say the system uses ultra-sensitive sensors to detect tiny magnetic field changes in tissues, potentially allowing clinicians to spot tumors and track therapy responses with far greater precision than conventional imaging.

Jaylen Brown scored 33 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as Boston edged Detroit 117–114, snapping the Pistons’ bid for a franchise-record 14th straight win in an NBA Cup group game.

A game roundup notes that the Celtics survived a late rally to improve their tournament position and reassert themselves after Detroit’s surprise surge.

Arsenal beat Bayern Munich 3–1 in London to move top of their Champions League league-phase table, their first win over the German side in a decade.

A competition summary also highlights Paris Saint-Germain’s 5–3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur, with midfielder Vitinha scoring a hat-trick in a performance detailed in a separate match report.

Reed Sheppard poured in a career-high 31 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 104–100 comeback win over the Golden State Warriors in an Emirates NBA Cup clash in San Francisco.

A court-side recap notes that Houston overturned a halftime deficit with improved defense and timely shooting to stay alive in group play.

On his first Thanksgiving as pope, Leo received two homemade pumpkin pies from American journalists while flying from Rome to Turkey, a light moment captured in a travel dispatch.

The pontiff joked about sharing the desserts with aides as he headed into a trip focused on Middle East peace and Christian unity.

Seoul’s CineCube Art Film Festival has opened its 25th-anniversary edition, showcasing master directors and emerging voices from around the world.

A festival preview says the program will run through early December with retrospectives, premieres, and giveaways aimed at building a wider audience for arthouse cinema.

Disney’s “Zootopia 2” has taken in $10.2 million in preview screenings in North America, the second-biggest start ever for the studio’s animation label, according to box office tracking.

Analysts say the strong turnout sets the sequel up for a robust Thanksgiving weekend and underscores the staying power of family franchises in theaters.

Drugmakers are racing to bring forward a wave of next-generation obesity treatments — including new pills and longer-lasting injectables — that could make weight-loss therapy more accessible, affordable and convenient for a wider population.

A recent analysis argues that these emerging options could lower long-term risks of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other obesity-linked conditions while reducing stigma and barriers associated with current therapies.

The significance lies in scale — with over 1.4 billion adults globally affected by overweight or obesity, widening drug access could lower disease burden across populations. If these new medications deliver sustained weight loss with manageable side-effect profiles, the ripple effects may include lower healthcare costs, reduced demand for chronic-disease care, and improved quality of life.

The report suggests payers, clinics, and public health systems will face new pressure to adapt coverage, monitoring and preventative-care strategies.

But challenges remain. Many of the next-gen treatments are awaiting regulatory approval and large-scale safety data.

There are concerns about long-term metabolic effects, access inequities, and whether drugs alone — without supportive lifestyle, nutrition, and social measures — will produce meaningful, lasting change.

Critics caution that treatment alone cannot replace broader public-health policies addressing food environments, income inequality and education.

What to watch: whether regulators clear new pills or monthly injectables in the next 12–24 months; how insurers and governments define coverage and access; whether long-term safety and efficacy are confirmed; and whether drug-led approaches shift global strategy toward treating obesity as a public-health priority rather than a lifestyle issue.

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—The Five Minute Daily Team