Russia said on Saturday that its forces had seized the village of Kirovo in the Donetsk region and were continuing to advance deeper into the Ukrainian defense lines, while Ukraine said its forces engaged in 109 battles with the Russian army in various directions with several still ongoing.
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that in the past 24 hours, multiple units of the Russian army defeated several Ukrainian formations in various directions including Kharkov, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson. They targeted Ukrainian military personnel and equipment, repelling multiple counterattacks by the Ukrainian army.
Russian tactical aviation, drones, missile units and artillery struck Ukrainian drone assembly workshops, missile and artillery weapon depots, as well as personnel and military equipment assembly points, the ministry said.
Russian forces expelled six attacks by the Ukrainian assault teams towards five settlements in the Kursk region, with reconnaissance and research operations against Ukrainian sabotage groups in forested areas ongoing, it said.
Meanwhile, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said that as of Saturday afternoon, there were 109 battles in the frontline areas of Kharkov, Kupyansk and Toretsk, with many still ongoing. Among them, the most intense battles occurred in the direction of Pokrovsk.
The Ukrainian Air Force on Saturday posted on social media that Russian forces launched airstrikes on multiple regions in Ukraine, including Kyiv Oblast, saying that with the collaboration of the air force, air defense missile units and electronic warfare units, Ukraine shot down 24 Russian drones.
It did not disclose details regarding the number of missiles that have been shot down, and Ukraine did not provide any information on damage caused by the attacks.
Russia claims control of Donetsk village, Ukraine reports 109 battles in various directions
Many Singaporeans support raising the re-employment age, partly to stay busy and active in retirement, and to help address demographic challenges in the workforce.
Like many other Asian countries, Singapore is grappling with a rapidly aging population. The government predicts that by 2030, one in four Singaporeans will be aged 65 or older, up from one in 10 two decades ago.
A survey on retirement and employment conducted last year in the country found broad support for raising the national retirement age, with about 88 percent of those aged 50 and above in favor.
Some supported increasing the retirement age because continuing to do what they love, rather than retiring, keeps them feeling youthful and fulfilled.
When Nancy Hor, a retired IT operations manager, left her job five years ago, she wasn't sure how to fill her time.
"I'm a workaholic. At the very first stage after I retired, I felt I could not find balance," she said.
Hor, now 70, said it took her some time to adjust. In her spare time, she stays busy line dancing and spending time with her family.
But she said that if she had had the choice, she would have liked to stay employed a little longer.
"I think it's good for the elderly that even they have some job to do, and keep them busy," said Hor.
In March, authorities announced plans to raise the retirement age to 64 and the re-employment age to 69 by 2026.
Singapore's Minister of State for Manpower, Gan Siow Huang, said the changes to the rules protect senior workers from dismissal due to age-related issues before they reach the statutory retirement age. Employers are also required to offer re-employment to eligible workers until they reach the statutory re-employment age limit.
This follows a similar move made two years ago to raise the retirement and re-employment ages to 63 and 68, respectively. The city-state is also aiming for a retirement age of 65 and a re-employment age of 70 by 2030.
"That is to reduce the impact on businesses, so it gives time for businesses to adapt their policy. This gradual increase in retirement age basically provides a framework for individuals like myself, who want to continue to be gainfully employed," said Patrick Chang, a retirement planning specialist and the author of the A to Z guide to retirement planning.
Chang said that businesses will need to make adjustments to accommodate the changes, including offering retraining for senior workers.
He noted that the changes won't impact those who still wish to retire earlier, but given Singapore's demographic challenges, the country cannot afford to remain idle.
"If we don't do it now, the social cost could be high. We cannot wait until the time when we need it today, and then we get something done. It will probably be a bit too late, and the cost of getting to that solution will be higher," said Chang.
Many Singaporeans support raising retirement, re-employment ages
