US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Saturday (Jun 1) reasserted Washington's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, saying the United States is secure "only if Asia is". Despite the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, the Asia-Pacific "remained our priority theatre of operations", Austin said at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore. He spoke about South China Sea tensions and responded to a Chinese delegate who asked if the US is trying to create a NATO-like alliance in the Indo-Pacific region. https://cna.asia/3wYgQsA Watch his full speech and the Q&A session. (Video: Reuters) 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

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin shot down a Chinese delegate’s suggestion at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore that the Ukraine crisis was caused by NATO’s expansion. In response to Senior Colonel Cao Yanzhong’s question on Saturday (Jun 1) if the US is trying to build a NATO-like alliance in the Asia Pacific region, Austin said: “Like-minded countries with similar values and a common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific are working together to achieve that vision. We strengthen relationships with our allies and partners and we see other countries strengthening their relationships with each other in the region.” https://cna.asia/3wYgQsA (Video: Reuters) 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

Singapore's Health Ministry says it will tighten rules on medical certificates (MCs), following feedback of “excessively issuance”, especially by telehealth providers. Are MCs given too liberally? Should companies even be asking for them?

We joined Singapore badminton player Loh Kean Yew for a training session ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics. Here's how it went.

Singapore's Ministry of Health is looking to curb the "excessive issuance" of medical certificates (MCs), especially by telemedicine doctors. But is there a deeper issue with an outdated system of needing proof of illness? Would a system of trust work better? Steven Chia and Crispina Robert chat with Dr Shravan Verma, co-founder & CEO of Speedoc and Christine Chan, Senior Professional at Institute for Human Resource Professionals and Chief Human Resource Officer of Nudgyt. 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

Using flight data, investigators reconstructed what happened on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 when it hit severe turbulence over the south of Myanmar on the way from London to Singapore on May 21. A passenger died and dozens more were injured, resulting in an emergency diversion of the plane to Bangkok. Details: https://cna.asia/3R44ea5 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

0:00 Introduction 1:01 Why are employees who work flexibly happier than those who don't? 1:37 How would flexi-work help men and women share household tasks more equally? 2:15 How can employers and employees avoid burnout caused by flexible work arrangements? More video commentaries: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnMTcZEga8TQ_9x-namlpsvTHmnQIkeR&si=RYHmGnkExVXXA6go 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

Tobacco use is on the decline in Singapore, where fewer than one in 10 people smoke. That makes it prime for what researchers call a "tobacco endgame". Singapore is among six high-income territories, such as Iceland and Norway, that are well-positioned for this. A study by the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health points to favourable factors like strong political leadership and public support. Assistant Professor Yvette van der Eijk discussed tobacco cessation policies.

A study has found that about a third of youths in Singapore are unaware that vaping is illegal, or even harmful to one's health. The health authorities conducted a survey in December among 500 youths, as efforts ramp up to address a growing trend of young people vaping. In October last year, the Education Ministry said 800 students from schools and IHLs were caught vaping in 2022. In 2023, close to 2,350 youths went through smoking and vaping cessation counselling programmes. Nikhil Khattar reports.

Authorities in Singapore have launched a new tool, Project Moonshot, which assesses AI applications on factors such as efficacy and accuracy to help companies and individuals understand its capabilities. Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) chief executive Lew Chuen Hong explained how the toolkit works.

On the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) -- Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand and the UK -- have pledged to use next-generation capabilities in future joint military exercises to deal with evolving threats. The five nations also underlined their commitment to a rules-based order. The FPDA meeting is held every three years, with Malaysia and Singapore taking turns as host. Aslam Shah reports.

In his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said the rivalry between China and the US is "constraining choices, exacerbating flashpoints and creating new security dilemmas" for Southeast Asian nations. He also stressed the role of ASEAN amid big power competition. Associate Professor Eduardo Araral from the NUS Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy shared more about ASEAN centrality and China-Philippines maritime tensions.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivered the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. He is the first Philippine head of state to deliver the keynote address at the summit.

CNA's Leong Wai Kit shares key takeaways from the Myanmar plenary session at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, titled "Opportunities for diplomacy amid different visions for peace".

Defence chiefs from the US and China have met face-to-face for the first time in 18 months on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held talks with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun that lasted approximately 75 minutes. They reaffirmed a resumption of military-to-military communications in the coming months. China described the talks as "positive", but cautioned that it was not possible for both countries to solve all their problems in a single meeting. Olivia Siong reports.

Vietnam has undergone a significant leadership reshuffle this month. The Southeast Asian country has seen the inauguration of a new president, a new chair of parliament and new members in its Politburo - the highest decision-making body of the ruling party. These changes come amid political turmoil driven by an anti-corruption campaign and factional infighting ahead of a power transition. We look at what lies ahead in Vietnam’s leadership crisis.

Plastic pollution is plaguing the Maldives, and the issue is threatening to intensify, as the nation's population grows. But efforts are underway to engage local communities in tackling this environmental issue. CNA's Afifah Ariffin has more.

Large parts of Pakistan are in the grip of a severe heatwave, with the mercury climbing to a staggering 52 degrees Celsius in the southern province of Sindh this week. Beyond giving general advice, however, the government has not outlined a concrete plan of action. Experts said they were caught off-guard by the early arrival of the heatwave and its unexpected intensity. CNA’s Hira Mustafa reports. 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

Former United States president Donald Trump will head into an election rematch with incumbent Joe Biden in November, but this time, he will do so as a convicted felon. A 12-member jury on Thursday (May 30) found Trump guilty on all 34 charges in a hush money case against him. This has made him the first former president in US history to be convicted of a felony. Dr Trisha Craig, executive director of Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies at Princeton University, shares her views on CNA’s Asia First. 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