In this CNA Lifestyle mini-series, we challenge Singapore chefs to whip up a yummy dish using instant noodles. This time, Masterchef Singapore's Chef Vasun creates an Indian dish from Korean instant noodles – inspired by Chinese la mian. (Video: Joyee Koo, May Seah) Read more: https://cna.asia/3zkVqa4 #instantnoodles #keema #recipe 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

Though the current COVID-19 wave is on the wane, questions arise each time there's a new variant, such as whether people should wait for an updated vaccine before a booster jab. Here's what infectious diseases doctor Hsu Li Yang from the Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health says. 0:00 Introduction 0:47 Are new FLiRT variants a cause for concern? 1:18 Should people wait for COVID-19 vaccines of most recent variants to get boosted? 1:54 Why not get immunity through infection instead? 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

The vertical farming revolution is a way to deal with climate impacts on traditional farming and food insecurity. But heavy energy and technology costs are getting in the way of scale and commercial success. Jack Board and Liling Tan lay out the facts.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Singapore and Estonia are encouraging their companies to explore mutual opportunities and use each other as business gateways to their respective regions. Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam spoke at a state banquet held in his honour on the first day of his official visit to the Baltic State. He adds that while both countries may be geographically distant, they share many similarities. Claudia Lim reports from Tallinn.

Finding the right talent for the food and beverage industry just got easier. A new job portal tailored to the food services sector aims to recruit more Singaporeans into the workforce by better matching preferences of jobseekers to company needs. CNA speaks to Benjamin Boh, Vice President of the Restaurant Association of Singapore, who is also the Managing Director of McDonald's Singapore. He talks about the benefits of the new portal and how it aims to be a platform to better match employers and employees alike. He also discusses how it can help convince local residents to try their hand in the industry, which has a reputation of being a tough sector to work in.

National Development Minister Desmond Lee says it could take at least seven weeks for oil-slicked kingfishers to be nursed back to health. He adds that one bird in the care of a Government agency is in stable condition, but is not entirely out of the woods yet. Meanwhile, another kingfisher is showing signs of promise. Two birds have already died as a result of an oil spill earlier this month.

Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has praised the long-standing cooperation among Thai and Singaporean civil servants. Wrapping up a two-day visit to the Thai capital of Bangkok, Dr Balakrishnan co-chaired a bilateral platform that strengthens exchanges between the two countries’ civil services. CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut reports from Bangkok.

A full agreement on the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone will be signed in September, nine months after Malaysia and Singapore inked an initial MOU. This was confirmed by Malaysian Economic Affairs Minister Rafizi Ramli on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Dalian. He also revealed that Malaysia is developing a 1,000-megawatt solar farm that will supply green energy to the businesses there. Charlotte Lim with more.

The US is seeking to deepen ties with the Maldives, as it moves closer to China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has welcomed his counterpart to Washington, hailing the Indian Ocean island state as an important partner. The visit comes two months after the party of President Mohamed Muizzu won a landslide in parliamentary elections. Mr Muizzu has pivoted ties towards China and away from India, which is a key US partner in standing up to Beijing in the Indo-Pacific.

Electric vehicles, urban mobility and climate change are some of the pressing issues taking centre stage at the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China. The second day of meetings come amid a rise in the use of green energy, in the region as well as the world. Experts also urged governments to set up a binding framework - to regulate development for artificial intelligence, with the technology still in its infancy stage. CNA's Tan Si Hui and Olivia Siong report from Dalian.

South Korea said Pyongyang's latest launch of a ballistic missile had likely exploded in midair. The missile flew towards the east coast of the Korean Peninsula, minutes after it was detected, it appeared to have splashed down into the sea. Japan's military says the short flight time indicates that the weapon may have been a short-range missile. CNA's Tan Qiuyi explains how these weapons differ from conventional ones, and how they could potentially upend the world's balance of power.

The escalating arms race in the region and heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula are a reflection of countries sensing "weakness in the West," according to Bruce Jones, Senior Fellow in the Strobe Talbott Center on Security, Strategy and Technology, at the Brookings Institution. The growing rivalry between the US and China has encouraged countries such as North Korea to "test the water to see what they can get away with," the analyst said in an interview with CNA's Otelli Edwards.

Thousands of oil wells in the United States sit idle, posing a significant and potentially deadly threat. Efforts are underway to plug them, but advocates warn far greater action is needed. CNA's William Denselow reports from Hobbs, New Mexico.

Silicon Valley, with its concentration of wealth, has long been prized by US presidential candidates for its fundraising potential. Republican hopeful Donald Trump's campaign is no different, eyeing the region as a source of campaign cash despite the tech industry's history of supporting Democrats. CNA's Ira Spitzer reports from San Francisco.

The beloved 78-year-old actress Usha Seamkhum of the hit Thai film How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies, along with director Pat Boonnitipat, were in Singapore on Jun 24 to meet their fans. Read more: https://cna.asia/3VGh1B6

Malaysia's Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli says the country has reached a critical inflection point in its energy needs, beyond which it risks becoming a net importer of oil and gas. He also defended the government's move to cut domestic fuel subsidies as a key part of fiscal consolidation and energy transition. Mr Rafizi shares more with CNA's Olivia Siong on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China. 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

China's lunar probe Chang'e-6 returned to Earth on Jun 25 with samples from the far side of the moon - a mission heralded as a world first. Scientists say the materials harvested from the side of the Moon that faces away from Earth may help us better understand how the Moon formed and how it has evolved over time.

From Jul 1, the temporary hike to the taxi surcharge on rides from Changi Airport and Mandai Wildlife Reserve will be made permanent. Here's a quick look at the various surcharges.

Popular American fast food chain Chick-fil-A's first ever pop-up in Asia is happening from Jun 26 to 28 at the Esplanade Mall. While dine-in reservations via online registration are full, 200 walk-in guests a day will be able to get a takeaway meal each on a first-come, first-served basis from 11am. Read more: https://cna.asia/45NwV1h

Host city Paris promises a sporting spectacle at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games but faces challenges ranging from a dirty river Seine and sweltering weather to doping scandals and terrorism threats. Arnold Gay speaks to Paris correspondent Ross Cullen as the French capital begins its 30-day countdown to the Games. See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.