A new research and development (R&D) facility is aiming to help Singapore speed up sustainable food innovation. Besides R&D, it will support companies to prototype "future food" and help them bring it to market. As Nadirah Zaidi finds, out one company plans to ramp up production and is using the lab to fine-tune its recipe.

The Singapore Red Cross is sending its third tranche of aid, worth over S$800,000, to assist affected communities in Gaza. It is working with the Egyptian Red Crescent Society to provide food support and procure medical supplies for hospitals. It is also sending civilian volunteers for the first time to help with the relief efforts. What is behind this move and how will the Red Cross ensure their safety? Dawn Tan speaks to Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross, Benjamin William, to find out.

The problem of home ownership in Hong Kong is deep-rooted and it remains almost unattainable today for young people, even with the recent scrapping of property curbs. Meanwhile, Mainland China has a housing glut. A report in February says it has excess homes good for 150 million people, or about 10 per cent of its population. But has the excess supply made housing more affordable for young Chinese? CNA's East Asia Tonight investigates the scale of these problems and its impact on society.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been wooing voters with a campaigning blitz in Karnataka. It is a battleground state in the ongoing national election in which Mr Modi is seeking a rare third term in power. Half of Karnataka will begin voting on Apr 26 in an election process that runs in seven phases until the start of June. Rebecca Bundhun reports.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Shanghai on his first visit to China in 10 months, with tough talks on the cards. Ties between the two superpowers appear to have stabilised, but an array of issues still persists over things such as the South China Sea and Taiwan trade and tech.

US lawmakers have overwhelmingly voted to pass a Bill that could ban TikTok in the country. CNA spoke to Steven Okun, Founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, for his views on this.

Authorities in Thailand say fighting between Myanmar's military government and an armed resistance has eased, after receiving reports that the warring sides may have started negotiations. Myanmar military troops have allegedly staged a counter-offensive into the town of Myawaddy, forcing a rebel group to pull its fighters out, after occupying it since early April. May Wong reports from Mae Sot.

Several horses had the run of central London on Wednesday morning (Apr 24), after they reportedly escaped while exercising at a ceremonial parade ground close to Buckingham Palace. They have since been contained and accounted for, according to local police. Details: https://cna.asia/3Wc7gMS

You’re having a relaxing holiday when suddenly your phone goes off. Your boss is asking questions and your colleagues are chasing you for answers. Sounds familiar? What are some golden rules you should set before you go on leave? Do you have a burning work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Send to us at cnapodcasts@mediacorp.com.sg (mailto:cnapodcasts@mediacorp.com.sg) and we’ll answer it.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

More people who underwent training to switch to careers in air transportation are staying put. Out of more than 4,300 people who enrolled in the Career Conversion Programme for the sector over the past six years, nine in 10 remained employed 24 months after. However, experts warned of a manpower crunch due to soaring travel demand post-pandemic. CNA’s Richa Mathew 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

California will require all trucks in the state to switch to zero-emission vehicles by 2042, under ambitious plans to decarbonise the trucking sector and promote electric fleets. The trucking industry is a major component of the American economy, but diesel trucks are a major source of emissions and put the country's climate targets at risk. CNA’s Ira Spitzer 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

Are you thinking about asking for a flexible work arrangement come December? Your request must be fairly considered, but will you get the go-ahead? Let us know in the comments, and catch the discussion on CNA938’s Asia First this Friday (Apr 26) from 7am to 10am.

Build Your Dreams (BYD), the Chinese automaker, is on a mission to create a zero-emission energy ecosystem. It is shifting to a higher gear by lowering prices, with one model available for less than US$10,000. In this episode of CNA Correspondent, Teresa Tang looks at the race to rule the road in China and abroad.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Hotels repurposed from shipping containers could soon be a more common sight in Singapore. These 'tiny living' hoteliers are looking to expand, spurred on by high occupancy rates and a growing market for eco-tourism. Analysts said these hotel concepts are also cheaper to build and operate amid a high business cost environment. The Singapore Tourism Board has welcomed these unique and innovative tourism concepts, saying that such accommodation experiences will enhance the Republic's vibrancy and attractiveness.

New activities are being introduced in Singapore's active ageing centres as part of efforts to draw more men to them. Currently, they make up only a third of participants, and the Agency for Integrated Care hopes to eventually even this out. It's working with centres to roll out more male-centric programmes, such as table pool and so-called steel combat. Sherlyn Seah reports.

The Singapore navy is tapping two new systems to train submariners and engineers, which will make the process safer and more efficient. For example, the Virtual Procedural Trainer is an exact replica of the new Invincible-class submarine -- all 12 million parts of it. This means more crew members can receive training any time on the virtual platform, without having to step foot into a submarine. These are part of the navy’s efforts to update its training methods with new innovations, since the acquisition of its first submarines in 1995. Sabrina Ng reports from Kiel, Germany.

The Home Team Academy is exploring the use of AI-powered avatars to hone its officers' soft skills. The aim is for the tech to be in use by next year. This could help officers engage the public better, like in carrying out witness interviews. It's part of the ongoing development of the next generation Home Team Simulation System. Such innovations were on display at the academy's workplan seminar. Alif Amsyar reports.

Prices are increasing at a slower pace in Singapore, with both headline and core figures coming down in March. Headline inflation eased to 2.7%, its lowest in 2.5 years. Core inflation, which excludes accommodation and private transport, is down to 3.1%. Analysts said this could be due to an appreciating Singdollar, declining global prices for commodities and disinflation from Chinese producers. Assistant Professor Aurobindo Ghosh from the Singapore Management University shared more about the lower inflation data.

China has maintained that its relations with Washington are stabilising, despite its claims of US interference in its internal affairs. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit China this week, and is expected to face some tough conversations amid increased tensions between the two sides Beijing has accused the US of malicious intent to curb China's development, following America's complaints about industrial overcapacity. It has accused Washington of "economic coercion and bullying". Olivia Siong reports.

A dispute over claims of Chinese spying in Western Europe has escalated, after an aide to a German far-right politician was arrested. Jian Guo is an assistant to Maximilian Krah from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Mr Krah is the party's lead candidate in the upcoming European Parliament elections this June. This comes on the back of accusations of espionage yesterday, which saw two charged in Britain and three others arrested in Germany. Authorities in Beijing have slammed the spying claims as designed to "smear and suppress" China. Olivia Siong reports.