Some 9,000 medical interns and residents have been on strike since Feb 20, disrupting services at major hospitals, which have been forced to cancel surgeries and turn away some patients. The striking doctors say they are underpaid and overworked. Their main worry is that increasing numbers of medical doctors could mean less income for them when they finish their residency and get a job in hospitals, health policy and management professor Yoon Kim of Seoul National University tells CNA’s Asia Tonight. 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

Thousands of junior doctors in South Korea walked off the job last week, to protest against the government’s plan to raise the number of students admitted into medical schools. But President Yoon Suk-yeol’s government is likely to go ahead with the medical reforms despite the protests. Dr Soonman Kwon, professor of health economics and policy at Seoul National University, shares more on CNA’s Asia Now. 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

Israel's military response to the Oct 7 Hamas attack has "gone too far", but severing diplomatic ties with the country would not resolve the situation nor reduce the suffering of Palestinians, Singapore’s Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said in parliament on Thursday (Feb 29). He was responding to MPs' questions on the Israel-Hamas war while laying out his ministry's budget spending plans for the year. Dr Balakrishnan added that Singapore will donate a third tranche of aid for Gaza through Jordan. Read more: https://cna.asia/3P2Oqn0 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

DPM and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said during his Budget speech on Feb 16 that income inequality in Singapore has declined to its lowest level in over two decades as measured by the Gini coefficient. Here's what it is and how it works.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) says humanitarian aid entering Gaza has reduced by half this month. This comes after several countries, including the United States, paused their donations to UNRWA, following allegations that several of its staff members were involved in Hamas’ Oct 7 attack on Israel. The agency has warned that it will have to cease operations in the embattled enclave if it does not receive funding soon. CNA’s Sally Patterson reports from the UN headquarters in New York. Read more: https://cna.asia/48EsV2S

During his Budget 2024 speech, Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced a S$5 billion Future Energy Fund as part of Singapore’s transition to clean energy. Geothermal and nuclear energy sources are currently being studied as part of the country’s power portfolio. GE Vernova’s Asia Decarbonization Leader Kazunari Fukui is our guest this week.   See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Once a farming region, Sidemen Valley is gradually evolving into a cultural destination, with over 15 smaller villages spanning across the area. Here, you get to see the surrounding nature, local temples, the ceremonies and the Balinese people going about everyday life. Read more: https://cna.asia/3SQO3gr #Bali #Destination #travel 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

Commuters who switched to SimplyGo last month and want to revert to a card-based system can collect a new EZ-Link card at any SimplyGo ticket office from 18 March. They will be scheduled a slot to do so. NETS FlashPay Cards will be available from 1 April. This will allow affected commuters to see their transport card balance at fare gates and card readers again. Concession card holders will receive their replacements in the mail. Claudia Lim reports.

Starting this year, Singapore is sharpening the skills of its soldiers at new and advanced training facilities. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said this includes three battle circuits for more intensive and efficient drills, and a mock-up of a city centre for urban warfare training. Alif Amsyar reports.

Singapore is set to acquire eight F-35A fighter jets. The fifth-generation aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2030, and will boost an advanced fleet that already has 12 F-35Bs in the pipeline. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said these jets will make the RSAF a capable air force and allow them to perform a full suite of missions. According to media reports, the latest price for an F-35A is about US$82.5 million. Lauren Ong reports.

Singapore's defence spending is expected to come in at around S$20.2 billion in the coming financial year -- a 2.5% increase from the year before. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the expenditure as a percentage of the country's gross domestic product has dropped to about 3% and should stay in this range over the next decade, barring conflicts and wars.

Singapore's total fertility rate has continued to decline, with preliminary estimates showing an all-time low of 0.97 in 2023. This is the first time it has fallen below one. Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah said Singapore is facing the dual challenges of an ageing population and a declining fertility rate. The government said supporting marriages and parenthood will remain a fundamental priority for Singapore. Richa Mathew reports.

The Geneva International Motor Show is underway this week, but the event is seeing much less traffic after a five-year pause in the Swiss city. More than 600,000 people passed through the doors at the last show in 2019. Still, organisers are hoping to keep excitement levels up through the weekend with an array of electric cars and unconventional vehicles.

China is seeking to become an aviation powerhouse by 2050. It will do so by building a network of world-class aviation enterprises and strengthening intercontinental connectivity at its three major airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Even as China plays catch-up on international air travel recovery, officials said domestic travel demand has rebounded strongly, especially during the recent Spring Festival holiday. Tan Si Hui reports from Beijing.

Realistic battlefield effects, targets that shoot back with laser technology, and an enhanced system to track training performance are among the features of the Singapore Armed Forces' new Murai Urban Battle Circuit, which will open from April 2024. CNA's Davina Tham tried her hand at the training. https://cna.asia/49mLA4x 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

India's residential real estate sector saw remarkable growth last year, driven by young affluent Indians with rising disposable income. More are demanding bigger homes and investing in high-end units, with the expectation of even greater returns. With an estimated combined spending power of over US$330 billion, millennials -- who make up 36% of India's population -- accounted for 54% of homebuyers in 2023. Priyata Brajabasi reports.

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said the group is showing flexibility in negotiations with Israel, but at the same time, it is ready to continue the fight. In a televised speech, he called on the Iran-led political and military coalition -- known as the Axis of Resistance -- to step up its support for Gaza through political leverage, money and weapons. The Hamas leader also asked Palestinians in Jerusalem and the West Bank to march to Al-Aqsa mosque to pray on the first day of Ramadan. Sarah Coates reports from Tel Aviv.

Rat sightings have been making headlines in a sign of a gnawing problem that could multiply quickly. Some pest controllers report complaints about rat sightings or related enquiries have gone up at least 10 per cent in recent months. They say this could be due to exposed food waste, as well as hotter and wetter weather. CNA’s Eugene Chow reports. Read more: https://cna.asia/3IgsWzn 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

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong wrapped up the debate on the Budget in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28). On the issue of social support, Mr Wong assured Singaporeans that the government is taking further steps to strengthen its system of risk-pooling and social support. He stressed that it is not just about giving handouts, but is also about giving people a “leg up”. He also addressed concerns of Singapore becoming a two-track economy - one for multinational corporations and another for SMEs. He said a better way is to look at them as two broad segments of the economy - one that is outward-oriented and another that is domestic-oriented.