Snaking lines were seen at Singapore's National Stadium on Thursday (Sep 12) as participants queue to enter the venue of the papal mass, which will be attended by Pope Francis.

Pope Francis commended Singapore's policies to support the most vulnerable in a state address given at NUS on Sep 12, adding that he hopes special attention will be paid to the poor and the elderly.

Pope Francis commended Singapore's policies to support the most vulnerable in a state address given at the National University of Singapore on Thursday (Sep 12). He also highlighted the risk of focusing solely on pragmatism or "placing merit above all things", consequently excluding the marginalised from benefiting from progress. More on his speech: https://cna.asia/4gnA9NL More on Pope Francis' visit to Singapore: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnMTcZEga8TIOL2TqCHBtsyUhqR241uj 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 President Tharman Shanmugaratnam gave a speech at the state address with Pope Francis at the National University of Singapore on Thursday (Sep 12). The president noted that Pope Francis has been an "impassioned global voice" against war, promoting harmony and dialogue between different groups and faiths. Read more: https://cna.asia/4gnA9NL More on Pope Francis' visit to Singapore: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnMTcZEga8TIOL2TqCHBtsyUhqR241uj 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

Pope Francis met Singapore President President Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Thursday (Sep 12) at the country's Parliament House, where he received a welcome ceremony. More on Pope Francis' visit to Singapore: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbnMTcZEga8TIOL2TqCHBtsyUhqR241uj 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

This episode is brought to you by Schneider Electric, a digital partner for sustainability and efficiency.   As the clock ticks towards Singapore’s mandatory climate reporting requirements, Schneider’s cluster president for Singapore and Brunei, Yoon Young Kim, and Singtel’s vice president of group sustainability, Andrew Buay explain what sets companies apart when it comes to disclosing their carbon emissions across scopes 1, 2 and 3, and what they stand to lose if they don’t start early.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

Vietnam’s capital Hanoi is experiencing its worst floods in 20 years. Local authorities have evacuated thousands as the Red River, which runs through the city, breached critical levels. CNA's Tung Ngo reports.

Driving schools in Singapore are taking action against a growing army of Internet bots paid for by students to reserve and book lesson slots on their websites. This comes amid a post-COVID wave of sign-ups and an apparent lack of available sessions for hands-on driving. At least one driving school has put up a notice recently warning people against using these services on Telegram and other sites like Carousell. Claudia Lim reports.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming healthcare at National University Hospital, where a deep-learning system is being used to diagnose and interpret spinal MRI scans quicker. The hospital is also using AI-generated videos to better explain surgical procedures to kidney cancer patients. Kate Low reports.

Singapore has rolled out a multicultural welcome for Pope Francis, the second visit by a pope in nearly 40 years. It is also his final stop in a four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific. CNA's Leong Wai Kit talks about his experience following Pope Francis on his Asia-Pacific tour and how impactful the pope has been everywhere he goes.

Small and medium enterprises with a better safety record will be preferred for some private sector contracts in Singapore. The Workplace Safety and Health Council has partnered 18 large companies in sectors like manufacturing, construction and transport to do so. They join the public sector in placing greater emphasis on safety when awarding contracts. Manpower Minister Tan See Leng says this priority has also been observed in global supply chains. Abu Bakar Mohd Noh, Chairman of the Workplace Safety and Health Council, discusses the partnerships with large companies and how these firms will be able to get small and medium enterprises to embrace a culture of safety in their operations.

Pope Francis arrived in Singapore on Sep 11 for a three-day visit, the last stop of his four-nation tour of the Asia-Pacific. He was greeted by officials as well as a thousand volunteers from various Catholic parishes across the island. Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large at the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and Dr Paul Hedges, Professor of Inter-religious Studies at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, discuss the significance of Pope Francis' visit to Singapore. They talk about the pope as a moral voice in troubled times and how Singapore shows respect to the pope as a world figure.

Economists say the resilience of Singapore's services and manufacturing sectors will support the country's economic growth ahead. The outlook is in line with the latest central bank survey, where market watchers have revised the GDP forecast from 2.4 per cent to 2.6 per cent. But they say external risks, such as the health of the US economy, are still a concern. Nadirah Zaidi has more.

The US is expected to send a more senior official to China's top security forum this year. This is another sign the superpowers' military ties are on the mend. Senior Pentagon official Michael Chase is set to lead the US delegation. Defence officials and scholars from nearly a hundred countries and international organisations will gather at the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, which starts on Sep 12. CNA's Tan Si Hui with this report.

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is set to deliver her first policy speech in Parliament on Sep 12 morning. This comes almost exactly a month after her predecessor, Srettha Thavisin, unexpectedly lost his job after a Constitutional Court verdict. With the sudden change in leadership, the government will be emphasising continuity. CNA’s Saksith Saiyasombut with a preview of the speech.

On East Asia Tonight (Sep 11), US presidential candidates accuse each other of selling out to China; Pope Francis lands in Singapore. Also, BRICS meeting gears up to challenge "Western hegemony".

US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump squared off in a heated 90-minute debate on Tuesday (Sep 10), clashing over issues from foreign policy to gun ownership. Polls indicate they’re effectively tied in the race for the White House ahead of election day on Nov 5. Key takeaways from the debate: https://cna.asia/3XozuTw 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 Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump squared off in a heated 90-minute debate on Sep 10, clashing over issues from foreign policy to gun ownership. Polls indicate they’re effectively tied in the race for the White House ahead of election day on Nov 5.

Pope Francis arrived in Singapore on Wednesday (Sep 11), for the fourth and final stop of his visit to the region. He was greeted at the airport by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong and Ms Janet Ang, Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to the Vatican at the airport. The pontiff then headed to the Jurassic Mile along Airport Boulevard, where he met about a thousand volunteers who played a part in organising his visit. The crowd chanted "Viva, Viva, Papa Francesco", which means "Long live Pope Francis", as Pope Francis made his way by in a buggy. More on his arrival: https://cna.asia/4giB7ei 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

Pope Francis will deliver a state address at the National University of Singapore’s University Cultural Centre at 10.30am on Thursday (Sep 12). As part of his first visit to Singapore, Pope Francis will also attend mass and deliver the homily at the National Stadium at around 4.30pm on Thursday. His visit is part of a 12-day trip that included stops in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. 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