Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is set to enhance legal protections surrounding the collection and use of its citizens’ genetic data, to clearly define what su🌠ch data can and cannot be used for.
Speaking at the ninth CHI Innovate 2025, NHG Health’s flagship innovation conference, held last week at the Ng Teng Fong Centre for Healthcare Innovation, Singapore’s Health Minister Ong Ye Kung said that in order to deliver seamless healthcare—especially in community settings—patient data needs to be collected and shared among the healthcare providers they consult. However, this has immediately raised cybersecurity concerns, which the Ministry of Health (MOH) is addressing by reinforcing the legal framework.
Specifically, the ministry is drafting a new piece of legislation—the proposed Health Information Act. In addition to various data protection measures, the Act will allow patients to choose whether or not to share their health data across the different providers they have received treatment from. The law will also clarify the intended purposes of genetic data—such as for medical treatment—and restrict its use in areas like employment or insurance decisions. MOH said it would carry out extensive public consultations on the proposed legislation.
Currently, genetic screening for public health conditions is being conducted as part of a national effort to boost preventive healthcare in Singapore. For example, since June 30, eligible residents have been able to access subsidised screening for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), a hereditary condition that leads to elevated cholesterol levels.
The initiative is intended to enable early detection and reduce the risk of premature heart disease through timely intervention./.
As an institute, it will now partner international laboratories to develop expertise in reactor simulation and modelling to analyse the safety of reactor designs, said Heng.
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Describing the CRL as Singapore’s next “outer ring” MRT line, Siow emphasised that it will provide commuters with more route options and resilience in case of service disruptions or maintenance.
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The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) on July 14 resolved to establish an inquiry panel to examine the leaked audio clip in which Paetongtarn is heard speaking with former Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen regarding the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. In the clip, she appears to refer to the commander of Thailand’s Second Army Area as “the other side.”
The ACFTA, launched in 2000, became one of the world’s largest free trade agreements by 2010, when Version 1.0 eliminated tariffs on over 90% of traded goods.
The provision requires individuals or companies to notify the relevant authority at least 30 days in advance if they know or have reasonable grounds to suspect that an item could be misused or used for restricted activities.
According to Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Thapanee Kiatpaibool, the Middle East market is a supporting factor helping to boost tourism revenue as it currently has a growth of about 17% to 18%. Therefore, Thailand aims to increase the volume of arrivals from the Middle East and airlines.
The popular cage-bird is listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and a protected species by the Indonesian environment and forestry ministry.
Thai police recently conducted coordinated raids at 19 locations linked to a foreign call centre network in Bangkok, Samut Prakan, and Chonburi, seizing luxury vehicles and more than 27 million THB (833,800 USD) in cash.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto described reaching a political agreement with the EU as a "breakthrough" after 10 years of negotiations, affirming that his country considers Europe a very important trading partner.
The Thai government has instructed the Ministry of Public Health to coordinate with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provincial public health offices nationwide. Their mission is to increase inspections of products containing cannabis extracts.
With lead firms (especially in electronics, machinery and auto parts) will reconsider Malaysia’s manufacturing capabilities, long-term capital investment potentially will flow to ASEAN rivals - Vietnam, Indonesia or Thailand.
Singapore now boasts 2,590 Green Mark-certified buildings as of March 2025. These green buildings collectively save over 4.2 billion kWh energy annually – equivalent to powering 1 million 4-room HDB flats and 1.3 billion SGD (1 billion USD) in cost savings per year.
Treatment using Imcranib 100 is now available at Chulabhorn Hospital, signicantly reducing treatment costs and increasing access to care for Thai patients, according to the CRA.
New Zealand views SEANWFZ as part of a broader network of nuclear weapon-free zones across the southern hemisphere, including in Latin America, Africa, and the South Pacific
The WHO Director-General noted that tobacco companies specifically target young people with flavoured products and that in some countries, these items are sold near schools, contributing to rising use among youth.
The epicentre was located to be about 177km west of Tual city in Maluku province. The USGS estimated the quake's depth at 66 km, while the BMKG reported a depth of 98km.
Thailand may face heavy rain and flash floods until July 24 due to intensified monsoon, warns Meteorological Dept based on European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) weather models.
According to head of the ministry’s Centre for Data and Information Technology, Yudhistira Nugraha, in the context of education, AI is not built to replace teachers, but rather to support them. To effectively utilise AI in teaching, teachers need to master several stages.
Speaking at the 2025 Asia-Pacific Legal Conference, Malaysia’s Minister for Law and Institutional Reform Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said emphasised the vital role of the legal profession in advancing institutional reform, upholding the rule of law, and safeguarding business interests amid global economic uncertainty.
In addition to this study, Dr. Kurniawan has been researching other natural compounds with potential anticancer properties, highlighting the role of local biodiversity in the search for safer, plant-based treatments.
The public is urged to follow five key precautions, including avoiding close contact with individuals who have skin rashes or blisters, being cautious when engaging in sexual activity with unfamiliar individuals and seeking medical testing if returning from Central or East Africa or the Middle East.
