Aid is about to flow into Gaza for the first time through a maritime route from Cyprus. The "Open Arms" vessel has reached the shores of northern Gaza. Sarah Coates reports from Jerusalem.

A mission from the International Monetary Fund is currently in Pakistan for a review that could unlock much-needed funds for the South Asian economy. At stake is a tranche of more than US$1 billion. Pakistan is facing a string of challenges and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked his cabinet with finding ways to steer the country out of the crisis. Hira Mustafa reports from Islamabad.

Voting is underway in Russia, where residents are choosing the country's next president. Four candidates are on the list, but the result is an almost foregone conclusion. Surveys suggest more than half are planning to vote for incumbent leader Vladimir Putin. Dasha Chernyshova has more from Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is certain to win the presidential election this weekend, and extend his grip on power until 2030. Mr Benton Coblentz, programme assistant at think tank Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center, shares with CNA’s Asia First how this vote serves a purpose for the Russian leadership, despite the certainty of Mr Putin’s win. 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

Ukraine has branded Russia's presidential election as a "farce", and ramped up its aerial bombardment of Russian regions just across their shared border ahead of the polls. Dr Leon Aron, senior fellow at the public policy think tank American Enterprise Institute, tells CNA’s World Tonight why the international community views Russia's presidential polls as one that falls short of democratic conventions. 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

"Taylormania" swept through Singapore when American pop star Taylor Swift performed six sold-out shows in early March. An economist from DBS Bank estimated that Swift's shows could add 0.2 percentage points of GDP to the country's economy. Here's a breakdown of the "Swiftonomic" benefits of the "Eras Tour". Read more: https://cna.asia/3wV32yy 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

Meet the robots delivering Uber Eats orders in Tokyo. Since May 6, the company started trials for robot deliveries in a small area of the city. It hopes to eventually roll out the service more widely in Japan, including to rural areas where residents are older and drivers are scarce.

Some 11.7 million university graduates in China will be entering the job market this year. Analysts said they will be braving not just economic headwinds, even as policymakers pledged to step up support. CNA's Tan Si Hui reports from Beijing. 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

Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to win in this weekend's presidential election, extending his time in power until 2030. Internationally, there is criticism of the upcoming vote. But domestically, Russians believe the election will preserve continuity. CNA's Dasha Chernyshova has more. 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

Some doctors in Singapore are adopting an international screening tool that has around 90% accuracy in identifying if a child could be on the autism spectrum. Around 1% of children in Singapore have the condition. The checklist has been rolled out at seven polyclinics in the west as part of routine screening for young children. Sabrina Ng reports.

A new national benchmark on workplace well-being and leadership will be set up by a non-profit collective called WorkWell Leaders. This was announced at its annual awards that recognises those who excel in creating mentally healthy workplaces. Among the winners were IHH Healthcare, NUS, PSA and Otis. Dr Prem Kumar Nair, group CEO of IHH Healthcare and Winner of the Wellbeing CEO Award, shared more about understanding employee and workplace mental well-being.

A group of protesters briefly blocked the main highway in Tel Aviv today, calling on the Israeli government to free the remaining hostages held in Gaza by Hamas. This comes after ceasefire and hostage exchange agreements between Israel and Hamas fell through. Around 134 Israelis are still believed to be held captive in Gaza, but it is unclear how many are still alive. Meanwhile, a boat loaded with 200 tonnes of food aid is making slow progress towards the Gaza Strip, where a famine looms after more than five months of war. Sarah Coates reports from Jerusalem.

US House lawmakers have cleared a bill that could lead to a ban of social media app TikTok in the country. The move has sparked fierce backlash from China, TikTok, as well as content creators who make a living on the platform. Washington has given the social media giant's Chinese parent company ByteDance just six months to sell its controlling stake. US lawmakers have argued that TikTok users' data is at risk of being exploited by Chinese authorities. Low Minmin reports.

Singapore's semiconductor industry is getting a boost with its first-ever facility to manufacture advanced substrates -- a key part of chipmaking. The plant in Jurong Lake District will be set up by Japanese printing technologies firm Toppan. The three-story building will occupy some 95,000 square metres. It would be Toppan's first manufacturing facility outside Japan. The Economic Development Board said this will spur R&D efforts and create new jobs. Rebecca Metteo reports.

In the move to reduce misuse of personal mobility aids, sellers and physical therapists say some people who use such aids should consider other options that are more suitable. Personal mobility aids, including mobility scooters, should instead be reserved for those who need them the most. Regulations kicking in next year will restrict such aids only to those certified with relevant medical needs.

Singapore's Manpower Ministry and analysts expect employment to pick up this year, after growth slowed every quarter over 2023. Total employment still grew by 88,400, driven largely by non-residents in the construction and manufacturing sectors. Resident employment grew 4,900, with most finding jobs in financial and professional services. Richa Mathew reports.

A probe into Malaysia's former finance minister Daim Zainuddin has widened further, and now involves Singaporean businessman and prominent Malaysia property developer Akbar Khan. CNA has learnt that he's under investigation on allegations of money laundering and corruption. Malaysia's Anti-Corruption Commission temporarily detained the 83-year-old for questioning last week. His home and business premises were also raided, said sources. The anti-graft agency has also frozen his business and personal accounts. Leslie Lopez reports from Kuala Lumpur.