Some 128 million voters in Pakistan are heading to the polls on Thursday (Feb 8) to elect a new government. In the run-up to the vote, attention has not only been on the candidates, but also on one man who is absent from the ballot, and currently in prison – former prime minister Imran Khan. From Islamabad, CNA’s Hira Mustafa looks at those on the ballot paper, and the issues that are dominating the campaign. Read more: https://cna.asia/42tx6gE 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 205 million people will head to the polls for Indonesia's elections on Feb 14 - and half of them are young voters. How are the presidential hopefuls - including former general Prabowo Subianto - courting them? Subscribe to our channel here: https://cna.asia/youtubesub

Android users in Singapore will be blocked from installing unverified apps that ask for sensitive permissions such as access to SMSes. The enhanced security measure is part of a trial to protect users from malware scams and will be progressively rolled out in the coming weeks.

Fancy a Butterbeer in Singapore? The Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience takes visitors through a dark, misty forest (also known as Sentosa’s Coastal Trail). Come face to face with magical creatures and get your wand ready – the event runs until Apr 21. (Video: Rachel Wong) Read more: https://cna.asia/497s4sE 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

A quarter of a million candidates are running for posts in this year’s general elections in Indonesia. Legislators, councillors and a new president are all being chosen by some 205 million voters. And more than half of those voters are young people. Teresa Tang speaks to our correspondents to find out why the battleground has moved online for the presidential hopefuls.  See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.

With just days to go before Chinese New Year, heartland neighbourhoods are getting creative, taking their decor and dining to void decks. CNA heads to Sengkang and Bishan to see how they are ushering in the dragon year as a community. 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

Five sport leaders have been inducted into the Singapore Sport Hall of Fame. This is the first time this category is being recognised. Three athletes were also recognised for their achievements. Syed Kadir is the only local boxer to go to the Olympic Games, and won Singapore's first Commonwealth Games medal for the sport. He later coached the national team for 44 years. Paddler Yu Mengyu has won multiple gold medals and reached the semi-finals of the Olympics twice. Four-time Olympian swimmer Joscelin Yeo is the only athlete on record to have won 40 gold medals at the SEA Games. 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

95% of Singaporean households have claimed the latest tranche of Community Development Council vouchers. Since the launch on 3 January, more than $255 million worth of the claimed vouchers have been spent -- $99 million at participating merchants and hawkers, while the remaining $156 million at participating supermarkets. 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

MPs are concerned that some firms like moneylenders or pawnshops could face higher compliance costs amid tighter rules against financing weapons of destruction. A new bill passed aims to better align these industries with global anti-money laundering and terrorism financing standards. For one, pawnbrokers, moneylenders and those selling precious products must keep records of their transactions, even after closing their business. They must also appoint a compliance officer to put in controls and prevent financial crime. 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

MPs said Singapore needs a robust national mental health system that all can access and afford without stigma, judgement or discrimination. They also called for a review of subsidies and insurance coverage to improve access to mental healthcare. Jurong MP Tan Wu Meng raised the alarm over residents who were declined medical insurance coverage due to their mental health conditions, while Sengkang MP He Ting Ru suggested more mental health coverage under national savings scheme MediSave. 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

Two recent polls conducted by the labour movement showed that workers are fearing for their jobs. This has spurred further calls for a 'transition support package' for retrenched workers. In the first survey conducted between December and January, 40% of Singaporeans felt they were likely to lose their jobs in the next three months, compared to 25% in the same period last year. NTUC and the Singapore National Employers Federation expect more layoffs this year. They said displaced workers should be supported in landing new jobs. 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

Indonesian presidential candidate Anies Baswedan said he is hopeful and optimistic to win the election if it goes to a runoff in June. The former Jakarta governor is campaigning on the platform of change. Speaking to CNA's Saifulbahri Ismail, he said Indonesians should not be afraid of reforms that benefit everyone. 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

Canberra has said it will respond "directly and unequivocally" to China over Australian writer Yang Heng-jun's suspended death sentence. A Beijing court handed down the verdict yesterday on charges that Yang was spying for an unspecified foreign country. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the ruling is an "outrage". China has said it will not budge on Yang's sentencing. The China-born Australian citizen wrote about Chinese and US politics as a democracy blogger. He was arrested while visiting China in January 2019. 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 people have gathered in the Turkish city of Antakya to mark the first anniversary of a devastating earthquake. Those left behind have been struggling to rebuild their lives. In the wake of the disaster, the government promised to rebuild 680,000 homes across 11 provinces over two years. 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

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis said they have fired missiles at a US ship and British vessel in the Red Sea. The militants claimed the strikes on the same day US Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Egypt. He is looking to secure a new truce in Gaza in his fifth visit to the region since the war began nearly four months ago. The extended truce offer will reportedly last 40 days to allow for a hostage exchange. Hamas has yet to agree to it, as it wants more guarantees to bring a permanent end to the war. But, Israel has said that it will not withdraw its forces until there's "absolute victory". 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

A warning as overseas voting begins for Indonesia's presidential and legislative elections. The General Election Supervisory Agency said the process may be vulnerable to disruptions and foul play. Indonesians living in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam have begun casting their ballots about a week ahead of the polls. The general elections commission has come under fire for its perceived incompetence in organising the overseas voting process. There are more than 1.7 million eligible voters across 128 cities abroad. 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

Colleagues who worked with police officer Uvaraja Gopal were sad that he took his own life, but also disappointed by his false claims about the police force, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said in Parliament on Feb 6. Before his death, Sergeant Uvaraja claimed that his teammates used racial slurs against him and that superiors bullied him.

Police officer Uvaraja Gopal killed himself last year after alleging that his superiors bullied him and that his teammates used racial slurs against him. Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam spoke in Parliament on Feb 6 regarding the findings of the latest investigation into the claims.

In Parliament on Tuesday (Feb 6), Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam delivered a ministerial statement addressing allegations made by police officer Sergeant Uvaraja Gopal shortly before he killed himself in July 2023. In a Facebook post that was later removed, SGT Uvaraja said he had been bullied by his superiors and subjected to ethnic slurs by his teammates in the Singapore Police Force (SPF). He also alleged that some officers’ misconduct was covered up, his performance appraisals were unfair to him and he was ostracised at work. Mr Shanmugam said the workplace racism allegations will be investigated as disciplinary breaches. But he also said the Attorney-General's Chambers has reviewed the findings of SPF’s latest investigation and determined that “no further actions were needed”. https://cna.asia/3OAurfs

Britain's King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and will postpone public engagements to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said on Monday (Feb 5). The king will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork during this period of treatment.