Indonesian President Joko Widodo has forecast growth of 5.2 per cent for Southeast Asia's biggest economy next year. Delivering the 2025 Budget in parliament, Mr Widodo said it is an important pillar to support the flagship programmes as the administration prepares to undergo a transition. Earlier, Mr Widodo also delivered the State of the Nation address, his final one before he hands over the presidency in October. Saifulbahri Ismail reports.

Malaysia’s economy has had its strongest quarterly expansion in 18 months. GDP grew 5.9 per cent on-year in the second quarter, outpacing the previous quarter’s growth of 4.2 per cent. The figure also comes in just above the government’s advance estimate of 5.8 per cent out earlier this week. CNA's Afifah Ariffin reports.

The tech industry has become a key player in American politics in recent years, as an important source of fundraising and political clout. Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris is seeking to win the backing of one of the country's most important industries. Some Silicon Valley heavyweights believe a Harris presidency would offer the stability to help the tech scene thrive. CNA’s Ira Spitzer reports. 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

It is shaping up to be a scorching summer in Hong Kong. The city has issued a "very hot" advisory – when the mercury rises above 33 degrees Celsius – nearly every day of the month so far. Its low-wage outdoor workers are bearing the brunt of the heat. CNA’s Deborah Wong reports. 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 new round of talks to reach a lasting truce in the Gaza war began in Qatar on Thursday (Aug 15) amid efforts to avoid a wider regional war. Palestinian militant group Hamas is not attending, saying they will consult if Israel responds positively. Urgency has mounted after the death toll in Gaza crossed 40,000. The region is also bracing for possibly retaliatory strikes by Iran and its proxies for Israel’s alleged assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders. Javed Ali, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Michigan’s Gerald R Ford School of Public Policy, tells CNA’s Asia First his thoughts on the likelihood of ceasefire talks progressing with Hamas not in the room. 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

United States Republicans are highlighting what they say is a list of failures from the Biden-Harris administration, ahead of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. One issue is illegal immigration -- a talking point at their own convention last month, where party leaders made a series of claims associating migrants with “out of control” levels of crime. In New York, they are accused of disturbing once peaceful communities, by residents who say they want their neighborhoods back. CNA's Mitch McCann reports.

More than 100 social media influencers and industry professionals were in the White House for the United States' first-ever Creator Economy Conference, an event aimed at “bridging the gap” between government and social media. Participants sat down with President Joe Biden and his officials to discuss the most pressing issues facing the sector including privacy, pay, artificial intelligence and mental health. CNA's Benji Hyer with this report.

All travellers entering Singapore must report if they have mpox-related symptoms, like fever or rash. They must also declare their travel history upon arrival. The Ministry of Health said the immediate public health risk of the outbreak in Africa affecting Singapore is low. The World Health Organization has declared mpox as a global health emergency for the second time in two years. Professor Tikki Pang, an infectious disease expert, shared more about the transmission and symptoms of mpox.

Tech giant Google is funding anti-scam efforts in Singapore through a S$2.6-million grant -- its largest ever in the country. It aims to educate and skill 100,000 Singaporeans for free against scams and online threats by 2026. Google has also launched new features to reduce online risks, such as one that has blocked nearly 900,000 harmful apps from being installed on over 200,000 Android devices. Nicolas Ng reports.

All travellers entering Singapore must report if they have mpox-related symptoms, like fever or rash. They must also declare their travel history upon arrival. The Ministry of Health said the immediate public health risk of the outbreak in Africa affecting Singapore is low. The World Health Organization has declared mpox as a global health emergency for the second time in two years. MOH said all mpox infections detected in Singapore were a milder variant. There are no reported cases of the more severe Clade I strain spreading beyond the African continent.

Singapore and the Philippines will work together in developing skills of healthcare workers and greening the economy. Building on the longstanding ties between the two countries, Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam said both sides also want to work together in other areas such as a digital transformation programme for the public service. Rebecca Metteo reports from Manila, where Mr Tharman is on a state visit.

On East Asia Tonight (Aug 15), Seoul's new vision for unification with North Korea, China promises aid to Myanmar army to hold its next election. Also, nearly 80 years after the end of WWII, how the 'Korea-Japan Top Ten Show' is winning hearts and minds.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used his Independence Day speech to voice concern over the situation in Bangladesh. He has asked Dhaka to ensure the safety of Hindus in the country, after attacks on the community last week. Bangladesh is set to decide on whether to ask India to extradite former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. The de-facto foreign minister in Dhaka has pointed out that Hasina is facing many cases against her. Professor Sreeradha Datta from the Jindal School of International Affairs shared more about an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh.

India is observing its 78th Independence Day amid a nationwide doctors' strike. In a speech to the nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the anger over the sexual assault and murder of a young female medic last week. He also spoke about the big policy vision of his government -- making India a developed country by 2047 when the nation will celebrate 100 years of freedom from colonial rule. A bulk of Mr Modi's speech was dedicated to explaining how his government's various schemes have benefitted hundreds of millions in the past decade. Ishan Garg reports from New Delhi.

Thailand's governing Pheu Thai-led coalition has agreed to back Pheu Thai leader Paetongtarn Shinawatra for prime minister. Former premier Srettha Thavisin was removed from office yesterday over an ethics violation. Ms Paetongtarn, 37, is the daughter of former premier and political heavyweight Thaksin Shinawatra, and niece to ousted former leader Yingluck Shinawatra. If successful in the parliamentary ballot tomorrow, Ms Paetongtarn will be Thailand's second female prime minister and the third Shinawatra to hold the top post. Saksith Saiyasombut reports.

You are gunning for a promotion and you have asked your manager for more opportunities. But the response is lukewarm. What should you do? Have a work-related question to ask a career counsellor? Email us at cnapodcasts@mediacorp.com.sg. 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

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is stepping down, as public approval ratings hover around record lows. But analysts say the 67-year-old has done a decent job in his almost three years at the helm, particularly in his foreign policy endeavours. Tomohiko Taniguchi, a professor from the University of Tsukuba, tells CNA’s Asia Now why despite a dismal report card by the Japanese public, “historians will be kinder” to Kishida. Read more: https://cna.asia/3YKPiCE 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

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will step down next month, after a three-year tenure marked by scandals in his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). Despite not being personally involved in the scandals, he has been accused of weak party management. James Brown, a political science professor at Temple University Japan, tells CNA’s Asia First that Kishida, despite having done a good job, has simply been the “exceptionally unlucky” casualty of a political party disliked by the Japanese public. Read more: https://cna.asia/3YKPiCE 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 Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver his first National Day Rally speech in English on Sunday (Aug 18), 8pm, at the Institute of Technical Education Headquarters in Ang Mo Kio. More details: https://cna.asia/46H4qD0 #NDR2024 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 Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver his first National Day Rally speech on Sunday (Aug 18) at the Institute of Technical Education Headquarters in Ang Mo Kio. He will speak in Malay at 6.45pm, followed by Mandarin. His English speech will begin at 8pm. More details: https://cna.asia/46H4qD0 #NDR2024 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