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Highlights from
THIS WEEK IN ASIA
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto shakes hands with US President Joe Biden in the Oval Office of the White House on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Politics

Can Indonesia’s Prabowo build rapport with Trump and stave off US protectionism?

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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Photo: Pool via Xinhua

Politics

Japan’s PM Ishiba to push ahead with ‘difficult’ political funds reforms

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Japan is cracking down on over-the-counter medicines to combat a worrying social media trend. Photo: Shutterstock

Health & Environment

‘Serious problem’: Japan curbs over-the-counter drug rules amid youth ‘overdoses’

Donald Trump arrives to speak during an election night event on November 6, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Photo: TNS

Politics

Will New Zealand’s alliance with Aukus shift under Trump’s second term?

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Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government. Photo: AP

Politics

Bangladesh’s Yunus could ‘bury the hatchet’ with Trump to advance ties

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MORE IN THIS WEEK IN ASIA
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OPINION
Janet Pau

Opinion | How Asia can strengthen its trade, manufacturing as Trump returns

Janet Pau
Jiang Shixue

Opinion | Here’s how the G20 can be more than a talk shop

Jiang Shixue
Richard Heydarian

Opinion | Why US influence in Southeast Asia could decline under Trump 2.0

Richard Heydarian
Douglas H. Paal

Opinion | Trump will ask Asia-Pacific what it can offer. Leaders must think hard

Douglas H. Paal
4
Gagan Hitkari

Opinion | South Korea may find itself stranded as North Korea’s sole adversary

Gagan Hitkari
5
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MULTIMEDIA
Video

Volcanic eruption grounds Bali flights

01:43
Video

Trump showers praise on Indonesia’s Prabowo during congratulatory call

03:08
Video

Fourth typhoon in as many weeks hits Philippines

01:33
Video

Pakistanis choke on toxic smog in Lahore

02:41
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Asia

Australasia
East Asia
Southeast Asia
South Asia
This Week in Asia
China test-fired an intercontinental ballistic missile in September. Photo: PLA Army News and Communication Centre/AFP

Australasia

Palau seeks US missile system citing ‘direct threat’ from China ICBM test

President Whipps said he and incoming US leader Trump are ‘very much in agreement’ regarding the Pacific island nation’s security.

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Can Indonesia’s Prabowo build rapport with Trump and stave off US protectionism?

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Will New Zealand’s alliance with Aukus shift under Trump’s second term?

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Health & Environment

‘Serious problem’: Japan curbs over-the-counter drug rules amid youth ‘overdoses’

The government is enacting age verification and purchase limits to curb hospitalisations and shortages, amid social media influence.

Japan is cracking down on over-the-counter medicines to combat a worrying social media trend. Photo: Shutterstock
Japan is cracking down on over-the-counter medicines to combat a worrying social media trend. Photo: Shutterstock

Southeast Asia

‘Life is easier’: calm returns to chaotic Thai city battling monkey menace

Hundreds of macaques that wreaked havoc and scared residents have been sterilised and put in cages, restoring peace and improving business.

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Southeast Asia

Indonesia’s Prabowo on managing sea row: ‘partnerships better than conflicts’

The president said Jakarta will safeguard its sovereignty in the contested waterway days after signing a maritime deal with Beijing.

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Politics

Japan’s PM Ishiba to push ahead with ‘difficult’ political funds reforms

Analysts are optimistic Ishiba will be able to tackle corruption in Japanese politics as he has a ‘clear majority’ for carrying out reforms.

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Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Photo: Pool via Xinhua
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Photo: Pool via Xinhua

Politics

China’s baselines around Scarborough Shoal aim to ‘pressure’ Philippines: analysts

China declared its maritime baselines around Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines passed laws defining its maritime zones and sea lanes last week.

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Politics

‘Hurry up’: Duterte says he is ready to face ICC in The Hague over drug war

Rodrigo Duterte taunts lawmakers that they might ‘miss the pleasure’ of seeing him in the International Criminal Court due to his age.

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Politics

Women candidates signal potential shift in Sri Lanka’s male-dominated politics

While analysts welcome the increase, they caution that more women in politics alone won’t challenge patriarchal norms and achieve true gender equality.

People wait in a queue to cast their ballots at a polling station during Sri Lanka’s presidential election in Galle on September 21. Photo: TNS

Politics

Bangladesh’s Yunus could ‘bury the hatchet’ with Trump to advance ties

Yunus congratulated Trump on his election win, sending an ‘important signal’ for improved bilateral ties and cooperation, analysts say.

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Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government. Photo: AP
Muhammad Yunus, head of Bangladesh’s interim government. Photo: AP

Politics

Lee Hsien Loong downplays fears of Taiwan conflict during Trump’s term

The ex-prime minister was responding to a question at a US forum about whether China would make a move on Taiwan over the next four years.

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People

Japan’s Narita airport gets tough on harassment by customers with new policy

The guidelines were framed after businesses at the airport reported multiple instances of patrons losing their cool.

South Asia

India’s political parties woo women voters with cash handouts

A greater turnout of women voters in the past decade is pushing political parties to compete to attract them.

Voters queue up to cast their ballots at a polling station during the fifth phase of voting in India’s general election, in Thiksey of Ladakh. Photo: AFP

Southeast Asia

Airlines in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia cancel Bali flights due to volcano

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, an active volcano on nearby Flores island, spewed a tower of ash that reached 9km into the sky.

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Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews ash and smoke during an eruption as seen from Lewolaga village in Titihena, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki spews ash and smoke during an eruption as seen from Lewolaga village in Titihena, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Economics

Malaysia’s Anwar warns of impact from Trump’s plan to slap tariffs on imports

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says any new US tariffs will affect Malaysia regardless of its links with Brics.

Politics

Australia’s envoy Kevin Rudd gets ominous hint from ex-Trump aide on his future

Rudd has deleted his anti-Trump social media posts, including one describing him as ‘the most destructive president in history’.

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Health & Environment

‘Change is coming’: will Southeast Asia have to abandon universal healthcare?

Across Southeast Asia, rising costs and funding struggles are threatening the very foundations of public health systems.

Mounting healthcare challenges have raised fears of a creeping privatisation as overstretched and underfunded state facilities seek new revenue streams. Photo: Shutterstock
Mounting healthcare challenges have raised fears of a creeping privatisation as overstretched and underfunded state facilities seek new revenue streams. Photo: Shutterstock

Economics

Kuala London: aspiration, class and the Malaysian dream of a British education

In a country still shaped by its colonial past, the pursuit of a UK education by Malaysia’s elites reveals a stark opportunity gap at home.

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Politics

‘The race is on’: Brics ramps up its challenge to the Western-led world order

The growing bloc, which seeks alternatives to Western-led institutions, is being leveraged by Beijing and Moscow to forge a multipolar world.

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Economics

Huawei and Malaysia’s 5G future: unpacking the embrace of Chinese tech

The Chinese tech giant has emerged as the odds-on favourite to build Malaysia’s second 5G network – despite the West’s espionage concerns.

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Malaysia has been under significant US pressure to reconsider any future relationship with Huawei. Photo: Shutterstock