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Hello everyone,
In today’s newsletter: Super Typhoon Goni Hits the Philippines, Malaysia Starts Budget Session in Parliament, Questions About China’s Economic Recovery, Thai King Says He Loves Protesters Despite Protests, Asia Simmer Over French President’s Comments Emmanuel Macron and more.
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16 killed when super typhoon Goni hits the Philippines
Typhoon Goni, the strongest typhoon in the world this year, wreaked havoc in the Philippines and killed at least 16 people in some parts of the country. Some others remain missing while efforts were made to care for the hundreds of thousands of people who have been evacuated.
In Luzon alone, Goni hit 2.1 million residents, leaving more than 50,000 homes without power, while authorities said more than 300,000 people were in evacuation centers.
The typhoon followed Molave, killing 22 in Manila. The authorities estimate that the torrential rains damaged crops worth 1,100 million pesos (S $ 30.94 million). Meanwhile, another storm, Atsani, was gaining strength in the Pacific Ocean as it approached the Philippines.
Deepen:
All About Typhoons, Hurricanes and Cyclones by Assistant Foreign Editor Magdalene Fung
Why American Voters Are Key to Sino-American Ties
Public sentiment against the United States in China has been bitter and has worsened this year due to the series of incidents that widen the gap between the two economies. Washington’s decision to revoke the visas of more than 1,000 Chinese students and researchers on suspicion that their institutions had ties to the Chinese military was a turning point that resulted in the students becoming victims of the fight.
That has also raised doubts within China about whether the United States will be a destination option in the future. It is still early, but the factors driving the distancing are cause for concern.
China correspondent Danson Cheong says this comes at a time when national pride has risen over China’s ability to contain the pandemic. And yet, while Chinese nationalism has grown, there is still a fascination for all things foreign. Sentiments, in the future, could still change depending on who returns to the White House.
ICYMI:
Trump or Biden: who is better for Asia?
Temporary life line for Muhyiddin with established budget
Malaysia’s Parliament reconvened today for a session in which Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will present the budget and discussions on the country’s bid to combat the pandemic. Issues related to the holding of general elections will also arise.
The embattled prime minister has the smallest parliamentary majority in Malaysia’s history, but federal lawmakers are unlikely to defy the palace’s call to ensure government spending to combat the pandemic is approved, writes the head of Malaysia’s office. Malaysia, Shannon Teoh. However, this is only a temporary lifeline for Tan Sri Muhyiddin, as discontent continues in his greatest ally, Umno.
However, today’s session was suspended after just three hours due to concerns about the risk of exposure to the coronavirus after a Senate staff member, who shares the same building as members of Parliament, contracted Covid- 19.
Go deeper
Key issues before the Parliament of Malaysia
With Budget 2021, long-term, safe survival is now the focus of Prime Minister Muhyiddin
China’s economic recovery: is the glow for real?
China’s economy appears to be recovering rapidly from the impact of the coronavirus indicated by the latest data, but this revival is not what it seems.
While many of the cities and factories have come to life, the road to recovery has been uneven. In fact, experts have warned of the impact of the pandemic on the poor, and the World Bank estimates that it could push 115 million people into extreme poverty this year.
There is high hope in Shenzhen, but there are concerns nonetheless about the sustainability of growth given weak international demand amid a global recession.
Click below for the full report:
Export Dependent Traders Struggling to Survive and Adapt by China Office Head Tan Dawn Wei
China’s Economic Recovery Doesn’t Reach Some of the Country’s Poor by China Correspondent Danson Cheong
Shenzhen’s technology-driven economy is key to the country’s recovery by China correspondent Elizabeth Law.
Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn Says He Still Loves Protesters
In a rare gesture, Thai King Maha Vajiralongkorn said he still loves the protesters despite the hundreds of protests that have taken place. “We love you anyway,” he said on Sunday (November 1), calling Thailand “the land of commitment.” Still, there were some in the crowd who didn’t seem convinced.
In other news…
50,000 join the anti-France rally in Bangladesh: Asia continued to simmer over recent developments in France with at least 50,000 people joining the largest demonstration yet in Bangladesh for French President Emmanuel Macron’s defense of the right to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. In Indonesia, meanwhile, around 3,000 people also demonstrated in front of the French embassy in Jakarta in Indonesia.
The Hong Kong-Singapore bubble could take off later this month: Hong Kong officials have shared their optimism that people will be able to start flying between the two cities by the end of the month. At least one designated flight between the two cities is expected every day during the initial phase of the travel bubble, writes Hong Kong correspondent Claire Huang.
Lee Myung-bak from South Korea returns to jail: The former South Korean president headed to jail on Monday after a Seoul court upheld a 17-year sentence on corruption charges, in what is actually a life sentence, as the 78-year-old will serve. 95 in 2036. Last week, the country’s Supreme Court. upheld Lee’s conviction for embezzling 25.2 billion won (S $ 30.3 million) and taking bribes totaling 9.4 billion won.
Thanks for reading Asian Insider and The Straits Times. We will be back with you tomorrow.
Shefali
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