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Mr Prabowo Subianto, who will be sworn in as Indonesia’s president on Oct 20, has plans to grow the country’s economy with investor-friendly and tourist-centric policies.
Correspondent Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja says Mr Prabowo’s schemes indicate a shift from the type of infrastructure projects favoured by outgoing President Joko Widodo. Senior columnist Lin Suling notes that reality suggests Mr Prabowo will have much to do for the country to truly take off, but there are grounds for hope.
At the recently concluded annual Asean leaders’ gathering in Laos, agreements were reached between Asean and its partners, with steps taken on free trade agreements and the digital economy. Assistant foreign editor Tan Tam Mei observes that new leaders ignited buzz at the summits.
With less than three weeks to go before the US presidential election on Nov 5, bureau chief Bhagyashree Garekar finds prevalent distrust among Americans in the election infrastructure and its mainstream media.
A vote of confidence, however, is seen in ties between Sri Lanka and India with a new ferry service traversing the strait that divides the two sides. Follow correspondent Rohini Mohan on her ride with a surprising Singapore connection.
Relations between Kazakhstan and China are also growing, with young people in the central Asian country viewing China more favourably than their elders, thanks to belt-and-road investments, as Markus Ziener discovers.
Investor-friendly plans in the works aim to hit 8 per cent growth target by his third year in office.
Read more:
A tale of two Indonesias emerges amid miracle growth story
Report card of Mr Widodo and wish list for Mr Prabowo
Asean model can be a beacon of cooperation in a fractious world, PM Lawrence Wong says.
Read more:
Asean must speed up integration in a world going the other way: PM Wong
Japan’s PM reassures Asean following ‘Asian Nato’ proposal
S’pore to Asean’s partners: ‘Lean forward’ to stop Myanmar turmoil
Distrust is stoking a crisis of confidence in the fragile election infrastructure.
More on the US election:
China doesn’t prefer a Trump win, says Chinese scholar Jia Qingguo
Can we be friends despite our partisan and social identities?
‘Paradise Lost’: Trump rallies devotees in liberal California
The Chinese government has also been encouraging people to lighten what it calls “the burden of favours”.
More on China, Hong Kong:
Talent, new hubs: HK Chief Executive John Lee lays out revival plan
China wants more foreign hospitals
China’s turnaround depends on will to grow private sector
Suzhou Industrial Park at 30: S’pore, China seek continued edge
Find out how a ferry operated by a Singapore firm is connecting India and Sri Lanka.
More on India:
‘Diplomacy breakdown’: Canada’s row with India over murdered Sikh
Patriarch of Tata Group put India on world stage
‘A true friend of S’pore’: PM Lawrence Wong pays tribute to Ratan Tata
To get into IIT, India’s children ditch school for private coaching
The revamped bunkers also give visitors a sense of history.
More on cultural or entertainment venues:
Australia teaches youth how to stay safe at nightlife venues
Japan’s govt to formulate policies to sustain bookstores