NEWS

A complicated moment in international relations has been created by the geopolitical rivalry between the United States and China in the ASEAN region. Kuik (2020) emphasises that this type of competition has fundamentally changed the geopolitical landscape of Southeast Asia, forcing countries in the region to rethink their economic diplomacy strategies¹. Through the neorealist framework developed by Mearsheimer, this competition is understood as a natural phenomenon in an anarchic international system where great powers compete to maximise their power and influence. Neorealism argues that the behaviour of states is driven by their interest in protecting their security and maintaining their status in the international system, rather than solely by economic or ideological interests. As can be seen, this framework is relevant for understanding the implications of this competition for economic diplomacy in each ASEAN member state².

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by China under President Xi Jinping in 2013, has been credited with bringing about significant changes in the political-economic power of ASEAN. The goal of the BRI is to create a global trade network through the investment of massive infrastructures in Asia, Europe, Africa and also Latin America. China offers flexible access to the sort of loans that may be difficult for developing countries to get from international financial institutions. Seen from an economic perspective, the BRI has clear potential benefits for the recipient countries. Ong and Hoo in their book said if the infrastructure built, such as ports, railways and roads, can improve their connectivity, boost economic growth and create more opportunities for people to get jobs. Examples of this can be seen in Pakistan’s Gwadar port and Kenya’s high-speed railway, both of which have successfully boosted their local economies. These projects not only include physical development, but also bring in digital innovation, trade and investment cooperation, alongside human resource development. Through this comprehensive approach, China has succeeded in building economic dependency in various ASEAN countries³.

But what hides under these economic benefits is the fact that China wants to expand their geopolitical power. Bao (2022) reminds that  by offering large loans to the countries that receive them, China creates an economic dependency that can strengthen its political position in strategic regions. If the recipient country is unable to pay its debts, China can take over vital assets of infrastructure, as in the case of Sri Lanka’s Hambantota port⁴. This dependency on debt gives China a powerful way to keep its dominant position while gaining access to markets and natural resources needed for its economic growth.  Through infrastructure in the developing countries, China also strengthens its diplomatic alliances and political influence in international forums, as seen in the participating countries’ support for China on controversial issues such as the South China Sea dispute. With more countries supporting it, China is able to improve its position at the United Nations to protect its national interests, plus the BRI is also a means for China to expand its influence at the international stage.

Yet the BRI is not without its critics and challenges. There is also concern over the negative social and environmental effects of these infrastructure projects. BRI projects have often been criticised for their impact on the environment and for the lack of attention paid to the rights of local communities. This has given rise to the notion that the BRI is a form of neo-colonialism in which China is using developing countries to further its own economic and geopolitical interests. This criticism suggests that China’s ambition to become a global power is dominating the altruistic intentions of these infrastructure investments.

On the other side, the United States is attempting to balance China’s influence through other initiatives such as the Blue Dot Network and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)¹. These include collaboration on advanced technology, renewable energy and the digital economy. The United States also promotes good governance standards in infrastructure projects, even though they are often slowed down by government bureaucracy. From a neorealist perspective, the authors see this as a balancing act on the part of the United States to prevent China’s hegemony in Southeast Asia. The security dilemma created by this situation leads both countries to expand their economic and strategic interests in the region, resulting in a competitive escalation of tensions². In the midst of this competition, ASEAN countries have shown some interesting ways of responding. As the biggest national economy in ASEAN, Indonesia has its own unique way of managing this competition. Indonesia is taking a strategic ‘hands on’ position in its infrastructure developments, partnering with both great powers on several projects. The Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project with China, as an example, has not stopped Indonesia from working with the United States to expand digital infrastructure and renewable energy.

A deep understanding of global competition is reflected in Indonesia’s foreign investment management strategy. In particular, Indonesia has created an unusually elaborate and detailed regulatory framework for evaluating foreign investment in a number of strategic sectors. The role of the Investment Coordinating Board (Badan Koordinasi Penanaman Modal, BKPM) has been strengthened to evaluate and control foreign investment, while the evaluation mechanism for strategic infrastructure projects has been strengthened at the same time. In terms of strategic industry growth, Indonesia has used its natural resources, such as in the electric battery sector, by inviting investment from Chinese companies such as CATL and also securing investment commitments from the United States. Hubber (2022) also argued that using this strategy, Indonesia is building downstream industries while maintaining control over its strategic resources⁶.

The US-China competition has led ASEAN countries, including Indonesia, to adopt a more varied approach to their international economic relations. In fact, as well as cooperating with both countries, Indonesia is also strengthening economic ties with the European Union, Japan, South Korea and other emerging economies. This step has helped Indonesia to decrease its dependence on any one country or economic bloc.

In the maritime sector, by engaging different countries in strategic port investments and technology development, Indonesia has been able to maintain a balance. Without compromising its maritime sovereignty, this approach allows Indonesia to optimise its geographical position.

In the digital economy, Indonesia is encouraging competition between technology companies from a number of countries, including the United States and China. As well as benefiting consumers, this policy helps to transfer technology and build local capabilities. In the renewable energy sector, Indonesia is taking advantage of the rivalry between the US and China to accelerate the energy transition while building domestic industrial capacity.

Yoshimatsu (2023) in Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs assume if Indonesia’s success in managing this competition can serve as a role model for other countries in ASEAN. A strategic approach that combines economic openness with the protection of national interests proves that developing countries can play an active role in the dynamics of international competition without having to align themselves exclusively with one great power⁵. In the future, competition between the US and China is expected to become more intense in such strategic sectors as technology and renewable energy. Within this framework, the issue of ASEAN’s cohesion as a regional organisation is important. The neo-realist perspective suggests that ASEAN should strengthen its internal coordination mechanisms in order to manage the pressure from the two great powers.

A crucial step for ASEAN is to strengthen regional institutions and common standards for evaluating foreign investment⁵. While neo-realism is sceptical of international institutions, the experience of ASEAN shows that regional cooperation can help small and medium-sized countries in the face of competition from the great powers. In the end, whether the BRI becomes an opportunity or a trap for developing countries will depend on their ability to safeguard their national interests. ASEAN must ensure that BRI infrastructure projects are economically beneficial without being a threat to countries’ independence and sovereignty.

REFERENCES

¹ Kuik Cheng-Chwee. (2020, June 6). Hedging in Post-Pandemic Asia: What, How, and Why? THE ASAN FORUM.

²Mearsheimer, J. J. (2001). The tragedy of great power politics. New York: W.W.

³Ong, K. Y., & Hoo, T. B. (2024). US-China Strategic Competition and Southeast Asia. 205–214. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-2558-8_17

⁴Bao, G. (2022). China–US Strategic Competition and Indonesia’s Status Anxiety. East Asian Affairs, 02(02). https://doi.org/10.1142/s2737557922500115

⁵Yoshimatsu, H. (2022). ASEAN and Great Power Rivalry in Regionalism: From East Asia to the Indo-Pacific. Https://Doi.Org/10.1177/18681034221139297, 42(1), 25–44. https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034221139297

⁶Huber, I. (2022). Indonesia’s Battery Industrial Strategy. Csis.org. https://www.csis.org/analysis/indonesias-battery-industrial-strategy

Huiyao, H., Mabel, W., & Miao, L. (n.d.). China and Globalization Enhancing Global Governance in a Fragmented World Prospects, Issues, and the Role of China.

Tyka Nelson, the Minneapolis singer and younger sister of music legend Prince, has died. She was 64.

Nelson was considered the only full sibling to the “Purple Rain” singer-songwriter. Her son President Nelson told the Minneapolis Star Tribune that his mother died Monday but did not disclose any details. A representative for Prince’s estate did not immediately respond Tuesday to The Times’ request for comment; however, the estate did confirm the death to Variety. A cause was not disclosed.

“Tyka Evene Nelson 1960-2024,” read a Monday post on her Facebook page. “It’s time 4 a new direction / It’s time 4 jazz 2 die / 4th day of November / We need a Purple high”

Her cousin Charles “Chazz” Smith also confirmed her death, writing on Facebook: “Our family is very saddened to share the news of my cousin Tyka Evene Nelson who passed away this morning.”

The music writer and performer released four albums between 1988 and 2011, according to the Star Tribune. She was set to retire after a farewell concert last June but pulled out due to illness, the newspaper said.

“I really wasn’t a singer. I’m a writer. I just happen to be able to sing. I enjoy singing,” she told the outlet at the time, adding that she was working on a memoir.

Her brother Prince, a genre-fusing master of music, died in 2016 after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer died at age 57 without a will, leading to one of the largest and most complicated probate court proceedings in Minnesota history, as well as infighting among his six siblings during the protracted legal battle over his multimillion-dollar estate.

Tyka Nelson was identified early on as the “When Doves Cry” singer’s only full sibling, sharing musicians John L. Nelson and Mattie Della Shaw as parents. Less than a month after her older brother died, she told Minnesota’s Carver County District Court that she believed Prince died without a spouse, children or surviving parents and she did not know “of the existence of a will.”

The complicated case was settled in August 2022 when a Minnesota judge approved an agreement to divide the estate among Prince Legacy LLC and Prince Oat Holdings LLC, companies that were formed to represent the various siblings and heirs. Prince Legacy previously represented the interests of Prince’s half siblings Sharon Nelson, John R. Nelson and Norrine Nelson. Meanwhile, Prince Oat Holdings was owned by the music publishing company Primary Wave Music, which acquired the rights to Prince’s extensive song catalog when three heirs (Tyka Nelson, Omarr Baker and Alfred Jackson) sold their shares to it in August 2021.

In January, managers of Prince Legacy filed a new lawsuit alleging that four of Prince’s family members — half sisters Sharon Nelson and Norrine Nelson, Prince’s niece Breanna Nelson and nephew Allen Nelson— improperly attempted to oust the manager from the company, Forbes reported.

Tyka Nelson is survived by sons President and Sir, as well as half siblings Sharon Nelson, Norrine Nelson and Omarr Baker. Her half brother Alfred Jackson died in 2019, and John R. Nelson died in 2021.

Phoenix, Arizona – For nearly three decades, Buster Johnson served with little fanfare as a member of the Board of Supervisors in Mohave County, a deep-red section of western Arizona.

Even as former President Donald Trump pushed the false claim that widespread fraud was to blame for his loss in the 2020 election, the idea that such malfeasance had taken place in Mohave seemed laughable: Trump had carried the county by more than 50 points.

But that did little to stop the rise of election denialism in Mohave Country — and in the Republican Party at large.

Johnson, a lifelong Republican who previously was the vice chair of the party’s state chapter, said he was perplexed by the sudden pressure to implement new measures such as hand-counting each ballot.

That demand is common among election deniers, but experts say that technique for tallying votes is more error-prone, less efficient and more expensive.

Acceding to the wishes of his constituents, Johnson voted in favour of a measure to switch to hand-counting, but he tried to explain to voters in the county that such steps made little sense.

“This kind of thing never happened before 2020,” he said of the wave of new demands to overhaul the voting system.

“We’re a strong Republican county. We’ve always voted red.”

Johnson lost his re-election bid in the Republican primary in July to Sonny Borrelli, a state senator who had championed Trump’s false claims of widespread election “rigging” in 2020.

Borrelli, however, won an endorsement from Trump, the current Republican presidential candidate, who credited him with being “on the front line of fighting against corrupt elections since day one”.

Poor record

Following Trump’s defeat in 2020, many Republican officials and candidates across the country — especially in swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Nevada — embraced his false allegations of rampant election fraud.

In several cases, election deniers ran for statewide positions that would give them substantial influence over the electoral process.

Some also voiced support for Trump’s alleged efforts to nullify the will of the voters through schemes to derail the election certification process.

Trump and his allies are accused of having recruited state officials to submit false Electoral College certificates after the 2020 race, and he faces a federal criminal indictment in Washington, DC, as a result.

However, for Republican candidates up and down the ballot, putting election denial front and centre in a campaign was a useful way to secure an endorsement from the former president.

Voters have also been receptive to election denialism. In October, a poll from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion found that a majority of voters, 58 percent, were concerned about the possibility of fraud at the ballot box.

That number was even higher among Republicans alone. An estimated 88 percent expressed worry over election fraud.

Patrice, a voter in Tucson who recently moved to Arizona from the East Coast, said he understood the need to implement new measures to ensure election security. He asked to withhold his last name, in order to speak freely about his election-related doubts.

“If you doubt something, don’t you want to check into it and question it?” said Patrice. “There are things happening, and they do deserve to be questioned.”

But adopting Trump’s narrative about stolen elections has backfired for some Republican candidates seeking public office.

During the midterm elections in 2022, many high-level supporters of election denial who had won Trump’s endorsement lost their races in the general election.

That included gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and secretary of state candidate Mark Finchem, who fell short against Democratic rivals.

Doubling down

Some political observers assumed that, after the setbacks of 2022, Republican officials might move away from election denial for fear of alienating moderate voters.

Instead, many Republicans, including Trump, have continued to push false claims about US elections and cast doubt on previous results.

“They should do paper ballots, same-day voting, voter ID and be done,” Trump said as he cast his vote on Tuesday, casting doubt on widely used electronic voting.

A few days earlier, on November 2 in Salem, Virginia, he falsely accused Democrats of undermining the vote, sowing further uncertainty into the electoral process.

“I’d love to win the popular vote with them cheating. Let them cheat,” he said.

Some of his allies have since adopted his strategy of questioning election results that do not fall in their favour. Lake, who is now running to represent Arizona in the Senate, never conceded her loss in the 2022 elections.

“It’s definitely a trend that concerns me,” Kim, a voter at an early-voting station in the city of Tucson, told Al Jazeera. She asked to use only her first name in order to speak freely.

“I feel like the process is legit, and it works. I’m a teacher also, so it sort of feels like the sore-loser mentality, where you say, ‘It didn’t go my way, so the system must be wrong.’ Instead of figuring out what you need to do better, it’s someone else’s fault.”

She added: “It’s ridiculous.”

Experts warn that spreading unsubstantiated claims of election fraud can undermine faith in the overall democratic process and serve as a pretext for limiting access to voting in the name of election security.

“The anti-democracy movement has spent the past four years strategizing how to undermine our election system,” Joanna Lydgate, CEO of States United Democracy Center, which tracks election denial across the US, told Al Jazeera in a statement.

“Election deniers are trying to throw sand in the gears of every step in our election process, so they can claim things went wrong and throw out election results that they don’t like. But ultimately, our elections are free, fair, and secure.”

Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have won re-election and continue their political careers after being the first two Muslim women to serve in the US Congress.

The Democratic Party’s Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar – the first two Muslim women to serve in the United States Congress – have won re-election to the US House of Representatives.

Tlaib, who is also the first woman of Palestinian descent in the US Congress, was re-elected on Tuesday for a fourth term as a representative for Michigan with support from the large Arab-American community in Dearborn.

Omar, a former refugee and Somali American, retook her seat for a third term in Minnesota, where she represents the strongly Democratic 5th District, which includes Minneapolis and a number of suburbs.

A leading critic of US military support to Israel in its war on Gaza, Tlaib ran uncontested in her primary and defeated Republican James Hooper to represent the solidly Democratic district in Dearborn and Detroit.

Congratulations to @RashidaTlaib on her re-election!

She has bravely fought for Palestinian liberation and championed the interests of working-class people in Detroit.

We are honored to stand with Congresswoman Tlaib in this fight. pic.twitter.com/lU0befG7uh

— Sunrise Movement 🌅 (@sunrisemvmt) November 6, 2024

Omar is also a sharp critic of Israel’s war on Gaza.

In a post on social media, Omar thanked her supporters for all their hard work in her election campaign.

“Our hard work was worth it. We knocked on 117,716 doors. We made 108,226 calls. And we sent 147,323 texts. This is a victory for ALL of us who believe that a better future is possible. I can’t wait to make you all proud over the next two years,” she said.

Thank you, CD5. Our hard work was worth it. We knocked on 117,716 doors. We made 108,226 calls. And we sent 147,323 texts. This is a victory for ALL of us who believe that a better future is possible. I can’t wait to make you all proud over the next two years. pic.twitter.com/FMDUNo2Jb8

— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) November 6, 2024

Tlaib and Omar are both members of the informal group of lawmakers known as “The Squad”, which is made up of progressive members of Congress including Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez, among others.

Other “Squad” members Jamaal Bowman of New York and Cori Bush of Missouri both lost their party primaries against opponents who had won substantial support from the pro-Israel fundraising group American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).

The group has invested more than $100m in US political races this year in a bid to silence pro-Palestine voices in Congress.

The New York Philharmonic is firing principal oboist Liang Wang and associate principal trumpet Matthew Muckey after their union decided not to contest the decision, which followed renewed allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse of power.

The orchestra said Monday that it issued a notice of non-reengagement to the two effective Sept. 21, 2025.

Wang and Muckey were fired in September 2018 after allegations of misconduct dating to 2010. Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians filed a grievance, and an arbitrator ordered the two reinstated in April 2020. Both men deny any wrongdoing.

New York Magazine this past April detailed allegations and the two were placed on paid leave. They then sued the orchestra and the union.

Philharmonic executive adviser Deborah Borda said Monday that 11 women made accusations against Wang and three against Muckey during the latest investigation.

“It found that both gentlemen had been involved in sexual abuse and rape as well as abuse of power,” Borda said. “This is all new information that came out, and I think the reason is that people were afraid to speak up before and they are not now.”

Borda said some of the allegations were made by students.

Steven J. Hyman, a lawyer for Muckey, said the trumpet player “has done nothing wrong.”

“The fact that they’ve attempted to do this is of course violative of his rights,” Hyman said. “What’s appalling is that the union has agreed to it, and the impact of that is that it renders meaningless this most precious right that orchestra members have of tenure, which ensures that you have a career at the philharmonic and can only be terminated for just cause.”

Alan S. Lewis, a lawyer for Wang, called the union’s decision “shameful.”

“Troublingly, the philharmonic has gone down the road of public character assassination instead of due process, throwing a lot of mud against the wall to see what sticks,” he wrote in an email to the Associated Press. Lewis described the most serious allegation against Wang involving a person unaffiliated with the orchestra and “with whom, more than a decade ago, Liang had a long-term consensual relationship.”

He called the other allegations against Wang false.

The philharmonic this spring hired Tracey Levy of Levy Employment Law to investigate and issued a letter of non-reengagement on Oct. 15 following Levy’s conclusions that the orchestra said were based on new accusations. Muckey said in his lawsuit the New York Magazine story contained “a reiteration of the same 2010 allegations.”

Under the orchestra’s labor contract, the philharmonic must give notice of a non-reengagement by the Feb. 15 prior to the season in question. The two had the right to contest the decision, which the orchestra said must be “appropriate” under the collective bargaining agreement instead of a “just cause” standard.

A nine-member dismissal review committee of the orchestra convened to review the decision. Management said Levy told a majority of orchestra members did not want Wang or Muckey to return, and the committee made a unanimous recommendation to Local 802’s executive board, Borda and the union said.

“Local 802’s decision is not to arbitrate the termination,” Local 802 president Sara Cutler wrote in an email to the orchestra members on Monday.

Cutler said the local’s written decision will be sent to orchestra members on Tuesday.

“I have heard complaints from some of you as to the lack of transparency of this process,” Cutler wrote. “While I understand the frustration, we believe that protecting the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of all involved outweighed the need for transparency in this instance.”

Borda said three-quarters of the orchestra members indicated they would refuse to appear onstage with the two musicians.

Muckey was hired by the orchestra in June 2006 and given tenure in January 2008. Wang was hired as principal oboe in September 2006.

“They are barred from the building,” Borda said. “They will never appear on the stage again with the philharmonic.”

Blum writes for the Associated Press.

The Contemporary scenario evidently signifies that theater of power contestation has shifted from land to maritime domain. The Indo-Pacific is considered the hub of containment, cooperation, conflict owing to its geo-strategic significance. The region has garnered renewed attention since China kicked off its mega Belt and Road Initiative, notably the Maritime Silk Road. Resultantly, states under the auspices of Quad have been incessantly collaborating to maintain balance of power in region.

Genesis of Quad

Quad or QSD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) refers to the informal strategic forum consisting of four states: USA, Japan, Australia, and India with a view regarding Indo-Pacific Region. In 2007, the group held its first meeting on the ASEAN (Association of the South East Asian Nations) sideline meetings. The Quad group is characterized by maritime democracies’ alliance which in turn is maintained by information exchanges, semi-regular summits, military drills as well as meetings between the Quad’s member states.

Quad Basic Principles

The basic principle of the Quad refers to the key aims and objectives of Quad which are as follows: 1) Keeping Indo-Pacific strategic sea routes open and free from political as well as military alliance; 2) Freedom of navigation; 3) Rule based global order in the Indo-Pacific Region; 4) Liberal trading system; 5) Provision of alternative debt financing to Indo-Pacific region’s states.

Balance of Power

Balance of power is one of the oldest and most fundamental concepts in international relations. It is a state of affair in which imbalances and concentrations in military and material capabilities among great powers are checked and equilibrium is restored in order to ensure survival of major powers in international system. The concept remains dominant in work of key realist scholars such as Thucydides, Nicholas Machiavelli, Lorenzo Medici, Hans J. Morgenthau, and Kenneth Waltz. The self-help anarchic system and shifts in relative distribution of capabilities mean that balance of power recurrently form in international system. In bipolar distribution of power (two great powers), states balance through internal military buildup. In multipolar distributions of power (three or more), states balance through formation of counterbalancing alliances. Two assumptions are of central relevance:  1) International system is considered to be anarchic, with no system-wide authority being formally enforced on its agents; 2) States are principle actors in international system, as they “set terms of the intercourse”, monopolize “legitimate use of force” within their territories, and generally conduct foreign policy in a “single voice”.

Balancing in Indo-Pacific Region

Nation-states are constantly engaging in balancing acts: striving to weigh between interests and values; guns and butter; economic gain and national security. In three important ways, China’s neighbors are engaging in balancing in line with what realist theory would predict. First, at a macro regional level, there is substantial evidence of accelerated internal and external balancing in the Indo-Pacific. Military spending has been growing faster in Asia than nearly any other region of the world and the continent now hosts nine out of the world’s top ten defense importers. Second, what began a decade ago as tentative steps toward greater defense collaboration among some Chinese neighbors has broken into an open sprint in recent years. There has been material growth in the quality and quantity of defense collaboration and joint military exercises, security-focused bilateral, trilateral and multilateral dialogues joint vision statements and military inter-operability agreements most prominently seen in the form of Quad and AUKUS. Third, traditional military balancing has been accelerating among the Quad. China’s deteriorating bilateral relationships with each member of group and growing concerns about its challenges to rules-based order helped spur the revival of the quadrilateral dialogue.

Leaders from the Quad, ASEAN and beyond have been more vocal in supporting the underlying tenets of regional order, including freedom of navigation, peaceful dispute settlement, support for international law and the UN Convention on Law of the Sea. Many Indo-Pacific states are increasingly devoting their energy not toward “containing” China but toward constraining its capacity to infringe on their interests and undermine what they consider as rule-based order. They’re seeking to craft, enhance and defend norms, laws, institutions, and principles that constrain China in region.

Quad and defense capabilities of the member states

Since 2007 when the Quad was created, it has emerged into multilateral strategic forum in order to increase the coordination in military domain amongst the Japan, US, Australia, and India in the Indo-Pacific region. Addressing the mutual concerns’ issue is at the core of the Quad, notably the rise of the China. In 2021, a joint statement was signed by the leaders of Quad in which they emphasized Indo-Pacific rule based order and this reference is particularly to territorial claims of China in East and South China Seas. Members of Quad have dispute PRC such as sovereignty claim of China and Japan over Senkaku Islands, China and India border dispute with China and worsening ties of Australia with China such as onerous tariffs and trade restrictions. Currently the group is termed as Quad 2.0 which refers to the group revised version since 2017, given the culmination of the strategic threats from military and economic power of China across the region.

The table given below shows the various aspects of security collaboration among Quad member states.

Non-military cooperation under Quad

The partner countries have launched the Quad Infrastructure Coordination Group in order to share assessments of needs with respect to the regional infrastructure as well as coordination regarding provision of the high-tech and transparent infrastructure in Indo-Pacific region. It is considered as Quad states’ response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative project.

2. “ Spirit of the Quad and formation of Working groups

In 2021 Virtual Quad meeting, leaders of four member states created a working group for three key non-military areas. The key aim of these working groups are

1. Vaccine Expert Group: effective and safe distribution of vaccine
2. Climate Working Group: To strengthen various climate related actions at global level such as adaptation, mitigation, technology building capacity and resilience.
3. Emerging Technology Working Group: Cooperation on innovative technologies, supply chain resilience as well as international working standards.

Analysis

With the changing strategic milieu of Asia-Pacific, like-minded states are forging staunch partnerships under Quad to balance the rise of China in region. The group’s cooperation is likely to enhance however prospects of its consolidation into NATO like formal alliance remains bleak. It is expected to become preeminent security framework whereby member states will benefit from economic, diplomatic, and most importantly military coordination. Despite ever-increasing frequency and intensity of security cooperation among Quad states, it is also expected that number of Quad states will increase in future which is also termed as ‘Quad Plus’ implying the addition of states likes UK and France. With China on one hand and Quad states on the other, the pursuit for increasing prowess will continue to remain making region a hub of geopolitical contestation.

THE youngest – but tallest – son of Donald Trump has been spotted hunched over a voting booth casting his vote for his dad.

Melania Trump shared the full-circle moment Barron Trump, 18, filled out his ballot while dressing extra sharp on Tuesday.

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The tall teen was pictured leaning over the voting booth donning a dark suit and shiny shoes.

“Voted for the first time – for his dad!” Melania captioned the picture, which she posted to X on Tuesday night.

She added hashtags saying “18 years old,” “presidential election,” and “proud.”

Barron, a freshman at New York University, is Trump’s youngest son.

It’s unclear whether he voted in New York City or Florida.

Trump supporters shared their reactions to the family moment in the comments of Melania’s post.

“Priceless. Thank you for sharing Barron voting for his father,” one fan wrote.

“Way to go Barron!!! My 18 year old daughter voted for the 1st time, too!!! In Ohio…for Trump!!! She was so excited!!!” another shared.

“That suit. The lines. Flawless. What a sharp young man!” a third added.

At a rally last week in North Carolina, Trump shared some words of wisdom from Barron as he entered the final days on the campaign trail in the fight against Kamala Harris.

“I have a guy who’s home with the first lady. He’s very smart,” Trump said about Barron.

“He’s 18 years old. And he gives me good advice,” the former president continued.

Trump said the college student told his dad, “Take it easy now.”

“‘You just take it easy, Dad, alright? You don’t have to go too much here,'” Trump recalled.

The life of Barron Trump

Barron Trump is the youngest son of former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melania Trump.

The U.S. Sun takes a look back at Barron Trump’s life.

Barron was born on March 20, 2006, to parents Melania and Donald Trump.

Barron was seen with his dad when the real estate tycoon was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

During his childhood, Barron was also pictured with his parents at the US Open Tennis championships.

Barron went viral when he sleepily struggled to keep his eyes open as Trump gave a victory speech following the 2016 presidential election.

Barron attended school in New York before continuing his studies in Maryland in May 2017.

He would often be pictured in and around the White House grounds during his father’s presidency.

In January 2021, Donald Trump departed Washington DC, after losing the 2020 presidential election. The family relocated to Florida.

Barron continued his studies at the Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Barron turned 18 on March 20, 2024.

He graduated from the Oxbridge Academy on May 17, 2024.

On September 4, 2024, Barron started college and was pictured at New York University in Manhattan.

Throughout Donald Trump’s campaign, Barron was frequently reported to be a driving force behind Trump’s appearances on podcasts and YouTube channels aimed at young men.

He is listed as the DeFi visionary (short for decentralized finance) for Donald Trump’s new cryptocurrency venture, World Liberty Financial.

He added that the college student is “very wise.”

Barron is studying at NYU’s Stern School of Business, where his peers told The U.S. Sun in September that he’s just like any other college student.

“The Secret Service – they give him a little bit of a space and breathing room,” NYU student Rohan said at the time.

“Obviously he’s very known. Not even just from his status. Also just physically, you can tell [who he is] he’s clearly really tall,” Aaruush added.

Barron is 6 foot 9 inches tall.

He’s the only son of Donald and Melania.

Melania was seen accompanying Donald to the polls on Tuesday morning.

The former first couple cast their votes at a polling location in Palm Beach, Florida, near Trump’s private beach club and residence in Mar-a-Lago.

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As the war enters its 985th day, these are the main developments.

Here is the situation on Wednesday, November 6:

Fighting

• A Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s southeastern city of Zaporizhzhia has killed six people, injured at least 20 more, and destroyed a critical infrastructure facility, Ukrainian officials have said.
• A Ukrainian army drone has attacked an apartment block in the Russian city of Belgorod, injuring one civilian and setting three apartments on fire.
• Ukraine’s military said it shot down 48 out of 79 drones and two missiles launched by Russia overnight.
• Russia’s Ministry of Defence has said that while it believes Ukraine is incapable of producing nuclear weapons, it is able to make a “dirty bomb” – a conventional weapon combining explosives with radioactive material.

North Korean troops in Ukraine

• South Korea’s Defence Ministry has reiterated its belief that more than 10,000 North Korean troops are in Russia, with a “significant number” in the frontline areas, including Russia’s Kursk region.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said the first battles between Ukrainian and North Korean troops “open a new page in instability in the world” after the country’s Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said a “small engagement” had taken place.
• Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) democracies – the United States, Japan, Italy, Britain, Germany, France and Canada – and three allies – South Korea, Australia and New Zealand – have called the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia a “dangerous expansion of the conflict”.

International affairs

• Russia would use all possible means to defend itself in response to NATO aggression, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said, adding that “nobody will be safe”.
• Parcels that exploded at logistics depots in several European countries were a test run for a Russian plot to trigger explosions on cargo flights to the United States, according to a Lithuanian presidential adviser. Western governments and intelligence agencies have previously said Moscow is behind a series of acts of sabotage aimed at destabilising Ukraine’s allies.
• Polish prosecutors have indicted two men – a Belarusian citizen and a Polish citizen – on accusations of cooperating with Belarusian intelligence services in espionage operations in the country. If convicted, they face up to 10 years in prison.
• Poland plans to invest three billion zlotys ($744m) to boost ammunition production, according to a new bill, as it aims to ensure it has sufficient supplies in the event of a Russian attack.
• The European Union’s likely new energy commissioner, Dan Jorgensen, told a parliamentary hearing that he wants to “speed up” the end of the bloc’s dependence on Russian fossil fuels.

Russian affairs

• An engineer at a factory making tanks for Russia’s war in Ukraine has been jailed for 16 years after being convicted of passing military secrets to Kyiv, weeks after his wife received a similar sentence.
• A Moscow court has fined US tech giant Apple 3.6 million roubles ($36,889) for refusing to remove two podcasts containing “information aimed at destabilising the political situation in Russia”.

LeBron James’ production company, the SpringHill Co., is in talks to merge with Fulwell 73, the London-based studio behind “The Kardashians,” according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly.

Financial details of the potential agreement were not immediately available.

The companies have been in negotiations for months, but the merger is not a done deal, according to Bloomberg, which was first to report the news. Both companies are looking to expand their live and unscripted programming slates and amplify their reach across Europe and the U.S.

Founded in 2020 by the Lakers superstar and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter, the Los Angeles-based SpringHill Co. has three arms of its business.

SpringHill Entertainment produces scripted and unscripted film and television projects and is known for “Space Jam: A New Legacy” starring James, NBC’s “The Wall” game show and the recently released Netflix film “Rez Ball” about a Native American basketball team.

The company, which boasts roughly 200 employees, has dipped into the consumer product and media brand space with Uninterrupted for athletes, and also provides consulting services through the Robot Co. agency.

SpringHill Co. in 2021 secured a private equity-led investment to fuel its growth in film, TV, video games, consumer products and live events. The deal, led by New York-based RedBird Capital Partners, valued SpringHill at $725 million.

At the time, there was a spree of investment in celebrity-backed production companies, which gave lofty valuations to firms such as Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. The market for such deals began to cool as the demand for content amid the streaming wars contracted.

Fulwell 73 was founded by producers Ben Winston, Leo Pearlman, Ben Turner and Gabe Turner, adding former “Late Late Show” host James Corden as a partner in 2017. The company is known for producing unscripted TV series and specials, including Hulu’s “The Kardashians,” “Carpool Karaoke,” “Adele: One Night Only” and the Grammy Awards.

A SpringHill-Fulwell deal would mark the latest in a wave of corporate mergers that have shaken up Hollywood in recent years. The news comes several months after Paramount Global merged with David Ellison’s Skydance, combining the forces of legacy brands such as Paramount Pictures, CBS, MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon with popular film franchises such as “Star Trek” and “Mission: Impossible.”

Times staffer Valerie Hood contributed to this report.

Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz urges supporters to ‘get out and get this vote done’ as he boarded a plane to Washington DC, after a final campaign stop in Pennsylvania. He added that ‘the choice couldn’t be starker’ between candidates in the 2024 US election.

Democracy and the economy were the most important issues for voters in the US elections this year, early results from exit polls suggest.

More than a third of people identified democracy as their top concern, out of the five options given.

The economy was the next choice, followed by abortion, immigration and foreign policy. This early data could change as it is updated with new information over the course of the night.

The economy has previously ranked top of the list of issues motivating voters in every presidential election since 2008. It remains within the margin of error for being a top issue.

Nearly three quarters of those asked said they felt democracy was “very” or “somewhat” threatened.

And about seven in 10 voters in this current data were worried about violence related to the results of the election.

The BBC’s US broadcast partner CBS says this is the first time in its history – going back to the 1970s – that the exit poll has asked voters about the prospect of violence as it relates specifically to a US presidential election.

Seven in 10 voters were confident that the election was being conducted fairly and accurately but this is split on voting lines with Harris supporters much more confident, while Trump supporters were equally divided.

OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died last year but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.

Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today. 

♈ ARIES

March 21 to April 20

There’s extra cash on the fringes of your chart, from a surprise rise to a sky-rocketing side business.

This can unleash the brilliant work brain you have been holding in check.

If you’re in a love bond, Venus encourages adventure, as long as it is equally shared.

Single? An Australia link and “J” name are top clues.

Get all the latest Aries horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

2

♉ TAURUS

April 21 to May 21

Venus boosts subtle attraction signals and intimate glances, and you are ready to fall head over heels for an “H” personality you can’t ignore.

If you’re already coupled up, some uncomplicated fun together, maybe linked to a shared game, could reboot romance.

Luck waits for a red light in a green space.

♊ GEMINI

The moon and sun help you adopt the kind of can-do attitude that takes you towards the top of an exclusive career, sport or personality list.

And Jupiter further reinforces your self-belief.

Accepting you have a lot to learn in a cash situation can ease pressure.

But don’t be shy to ask for advice. Luck shouts “25”.

♋ CANCER

June 22 to July 22

The moon could challenge you to balance your opinions with keeping the peace at home or work, so you may find your capable mask slipping.

This can be positive, as people who may take you for granted realise you can only be pushed so far.

“C” names, and colours that remind you of holidays, can mix in lucky ways.

Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♌ LEO

July 23 to August 23

You may dedicate lots of time and energy to fitness changes, yet something holds you back.

Now you realise it is coming from inside, and today’s Saturn and sun combination can help you break this habit.

In love, Venus transforms the world into a playground for two.

Single? A TV question can turn love on.

Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♍ VIRGO

August 24 to September 22

Strong Jupiter chart input helps you learn on the job, and adapt and grow in every direction.

So even if you may not feel 100 per cent ready for a new opportunity, do take a step towards it.

Passion is stronger with time limits, so leave a partner or date wanting more.

Joining in with a familiar song can signal luck is close.

Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♎ LIBRA

September 23 to October 23

You can set an example by not judging or criticising any ideas or actions, but simply choosing to accept that not everyone can agree on everything.

This can bring peace back to a troubled part of your mind or heart.

If you are, or want to be, in love, wear your heart on your sleeve, and say no to passion power games.

Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♏ SCORPIO

October 24 to November 22

Talking is your star skill right now, but this can make it too easy to transmit a message that isn’t completely true to your heart.

Make today one to consider carefully, and only share what you genuinely believe in.

A battle of words may be a cover-up for deep attraction, so look closer.

Luck waits in a room with a starry ceiling.

Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♐ SAGITTARIUS

November 23 to December 21

Facts are good but, today, feelings matter as much.

If instincts tell you it’s time to make a change, try to listen.

This may mean circling back to a past date, or decision, you sense could create a great future – or reviewing a commitment contract.

Venus is with you to make choices that match your true needs.

Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♑ CAPRICORN

December 22 to January 20

A personal moon intensifies your intuition all day, so any sense you can read what people are thinking, or are about to say, can be so accurate.

If you would usually take no notice, make a change and listen to your inner self.

Reach out again to someone a generation away for a chance to reconcile.

Luck rings at 8.

Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

2

♒ AQUARIUS

January 21 to February 18

A secret-keeping moon can mean you hide feelings away when you should be sharing them.

Yes, it’s risky to be vulnerable, but it’s also important.

At least one key relationship can’t move forward without this.

Mars could shake up longtime teams, so choose people you work or play with carefully. Wear lilac for luck.

Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

♓ PISCES

February 19 to March 20

The right group for you to join, or set up, may not be obvious in the morning, but by tonight you will have a shortlist in mind.

Your chart shows you are ready to share creative ambitions and credits.

You are a great listener in love terms, but it’s important to speak, too.

New romance asks you to repeat your name.

Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions

Authors: Nani Septianie and Fazli Elahi*

Addressing the environmental crisis requires a commitment to social justice. This means that a country must ensure all parts of society have access to environmentally friendly energy solutions, particularly in areas like transportation. By making sustainable transportation options available and affordable for everyone, a country can help build a more inclusive. Because in order to overcome the problem of climate change, a country is very important to try to encourage reducing the use of transportation due to the high levels of carbon dioxide produced from the use of non-renewable energy. One country that is dependent on the use of private vehicles that can contribute to the increasing level of environmental crisis is Indonesia. Indonesia is a country that still has a very high level of motorbike use, reaching up to 68.3%, while public transportation users are only 18.45%, Which has resulted in congestion and accidents often occurring. And this dependence on private vehicles is caused by the limitations of the community in reaching public transportation services provided by each region in Indonesia. The current condition in Indonesia is that as many as 515 cities/regencies still have limitations in accessing public transportation, where this level of limitation is inversely proportional to the increase in the use of private vehicles which continues to increase by 18-13%. With this condition, it not only results in very high levels of pollution, but also results in various regions in Indonesia experiencing very high levels of congestion.

Assessing the Effectiveness of Implementing Electric Vehicles in Indonesia as an Upper-Middle Income Country

Indonesia is a country that is in the fourth position that is included in the category of countries with the largest population in the world and a country that is ranked 73rd as the poorest country in the world. The indicator in measuring the level of poverty is carried out referring to the gross national income per capita. The existence of this condition shows that the Indonesian people do not yet have adequate ability to be able to access electric vehicles due to various factors, both in terms of expensive prices, limitations in charging batteries, and the transition of society in using conventional vehicles to EVs. Consequently, while the promotion of electric vehicles may present advantages for manufacturing nations, it could perpetuate inequality in developing countries like Indonesia, where social justice remains elusive. This is primarily due to various barriers that limit access to electric vehicles, a situation exacerbated by Indonesia’s classification as an upper-middle-income country.

Compared to leading adopters of electric vehicles, such as China and European nations like Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, these countries’ substantial economic resources enable them to access and manufacture electric vehicles at scale. Which four countries that use electric vehicles are countries that are included in the high income category. Therefore, in overcoming climate change, it is important to be able to realize who benefits more, do not let EV production countries benefit more and cause upper-middle countries to continue to experience inequality due to the inability to access electric vehicles.

Improving Public Transportation in Indonesia in Achieving Equal Access to Energy System

Enhancing public transportation in Indonesia, as a middle-upper income country, represents an effective strategy for achieving equitable access to energy systems. It also serves as a means to mitigate the environmental crises and road congestion exacerbated by private transportation. By facilitating the movement of a larger number of passengers per trip, public transportation significantly reduces energy consumption per capita. Thus, the overall emissions generated per passenger are lower and this becomes a significant figure when the number of passengers is large. As a result, although the EV emission factor may be low, the emissions per passenger are still higher compared to long-distance travel if used alone. Buses or trains that are charged with electricity from renewable energy such as solar or wind power are more environmentally friendly than those charged with electricity generated from fossil fuels. This makes public transportation an important instrument in the hands of cities that want to reduce their carbon footprint and energy consumption.

In addition, public transportation also helps to alleviate traffic congestion, which can be very damaging to the environment and waste energy in large cities. Outperforming gasoline-powered vehicles in terms of pollution, EVs present most if not all of the problems associated with congestion, in addition to the significant infrastructure investment required for charging stations including land, energy, and significant resources for construction and maintenance. Chinese cities such as Shenzhen and Beijing serve as exemplary models in this regard. These cities have initiated the conversion of their entire public transportation systems to electric frameworks powered by renewable resources. Notably, Shenzhen boasts an extensive electrified bus system comprising approximately 16,457 electric buses. Which operate from charging stations that are powered by renewable resources, for example, solar energy and wind energy.

As China’s leading partner, Indonesia holds significant bargaining power to pursue further cooperation with China in developing public transportation. Additionally, Indonesia’s status as the fourth most populous country contributes to severe traffic congestion, which not only increases pollution but also leads to frequent accidents. Reducing dependence on private vehicles is critical for alleviating these challenges, making it essential to prioritize public transportation as a sustainable solution. Indonesia should enhance its cooperation with China, the world’s leading producer of electric vehicles and its foremost trading partner, to establish a well-distributed public transportation system throughout the country. This collaboration would bolster Indonesia’s efforts to address environmental crises by ensuring equitable access to eco-friendly transportation, promoting social justice, and decreasing reliance on private vehicles.

*Fazli Elahi, Civil Engineering Master’s Student at Universitas Islam Indonesia