Taiwan has already held initial discussions with the United States about the weapons it plans to acquire under a US$40 billion (S$51 billion) supplementary defence budget, Defence Minister Wellington Koo said on Thursday (Nov 27). The new budget, announced by President Lai Ching-te the previous day and covering 2026 to 2033, is intended to reinforce Taiwan’s commitment to defending itself against mounting pressure from China. Beijing, which regards Taiwan as part of its territory, has stepped up military and political measures over the past five years, which Taipei firmly opposes.

Speaking in Taipei, Koo said that arms purchases from the United States will form a major part of the plan. Taiwan has received details from the US Department of Defence, including quantities, pricing, and timelines, indicating American willingness to supply the weapons. However, no specifics can be released until a formal notification is made to the US Congress.

The budget still requires approval from Taiwan’s parliament, which is dominated by the opposition. The Kuomintang criticized the announcement, arguing that President Lai did not consult parliament beforehand and cautioning against heavy reliance on borrowing. Premier Cho Jung-tai urged legislative support, citing the threat from China, while Koo noted that the plan would also create 90,000 jobs and contribute T$400 billion (S$16 billion) to Taiwan’s economy.

The US remains Taiwan’s most significant arms supplier despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties. In response to calls from Washington to increase defence spending, Lai has proposed raising it to five percent of GDP by 2030. Since President Donald Trump took office, only one arms sale to Taiwan has been approved: a US$330 million package for fighter jets and related parts announced this month. US officials have indicated plans to expand arms sales further to deter China. China has condemned Taiwan’s defence spending, while Lai maintains that only the Taiwanese people can decide their future. Beijing has rejected repeated offers of talks, branding Lai a “separatist.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

Authorities in Thailand will deploy helicopters on Wednesday (Nov 26) to evacuate critically ill patients from a major hospital in the flood-hit south, where some of the worst flooding in years has raised the death toll to 33, with more rain on the way. Flooding has swept through nine provinces in Thailand and eight states in neighbouring Malaysia for the second year in a row, forcing both countries to move nearly 45,000 people to safer areas. In Indonesia, floods and landslides this week left an estimated eight to 13 people dead, while Malaysia reported one fatality.

In Hat Yai, the worst-hit Thai city, officials said helicopters will deliver food and evacuate patients after floodwaters swamped the first floor of the main government hospital, which cares for 600 people, including about 50 in intensive care. “All ICU patients will be transferred out of Hat Yai Hospital today,” said Somrerk Chungsaman from the public health ministry. Around 20 helicopters and 200 boats brought in for rescue operations have struggled to reach stranded residents, government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat said. Boats are expected to bring in supplies once water levels fall, with roughly 2,000 people — including patients, relatives and staff — currently in the hospital, Somrerk added.

Hat Yai recorded 335mm of rainfall in a single day last week, the highest in 300 years. Military helicopters are also delivering generators, the navy said, posting images of equipment being moved onto a rooftop under dark clouds. Flooding across the nine affected Thai provinces, including Songkhla where Hat Yai lies, has impacted more than 980,000 homes and 2.7 million people, according to the interior ministry. Weather forecasts warn of more thundershowers and heavy rain across the south on Wednesday.

The Thai military, which took over relief efforts on Tuesday, has been sending aircraft, trucks, flat-bottomed boats, rubber dinghies, medical supplies, and personnel to Hat Yai. Thailand’s only aircraft carrier, the Chakri Naruebet, left port on Tuesday to support air operations, medical aid, and food distribution, the navy said. Photos shared by the army showed rescue teams pulling families — including children and the elderly — from homes engulfed by swirling floodwaters. Many trapped residents turned to social media to call for help. “Please help. I’m very worried about my mother,” one person wrote, saying she had been unable to contact her 53-year-old parent in Hat Yai since Saturday, when supplies had dwindled to one bottle of water and two packs of instant noodles.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned on Monday (Nov 24) that tensions between North and South Korea are “very dangerous,” with the risk of an accidental clash looming, and stressed the importance of dialogue with Pyongyang, Yonhap News reported. Lee noted that North Korea has ignored Seoul’s attempts at communication and is installing barbed wire along the military border—a move not seen since the 1950–53 Korean War. “Inter-Korean relations have become highly hostile and confrontational, and with no basic trust, the North is acting in extreme ways,” he said, according to Yonhap.

Speaking to reporters during a flight from South Africa, where he attended the G20 summit, to Turkey, Lee highlighted that South Korea had proposed military talks on November 17 to establish a clear boundary along the Military Demarcation Line to prevent armed clashes that could escalate into a larger conflict. North Korea has yet to respond.

This year, North Korean soldiers have crossed the border more than 10 times, sometimes prompting South Korean forces to fire warning shots. Lee emphasized that achieving lasting peace with North Korea will be a long-term process. Once a stable peace regime is in place, he suggested it might be preferable for South Korea and the US to halt joint military exercises, which Pyongyang has condemned as rehearsals for nuclear war. Currently, about 28,500 US troops and associated weapons systems are stationed in South Korea.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) held coordinated protests across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Karachi against the 27th Constitutional Amendment and the alleged mistreatment of PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters near Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, according to Dawn. In Karachi, police detained around six people to prevent them from reaching the protest site.

Rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were organized under PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar after TTAP announced its march. District-level demonstrations featured PTI workers holding Imran Khan’s portraits and chanting slogans. In Peshawar, a protest at the Press Club was addressed by Local Government Minister Meena Khan Afridi, MNA Sher Ali Arbab, and PTI district president Irfan Saleem. Afridi said Imran Khan had offered TTAP two options: negotiations with authorities or peaceful nationwide protests, criticizing the 27th Amendment as “un-Islamic, unethical, and unconstitutional.”

Saleem emphasized PTI’s campaign for constitutional supremacy, rule of law, and human rights, while condemning security agencies for detaining PTM workers. Protests were also held in KP districts, including Swabi, Mohmand, and Battagram, with participants accusing the federal government of siding with the establishment and undermining the judiciary. Demonstrators demanded the withdrawal of the 27th Amendment, alleging it was aimed at blocking PTI from elections and consolidating government power. In Punjab, PTI Chief Organiser Aliya Hamza called on party members to join the protests wearing black bands and carrying placards. By evening, demonstrations were scattered but remained peaceful, according to Hamza, who posted updates on X.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

A recent study reveals that maintaining a sense of control is crucial for ageing well. Seniors who retain independence and the ability to make their own decisions tend to be healthier and happier. Post-retirement, men often face more challenges, whereas women’s social networks help them stay resilient. The research underscores the significance of purpose, social connections, and dignity in later life. Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo discuss the study with A/P Justina Tan, Vice President of Strategic Partnership and Engagement at SUSS.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

On November 11, Thailand’s government announced it would suspend the implementation of an enhanced ceasefire agreement with Cambodia, which had been signed in October in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The government also stated it would brief Washington on its decision. The move comes after a landmine explosion the previous day injured four Thai soldiers. Andrea Heng and Hairianto discuss the potential impact of this suspension on the ongoing conflict with Dr. Panitan Wattanayagorn, an independent expert on international relations and security affairs and former chairman of the Prime Minister's Security Advisory Committee.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Utt, one of MTV Asia’s most beloved VJs during the 1990s and 2000s, hosted Mediacorp’s cult-classic horror docuseries Incredible Tales for eight seasons between 2004 and 2017. Now 51, he has returned to Singapore to join the video podcast series Tales From Incredible Tales, currently in its third season. The vodcast revisits some of the most iconic episodes from the original show. Hairianto Diman speaks with Utt Panichkul about his experience as host and how the show’s success has influenced his career.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Sanae Takaichi has become Japan's first female prime minister, yet she immediately faces significant challenges. Taking office amid a slow-growing economy and rising living costs, she must address public frustration over inflation and the burden of daily expenses. Genevieve Woo talks with CNA’s Michiyo Ishida to explore the implications of Takaichi’s victory for Japan’s future, as she manages both domestic pressures and complex international relations.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.