From Mamdani’s Rise to Trump’s March
Upcoming, Remote, and Free to Join NGO Events
6 November 2025 @ 10:00-11.30 a.m. (GMT+7), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
Thailand and Its Middle Power Aspiration
Online events look at “the ever-changing status of a regional power in Thai-American-Chinese relations.” Once “an initiator in its region,” Thailand “struggles between its ambition as a middle power and its apprehensions as a small power.” The seminar will discuss how instability in Thai society and politics, a lack of progress in its bureaucracy, and strategic uncertainty lead to this situation and whether it is possible “for Thai society to maintain its middle power status”. “Rise of Nationalism and Divided Politics in Pok HK’s Travails” will also take place online. This seminar will examine “this ambiguous status of Pok HK as a middle power and its challenges in coping with the rapidly evolving Indo-Pacific politics in terms of its relations with its Northeast Asian. For more information and registration, visit [ISEAS].
6 November 2025 @ 10:00-11:15 a.m. (GMT-5), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
The Rise of the Radical Right and the Future of World Order
This event examines the current global phenomenon of radical right ideology as a challenge to liberal globalisation. The event will examine to what extent right-wing extremists have cooperated across borders in spreading a nationalist, cultural traditionalist, and anti-globalisation agenda as a transnationally organised ideology. This event will include speakers such as Rita Abrahamsen, Michael C. Williams, and Rosa Balfour as it will examine radical right politics, leading figures of such politics, and its influence in a Trump politics era. For more information and registration, please see [Carnegie].
6 November 2025 @ 12:30-2:00 p.m. (GMT-5), Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, USA
The World at a Crossroads: Implications of Evolving Nuclear Security
This session will analyse ways in which emerging nuclear weapons trends, alliances, and strategies are remapping the security landscape globally. In a situation where the US, Russia, and China are increasing and improving their nuclear stockpiles in reaction to escalating conflict in Ukraine and the Middle East, a new normal is emerging that undermines current models of deterrence. This session will also examine emerging trends in nuclear politics in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. For more information and registration, please see [Carnegie].
7 November October 2025 @ 9:00 a.m. (GMT-5), Atlantic Council, USA
What’s next for US-Central Asia relations after the C5+1 Summit
This event will examine the implications of C5+1 Presidential Summit and Future of US-Central Asia Relations. In light of Central Asia’s geographical positioning between Russia, China, and Iran, this forum will examine renewed engagement in Central Asia by the Trump administration in regards to critical minerals, investment, and market connectivity. This event will also highlight a renewed commitment in terms of economic ambitions of Central Asia and a new vision of US engagement in Central Asia. For more information and registration, please see [Atlantic Council].
7 November 2025 @ 10:00-11.30 a.m. (GMT+7), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
Challenges and Opportunities Facing Asia Pacific Economies
This particular webinar will discuss the results of the 2025 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week that took place in Gyeongju and was based on its theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow.” This will also look at how APEC’s “Connect, Innovate, Prosper” agenda is dealt with in a forum that is being carried out at a time when economic uncertainty is a reality around the world. This analysis will be based on trends that have been identified through APEC Regional Trends Analysis (ARTA) research. For more information and registration, visit [ISEAS].
10 November 2025 @ 9:00-10:30 a.m. (GMT-5), Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), USA
The State of Taiwan: What's Next after the Trump-Xi meeting?
This event examines the shifting balance of inter-Taiwan Strait relations in the wake of Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping at APEC. This discussion brings together top experts in the US, Taiwan, and Japan to understand how Trump’s meeting with Xi has impacted US-Taiwan relations and perceptions of security in the region as a whole. Topics that will be covered include possible changes to China’s Taiwan policy, as well as responses in countries such as Japan that have an important strategic relationship with Taiwan. For more information and registration, please see [CSIS].
10 November 2025 @ 10:00-11.30 a.m. (GMT+7), ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore
Indonesia’s Trade Dynamics with China: Impacts, Challenges, and Policy Responses
This webinar examines economic trends in Indonesia in the wake of China’s emergence, specifically with respect to changes that have occurred after the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area agreement. It examines ways in which China’s current status as a hegemonic partner in terms of trade in Indonesia has increased exports based on natural resources while placing a squeeze on those sectors that compete through imports. It also examines ways in which current events related to trade wars involving tariffs set by the US have affected all of this. For more information and registration, visit [ISEAS].
Recent and Upcoming Book Releases
Branko Milanovic, The Great Global Transformation: National Market Liberalism in a Multipolar World, Allen Lane, 288 pages, to be released November 6, 2025. For a review, see [LSE].
Dan Edelstein, The Revolution to Come: A History of an Idea from Thucydides to Lenin, Princeton University Press, 432 pages, published April 15, 2025. For a review, see [LSE].
Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man, Sarah Leah Whitson, From Apartheid to Democracy: A Blueprint for Peace in Israel-Palestine, published September 30, 2025. For a review, see [The Guardian].
Zadie Smith, Dead and Alive: Essays, Random House, 448 pages, published November 4, 2025. For a review, see [The New York Times].
Stephen C. Mercado, Japanese Spy Gear & Special Weapons: How Noborito's Scientists and Technicians Served in the Second World War and the Cold War, Pen and Sword Military, 208 pages, published October 30, 2025. For a review, see [Japan Forward].
🌍 Top Stories of the Week 30/10 - 5/11
30 October
💰 NVIDIA becomes first company to reach $5 trillion market cap. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇨🇳 Trump and Xi meet face-to-face in Busan, South Korea. [Source]
Leaders followed through on the plan to reduce tariffs in exchange for the resume of US soybean purchases.
31 October
🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Israel receives remains of two deceased hostages held in Gaza. [Source]
1 November
🇻🇪 🇷🇺 Venezuela has asked Russia for urgent military support as US plans something dangerous. [Source]
Maduro has also sought military aid from China and Iran as the US are gearing up upon Venezuelan shores.
🇪🇬 The Grand Egyptian Museum is finally opening to the public beside the Pyramids of Giza, near Cairo. [Source]
Among more than 100,000 artefacts is the complete collection of Pharaoh Tutankhamun, including his famous golden funerary mask.
Dr Karin Sowada is the director of the Australian Centre for Egyptology at Macquarie University, and says the project has been 20 years in the making.
2 November
🇦🇲 🇮🇳 Armenia finalises a $2.5–3 billion deal securing Su-30MKI fighter jets from India. [Source]
🇺🇳 🇹🇿 The UN voices alarm over post-election outbreak in Tanzania. Reports from BBC states that over 700 people were killed in the clash of violence as President Samia Suluhu Hassan won more than 97% of the vote. Riots broke out as election was deemed “unfair” as the populous “accuse the government of undermining democracy by suppressing the main opposition leaders - one is in jail and another was excluded on technical grounds”. [Source 1] [Source 2]
Lockdowns, curfews and a chokepoint on internet is currently in place. [Source 3]
3 November
🇺🇸 🇳🇬 Trump threatens to deploy troops in Nigeria, carrying out mass airstrikes to halt the alleged “christian genocide”. [Source]
Nigeria denied these claims of mass killings of Christians.
🇨🇳 🇮🇳 🇷🇺 Chinese and Indian refiners, both state-run and private, are cutting back on Russian oil purchases after new US and allied sanctions. [Source]
🇯🇲 Hurricane Melissa destroys 90% of homes and kill at least 32 people in the Black River, Jamaica. [Source]
4 November
🇺🇸 🇲🇽 Trump administration is plotting to advance into Mexico against “drug cartels”. [Source]
Venezuela, Nigeria, now Mexico. US is going to be very busy with this possible conflicts.
🇰🇷 South Korea expects to launch its first nuclear-powered submarine in the next 15 years with the nod of approval from the US. [Source]
🇯🇵 “Japan may be compelled to do the same. New Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's government has shown openness toward the idea”. [Source]
🏴 🇬🇧 Scotland urge for the welcome of migrants due to increased labour shortage and the latest anti-immigration policies in Britain. [Source]
🇧🇷 Brazil to host the 30th U.N. Climate Change Conference yet start oil drilling near the mouth of the Amazon River for the first time. [Source]
🇨🇦 Straying from the US, Canada’s new budget suggest a greater incline towards the Asian economy, due to Trump’s tariffs and threats which has slowed economic growth. [Source]
5 November
🇪🇺 EU leaders to skip summit in Colombia after Trump sanctions. [Source]
🇺🇸 UPS cargo plane crash in Louisville, Kentucky caught several buildings in the collapse. [Source]
🇺🇸 🇲🇽 🇻🇪 🇳🇬 Trump administration lash out after being kept in the dark by the Pentagon (head military to the US). The Pentagon is skeptical of Trump’s further ambitions regarding Venezuela. [Source]
The pentagon stated it: “struggles to understand the priorities of the administration”, which in recent months has elevated with Trump’s nuclear testing, threatening of Venezuela and cocaine trafficking in Mexico.
🇯🇵 🐻 Japan sends troops to Kazuno, Akita with the rise of bear attacks. 2 hours drive from Akita International University. [Source]
🇪🇺The EU close a last minute climate change target before the COP30 climate summit set in Brazil for 6th November. [Source]
This entails cutting carbon emissions by 90% by 2040, with additional maneuvers to weaken this claim down the line.
🇨🇳 China sell the “AI dream“ of an all-seeing state to police, capable of speech recognition, understanding a person’s habits, connections and even state of mind. [Source]
Based on that person’s previous medical history, online shopping habits, interactions with neighbours and use of smart home appliances.
🇺🇸 Zohran Mamdani, the first ever Muslim, is set to become the mayor of New York. Highlighted as a “democratic socialist” but a “communist” by Trump supporters. [Source]
