Good afternoon. This year's Nobel Prize announcements were a historic moment for Asia, with three notable wins: South Korean writer Han Kang for literature, a group of Japanese atomic bomb survivors for peace, and a Turkish-born academic for economics. The results were met with wide comment and a range of reactions, some of which were surprising.
I read an interesting article about Han's landmark victory that highlighted the important role a translator plays in bringing the depth and nuance of an author's work to a global audience. It took nearly eight years for the English version of The Vegetarian to be published after the original, underscoring the importance of English as a lingua franca for international recognition.
As for the Peace Prize, some reports indicate that this year's Nobel Committee is moving away from more controversial choices such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and the International Court of Justice. is predicted to be a strong competitor. While this may be true, as the saying goes, all's well that ends well.
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My suggested readings
1. This weekend is an important one for Indonesia, the world's third-largest democracy, as President-elect Prabowo Subianto will be sworn in on Sunday after a landslide victory in elections earlier this year. It will be closely watched to what extent Prabowo, who serves as defense minister under President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, will carry on the legacy of his predecessor. A lot of attention will also be paid to his cabinet picks for the new government, particularly whether he will retain the position of finance minister, who has fallen out with Prabowo in the past.
2. Many of Thailand's political parties are dominated by wealthy families, but the rise of Paetongtarn Shinawatra to the prime ministership has highlighted the country's tense relationship between money and power. His family's wealth, created by his father and former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, has been both the vehicle for political success and the source of his suffering.
3. Back in 2014, the then Premier of China, Li Keqiang, put forward the slogan of “mass entrepreneurship and innovation by all”. A decade later, Lee's perception of a vibrant startup culture has faded. Economic headwinds, geopolitical tensions and shifting government priorities have cooled China's entrepreneurial fever. Venture capital has fallen, and instead of breeding the next unicorn, central and local governments are focusing on manufacturing and job creation.
4. Japan's lower house election campaign is in full swing, and new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba could face a harsh verdict: his ruling Liberal Democratic Party will not be able to retain its majority, according to a joint poll by the Nikkei and Yomiuri Shimbun. In an interview with Nikkei Asia, Ishiba promised to increase the share of renewable energy sources in the country's total energy supply as his government prepares an economic stimulus plan.
5. Bamboo remains one of the most attractive environmentally friendly building materials in parts of developing Asia where it is abundant and inexpensive. As Bali undergoes a tourism-driven construction boom, the Indonesian resort destination is emerging as a regional hub for the bamboo construction trend, with numerous developments including interesting buildings and homes using the material.
This week's best photo selection: Giant panda cubs born this year meet the public at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in Chengdu, China on October 12. (Photo by Getty Images)
Check out more of our photos here.
I wish you a wonderful weekend!
Shin Nakayama
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