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Asia-Pacific
Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia arrests former head of President Prabowo’s flagship free meal scheme

The scheme was linked to cases of food poisoning that have reportedly affected at least 33,000 children as of April. Former head of Indonesia's National Nutrition Agency Dadan Hindayana (centre) being escorted to a detention vehicle in Jakarta, Indonesia, Jun 3, 2026. (Photo: EPA/Mast Irham) JAKARTA: Indonesia on Wednesday (Jun 3) arrested the former head of the country's free school meals programme, blighted by mass food poisonings and corruption claims, a day after he was fired. The programme was the flagship policy of President Prabowo Subianto's 2024 election campaign. Prabowo fired Dadan Hindayana, an entomologist who had led the National Nutrition Agency since its inception in August 2024, along with two deputies on Tuesday. All three were taken into custody in Jakarta on Wednesday. They stand accused of "crimes in the management" of the programme, Syarief Sulaeman Nahdi of the attorney general's office (AGO) told reporters. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Dadan allegedly influenced the selection of several foundations managing the programme's kitchens even though they had not met standards, Syarief said, adding that he owned those foundations through external parties. He was also allegedly involved in the marked up procurement of items, including more than 21,000 electric motorbikes, 32,000 pairs of shoes, and 5,400 televisions. Authorities earlier raided the nutrition agency's office as well as the homes of the three defendants, Syarief said. Two sources, requesting anonymity, told Reuters that AGO personnel raided the agency's headquarters at 2am local time on Wednesday in multiple vehicles. The building remained under lockdown at 11am, and employees who were meant to report for duty were not allowed to enter the premises. The government has budgeted at least US$15 billion for the ambitious programme, which aimed to feed at least 82.9 million children and pregnant and breastfeeding women - nearly one-third of the country's population.

Indonesia arrests former head of President Prabowo’s flagship free meal scheme
Asia-Pacific
Channel NewsAsia

AirAsia reviewing policy after family with cerebral palsy child removed from flight due to 'safety requirements'

The woman said that her daughter had flown with AirAsia before, and questioned if that meant the policy was breached during those earlier flights. Malaysian carrier AirAsia has said that it is reviewing its policy after a family with a child with cerebral palsy was removed from its flight. (Photos: Facebook/Syarifah Ella Wan Wahab) SINGAPORE: Malaysian carrier AirAsia has said that it is reviewing its policy after a family with a child with cerebral palsy was offloaded from its flight.The decision made at the time was based on "applicable safety requirements relating to the suitability of the child restraint device presented for use on board", the airline said on Wednesday (Jun 3) in response to CNA's queries. The airline is currently "reviewing its policies and procedures relating to specialised child restraint devices to ensure greater clarity and consistency", said Captain Saravanan Subramaniam, AirAsia X's chief safety and quality officer. A woman posted a complaint on Facebook on May 28, claiming her family was removed from a Singapore to Kuching flight on May 26 due to the use of a "special aircraft/car seat" for her daughter, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy. In her Facebook post, Syarifah Ella Wan Wahab said she and her family, consisting of herself, her husband, three children and a helper were already seated inside the plane when they were informed by a ground staff and crew member that the pilot in command had decided to deny the use of her daughter’s FAA-approved seat and requested that the entire family disembark from the flight. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less She said in her post that the seat had been declared upon check-in at Changi Airport and the ground staff were fully aware of her daughter's condition, with staff even asking about the seat's weight and her child's medical condition. "I fully acknowledge and respect that the pilot in command holds final authority concerning onboard safety decisions. "However, what deeply affected us was the manner in which the situation was communicated and handled," she said in her post. The woman also said in her post that no clear explanation was provided at the time regarding the specific safety concern or operational factor that led to the decision and was repeatedly told that it was AirAsia's policy."Only after repeated requests for clarification did crew members state that the child must be between six months and 3 years old and must not exceed 18kg," she said. In her post, Ms Syarifah also questioned the policy, and said that her child needed the seat due to medical reasons and not because she was a "small child".She also said that her daughter had flown with AirAsia before, and questioned if it meant that the policy was breached during those earlier flights. According to her, after her family disembarked, they were informed that arrangements could be made for the next available flight to Kuching. However, they were also told they could again be offloaded if the next Pilot in Command rejected them as well.

AirAsia reviewing policy after family with cerebral palsy child removed from flight due to 'safety requirements'
Asia-Pacific
Channel NewsAsia

Thai PM calls for urgent talks with Malaysia after shrimp import ban sparks concerns for farmers’ livelihoods

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed his ministers to seek a bilateral trade solution with Malaysia. Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul delivers his government's policy statement to parliament in Bangkok, Thailand, on Apr 9, 2026. (Photo: Reuters/Athit Perawongmetha) KUALA LUMPUR: Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has called for immediate talks with Malaysia following its temporary import ban of five Thai shrimp species as part of tighter controls on Thai fishery products. Anutin issued the directive in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday (Jun 2) and warned that prolonged restrictions could hurt the livelihoods of shrimp farmers, exporters and the wider seafood supply chain, said Thai government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek. "If the issue is allowed to persist, it could affect farm-gate shrimp prices and the incomes of small-scale farmers," she said in a statement after the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, quoted by Malaysian national news platform Bernama. Ratchada added that Anutin had told various ministers in his Cabinet, including the commerce minister and agriculture and cooperatives minister, to hold urgent discussions with Malaysian authorities to seek a bilateral trade solution while protecting Thai farmers. Thailand's commerce minister is Suphajee Suthumpun, who is also serving as deputy prime minister, while the agriculture and cooperatives minister is Suriya Jungrungreangkit. "The prime minister emphasised that this issue must not become a burden borne solely by farmers, as the shrimp industry supports an entire supply chain, including farms, collectors, processing plants, exporters and a large workforce," Ratchada was quoted as saying by local news outlets. Ratchada said that relevant agencies had been directed to cushion restriction impacts, including by stabilising farm-gate prices, managing any surplus domestic supply and accelerating efforts to secure alternative export markets. The farm-gate price is the price that covers the producer's costs and profit before exporting. Thailand exports about 6,000 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes of shrimp to Malaysia each year, accounting for about 5 per cent of total Thai shrimp exports. The ban could cost Thailand over 4 billion baht (US$122.1 million) a year, reported Thai news outlet Bangkok Post. CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less Malaysia’s temporary ban sparked concerns among Thailand’s shrimp production sector. (File photo: iStock) Malaysia is a convenient export market as Thai producers do not need to transport goods to its Central region - where trade is primarily handled and distributed - and Malaysia is able to absorb output from aquaculture and coastal fisheries, which are located in the south of Thailand.

Thai PM calls for urgent talks with Malaysia after shrimp import ban sparks concerns for farmers’ livelihoods
Asia-Pacific
Nikkei Asia

Japan's Advantage Partners launches $1.8bn buyout fund

The fund established by Advantage Partners is one of the largest funds ever launched by a Japanese private equity firm. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Rie Ishii and Taizo Wada) TOKYO -- Japanese corporate acquisition firm Advantage Partners has launched a 300 billion yen (approximately $1.8 billion) buyout fund, Nikkei has learned. Advantage aims to use the fund, one of the largest from a Japanese private equity firm, to drive the restructuring of Japanese industries by spinning off non-core businesses from domestic companies and taking midsize companies private.

Japan's Advantage Partners launches $1.8bn buyout fund
China / Asia
South China Morning Post

Putin in Beijing, ‘China shock’ in EU: 7 global relations reads

SCMPPublished: 10:00pm, 2 Jun 2026We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering global relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. Brussels agrees on tougher China trade policy, as Beijing vows retaliationPhoto: ReutersThe European Commission agreed on a tough new approach to trade relations with China in May, at a rare Beijing-focused debate among Brussels’ leadership. The trade-focused orientation debate is seen internally as the firing of a starting gun ahead of an intense period for China policy. Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing for a visit aimed at deepening the two sides’ comprehensive partnership, four days after the Chinese capital hosted US President Donald Trump. China’s military said that it had used measures including electronic interference to drive away a Dutch warship near the disputed Paracel Islands, and in a rare move accused the Dutch navy of triggering “miscalculation”.

Putin in Beijing, ‘China shock’ in EU: 7 global relations reads
China / Asia
South China Morning Post

China-Cuba ‘US security threat’, Brazil’s rare earths: Latin America relations reads

SCMPPublished: 10:00pm, 2 Jun 2026We have selected seven of the most interesting and important news stories covering Latin American relations from the past few weeks. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing.1. US casts Cuba as China-linked security threat while still pushing for talksPool photo: APOne day after the United States brought criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro over the 1996 shooting down of two civilian aircraft, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio portrayed Cuba as both a growing national security threat tied to China and Russia, and a candidate for a negotiated political transition. Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino in May rejected suggestions that US pressure had shaped his government’s handling of a dispute over ports near the Panama Canal, as Panama sought to stabilise relations with Beijing and renew a key maritime agreement. Argentina is on the verge of settling its debt with China’s central bank, winding down a currency lifeline that kept the country afloat during years of financial turmoil, and now sits at the centre of a geopolitical tug of war between Washington and Beijing.

China-Cuba ‘US security threat’, Brazil’s rare earths: Latin America relations reads
Asia-Pacific
Nikkei Asia

Indonesia's GoTo cofounder calls Chromebook graft charges 'illusion' of law

Nadiem Makarim, who presented his defense statement on June 2, said prosecutors "forced" connections between Chromebook procurement and Google's investment in Gojek, the company he founded before serving as Indonesia's education minister. (Photo by Mira Maruto) JAKARTA -- Nadiem Makarim, former education minister and the founder of Indonesian ride-hailing company Gojek, on Tuesday suggested his graft prosecution was a personal vendetta and accused prosecutors of "poor" understanding of technology and business, resulting in their demand that he be jailed for 27 years.

Indonesia's GoTo cofounder calls Chromebook graft charges 'illusion' of law
China / Asia
South China Morning Post

Bangladesh faces further measles risk due to lack of vaccinations, travel

Biman MukherjiPublished: 10:10pm, 2 Jun 2026The measles outbreak in Bangladesh is one of its deadliest health crises in decades, as experts warned that the lack of measures to increase vaccinations and enhance immunisation across the country could lead to a further spike in cases.There were over 60,000 suspected cases of measles, and nearly 600 people have died from the disease since mid-March, according to media reports. The outbreak has been particularly severe among malnourished children and communities with limited access to health services. Local health officials have partnered with their UN counterparts to launch an emergency response to combat measles. However, gaps in vaccination coverage, with an interim administration in power until February, have raised concerns that the disease could spread further. Health experts say the surge is due to local authorities not prioritising the elimination of measles, with the highly contagious disease largely preventable through two vaccine doses as recommended by the World Health Organization. According to a report on the measles situation in Bangladesh by the WHO in April, the disease can affect individuals of all ages and is a leading cause of death among young children around the world. A usually “mild or moderately severe disease”, measles could, however, cause complications such as pneumonia, diarrhoea, blindness, and death, the WHO said.

Bangladesh faces further measles risk due to lack of vaccinations, travel
China / Asia
South China Morning Post

Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?

Zhang Tongin BeijingPublished: 10:00pm, 2 Jun 2026Updated: 10:08pm, 2 Jun 2026Chinese researchers have developed an environmentally friendly method to extract caesium from brine, a process they say could boost China’s supply of the strategic resource. Caesium, a rare metal, is a critical strategic resource used in satellite atomic clocks, missile thermal imaging sensors and advanced speciality glass. China and the United States are the top consumers of caesium, yet both rely heavily on imports. It is primarily found in the Earth’s crustal ores as well as salt lake brines and seawater. Known commercial deposits include the Tanco mine in Canada, the Bikita mine in Zimbabwe, the Karibib project in Namibia and the Sinclair deposit in Australia. China’s state-owned Sinomine Resources controls the Tanco and Bikita operations but domestic caesium reserves – while considerable – are mostly locked in brine that is difficult to process. Only a fraction exist as caesium ores, and most are low-grade associated minerals. The caesium present in salt lake brine poses two major challenges: its concentration is relatively low, and the brine contains high levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and rubidium ions, which interfere with caesium separation. A team led by Zhou Yongquan of the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has proposed a stable and efficient method to extract caesium from salt lakes, a breakthrough that could help diversify China’s industrial supply chain. The team’s findings have been published in the peer-reviewed Chemical Engineering Journal. The team developed a sieve-like mechanism to trap caesium, creating a material that selectively acts like a magnet for caesium ions. When brine is passed through a column packed with this material, caesium ions are “sieved” out. Moreover, the material can be repeatedly reused.

Can China’s caesium-from-brine tech cut reliance on Canadian, Australian ores?