Asia Pacific – Page 1287 – Prologue Journal

Good vibrations: Thailand’s Democrat Party makes sex toy election pledge

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The royalist Democrat Party is seeking to woo voters ahead of next month’s general election with a pledge to legalise sex toys. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3218304/good-vibrations-thailands-democrat-party-makes-sex-toy-election-pledge?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s ispace loses contact with moon lander, failure assumed

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The spacecraft was moments away from its planned touchdown – if successful, the mission would have been the world’s first commercial lunar landing. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3218356/japans-ispace-loses-contact-moon-lander-failure-assumed?utm_source=rss_feed

As US Congress debates budget, Pacific island nations are watching with concern

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. US President Joe Biden has pledged generous funding for tuna treaty and other regional initiatives in a bid to offset China’s growing influence, but Republicans seek cuts in foreign aid. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3218353/us-congress-debates-budget-pacific-island-nations-are-watching-concern?utm_source=rss_feed

US woman arrested after flying to Australia with gold-plated gun in luggage

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. She has been charged under the Customs Act and could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3218352/us-woman-arrested-after-flying-australia-gold-plated-gun-luggage?utm_source=rss_feed

Japanese fete LGBTQ progress, demand marriage rights as G7 summit looms

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Japan, which hosts the G7 summit next month, is the only member of the Group of Seven industrial powers that does not recognise same-sex unions. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3218334/japanese-fete-lgbtq-progress-demand-marriage-rights-g7-summit-looms?utm_source=rss_feed

Hong Kong has ‘strategic ambiguities’ to navigate US-China rivalry: Singapore’s Kishore Mahbubani

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Hong Kong ‘enjoys the status’ of One Country, Two Systems, but has to ‘work very hard’ to convince the US that it remains autonomous, says retired Singaporean diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3218330/hong-kong-has-strategic-ambiguities-navigate-us-china-rivalry-singapores-kishore-mahbubani?utm_source=rss_feed

China ups food security drive, plans to grow 90 per cent of its grain by 2032, warning for US and Thai farmers

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. China plans to grow nearly 90 per cent of the grain it needs by 2032, while also reducing imports, with food security high on the agenda for Beijing amid rising geopolitical tensions and the…

China Drops Covid P.C.R. Test Rule for Inbound Travelers

New York Times It was not clear, however, whether travelers would still be required to take antigen tests. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/25/business/china-travel-covid-test.html

‘I will die out here somewhere’: the Japanese man supporting terrorist deradicalisation efforts at risk of death

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Yosuke Nagai, 31, has spent the last decade in war-torn countries such as Somalia and Yemen, helping young men leave terrorist groups. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3218273/i-will-die-out-here-somewhere-japanese-man-supporting-terrorist-deradicalisation-efforts-risk-death?utm_source=rss_feed

South Korean president Yoon Suk-yeol’s office defends viral Japan comments, blames ‘possible mistranslations’ for furore

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol was in hot water after comments he made about former colonial power Japan not needing to ‘kneel down’ to improve ties went viral on social media. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3218289/south-korean-president-yoon-suk-yeols-office-defends-viral-japan-comments-blames-possible?utm_source=rss_feed