Asia Pacific – Page 14 – Prologue Journal

Japan’s Economy Recovered In Second Half But Barely Grew in 2024

New York Times Though it recovered in the second half of the year, Japan’s economy barely grew in 2024 as a depreciated yen fueled inflation and strained households. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/business/japan-2024-gdp-yen.html

How mass tourism is killing Malaysia’s coral paradise

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Beneath Redang’s turquoise waters lies a growing crisis of coral bleaching, trash and human negligence. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3298760/how-mass-tourism-killing-malaysias-coral-paradise?utm_source=rss_feed

Consensus building: crypto conference arrives in Hong Kong in test for city and CoinDesk

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Hong Kong is leaning into its role in traditional finance as it courts Web3 enthusiasts to the city for CoinDesk’s Consensus Hong Kong. https://www.scmp.com/tech/blockchain/article/3298876/consensus-building-crypto-conference-arrives-hong-kong-test-city-and-coindesk?utm_source=rss_feed

Monday Briefing: E.U. Leaders Set to Meet on Ukraine

New York Times Plus, searching for ISIS’s forgotten victims. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/briefing/europe-ukraine-israel-hamas-east-timor.html

South Korean actress Kim Sae-ron found dead at her home in Seoul

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Police said there was no sign of foul play. Kim, 24, is best known for her role in the 2010 film The Man from Nowhere. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3298924/south-korean-actress-kim-sae-ron-found-dead-her-home-seoul?utm_source=rss_feed

Sri Lanka’s first elephant orphanage celebrates 50 years

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The orphanage opened in 1975, but Sri Lanka is also now facing a human-elephant conflict in areas bordering traditional wildlife sanctuaries. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3298906/sri-lankas-first-elephant-orphanage-celebrates-50-years?utm_source=rss_feed

How Trump’s One-for-One Tariff Plan Threatens the Global Economy

New York Times In starting a process to impose reciprocal tariffs on American trading partners, the White House is sowing uncertainty and risking inflation. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/business/trump-tariffs-global-economy.html

Lea Salonga Is Never Getting Tired of Sondheim

New York Times The Tony-winning actress co-stars with Bernadette Peters in “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends,” a show that is letting her surprise audiences with her comedy chops. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/16/theater/lea-salonga-old-friends-broadway-sondheim.html

As USAID freeze leaves South Asia reeling, can India rise to the challenge?

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The sudden suspension of USAID funds has delivered a gut punch to Nepal and Bangladesh – but it could be an opportunity for India to step up. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3298761/usaid-freeze-leaves-south-asia-reeling-can-india-rise-challenge?utm_source=rss_feed

Southeast Asia’s rice crisis is a ticking time bomb

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Ensuring food security for the region and beyond requires urgent action to modernise agriculture, diversify suppliers and strengthen cooperation. https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3298323/southeast-asias-rice-crisis-ticking-time-bomb?utm_source=rss_feed