Asia Pacific – Page 2 – Prologue Journal

Australia smashes drug ring ‘The Commission’, seizes cocaine worth US$1 billion

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Police accused the group of moving 1.2 tonnes of cocaine into the country between February and July this year. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3279082/australia-smashes-drug-ring-commission-seizes-cocaine-worth-us1-billion?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s Icom investigates explosion of walkie-talkies in Lebanon

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The company said the production of model IC-V82, which appeared to be the version involved in the blasts, was phased out in 2014. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3279072/japans-icom-investigates-explosion-walkie-talkies-lebanon?utm_source=rss_feed

Australia’s housing crisis festers as reforms stuck in political gridlock

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Home prices in the country are rising even with interest rates at a 12-year high, reflecting demand that’s outstripping supply. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3279066/australias-housing-crisis-festers-reforms-stuck-political-gridlock?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan faces bear spray shortage as attacks rise, residents turn to ineffective alternatives

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The shortage is due to increased bear encounters and the high cost of imported bear spray. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3279024/japan-faces-bear-spray-shortage-attacks-rise-residents-turn-ineffective-alternatives?utm_source=rss_feed

Vietnam’s bid to boost Indonesia ties reflects ‘enemy to none’ security strategy: analysts

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Building comprehensive strategic partnerships allows Vietnam more room to manoeuvre, balance ties with major powers, observers note. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3279030/vietnams-bid-boost-indonesia-ties-reflects-enemy-none-security-strategy-analysts?utm_source=rss_feed

How China is becoming the Saudi Arabia of renewables

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. China’s declining demand for fossil fuels and increased clean-energy capacity could usher in a new shift in global wealth distribution. https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3278889/how-china-becoming-saudi-arabia-renewables?utm_source=rss_feed

Thursday Briefing: A Second Day of Explosions in Lebanon

New York Times Plus, Kamala Harris courts Latino voters. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/briefing/lebanon-explosions-harris-kashmir.html

Alaska Airlines Chief Plans More Routes After a Deal With Hawaiian

New York Times The airline’s chief executive, Ben Minicucci, said in an interview that closing its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines would allow it to expand, including on international routes. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/business/alaska-airlines-hawaiian-deal.html

Bangladesh, Struggling to Restore Order, Gives Army Policing Powers

New York Times Public disorder has continued in the country, weeks after its autocratic leader was driven out by protests. Many police officers have still not returned to work. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/18/world/asia/bangladesh-army-police.html

US ambassador to Singapore hails ties, concerned by China’s ‘unnecessarily provocative’ actions

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Jonathan Kaplan criticised China’s aggressive South China Sea actions, while highlighting US-Singapore ties at a conference in the city state. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3279017/us-ambassador-singapore-hails-ties-concerned-chinas-unnecessarily-provocative-actions?utm_source=rss_feed