Asia Pacific – Page 853 – Prologue Journal

A Nation With Few Catholics Gives Pope a Welcome Fit for an Emperor

New York Times Mongolia put its history and culture on display as Pope Francis visited the Asian nation. Although it was the first trip to the country by a Roman Catholic pontiff, he noted that the two entities have ties dating back many centuries. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/world/asia/pope-francis-mongolia.html

Pakistan shopkeepers strike nationwide over inflation: ‘It’s unbearable’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Traders wield immense power in Pakistan, and with an election due the government faces the task of keeping them onside while sticking to IMF austerity measures. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3233217/pakistan-shopkeepers-strike-nationwide-over-inflation-its-unbearable?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s famous virtual singer Hatsune Miku turns 16, thousands of fans celebrate

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Legions of fans have this week been celebrating the ‘birthday’ of Japan’s best known Vocaloid – a computer-synthesised singing voice software that comes with a virtual avatar. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3233211/japans-famous-virtual-singer-hatsune-miku-turns-16-thousands-fans-celebrate?utm_source=rss_feed

Indonesia presidential candidate picks head of Islamic party as running mate: we’ll be ‘faster, bigger, more stable’ he promises

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Anies Baswedan – who’s falling behind in the polls – picked Muhaimin Iskandar, leader of PKB, which has strong ties with Indonesia’s biggest Islamic organisation of 40 million members. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3233209/indonesia-presidential-candidate-picks-head-islamic-party-running-mate-well-be-faster-bigger-more?utm_source=rss_feed

From the moon to the sun: India launches next space mission

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Aditya-L1 will study coronal mass ejections, a periodic phenomenon that sees huge discharges of plasma and magnetic energy from the sun’s atmosphere. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3233205/moon-sun-india-launches-next-space-mission?utm_source=rss_feed

Democracy in Bangladesh Is Quietly Being Crushed

New York Times The most active rivals to the country’s ruling party face dozens, even hundreds, of court cases each, paralyzing the opposition as a crucial election approaches. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/world/asia/bangladesh-democracy-election.html

Rugby World Cup: New Zealand Is Trying to Return to Form

New York Times After a period of uncharacteristic losing, the All Blacks, international rugby’s most successful team, has strung together some important wins in time for the World Cup. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/sports/new-zealand-rugby-world-cup.html

Singapore’s next president: ethnic voting theories ‘disproved’ by Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s landslide victory, analysts say

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The former ruling party stalwart’s 70.4 per cent victory margin showed that voters prioritised a candidate’s ability more than other factors, analysts noted. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3233206/singapores-next-president-ethnic-voting-theories-disproved-tharman-shanmugaratnams-landslide-victory?utm_source=rss_feed

India Launches Its First Solar Mission

New York Times The goal is to study the sun’s outer layers, to better understand its physics and dynamics and to improve understanding of space weather. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/02/world/asia/india-solar-mission-launch.html

Australia and China to restart dialogue after 3-year hiatus

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The Australia-China High Level Dialogue will serve as a platform for talks on issues ranging from trade and investment to regional and international security. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3233203/australia-and-china-restart-dialogue-after-3-year-hiatus?utm_source=rss_feed