Asia Pacific – Page 880 – Prologue Journal

In China, More Single Female Home Buyers, Resisting Sexist Norms

New York Times The housing market in China is in turmoil. But more and more women, facing a less equal society, are buying their own homes in search of security. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/world/asia/china-single-women-homebuyers.html

China’s Nickel Plants in Indonesia Created Needed Jobs, Plus Pollution

New York Times An influx of Chinese investment into nickel-processing on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi is sowing pollution while generating economic opportunity. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/18/business/indonesia-nickel-sulawesi-china.html

Video: Thai election runners-up announce fresh coalition with government-aligned party

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3231477/video-thai-election-runners-announce-fresh-coalition-government-aligned-party?utm_source=rss_feed

Video: Singapore’s political scandal deepens as 2 MPs resign amid separate high-profile corruption probe

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/article/3231476/video-singapores-political-scandal-deepens-2-mps-resign-amid-separate-high-profile-corruption-probe?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s US, South Korea defence pact won’t help Kishida’s ‘weak position’ as living costs surge

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. A three-way summit in the US will not translate into a boost to Prime Minister Fumio Kishida facing sliding support from a public more worried about inflation https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3231432/japans-us-south-korea-defence-pact-wont-help-kishidas-weak-position-living-costs-surge?utm_source=rss_feed

China Evergrande, Giant Developer, Files for Bankruptcy

New York Times The filing comes two years after the company defaulted on its debt, setting off defaults by smaller Chinese developers. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/business/china-evergrande-bankruptcy.html

Joe Biden trying to meet North Korea’s Kim Jong-un ‘without preconditions’, senior White House official says

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Pyongyang has not responded positively to the offer but it’s ‘still on the table’, says national security spokesman John Kirby. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3231469/joe-biden-trying-meet-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-without-preconditions-senior-white-house-official?utm_source=rss_feed

Indonesia firm turns plastic into bricks, faces uphill task in recycling push

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. An Indonesian startup is committed to using green building materials in a country that is experiencing high emissions amid a construction boom. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3231440/indonesia-firm-turns-plastic-bricks-faces-uphill-task-recycling-push?utm_source=rss_feed

North Koreans Are Starved and Forced to Work, U.N. Hears

New York Times At a Security Council meeting, officials gave harrowing accounts of rights abuses in North Korea. But global divisions were clear: Russia denounced the discussion, and China questioned its validity. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/world/asia/un-north-korea-human-rights.html

Friday Briefing: The U.S. pulls Japan and South Korea closer

New York Times Also, questions about new weight loss drugs. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/17/briefing/japan-us-china-germany-ecuador.html