Asia Pacific – Page 954 – Prologue Journal

As Singapore’s ‘4 Floors of Whores’ closes its nightclub doors, sex workers worry for their futures

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. In its heyday, Orchard Towers was full of go-go bars, strip clubs and discos. Now, the nightclubs that remain have until the end of the month to move out – leaving exotic dancers, live…

In Japan, a horse’s death spurs calls for festival of ‘obvious’ animal abuse to be cancelled

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Japan’s annual ‘Rising Horse’ festival sees the animals forced to run up a steep hill and clear a two-metre high ‘wall’ while being slapped, yelled at, and hit with ropes, sticks and whips. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/lifestyle-culture/article/3226398/japan-horses-death-spurs-calls-festival-obvious-animal-abuse-be-cancelled?utm_source=rss_feed

Your Tuesday Briefing: Israel’s Assault on Jenin

New York Times Also, the U.S. Treasury Secretary will visit Beijing. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/03/briefing/israel-jenin-strike-yellen-china-asia.html

Singapore PM Lee retains ‘full confidence’ in ministers, says rental probe highlights firm anti-corruption stance

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. PM Lee says he is fully satisfied with the findings showing ministers Vivian Balakrishnan and K. Shanmugam had done nothing wrong in leasing the two state-owned bungalows. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3226428/singapore-pm-lee-retains-full-confidence-ministers-says-rental-probe-highlights-firm-anti-corruption?utm_source=rss_feed

4 people injured after ‘tremendous explosion’ rips through building in downtown Tokyo

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The cause of the blast was not immediately clear but witnesses said they had smelled gas before the explosion. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3226423/4-people-injured-after-tremendous-explosion-rips-through-building-downtown-tokyo?utm_source=rss_feed

Vietnam bans Barbie movie for showing Beijing’s South China Sea claims

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Barbie, starring Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling, is the latest film to be banned in Vietnam for depicting China’s controversial nine-dash line. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3226378/vietnam-bans-barbie-movie-showing-beijings-south-china-sea-claims?utm_source=rss_feed

Australia’s resource exports set to decline over 2 years amid weaker Chinese demand, falling prices: report

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Australia’s resources exports and mining sector are heavily reliant on Chinese demand, with record export earnings set to fall to US$230 billion in 2024-25. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3226389/australias-resource-exports-set-decline-over-2-years-amid-weaker-chinese-demand-falling-prices?utm_source=rss_feed

Singapore’s DBS faces succession dilemma: who can replace ‘all-star’ banker Piyush Gupta?

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Piyush Gupta has built DBS into Singapore’s largest listed company, and Southeast Asia’s largest bank by assets. That very success is creating an elephant in the room. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3226371/singapores-dbs-faces-succession-dilemma-who-can-replace-all-star-banker-piyush-gupta?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan’s job-leaving agents help worn-out workers escape bullying ‘mini-Hitler’ bosses: ‘quitting would be a betrayal’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Worn-out workers are guaranteed the right to quit under Japan’s laws, but some employers used to an old-style hierarchy just can’t accept that someone they have trained would want to walk away. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3226368/japans-job-leaving-agents-help-worn-out-workers-escape-bullying-mini-hitler-bosses-quitting-would-be?utm_source=rss_feed

Singapore gripes as hawker stall Michelin nods bring long waits, quality drops: ‘I just never wanted to go back again’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. While Michelin ratings can benefit hawker businesses, many locals are feeling the negative effects, including longer queues and falling standards. One foodie said he ‘never wanted to go back’ to his favourite claypot rice…