Asia Pacific – Page 973 – Prologue Journal

Blinken in China: What to Know

New York Times There’s much to talk about, but it’s not clear if it will be constructive. Meetings in Beijing will offer clues as to whether the two nations can smooth over tensions. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/asia/blinken-xi-china.html

Antony Blinken talks to Japanese and South Korean counterparts ahead of China trip

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The US Secretary of State reassured South Korea on Friday – and Japan on Saturday – of the United States’ ‘ironclad commitment’ to the countries’ defence. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3224469/antony-blinken-talks-japanese-and-south-korean-counterparts-ahead-china-trip?utm_source=rss_feed

At least 150,000 BTS fans pack Seoul park to celebrate K-Pop sensation’s 10-year anniversary

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. About 150,000 of the K-Pop boy band’s loyal fanbase, known as ‘ARMY’, wandered among exhibits and danced under trees at Han River Park on Saturday as hit songs played in the background. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3224457/bts-fans-pack-seoul-park-celebrate-10-year-anniversary?utm_source=rss_feed

Japan issued 1.3 million visas in 2022, up 14-fold as Covid curbs eased

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. It is the first increase in 3 years, with most visas issued to students and technical interns. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3224449/japan-issued-13-million-visas-2022-14-fold-covid-curbs-eased?utm_source=rss_feed

Dying from the heat: India’s elderly advised to stay indoors during sweltering heatwave

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Warnings issued after dozens of elderly people with health conditions exacerbated by the intense heat died in Uttar Pradesh within 48 hours. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3224442/indias-elderly-risk-doctors-advise-them-stay-indoors-during-sweltering-heat?utm_source=rss_feed

Taliban Rely on WhatsApp, but Keep Getting Kicked Off

New York Times The Taliban administration is stuck in a cat-and-mouse game with WhatsApp, which is off-limits to the nascent government because of U.S. sanctions. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/world/asia/taliban-whatsapp-afghanistan.html

As U.S. and Chinese Officials Meet, Businesses Temper Their Hopes

New York Times Chief executives in the U.S. have long pushed for closer ties between the two countries. Now they just hope a rocky situation won’t get worse. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/17/business/economy/china-united-states-business.html

India’s tea pickers fend off sex traffickers by retraining as beauticians

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Since selling her bicycle at 15 to fund a beauty course so she could teach others about make-up, West Bengal’s Sukla Debnath has helped train more than 5,000 women to know rights and avoid…

Defiant comedian Jocelyn Chia taunts Malaysia over MH370 joke again

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The Singapore-born comic, whose gag about the missing plane enraged the Southeast Asian, thanked Malaysians for putting her in the spotlight. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3224424/defiant-comedian-jocelyn-chia-taunts-malaysia-over-mh370-joke-again?utm_source=rss_feed

As Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo vows to end ‘thrifting’, anxious shoppers snap up second-hand clothes

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The crackdown could devastate Indonesia’s informal gig sector, which accounts for around 60 per cent of the country’s economy according to the World Bank. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3224348/indonesias-president-joko-widodo-vows-end-thrifting-anxious-shoppers-snap-second-hand-clothes?utm_source=rss_feed