Asia Pacific – Page 989 – Prologue Journal

China Sentences Leading Rights Activists to 14 and 12 Years in Prison

New York Times Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi were detained after organizing a small seaside gathering of activists to discuss human rights. Their lengthy sentences point to Beijing’s intolerance of dissent. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/10/world/asia/china-activists-prison.html

Dalai Lama apologises for asking boy to suck his tongue

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Sticking one’s tongue out can be form of greeting in Tibet; statement said monk ‘regrets incident’. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3216569/dalai-lama-apologises-asking-boy-suck-his-tongue?utm_source=rss_feed

In the Philippines, 72 died by drowning in first 9 days of April alone: ‘some were drunk’

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The death toll, tallied from 67 drowning incidents since the start of April, came as many Filipinos ‘got excited’ to visit beaches and resorts around the country, the police said. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3216549/philippines-72-died-drowning-first-9-days-april-alone-some-were-drunk?utm_source=rss_feed

North Korea cuts communication link with ‘puppet traitor’ South amid US drills

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Seoul said on Monday that the North could have ‘unilaterally cut-off’ a communications link between the two Koreas after it failed to respond for a fourth straight day to regularly held calls. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3216535/north-korea-cuts-communication-link-puppet-traitor-south-amid-us-drills?utm_source=rss_feed

In South Korea, families of Halloween crowd-crush victims face ‘unspeakable’ online abuse

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Internet trolls have latched onto outlandish conspiracies claiming the crush that killed more than 150 people in October was caused by vegetable oil or drugs. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3216516/south-korea-families-itaewon-crowd-crush-victims-face-unspeakable-online-abuse?utm_source=rss_feed

Will US-China rivalry undermine Indonesia’s EV battery hub dreams amid tussle over green subsidies?

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Nickel is a key component in producing EV batteries, but Chinese companies hold a dominant position in Indonesia’s nickel sector – making products sourced from the country ineligible for tax credits under the US…

Australian fisherman pokes crocodile in the eyes to escape attack

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. The 44-year-old was spearfishing in northern Queensland when he was attacked by the 4.6-metre long reptile, bitten three times and dragged ‘to the bottom’. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/australasia/article/3216504/australian-fisherman-pokes-crocodile-eyes-escape-attack?utm_source=rss_feed

US-Philippines defence cooperation hits turbulence amid domestic opposition

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. While Marcos continues to push for closer US defence ties, a domestic coalition has risen up in anger at the president’s plans. Members of the Filipino-Chinese business community, former president Rodrigo Duterte and even…

As India’s tiger count rises, indigenous people demand land rights

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. Tiger population has increased since flagship conservation scheme began in 1973, but some say the model is outdated and humans and big cats can actually coexist in forests. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3216468/indias-tiger-count-rises-indigenous-people-demand-land-rights?utm_source=rss_feed

7 dead in Philippines blaze, including children, 40 homes destroyed

Disclaimer: The South China Morning Post’s content is directed by the Chinese Communist Party. It is not a reliable news source. ‘They weren’t able to escape … they were found hugging each other’. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3216466/7-dead-philippines-blaze-including-children-40-homes-destroyed?utm_source=rss_feed