Top Asian News 4:44 a.m. GMT

China-born Australian democracy blogger decides against appealing suspended Chinese death sentence

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A China-born Australian democracy blogger will not appeal his suspended death sentence imposed by a Beijing court, with his family saying Wednesday a legal challenge would be detrimental to his welfare. Yang Hengjun was found guilty of espionage following a closed trial and sentenced two weeks ago to death with a two-year reprieve. Such sentences are often commuted to life in prison after the two years. A statement from Yang’s family and close friends said they strongly supported the 58-year-old’s decision to waive his right to appeal. “There are two practical reasons why an appeal would be detrimental to Yang’s welfare,” the statement said.

Putin gives Kim Jong Un a luxury limousine. It’s a violation of UN sanctions on North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has gifted North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a Russian-made luxury limousine for his personal use, both countries announced Tuesday, in another sign of their expanding cooperation. Observers said the shipment violates a U.N. resolution that bans supplying luxury items to North Korea, in an attempt to pressure the country to abandon its nuclear weapons. Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong, and another senior North Korean official accepted the gift Sunday and she conveyed her brother’s thanks to Putin, the Korean Central News Agency said. Kim Yo Jong said the gift showed the special personal relationship between the leaders, the report said.

Taiwan protests after China boards a tourist boat near Kinmen Island

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan on Tuesday protested China’s boarding of a tourist boat, as tensions rise around the Kinmen archipelago, which lies a short distance off China’s coast but is controlled by Taiwan. Taiwanese media reported the King Xia, carrying 11 crew and 23 passengers, was boarded by the Chinese coast guard for about 32 minutes on Monday. Taiwan’s coast guard escorted the boat back to Kinmen, and it then continued its sight-seeing voyage. Ocean Affairs Council Minister Kuan Bi-ling told journalists at the legislature on Tuesday that the incident “hurt the feelings of our people, created panic among the people, and was not in the interest of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait,” referring to the 160 kilometer- (100 mile)-wide waterway that separates mainland China from Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as its own territory.

South Korean doctors walk out to protest medical training push, causing surgery cancellations

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean trainee doctors collectively walked off their jobs Tuesday to protest a government push to recruit more medical students, triggering cancellations of surgeries and other medical treatments at hospitals. The Health Ministry urged them to return to work immediately, saying they must not endanger the lives of patients to fight the government. As of Monday night, more than half of the 13,000 medical interns and residents in South Korea had submitted resignations, according to the Health Ministry, and 1,630 left their work sites. None of the resignations have been accepted so far. More junior doctors are expected to follow suit.

Taekwondo instructor killed his 7-year-old student and the boy’s parents, Sydney police say

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — A taekwondo instructor killed a 7-year-old student at his academy and the boy’s parents before going to a Sydney hospital with stab and slash wounds on his body, police said Wednesday. Kwang Kyung Yoo, owner of the Lion’s Taekwondo and Martial Arts Academy and known to his students as Master Lion, will eventually be charged with three counts of murder, Homicide Detective Superintendent Daniel Doherty said. The crimes were discovered after the instructor admitted himself to a hospital on Monday night suffering “stab wounds or slash wounds” to his chest, stomach and arms, Doherty said. He said the man told police he had been attacked in a supermarket carpark.

AP PHOTOS: In Teahupo’o, Tahiti, coastal village life thrives among powerful waves

TEAHUPO’O, French Polynesia (AP) — In Teahupo’o, the ocean is the heart of village life. Boats bob in the lagoon in the south of Tahiti at sunrise before fishers start their day. Many set out early with poles or spears to catch fish gliding among the corals — fresh food for them, their families and their community. By the afternoon, a freshly caught fat tuna arrives onshore. The coast, too, is livelier now: kids surf and play in the turquoise ocean, families rest on the beach where the sea and river meet, and the sole snack bar is open for a fish lunch.

Rivals of Pakistan’s ex-premier Khan name Shehbaz Sharif as joint candidate for prime minister

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The political rivals of Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan announced details of a power-sharing agreement late Tuesday, naming Shehbaz Sharif as their joint candidate for prime minister. The much-awaited announcement followed days of talks among the leadership of the Pakistan Muslim League, or PML, the Pakistan People’s Party, or PPP, and other parties that did not gain enough seats in the Feb. 8 vote to govern on their own. Candidates aligned with Khan won the most seats in the parliamentary elections but also did not win enough of them to form a government. Sharif, the brother of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, is himself a former prime minister, who replaced Khan when he was ousted through a no-confidence vote in parliament in 2022.

Singapore Airshow kicks off with aerial displays; Boeing and China’s COMAC announce new orders

SINGAPORE (AP) — The Singapore Airshow — Asia’s largest — kicked off Tuesday with an array of aerial displays including some by China’s COMAC C919 narrow-body airliner, with aircraft manufacturers such as COMAC and Boeing announcing new orders. It’s the first time Singapore will open the event to the public since 2020, when a scaled-down version went ahead as the COVID-19 pandemic was just starting. The biennial show comes as Asia’s aviation sector is taking off following the hard years of the pandemic, when many countries in the region closed their borders to most international travel. Subhas Menon, director general of the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines, said that this year’s show was “back in full swing” with over 1,000 exhibitors.

Indian farmers reject government offer and say they will carry on marching to New Delhi

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian farmers who have been protesting for a week to demand guaranteed crop prices have rejected a proposal from the government, and say they will continue their march to the capital New Delhi. The protesting farmers began their march last week, but their efforts to reach the city have been blocked by authorities, who have barricaded highways into the capital with cement blocks, metal containers, barbed wire and iron spikes to barricade highways to the capital to avoid a repeat of the 2021 farmers’ protests, during which they camped in the city’s outskirts for over a year.

Ukraine premier in Tokyo says his country needs missiles, but expects new US aid to come through

TOKYO (AP) — Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that his country needs long-range missiles and other ammunition to end Russia’s invasion, and said he expects a U.S. aid package that’s stalled in Congress to come through, speaking at a news conference the day after he attended a conference in Tokyo on reconstructing Ukraine. Ukraine has modern equipment, training soldiers and fighting at NATO standards and that “European countries and the United States are supporting us, absolutely,” Shmyhal said. But, he said, the country needs more long-range missiles for air defense against Russia on the frontline, Shmyhal said. “Unfortunately, now they prevail in the air and unfortunately this leads to some consequences from the frontline, but I should say that we have no refuses from our partners to supply military equipment to Ukraine,” he said.