PHILIPPINES: Radio Station Latest Target in Wave of Media Attacks as Government Falls Asleep

Nearly two years after the Maguindanao massacre in which 32 journalists were murdered, the Catholic-run radio station dzVT in Luzon has been hit with an arson attack that destroyed 10 million pesos (about 230 thousand USD) worth of transmission equipment. The police believe the fire started in the dead of night and found…

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TAIWAN: The Taiwan Critique

Taiwanese journalists are almost up in arms over the increase in corporate involvement in its media system. They argue that corporate monopolization and political appetite are putting at risk the ability of Taiwan’s news media to support democracy via ethical and professional journalism.

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Kudos Corner

In our judgment, David Pilling is easily and consistently the best (non-U.S.) columnist writing about Asia, and has been honored once again for his perceptive and leading-edge commentaries on the world’s fastest rising region.  This time the honor comes from the 2011 Comment Awards in London (sponsored by Barclays and…

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UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Book Fair finds a benefactor in Al Qasimi

Why would UNESCO’s participation in the Sharjah International Book Fair make the headlines of one of the leading English Dailies of UAE and the Gulf States- The Khaleej News? On October 31st, UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, granted Palestine’s bid for full membership in the organization. In response, by the U.S., as expected, announced cutbacks UNESCO funding, leaving the organization short $65 million USD for the end of the year budget…

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JAPAN: Cityscapes of Iron

The great contemporary artist Enoki Chu was inspired to become a painter after an unfortunate motorcycle accident. Chu decided to challenge himself and began exhibiting his paintings in 1965 to 1970 in the Kobe-based Niki-kai exhibitions. One of his artistic inspirations was the infamous Marcel Duchamp, who is notorious for (among…

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