Month: January 2012
BEIJING: Red Beauty by Chen Man
BEIJING: Vision by Chen Man
NORTH KOREA: The Associated Press is Now in Full Operation in Pyongyang
It finally has happened! After all these many years, a major U.S. news organization is opening shop in North Korea. It’s the Associated Press, fittingly enough, which after months of negotiations is receiving a permit from North Korean authorities to open a media bureau in Pyongyang. According to Yonhap News…
AUSTRALIA: Who’s Peeking Into the Labor Party’s Computer?!
On December 15th 2011, the Australian Supreme Court halted the Victoria Police from seizing three personal computers that belonged to investigative journalists Ben Schneiders, Royce Millar, and Nick McKenzie, all of whom work for the Australian newspaper The Age. Earlier that day, the police from Victoria’s e-crimes unit obtained a…
CHINA: Blog Blotter #6 – Buzzing About Taiwan’s Presidential Election
Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou’s re-election for his second term in office on January 14th, 2012 was the big story last week. Chinese Netizens across the Taiwan Strait, of course, are not hardly out of touch. Despite Beijing’s ban on the topic, Weibo (China’s version of Twitter) is buzzing with tweets…
CHINA: Scoffing at U.S. Stumbles Over Efforts to Stop Iran’s Nuclearization
It comes as no surprise that many countries are unwilling to aid the United States in their attempt to stop Iran’s nuclear program if such efforts hurt their pockets. But even when their intentions are apparently sincere, methods can prove ineffective. That was the point of a recent article in…
JAPAN: Please Wake Up, Don’t Leave It To China!
The inevitable and historic shifting of global power from the West to the East is the famous central theme of Kishore Mahbubani. Currently dean of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, Mahbubani has put forth another view of important consequence. It’s that…
SINGAPORE: In Search of Forgiveness … from Mao?!
Political criticism encompasses one of the most censored topics in China. Mediums through which people express such views range from the ubiquitous blog to artistic pieces. Regarding the latter, the works of Chinese brothers Gao Zhen and Gao Qiang are among the most critical with their condemnation towards Mao Zedong.…
INDIA: Death of a Great Pioneering Woman Photojournalist
On Sunday, India’s first female photojournalist passed away at a hospital in Vadodara, according to the Times of India, a leading English daily newspaper in India. Homai Vyarawalla, 98, had recently been hospitalized due to a fall from her bed. Vyarawalla was deeply admired and respected by many in India.…
HONG KONG: Shopping for Some Kind of Equitable Treatment
The well-known fashion brand Dolce and Gabbana has issued a fairly lame statement on January 18th expressing its regret for offending the people of Hong Kong. But, funnily enough, many protesters are refusing to accept this apology. Two weeks ago, Hong Kong locals were forbidden to take pictures in front…
PAKISTAN: Beyond Memogate
It looks as if the military is still firmly in control of Pakistan, judging from one nuanced assessment on the website of The Dawn, one of the two dominant English-language newspapers in Pakistan. Written by well-regarded feature writer Waris Husain, the analysis suggests that the nation’ highest court, in its…
SOUTH KOREA: Static Blurs the Nation’s TV picture
After months of failed negotiations, Korea’s cable television system operators (SOs) are taking a stand against the three major Korean TV Companies – KBS, MBC, and SBS – for charging high prices to broadcast their programs, according to The Korea Times, an English-language daily newspaper.
ASIA BOOK CORNER: In Review of the New Book “Conversations With Thaksin” by Tom Plate
Former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, loved and loathed across his homeland, makes for a fascinating target of former Los Angeles Times columnist Tom Plate’s professional – and always gracious, although sometimes fawning – curiosity. Unsurprisingly, Conversations With Thaksin: From Exile to Deliverance – Thailand’s Populist Tycoon Tells His Story is unavailable in the kingdom, though not yet subject to an official ban.
PHILIPPINES: Is Aquino Finally Taking Assassinations Seriously?
Speaking of extremely dubious distinctions … Christopher Guarin, publisher of Tatak News Nationwide and presenter for radio station dxMD, was shot dead earlier this month in General Santos City, making him the first Asian journalist to be killed in 2012.
THE GULF STATES: Oil, Boil … and a Whole Lot of Trouble!
Reliable media outlets of the region, including the Jerusalem Post, Israel’s most-read English website and the Khaleej Times Online, a leading English daily out of Dubai, report growing tension, in particular, between Iran and Gulf States. A key issue of contention is the decision of the EU to punish Iran for proceeding with development of its nuclear capability. Many countries find this alarming, especially Israel, but Iran describes its work as a harmless “nuclear technology program” to generate domestic electricity.