SPENCER H KIM WRITES – Thirty-six years ago I helped co-found the Pacific Century Institute (PCI). Our goal was to build “bridges of understanding” between the peoples living on the vast Pacific Rim because we saw the coming century as the “Pacific Century.” That this is now the Pacific Century…
MICHELLE CHANG WRITES – When the clock strikes 5:00pm, people finish their last emails, close their computers, and head out after a long day at work. At least, that’s what is normally expected; but a recent proposal under review by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol would mandate a maximum 69-hour…
SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — “Who are we to say that we are not enough?” Ena Mori asks this of listeners in “WHITE ROOM,” the tenth track of her sonically stunning LP, DON’T BLAME THE WILD ONE! (2022). The LP flows through an eclectic soundscape with passion-charged lyrics and production. According…
AMANI ALAWWAD WRITES – After the recent summit between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Xi made a surprising move by calling a meeting of Central Asian countries March 22. Was this an audacious power play aimed at expanding its influence in the region? The meeting, held…
GONZALO REYES MONTANO WRITES – The United States is not the only country deeply concerned with the direction of China’s potential. Consider the substantially increased military spending plans proposed by the current government of the United Kingdom, based upon the fear of imminent danger posed by China. But what is…
JARED D’AGOSTINO WRITES – It seems like just yesterday …what a game! On March 21st, 2023, Shohei Ohtani led Team Japan against Mike Trout and Team USA in the final of the World Baseball Classic. Ohtani and Trout are considered two of baseball’s very best players and were put on…
NASER ALMESHARI WRITES – China’s success in brokering the Saudi Arabia-Iran peace treaty signifies the possibility of its expanding role in the Middle East. Beijing’s initiative in mediating the discussion between the two conflicting countries marks its first significant attempt at establishing a prominent position in the region. China successfully…
ADAM ESCLAMADO WRITES – One would not think of a humble safety pin as a tool for self-defense; yet a movement in India has thousands of women on social media platforms claiming to have utilized the pins to ward off attackers. Originally intended to keep together bits of clothing, the…
ANYA CHINAPPI WRITES – On Friday, Mar. 10, after seven years of tension, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to re-establish diplomatic relations in a deal brokered by China. The agreement was reached in Beijing after four days of previously undisclosed talks between the rival countries. With the current strain in…
JACOB VILLEGAS WRITES -New Zealand health officials are calling for vapes in New Zealand to be sold solely at pharmacies and/or to require a prescription for them, as a result of the rising number of teens picking up the unhealthy habit. This comes after New Zealand introduced the world’s first…
SAM BECK WRITES – The most recent example of the Myanmar Junta’s state-sponsored terrorism took place at Nan Nein Monastery in the Shan state on March 15, where they invaded and executed over 22 Buddhist monks and resistance fighters sheltering in the monastery. Myanmar’s long history of internal division gains…
MADELINE MICHEL WRITES – Everyone has their favorite Korean drama, Japanese anime, or Chinese martial arts movie, but what about their favorite live-action Boys Love (BL) series? Boys Love, which refers to shows in which the main narrative focuses on a romantic relationship between two male leads, is the newest,…
ARMAAN JHANGIANI writes – On March 13th, Loyola Marymount University had the honor of hosting a conversation with S. S. Rajamouli and his Executive Producer/partner Shobu Yarlagadda of Arka Media Works for the Film and Television College. More specifically, the dialogue focused on the Telugu film “RRR,” which just happened…
HAMAD ALHADBH WRITES – “For many developing countries, climate change is looming large over their existence. We have to take big steps today to save the world. This is the need of the hour.” So said Narendra Modi, India’s Prime Minister, during the COP 26 climate conference in Scotland in…
SARAH LOHMANN WRITES — We often like to see the world in black-and-white terms: bad people do bad things. It is rarely so simple in reality, however. Japanese director, Hirokazu Koreeda, explores moral complexity in Broker (2022), showing how our best efforts and intentions can be disrupted by systems that…
IREH KIM WRITES — South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol will visit Japan this week March 16-17, for the first time in almost twelve years, in an attempt to resolve a wartime labor compensation dispute. It all began in 1910, with the annexation of South Korea by Japan. During Japanese…
