RYAN BYRNE WRITES-In a new bid to change the energy landscape in Asia, ministers from Australia, Japan and all of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) except Myanmar gathered at a meeting of the Asia Zero Emission Community in Japan to discuss the decarbonization of their economies. The consortium,…
BOOK REVIEW EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ELLA KELLEHER – The first page welcomes us to the pool, a sanctuary from all on-shore troubles. There are no nagging spouses, bills to pay, arrogant bosses, or spiteful children at the pool. The swimmers mind their business and swim away their worries. There are a few…
YUKANA INOUE WRITES – Boys Love — also known as the Yaoi, or BL — is one of the most popular genres of fictional media in Japan. From manga to live action shows, BL stories that previously had just a niche following have evolved into mainstream fare. “Ossan’s Love,” for…
KAYA RODRIGUES WRITES – Green buildings, green finance, green economy. Singapore says it is committed to bettering the environment and is moving the small island to the forefront of the fight for a sustainable future. So, on March 1, Singapore announced that it was partnering with the United Kingdom by…
TAIBAH AL-ASEERI – The United States Federal Reserve’s (Fed) decision to raise interest rates has had a ripple effect throughout Asian markets. Investors are concerned that the higher rates could lead to increased borrowing costs and slower economic growth, which could ultimately prove detrimental to businesses and consumers. Here, we…
COLUMNIST TOM PLATE WRITES – Geopolitical commentary can be invaluable, but not all analyses return good payback for your time and attention. The ‘quick-on-the draw’ stuff can lack perspective and flip and flop in the wind; even those drawn from deeper wells can take too long to surface. Then there’s…
AMANI ALAWWAD WRITES – On Feb 6, Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled against the government’s mandate requiring transgender people to undergo sexual reassignment surgery prior to using their preferred gender on identity cards. The landmark ruling is widely viewed as a victory that may lead to greater recognition…
BADER ALBANWAN WRITES – Early last month the Colombian Air Force detected a suspected Chinese spy balloon floating approximately 55,000 feet in its airspace. Unlike the spy balloon in the U.S., which provoked the Biden administration to order an F-22 Raptor from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia, to be shot…
