ANNALISA DEL VECCHIO WRITES – It could well become the most noticed new archaeological site in the world. Imagine an open air museum, a tourist site and a display of ancient history rolled into one. This is the future Al-Ula, a project that France and Saudi Arabia agreed jointly to develop last year. Al-Ula, an archaeological site located about 1100 kilometers from Riyadh, will contain ancient cultural artifacts dating back a thousand years, towering sandstone mountains and a lush oasis…
JOSEPH LITTUA WRITES—Joji, a Japanese-Australian R&B singer, is not your classic success story. In fact, one might argue that he is not yet a star. But his transition from dark social commentary via his old Youtube Channel, TVFilthyFrank, to the music that he is known for today is somewhat astonishing.…
WEI WU WRITES — The South Korean movie “Parasite”, 2019 Golden Palm Award winner and recently released in East Asia after its 2018 debut, has re-ignited popular discussion of important issues about Korea. The movie was directed by Bong Joon-Hyun who has directed “Memories of Murder” and “Snowpiercer”. Bong focuses on…
ANDRE HACOBIAN WRITES—Recently, against the backdrop of escalating violence, protesters marched through the streets of Hong Kong, waving American flags while singing the Star Spangled Banner. They love freedom, democracy and the American way—as they perceive it. They also want America’s help. A lot of it. Recently, as police fired…
SAMANTHA CLANCY WRITES — In a time of rising carbon emissions, one country is commendably focusing its efforts on environmental sustainability: Bhutan. Located between China and India, its mountainous terrain and dense forest areas provide a sort of natural inaccessibility, allowing ecosystems to flourish, thanks to both the current administration’s…
KATHERINE DOUGLAS WRITES — What is voluntourism? A trip abroad that entails community service work as well as a way to give back to communities around the world. Sounds good, but many people neglect to research the organizations they have decided to help. And this can be a serious problem.…
NATHAN RIVAS WRITES – Once again, anime has come to Tinsel Town. Sort of. A few weeks ago, Warner Bros. announced that Lana Wachowski will write and direct a fourth Matrix film, with actors Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss reprising their roles as Neo and Trinity. Never mind that the…
DIANA CASTILLO WRITES- Just to bring us all up to date: In Hong Kong, an extradition bill was introduced in April that could have allowed criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China, where they could have faced unfair trials and been subjected to violence. In addition, the extradition bill…
MICHELLE DOR WRITES– A 34-year- old man in Tokyo named Yusuke Taniguchi with something of a genius memory allegedly stole credit card information from 1,300 customers to enrich himself. While the total amount of loot didn’t actually make him rich, the amazing way that he did it has made him…
TOM PLATE WRITES — Right, you don’t have to remind me: the Chinese civilization of three thousand-plus years has at its ready ancient sayings for almost everything that comes up in life – sort of like the French who “always have a word for it”. Well, we Americans are not voiceless…
ANDREA PLATES WRITES –Military-related suicide is a worldwide contagion. Since 2017, the number of such deaths in South Korea has gone up. Troop morale has gone down. Angry, conscripted men are calling for women to join their discontented ranks. Gay men and women report harassment, bullying, assault and, according to…
Hyung Jun You Writes — Funeral for Liberalism? After President Trump won the election, there were waves of articles from academics and journalists about the death of liberalism and American led world order. The cover of 2017 January/February issue of Foreign Affairs boldly said, “Out of Order: The Future of International System”. These views gained…
ASIA MEDIA WRITES – The following succinct commentary was solicited by the editors of USA Today and provided by our founder and president, Prof Tom Plate. It was published in this well-known national newspaper on Thursday 15-16 August. Please see: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2019/08/15/donald-trump-right-china-over-hong-kong-editorials-debates/2024883001/ TEXT By Tom Plate The notion that the U.S. should…
NICOLE ALAVERDIAN WRITES–Asia is starting to focus on its own environmental problems, rather than taking on the West’s metaphorical and literal trash. In recent months, many countries, including Singapore and China, have refused to take more trash imports from the West. China, the biggest consumer of discarded plastics, has now…
[Pix above of US Secretary of Sate Mike Pompeo] TOM PLATE WRITES – Let’s get some simple facts straight: Hong Kong is not in the sovereign hands of the People’s Republic of China due to crass invasion or communist subversion or anything nefarious. This historic territory was semi-willingly deeded back…
IMMANUEL PORTUS WRITES — Following the slew of “Asian movies” that have been gaining traction this year, such as “The Farewell” and “Yellow Rose,” comes a defining one from none other than the Marvel Cinematic franchise. “Shang-Chi” is widely touted as Hollywood’s first Asian Superhero movie (with emphasis on the…
