DYLAN RAMOS WRITES — Despite Typhoon Lan hitting parts of the country, Japanese voters took to the polls October 22, largely in support of Prime Minister Shinzō Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party, which has governed Japan for the past 58 years.= Abe officially secured his third term as Prime Minister November…
Full Article JAPAN: WINNING THIRD TERM, ABE SEEKS CONSTITUTIONAL REVISIONIn an exclusive interview with Asia Media International,Thailand’s former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, deposed by a 2006 military coup, but very much active in international diplomacy, offered some thoughts during a stopover in Los Angeles recently. The conversation took place in a well-known Beverly Hills cafe. What follows is a five-minute except.
Full Article Exclusive Interview with Former Thailand PM Thaksin
Madison Avenue has nothing on New China TV’s catchy video explaining the country’s 13th five-year plan, also known as the 十三五. You’ll be tapping your toes as your learn about the nation’s benevolent leaders and their big plans for, well, presumably the rest of us.
Full Article Wanna know what China’s gonna do? Better pay attention to this video
ASIA MEDIA WRITES – Looking for international journalist experience? The East-West Center is now accepting applications from US journalists for its 2014 China-United States Journalists Exchange!
Full Article EAST-WEST CENTER: International Fellowship OpportunityWorld Affairs Council Event Features America’s Only Asia-only Columnist’s New Book “In the Middle of the Future” Tom Plate – award-winning journalist, critically acclaimed book author and America’s only Asia-only columnist – will give a talk Tuesday, Feb. 4 on “In the Middle of the Future: Tom Plate on Asia” and…
Full Article SPECIAL EVENT: Tom Plate to Speak on Asia at Japanese American Museum, Feb. 4VITTO BANEZ WRITES – Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Vine are all social apps used to connect with friends, but Afghanistan says they’re more than that. The country aimed to promote these sites as democratizing tools through a recent summit. “Paiwand,” which translated to English means “connection,” was held on September…
Full Article AFGHANISTAN: Social Media Summit Praises Positive ImpactELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – Do uniforms foster a collectivist culture, or a class system? Thammasat University’s second year student, nicknamed Aum Neko, believes forcing students to wear uniforms violates the individual’s freedom of expression. A relic of sexual objectification, and domination, Neko released a provocative campaign of posters exploring Thailand’s…
Full Article THAILAND: No Uniform, No ServiceELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – Is speaking about a rumor the same as spreading it? One of Thailand’s top cops says it is, and four journalists now face serious jail time as a result. Police Maj Gen Pisit Pao-in, head of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, says posting a Facebook comment,…
Full Article THAILAND: Rumor Has ItThe East-West Center has announced it is now accepting applications for the 2014 Pakistan-United States Journalists Exchange, March 30-April 19, 2014. This program, now in its fourth year, is designed to increase and deepen public understanding of the two countries and their important relationship, one that is crucial to regional…
Full Article HONOLULU: East-West Center Announces Pakistan US Journalist ExchangeAfter making headlines in June for dismissing the unionized reporters who called for his investigation, Chang Jae-Ku is once again in the spotlight, and his streak of misbehavior continues. The newspaper owner and chairman of the Hankook Ilbo media group now faces charges for embezzling US$11.6 million for his personal…
Full Article SOUTH KOREA: Embezzlement Scandal Digs Chang Jae-Ku’s Grave DeeperThe ‘top 100’ anthology seeks to represent a perspective on the rise of Asia and its evolving relationship with the U.S. through a benchmark approach of columns that highlighted major historical events, from the handover of Hong Kong to China, to the Asian Financial Crisis, and to the rise of…
Full Article SOUTHEAST ASIA: New Book on Asia’s Rise Through the Eyes of a JournalistThere is more than one definition to the word “trip.” At its simplest it just means going to some place not close from where you started. But on a deeper level, going on a trip can mean a journey of some unexpected dimension or consequence. Both definitions apply to Prøf.…
Full Article CHINA AND THE UNITED STATES: Can a More Sophisticated Journalism on Both Sides Help Improve the Relationship?SHAMINI FLINT WRITES TO US FROM HER HOME IN SINGAPORE – Like many of you, I caught the environmental bug some time back. I belatedly realised that our lifestyles are unsustainable and our children are going to inherit the mess. In a panic, I began to write books (printed on recycled/sustainable…
Full Article SINGAPORE: Author Sows Seeds for a Better FutureELIZABETH NAAI WRITES – It seems as if George Orwell’s 1984 has become a reality in this technological age — anyone could be listening or doctoring conversations. Two weeks after Yuthasak Sasiprapa was appointed Deputy Defense Minister, a YouTube clip was released on July 6 of two voices: one allegedly…
Full Article THAILAND: Did I Hear That Right?