Right, or white? Following the conclusion of the Miss Malaysia 2012 Pageant, a new question arose: What defines “Malaysian-ness?” In a way it was sort of funny. Asians (like everyone else) hate stereotyping. And yet some critics of the winner of the crown were upset because Kimberly Leggett didn’t look….er…Malaysian.…
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NORTH KOREA: Wedding Gift for the ‘First Couple’ — a Modest Proposal!
(An opinion column) — I guess I am a sucker for old-fashioned romance. When I heard about the stunning marriage of Kim Jong Un, the young new leader of North Korea, to the lovely Ri Sol Ju, apparently a professional singer, I hurriedly buried the ideological hatchet and grabbed the…
BANGLADESH: Throwing the (Face)Book at the Prime Minister!
Posting unflattering Facebook messages about Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has landed another person in hot water. On July 12, The Daily Star: Lebanon reported that Bangladesh police jailed Shariful Islam after he posted to his Facebook page an edited picture of the female prime minister’s face superimposed on a partially-naked…
HONG KONG: Who’s Trying to Knock Off the Feisty In-Media?
The offices of Independent media, or In-media news publication were attacked August 7. Witnesses say four Chinese men wearing surgical masks and gloves entered the activist news site’s small facility and used hammers to destroy three computers and one television before fleeing. An on-going police investigation has yet to turn up…
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: ‘Asia Media’ Founder and LMU Professor Gets Royal Tour
HCT NEWS, the home page of the sprawling Higher Colleges of Technology system in the United Arab Emirates, hreaded by Vice Chancellor Tayeb A. Kamali (pictured), recently posted this story: Tom Plate, the Distinguished Scholar of Asian and Pacific Studies at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, recently made an…
Where Have All the Smart People in China’s Government Gone?
China allegedly has at least 1.3 billion people residing within its current ample borders. (Has anyone ever counted?!) China also has very many problems, as befits such a gigantic country trying to maintain the extraordinary economic success against the downside of a very troubled recent past. Therefore, it could be…
BANGLADESH: Media Brawl Spotlights a Murder
It remains a dangerous time for journalists in Bangladesh, as violence against them continues. Only in the latest chapter, it was not a fight between police and journalists, but rather, amongst the journalists themselves. The Daily Star reported on Monday, June 25th, 2012 that newsmen from ATN Bangla, a private TV channel, attacked Jahangir Alam Prodhan, a journalist for the…
SINGAPORE: Three Diplomats Send Malaysian Bloggers Into Frenzy
How close is too close? Malaysian blogs claim that neighboring Singapore has crossed the line — yet again! While the two states are separated by only a short bridge, both insist on steering clear of meddling in each other’s domestic politics. However, several online blogs have accused Singapore of breaching this mutual, even…
PACIFIC PERSPECTIVES: BULLETIN: ASIAN STUDENTS ROCK – SO THIS IS BIG NEWS?
Los Angeles – High up in the category of news that’s too familiar to be newsworthy is the latest poll that finds Asians are the most-educated and highest-earning population in the United States. OMG – I didn’t know that, did you??!! Yeah, right: And so the good people at the…
IN REVIEW: In the United Arab Emirates — All Eyes are on O … B … E ….Y — the Envelope, Please!
Despite the hectic weeks of the final examination period, the auditorium was quite full. The audience members were handed small brown envelopes as they entered the theater venue, the purpose of which was to be discovered at the end of the play. And so the night of June 13 started…
IRAN and IRAQ: Media Try to Smooth Over Historic Divide
Iran and Iraq have not shared the friendliest of histories but recently both countries seem more willing to set aside their differences in order to collaborate within the media field. Ezzatollah Zargham, Director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), initiated talks with several Iraqi officials as a means…
IN REVIEW: Media Asia Explains Bangladesh’s Complex Media
Bangladesh is only recently a democratically-elected country, and is therefore still feeling the growing pains of development. The nation’s plight can be illustrated through an inspection of remaining political oppression of the media. But understanding that country’s media system is difficult, at best. Now, at last, comes a new media…
IN REVIEW: Finding Humor in Myanmar
Zarganar, a famous Burmese comedian who was recently released from prison last year, is set to appear in a popular UK comedy show, “No Pressure to be Funny.” Since the late 80’s, Zarganar has been in and out of prison, persecuted for speaking out against the oppressive rule of the military…
MYANMAR: Headlines Capture Essence of Political Change
Recent headlines in the Myanmar media are a clear indication of a polarized country. Some articles touch on Japanese plans to develop the Myanmar Stock Exchange. Others describe the plights of 471 confirmed political prisoners in Myanmar, with 465 more awaiting confirmation. Looking at the Myanmar headlines on Mizzima News,…
NEPAL: Journalists Find Themselves Targets of Political Protest
A variety of ethnic and religious groups have joined forces against local media personnel in Nepal recently. According to both the Federation of Nepali Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, these groups expect their opinions to be taken into account during the upcoming drafting of the new Nepali Constitution, and believe…
BANGLADESH: Journalists Prove Their Story True in Head to Head with Police
The journalists of Bangladesh have found themselves victims of police brutality once again. On Monday, May 27th 2012, The Daily Star reported that three on-duty photojournalists were assaulted by police men the previous day. According to the reports, the journalists were taking photographs of students at Dhaka Women Polytechnic Institute…