Kishore Mahbubani and Lawrence O. Summers write in the current edition of FOREIGN AFFAIRS (excerpted with permission) – The mood of much of the world is grim these days. Turmoil in the Middle East, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of refugees; random terrorist attacks across the globe;…
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AUSTRALIA: To Find Asia’s Newest Tech Hub, Just Look Down Under
JAMES ROYCE WRITES – Cities like Tokyo, Beijing and Seoul have long fought to attract technology funders, firms and talent. But there’s a new kid on the block, and it woos with an Aussie accent. Melbourne, Australia used to be internationally recognized solely for being the most ‘livable’ city in…
INDIA: Is Free Internet Really Free?
ADRIAN NARAYAN WRITES — With more than 15 million users in 24 countries, Facebook’s Internet.org, has charmed the eyes of many Indians. The program aims to bring free Web access to the developing world, but because of controversy over the number of websites a user can visit, the project’s been renamed “Free Basics.”…
SOUTH KOREA: Annyeonghaseyo, Mr. Roboto
SABRINA VERDUZCO WRITES – The South Korean government has announced an investment of about $14.8 million in robot development. This recent endeavor was instigated by the recent spike in technological innovation that took place in China. This project seeks to demonstrate South Korea’s ability to compete with China’s cheap labor that…
Asia Media: First ‘In Review’ Magazine Published
LMU student staffers have produced Asia Media International’s first magazine — a look back at the year past. Printed on the highest quality glossy stock, the 28-page magazine celebrates the journalism and photo-jounalism of its senior staffers during the 2014-2015 LMU year. The energetic, full-color design came courtesy of AM…
SOUTH KOREA: How ‘Democratic’ Is It, Really?
SABRINA VERDUZCO WRITES – On Nov. 3rd, the South Korean government made the controversial, yet entirely legal decision to rewrite history textbooks. Many scholars and political opponents of the Park administration immediately condemned this move. Two weeks later, 70,000 protesters congregated in Seoul in an attempt to confront the South Korean government’s move…
INDIA: Women in an Insensitive Society With a Feudal Male Mindset
ADRIAN NARAYAN WRITES – On Nov. 16, “India’s Daughter” will air at 10 p.m. ET on PBS’ “Independent Lens.” This critically acclaimed documentary originally aired on March 8, 2015 in a number of countries, but was banned from Indian TV. British filmmaker Leslee Udwin’s film exposes the Dec. 2012 incident of a 23-year-old female…
Wanna know what China’s gonna do? Better pay attention to this video
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.
PHILIPPINES: Duterte Drama Reaches Anticlimactic Conclusion
MARY GRACE COSTA WRITES – In the mood to binge-watch a Filipino TV drama for a long afternoon of frustration, confusion, and catharsis? Look no further than the #DuterteSerye hashtag on Twitter. Rodrigo Duterte left his supporters on a cliffhanger the week before October 16 as they waited for the…
CHINA: If Posts are Censored, Do They Make a Sound?
EMILY ROCHA WRITES – A new study has exposed further censorship of Chinese citizens. Following the release of a documentary exposing the high levels of air pollution in China earlier this year, it was found that users on the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, called Weibo, were censored as they discussed the…
HONG KONG: Shining an Independent Light on ‘Dark Places’
MIRANDA PAK WRITES – A year ago, as he perceived local media outlets to be bowing to editorial pressure from the mainland, British expat Tom Grundy thought Hong Kong could use an independent English-language news source. Spurred by events surrounding the Umbrella Movement, the Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP) became…
CHINA: Journalists Speak Out on Behalf of Imprisoned Peers
EMILY ROCHA WRITES: During Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to the United States in late Sept., forty-four writers from the PEN American center spoiled the dinner party with a demand for the release of Chinese journalists and writers who are state captives for nothing more criminally offensive than…
JAPAN: War! What is it Good For?
LEXIE TUCKER WRITES – Since the end of World War II, Japan has successfully avoided war as a way to settle international conflicts. The country’s constitution intentionally promotes peace by de-emphasizing its military. That may no longer work. Early Saturday morning, September 19, the upper house of Japan’s parliament passed…
NORTH KOREA: Business as Usual in the Hermit Kingdom
RYAN LIPPERT WRITES – In early September, as if the international community needed to be reminded about the alleged capabilities of the North Korean armed forces, the country said that it was prepared to carry out a nuclear attack against (big shocker) the United States and “other hostile forces” for…
QATAR: Media Move to Keep the (Soccer) Ball in Qatar’s Court
ALEXIS CRUZ WRITES- World soccer is wrapped up in a whirlwind of scandal. Not only have American authorities indicted FIFA executives, they are now working with the Swiss to investigate soccer’s governing body for corruption and bribery. Once again under scrutiny are Russia’s (2018) and Qatar’s (2022) upcoming World Cup matches. Qatar…
INDONESIA: Overcoming Adversity One Step at a Time
MICHELLE VARINATA WRITES – Picture a world of rainbows , puppy dogs and smiling children running through rose-scented gardens. Sure, it’s a dream. But for some, even imagining such a scene could prove impossible, so harsh is their reality. As one of the world’s most family-oriented societies, Indonesia prioritizes family…