Blog
Asia Life
Sports, culture and the arts are a passion for billions in the Asia-Pacific, and offer unique insights into what makes countries here tick. From the latest cricket match to prize-winning novels and the latest art exhibitions, The Diplomat's bloggers cover it all, giving you a fresh perspective on the region.
Darkness and Hope in Load Poems Like Guns
By Catherine Putz
A new collection of poetry by contemporary Afghan women poets brings Herat's literary heritage to a broader audience.
Post-Censorship, Myanmar’s Literary World Awakens
By Poppy McPherson
In Mandalay, hundreds gathered to hear talks by Burmese and international authors.
A Glimpse of Afghanistan's Future -- On the Ski Slopes
By Sanjay Kumar
In Afghanistan’s historic Bamiyan province, a skiing competition is showing off the country’s changing demography.
Hanoi Citizens Protest Tree-Felling Plan
By Helen Clark
Plans to chop down the trees that line the city’s historic streets have met with a vigorous response.
Myanmar: After the Protests, Out Come the Cartoonists
By Poppy McPherson
In Myanmar, cartoonists skewer authority and mostly get away with it, though fear remains.
Spring: The Season of Festivals in South Asia
By Akhilesh Pillalamarri
South and Central Asia have a rich tradition of springtime celebrations.
New Zealander Jailed in Myanmar for Disrespecting Buddha
By Helen Clark
A bar manager and two colleagues face two years in prison for a photoshopped image.
Fiza Farhan: A Pakistani Change-Maker
By Sonya Rehman
A young entrepreneur is empowering rural Pakistan with microfinance and energy projects
Myanmar’s Royal Legacy
By Poppy McPherson
The Burmese royal family may have lost their throne long ago but their influence lingers in Myanmar.
Your Guide to the UN Climate Change Talks
By Fiona Harvey
Why 2015 could be the most important year ever for curbing climate change.
Reclaiming Pakistan, One City at a Time
By Sonya Rehman
A new tourist bus company is setting out to reboot culture in an exhausted country.
Martin Crowe: Cricket Celebrates a New Zealand Sporting Great
By Kiran Mohandas Menon
One of New Zealand’s finest cricketers is to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.