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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.
East Asia’s Pop Culture in an Age of Protest
By Ratu Ayu Asih Kusuma Putri
A single witty, scene-stealing figure amid a sea of demonstrators can become a spark -- amplifying the protest’s message and giving it a viral afterlife.
2023 Was a Wild Ride for Investment in Southeast Asia
By James Guild
The region is still feeling the economic reverberations of the U.S. Federal Reserve's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Restoring Ties by Restoring Monuments: Indian Diplomacy in Southeast Asia
By Krzysztof Iwanek
Conservation of sacred sites is an important aspect of India’s diplomacy toward Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
Contemporary Interpretations of Traditional Asian Crafts at Collect 2021
By Layne Vandenberg
This year’s online edition of Collect art fair showcases how modern artists are interpreting Asian craft art forms into traditional and contemporary pieces.
Indian Journalist Acquitted of Defamation in #MeToo Case
By Associated Press
Priya Ramani was the first of more than 20 women to come forward an allege sexual harassment by M.J. Akbar.
Myanmar’s Protest Movement Finds Friends in the Milk Tea Alliance
By Jessie Lau
Transnational solidarity – including shared protest tactics and strategies – between Hong Kong, Thailand, and Taiwan now stretches to include Myanmar’s anti-coup movement.
Korean American K-pop Stars Promote Mental Health Awareness
By Associated Press
Many recording artists struggle to cope with the trappings of fame, made more difficult by the perception of mental health as taboo topic.
Nepal, the Beacon of LGBTQ+ Rights in Asia? Not Quite.
By Sanju Gurung
Despite constitutional guarantees, the country’s laws are yet to fully support gender and sexual minorities.
Taiwan Will Restrict Lunar New Year Activities Due to COVID-19 Threat
By Nick Aspinwall
The country could also receive its first vaccine doses in February, although it must work around its exclusion from the World Health Organization.
An Indian Diplomat-Poet on Writing Amid Catastrophe
By Arun Budhathoki
“Poetry is an intrinsic need of our species,” says Ambassador Abhay Kumar.
Post-Politics or the Politics of Posting: Indian Politics on the Web
By Krzysztof Iwanek
What does India’s ruling party’s guidebook tell us about the era of social media we live in?
The Art of Asian Crafts
By Layne Vandenberg
Traditional Asian craft art forms -- ceramics, porcelain, lacquer, and jewelry -- are being upheld and interpreted by contemporary artists.
How Have Women Leaders Shaped South Asia’s Politics?
By Allia Bukhari
South Asia has elected its share of prominent women politicians. But what has that meant for gender equality and women's rights on the ground?
In Hong Kong, COVID-19 and Racism Make an Ugly Mix
By Jessie Lau
In Hong Kong, the pandemic has fanned the flames of a more silent epidemic: systematic racism.
Australia to Kill Pigeon that Crossed Pacific from Oregon
By Associated Press
Named after the U.S. president-elect, the world-traveler is now at the mercy of Australia's strict quarantine service.
Spell It Out: Should English Transcription of Indian Words Be Reformed?
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The British colonial government never worked out a coherent and precise way of spelling Indian names.
Official Costs of Tokyo Olympics Up by 22% to $15.4 billion
By Associated Press
The Olympics are to open on July 23, 2021.
Taiwanese Horror Game ‘Devotion’ Gets Pulled Again Over Chinese Objections
By Nick Aspinwall
Online game store GOG canceled a plan to re-release the game, which drew controversy last year over an Easter egg comparing Xi Jinping to Winnie the Pooh.
New Collectors Boost Chinese Public Art Fairs
By Layne Vandenberg and Layne Vandenberg
Galleries and artists are adapting to a new generation of collectors emerging in the Chinese art scene.
Pakistan: Reporting in a Pandemic
By Tehreem Azeem
Amid COVID-19, Pakistani journalists are looking for training to help them counter misinformation and stay safe while reporting.
Ang Lee on ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’ 20 Years Later
By Associated Press
An international co-production filmed in China and shot in Mandarin, it still ranks, easily, as the most successful non-English language film ever in the U.S.
In ’76 Days’, a Documentary Portrait of Lockdown in Wuhan
By Associated Press
Hao Wu's documentary offers a raw and vital examination of the first steps in the contagion's global march.
‘World’s Loneliest Elephant’ Arrives Safely in Cambodia
By Associated Press
Kaavan, a 1985 gift from Sri Lanka to Pakistan, had lived since 2012 all alone in a Pakistani zoo after his partner died.
EdTech in Rural China
By Layne Vandenberg
EdTech companies are starting to address the urban-rural disparity in educational opportunities prevalent throughout China.
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