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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.
The Lives of Phnom Penh’s Chams
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
In the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, a small community of Cambodian Muslims live half their lives on the water.
A K-Pop Star, a Flag, and a Political Imbroglio
By Jenna Gibson
How a 16-year-old singer found herself in the middle of a cross-strait spat.
Faking News in India’s Unreal Times
By Krzysztof Iwanek
The fake news websites are a response to the absurdities of our times and a satire on media.
'My, My! What’s Happening to My Country!': Remembering R. K. Laxman (1921-2015)
By Ritu Gairola Khanduri
R. K. Laxman's cartoons captured modern India in a way that no other artist could have.
Netflix vs. Indonesia
By Catherine Putz
Indonesia’s largest telecom recently blocked the streaming service mere weeks after its global debut.
Rescuing Rama From the Clutches of Hindu Fundamentalists
By Sanjay Kumar
At the Jaipur Literature Festival, experts debate the legacy of the Ramcharitmanas.
Shifting Sands in the Mekong River
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
In eastern Cambodia, the global demand for sand to be used in concrete mixing has had profound impacts on river dwellers.
Vietnam: Portents and the Death of Cu Rua
By Helen Clark
Hanoi’s famous turtle dies at a most inauspicious time.
Entering the Kingdom of Cambodia
By Luc Forsyth and Gareth Bright
The second country in A River’s Tail is home to roughly 15 million people, and is one of the poorest countries in Asia.
Taking China’s Fight Against AIDS Online
By Fanny Potkin
The HIV/AIDS fight in China is going online, with support from an unlikely ally: the Chinese government.
China's Wanda Group Purchases Hollywood Film Studio
By Shannon Tiezzi
Jurassic World 2 will be brought to you by China: Wanda Group acquires Legendary Entertainment.
The Rights and Traditions Rodeo: India’s Jallikattu Ban
By Krzysztof Iwanek
A regional bull-taming sport reopens the debate on the state and traditions in India.