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Intensifying competition results in trashy dramas

The rating success of television dramas has always been vitally important to major broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS. The race for top ratings intensified when cable channels like jTBC, TV Chosun, MBN and Channel A entered the drama industry a few years ago, becoming major forces in K-drama. The ratings war drives many broadcasters […]

2 April , 2014Comments Off on Intensifying competition results in trashy dramasRead More

K-pop group EXO ready will sweep China

K-pop group EXO are ready to release their new mini album in China and Korea, starting with an extravagant showcase at Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul on April 15, SM Entertainment said Tuesday. Titled “EXO Comeback Show,” the concert will unveil the group’s new songs and dances which are highly anticipated by their fans. With this […]

2 April , 2014Comments Off on K-pop group EXO ready will sweep ChinaRead More

[Books] An Afghan Odyssey from Within

A Fort of Nine Towers: An Afghan Family Story By Qais Akbar Omar | Farrar, Straus and Giroux | 2013 Unlike many books on Afghanistan written by foreigners and Afghan expatriates, A Fort of Nine Towers is a memoir of native Afghan Qais Akbar Omar. Omar presents a rare first hand account of one of […]

24 March , 2014Comments Off on [Books] An Afghan Odyssey from WithinRead More

A forgotten story of rebellion in British Raj

“Once upon a time” the British ruled in the Indian sub-continent. I find this phrase “once upon a time” rather interesting in our context. It creates a distance between the events of the story and the reader: distance in time, connection or direct relevancy. Today, the history of the sub-continent is talked about like some […]

24 March , 2014Comments Off on A forgotten story of rebellion in British RajRead More

[Asia Round-up] Taiwan’s challenges over its sovereignty

By the NUMBERS Taiwan’s challenges over its sovereignty The debate over Taiwan’s sovereignty, status as a nation-state or part of China is being rekindled with its recent loss of diplomatic ties with Gambia. Many speculate about Taiwan’s position and role in the international community. In light of this, Taiwan’s “soft power” becomes even more important […]

24 March , 2014Comments Off on [Asia Round-up] Taiwan’s challenges over its sovereigntyRead More

[Asia Round-up] Samuragochi’s shameful deception

Editor’s note: Followings are summaries of editorials from major Asian media on current issues. Samuragochi’s shameful deception The deception by the supposedly deaf composer Mamoru Samuragochi is twofold. Takashi Niigaki, a lecturer at Toho Gakuen School of Music, disclosed he had ghostwritten 20 music scores credited to Samuragochi for the past 18 years and cast […]

24 March , 2014Comments Off on [Asia Round-up] Samuragochi’s shameful deceptionRead More

[Asia Round-up] Polls not likely to solve Thai crisis

Cajoling wild jumbos The Island, Sri Lanka The last few months have seen several protests against the government’s failure to prevent wild elephant attacks on far-flung villages. Affected people demand electric fences. But they won’t help so long as villages sit on elephant migration paths and forests continue to shrink, depriving animals of food and […]

28 February , 2014Comments Off on [Asia Round-up] Polls not likely to solve Thai crisisRead More

[Books] Mental map of local India and China

Inside Out, India and China: Local Politics Go Global By William Antholis | Brookings Institution Press | 2013 The world has its eyes on the two emerging Asian giants, India and China, which not only contain one-third of the world’s population, but also have been steadily growing at amazing rates during the past decade, even […]

24 February , 2014Comments Off on [Books] Mental map of local India and ChinaRead More

“See you in Pyeong Chang!” Russia closes costly Sochi Olympics

The Mayor of PyeongChang Lee Seok-rae (2nd R) waves the Olympic flag at the closing ceremony for the 22nd Winter Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. (Xinhua Flushed with pride after its athletes’ spectacular showing at the costliest Olympics ever, Russia celebrated Sunday night with a visually stunning finale that handed off a smooth but […]

24 February , 2014Comments Off on “See you in Pyeong Chang!” Russia closes costly Sochi OlympicsRead More

Excavation likely to locate Kapilavastu, the ancient Shakya kingdom in Nepal

The ongoing excavation in Tilaurakot, the capital of ancient Shakya kingdom, is likely to prove with scientific evidences that the palace of king Suddhodhana was in Kapilvastu of Nepal. Lord Buddha was born to Shakya king Suddhodhana of Kapilvastu some 2600 years ago. At a time when a section of Indian scholars have been claiming […]

20 January , 2014Comments Off on Excavation likely to locate Kapilavastu, the ancient Shakya kingdom in NepalRead More