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Culture
Makkah, Madinah a melting pot of languages
By Fadzli Ramli Makkah: I remember brushing up on my English and learning some Arabic prior to my recent trip to Makkah and Madinah for work and worship. I had assumed that English and Arabic would be the main languages of communication. However, soon after I entered the Khair Al…
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Society
Aptly named Hope, Asia’s first private prison provides positive character change
By Sang-ki Lee Executive director and former President of the Asia Journalists Association Seoul: Upon completing this article, reports emerged on the Internet and on social media that the suspect of Hwaseong serial murders of 30 years ago has been identified. The suspect, who was in his 20s at the…
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People
Hungarian doctor’s photos offer peek into Korean Empire
Seoul: In the summer of 1908, a 37-year-old Hungarian got on a train that crossed the Hangang Railroad Bridge and arrived at Namdaemun Station. The plaza in front of the station was brimming with morning energy. Gentlemen were dressed in white, while women wearing pale-green veils and Japanese people in…
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Society
BTS rocks capital of Saudi Arabia
Riyadh: The strong religious culture in Saudi Arabia couldn’t stop abaya-covered fans from springing up in their seats to dance as K-pop superband BTS performed its latest mega hit, “Boy With Luv,” in the country’s capital, Riyadh, Friday evening. The K-pop septet took the stage of Riyadh’s King Fahd International…
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Business
Gangneung, Korea’s bustling ‘coffee capital’ with refreshing sea aroma
Gangneung: Neil Vasdev, a University of Toronto professor, took an unforgettable seaside coffee break on a visit here for an international conference last week. He had a tasty cup of joe at a cafe overlooking the East Sea, together with his wife and some other forum attendees. “This coffee street…
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Politics
Former Japanese PM pays respects to Korean victims of forced labor
Seoul: Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama on Saturday paid tribute to the Koreans engaged in forced labor during Tokyo’s 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. On the second day of his two-day visit to South Korea, Hatoyama visited the National Memorial Museum of Forced Mobilization under Japanese Occupation…
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Politics
Sad day for journalism as Utusan Malaysia ceases publication
Kuala Lumpur: Utusan Malaysia, once among the largest circulation newspapers in Malaysia, has reportedly ceased publication. “This is one of the saddest days for journalism in Malaysia,” o veteran Malaysian journalist said. “This is a dark moment in the history of journalism in our country. We are losing a newspaper…
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Politics
Moon to skip Japanese emperor’s enthronement event
Seoul: South Korean President Moon Jae-in has no plan to attend a ceremony proclaiming the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito, a Cheong Wa Dae official said Friday, citing Tokyo’s stance on its trade retaliation against Seoul over a historical issue. Moon has linked his presence at the Oct. 22 event with…
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Politics
Nepal: No extradition treaty during Chinese President Xi visit
By Kuber Chalise Contributor to AsiaN from Nepal Kathmandu: As the diplomatic community and political parties in Kathmandu show serious concern about the Nepal government’s ‘plan’ to sign the Nepal-China Extradition Treaty during the high-level visit from China this weekend, Nepal seems to back out from its plan. “The understanding…
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Society
The colourful charm of a Sunday market in northernmost Vietnam
By Phong Lan Vietnam Dong Van: A market in Vietnam’s northernmost mountainous province of Ha Giang has attracted lots of visitors thanks to its unique beauty featuring diversified cultures of the local ethnic minority groups. The Dong Van Market is located about 150 kilometres to the northeast of Ha…
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