-
East Asia
Football connects world in Brazil
Brazil is a passionate place for football. “Vai Japan! Japan! Japan!” That is the phrase that people, from kids to the elderly, used in Brazil to cheer my team on the minute they found me walking with the Japanese football jersey on in town. We did not know each other’s…
Read More » -
East Asia
“2014 Dream Together Master Program” for International Sport Development and Cooperation
“2014 Dream Together Master Program” for International Sport Development and Cooperation begins 2nd year in South Korea The ‘Dream Together Master Program (DTMP)’ began its first semester on September 1, 2014, with full support from the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism (MCST) and Korea Foundation for the Next Generation…
Read More » -
East Asia
China’s central bank cuts RP rate to spur growth
By Joel Lee China’s central bank cut its repurchase agreement rate to the lowest level since Jan 2011 in a bid to counter the slower-than-expected growth. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) announced Thursday it has sold 10 billion yuan ($1.6 billion) of 14-day contracts at 3.5 percent – a…
Read More » -
East Asia
South Koreans more unhappy and unhealthy than other Asians
By Joel Lee South Koreans are unhappier and unhealthier than other less wealthy Asian neighbors, a public opinion poll showed Tuesday, reflecting depressing levels of sentiments on people’s lives in Asia’s fourth-largest economy nation. According to a joint survey – 2014 Well-being Index – by public opinion research company…
Read More » -
East Asia
North Korea’s failing diplomacy in Europe, Russia and Japan
By Andrei Lankov Kang Sok-ju, Korean Workers’ Party secretary for international issues, has departed for a trip to a number of European countries. He visits Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Germany where he meets local politicians from assorted political parties. There is little doubt that the expected visit of a high…
Read More » -
East Asia
The politics of art in the art of politics: South Korean art festival marred by censorship scandal
By Joel Lee A South Korean art exhibition is embroiled in a storm of international controversy after an art work was pulled under political pressure, raising the issue of freedom of expression and censorship. The Gwangju Biennale, an art festival dedicated to the spirit of democracy, is held in the…
Read More » -
East Asia
[AJA Global Report] Movie Star Jackie Chan’s son detained in Beijing over drugs
The son of movie star Jackie Chan, Jaycee Chan, also known as Fang Zuming, and an award-winning Taiwanese actor, Ko Chen-tung, were detained by Beijing police for drug-related offences. Over 100 grams of marijuana were found and both Chan and Ko confessed to using drugs. The police put Chan under…
Read More » -
East Asia
S. Korean economy strong against global risks
By Joel Lee South Korea’s economy will stay firm against global financial risk factors with strong fundamentals in foreign currency loan and liquidity position, the nation’s integrated financial regulator Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) projected Thursday. Korea’s foreign exchange reserves is the world’s 7th largest, with a 29-months record streak of…
Read More » -
East Asia
S. Korean economy up 0.5 pct in Q2: BOK
By Joel Lee South Korea’s economy expanded a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent in the second quarter (Q2) from the first (Q1), supported by manufacturing growth, revised data by the Bank of Korea (BOK) showed Thursday. The figure is slightly lower than the July estimate of 0.6 percent growth. Korea’s gross…
Read More » -
East Asia
S. Korean conglomerates boost R&D spending, cut facility
By Joel Lee South Korea’s top conglomerates boosted spending on research and development (R&D) as a future growth strategy, while trimming down on capital investments in first half characterized by low consumer spending and exports. 167 listed non-financial firms belonging to the country’s 30 largest business groups poured 16.2 trillion…
Read More »