By Mari Yamaguchi Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s ruling party summoned executives from two leading television networks Friday, the latest in a series of actions that opponents say endanger press freedom and intimidate the media. The Liberal Democratic Party’s panel on information and communications strategy questioned the executives from Asahi TV and public broadcaster […]
A mercurial junta leader known for sharp tongue — Banana peel, birthday plans, and multiple personalities
By Todd Pitman and Thanyarat Doksone Associated Press BANGKOK (AP) — Ear tugs. A flying banana peel. Sarcastic remarks about getting smacked, or punched — or even executed. Such is life for the press corps covering Thailand’s notoriously testy military ruler. Since leading a putsch that ousted Thailand’s elected government last May, general-turned-prime minister Prayuth […]
EDITORIAL: North Korea is all over the news — Or maybe not…
There were no stories about the controversial Sony hack from the Associated Press (AP) Pyongyang bureau in North Korea. You can refer to page 5 and the last three issues for background information if you have been hiding from mass media.
Lilting, inversions, and stray dogs: Top 10 Asian movie selections of 2014
By Andrew Hamlin Northwest Asian Weekly I saw this year in Asian film as anime-heavy, but with a number of laudable live-action pictures in the bargain. Here are my picks for the Top 10 Asian Pacific American films for this year. 10. “Patema Inverted,” directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, starring Yukiyo Fujii, Nobuhiko Okamoto, and Shinya […]
The rush of rabble rousing
By Wayne Chan Northwest Asian Weekly I’ve never been known to be much of a rabble rouser. I don’t even know where I can find any rabble that needs rousing. You can say a lot of things about me, but “troublemaker” has never been one of them.
China falling in love with Sherlock Holmes
By Fu Ting Associated Press SHANGHAI (AP) – Zhou Yeling dragged herself out of bed at 5 a.m. for a long-awaited date with her favorite Englishman — Sherlock Holmes. Zhou, 19, watched the third season premiere of the BBC’s “Sherlock” on Jan. 2 on the British broadcaster’s website. Two hours later, the episode started showing […]
Russians attempt to topple Google in Vietnam
By Chris Brummitt The Associated Press HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s booming Internet scene is littered with failed startups that tried to take on Google and other entrenched U.S. web companies. That’s not deterring a newly launched Russian-Vietnamese outfit that believes it can unseat the American search engine in this fast-growing Asian market and also […]
Myanmar opposition party to hold party congress
By Aye Aye Win THE Associated Press YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — In another sign of political reform and reconciliation in Myanmar, the country’s biggest party, led by opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, will hold its first-ever congress in the country’s former capital next week. “This will be the NLD’s first party congress since the […]
US election fascinates Chinese; some envy voters
By Didi Tang The Associated Press BEIJING, CHINA (AP) — Where can a pop star score a hit by talking about the U.S. Electoral College for 33 minutes? In China, where Gao Xiaosong’s straightforward explanation of the system drew more than 1 million hits in four days.
Ex-junta prisoner Suu Kyi takes office in Myanmar
By Aye Aye Win and Todd Pitman The Associated Press NAYPYITAW, Myanmar (AP) ― Aung San Suu Kyi capped a tenacious, decades-long journey from political prisoner to office holder in long-repressed Myanmar as the country’s main opposition party moved its struggle for democratic rule inside government for the first time.