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Media, Science & the Arts

Indonesia

Islam at the Movies: A Cinematic Match Made in Heaven

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Islamic films have found a devoted market in Indonesia. This trend will be sustained if movies in this genre achieve commercial success.

Australia

Tech Platforms in Australia: Bargaining for a New Paradigm

Thursday, November 3, 2022

James Meese of RMIT University discusses the impact of Australia’s News Media Bargaining Code

Philippines

Reporting Facts to Power: What the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Means for Journalism

Thursday, November 18, 2021

This could be a spark that inspires reporters to focus on getting the facts right amid the deluge of false and misleading information spread by social media.

Hong Kong

Welcome to the Museums of Lifelong Learning

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

The arts and culture sector can lead the way in healing the world after the pandemic and bridging divides.

China

The Quest for Outer Space Norms: Legal vs Political

Thursday, July 29, 2021

Proponents of transparency and confidence-building measures led by the US need to meet halfway with China and Russia.

China

Sense and Sensitivities: China and Hollywood at Odds in the Cinema World

Thursday, April 29, 2021

Hollywood’s relationship with China — a marriage of convenience headed for divorce over irreconcilable differences.

China

And the Winner is…: Asian Filmmakers and Stars Take the Spotlight

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Against the backdrop of the rise of anti-Asian racism, the accolades suggest that Asians in Hollywood are a formidable cultural force to be reckoned with.

Global

To Boost Vaccine Confidence Requires Politics – Alongside Science

Thursday, April 8, 2021

These efforts must be pragmatic, holistic and sustainable.

China

The Urban Ethics of Covid-19

Thursday, April 16, 2020

In our well-intentioned efforts to counter the Covid-19 crisis, we face ethical dilemmas, and will invariably be constrained by the existing conditions of urban design.

Japan

The Thrill of Victory, the Agony of Defeat – and the Yawn of Postponement?

Thursday, April 2, 2020

Even before the coronavirus pandemic forced their postponement, the 2020 Tokyo Games were haunted by memories of past Japanese Olympiads.

Global

Instagram and the Psychological Perils of Social Comparisons

Thursday, April 25, 2019

With more than 1 billion active users, Instagram has become one of the fastest growing social media brands. But as the platform grows more popular, so too its links with poor mental health become more apparent. The Asia-Pacific region, a social media growth hotspot, is already seeing increasing levels of anxiety and depression – but it is also taking measures to deal with the problem.

Global

How to Regulate Internet Platforms Without Breaking Them

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

Anticompetitive practices are rife in the internet-enabled economy, and lawmakers have struggled to keep up. Authorities must find a balance between regulation and fostering an open, healthy environment for this economy to thrive.

ASEAN

Trolls for Sale in the World’s Social Media Capital

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Before the world learned of Cambridge Analytica and Russian trolls, there was Rodrigo Duterte’s presidential campaign in the Philippines. Regarded as “patient zero” in our current era of disinformation, the Duterte campaign and the culture that made it possible provide valuable insight into the psychology of disinformation workers.

China

The Path to Heliocentrism for China and Europe

Thursday, July 26, 2018

Neither scientific progress nor its ability to move society forward is guaranteed. That Earth revolves around the sun seems obvious to us now, but this conclusion came about over 1000 years, taking varying paths in China and Europe. The history of astronomy in these two regions shows us how important political systems are to scientific development.

ASEAN

A Matter of Trust: Media and Politics in Southeast Asia

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Southeast Asians have dwindling confidence in traditional journalism. As a result, social media platforms such as Facebook and WhatsApp have become the main source of information for voters. A combination of wider access to the internet and declining trust in longstanding news sources is changing the dynamics of democracy across the region.

China

Trust in Ratings: China's Social Credit System

Thursday, May 17, 2018

China has launched its "social credit system," hoping to increase social trust. But when value is calculated by opaque algorithms using vast amounts of personal data, what will happen to China, and indeed, what might it mean for the world?

ASEAN

Facebook is Hurting Democracy in Myanmar

Thursday, May 10, 2018

In Myanmar, Buddhist nationalist groups have used Facebook to swamp public opinion with anti-Muslim speech. As elected representatives are pressed to follow these extreme views, Myanmar is showing the world how unreined social media can hurt democracy.

ASEAN

Anti-Fake News Remedies Worse than the Disease in Asia

Thursday, May 3, 2018

False information sways elections, and social media makes it worse. So governments are rushing through laws to block “fake news.” But in Southeast Asia, these laws will do more harm to elections than fake news.