A land of rising opportunities: Kiwis doing business in Japan

Starting up a business in Japan is tough. But for some Kiwis, the opportunity to bring a touch of Aotearoa to the Land of the Rising Sun has proven impossible to pass up. Tao Lin meets three Kiwis with unique businesses in Japan.

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Modi, Hindu nationalism, and the Indian general election

On May 23, India will declare the results of its election. Yoga and cow protection laws may have played a big role in helping current prime minister Narendra Modi secure India's Hindu majority, writes Rick Weiss of Victoria University.

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'Fake news' and the dangers of regulating disinformation in Singapore

Singapore's Prevention of Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act is one of the most draconian responses to fake news that has emerged since the election of US president Donald Trump, writes Massey University's Mohan Dutta.

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What has media in New Zealand been reporting about Asia? Here's a roundup of stories from the past week. 

• Death Bed: The story of Kelly Savage
  RADIO NZ
     
• Christchurch mosque shootings two months on: The history of Islam in New Zealand 
  NZ HERALD 
   
• Still seeking answers, 10 years after family members killed in Sri Lankan civil war
  NZ HERALD
   
• Grandfather's diary reveals secret life as a Chinese revolutionary
  STUFF 
   
• Jacinda Ardern says Christchurch Call won't fight online fake news 
  NZ HERALD

• Grappling with external threats to NZ's democracy
  STUFF
    
• Māori pro-wrestler Toa Henare on the rise in Japan
  TE KARERE

• A sport traveller's guide to Japan
  NEWSHUB

On May 17, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern travelled to Singapore to launch the New Zealand-Singapore Enhanced Partnership. Here's how local media covered the visit. 

• 'You'll never hear me pretend to be superwoman': New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
  STRAITS TIMES
    
• New Zealand, Singapore can 'model' benefits of free and rules-based trade, says PM Jacinda Ardern
  STRAITS TIMES
    
• Singapore and New Zealand are 'natural partners', say PMs
  CHANNEL NEWS ASIA 
   
• Christchurch Call reaffirms need to tackle online threats, says PM Lee
  STRAITS TIMES
   
• Singapore, New Zealand to step up cooperation in four areas 
  STRAITS TIMES   

Khairiah A Rahman, AUT

Get to know Khairiah A Rahman, a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology's School of Communication Studies who specialises in Islam and communication.

What are you working on right now?

I'm writing a joint paper on negotiating discrimination of the Pan-Asian identity. This is a collaborative autoethnographic study which is to be presented at the 27th Asia Media Information and Communication Conference at the University of Chulalongkorn, Bangkok in June 2019. The work underscores the dangers of normalised discrimination in regular conversations as well as media depictions.

Tell us the most interesting thing that’s not on your CV:

My joint research on representations of Islam and Muslims in New Zealand media was cited in various media outlets, including Radio New Zealand, The Spinoff and Pacific Media Watch.

What’s your favourite film about Asia?

Jihad on Terrorism. This documentary explains the misconception of the term jihad as depicted in media coverage. The film includes interviews with academics and scholars - both Muslims and non-Muslims - who define, explain and condemn terrorist acts as unsupported by Islam and punishable for targeting civilians and the innocent. I find the part about the UN and countries failing to agree on the definition of terrorism interesting.

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Taiwan: Parliament legalises same-sex marriage

Taiwanese lawmakers have voted in favour of recognising same-sex marriages, making Taiwan the first place in Asia to pass gay marriage legislation. Thousands of gay rights supporters gathered in Taipei to celebrate the historic ruling. 

World: Renowned architect I.M. Pei dies aged 102

Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei, who designed some of the world's most iconic buildings, has died at the age of 102. Among his most famous works were the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, and Hong Kong's futuristic Bank of China Tower.

Malaysia: Teen commits suicide after Instagram poll

Malaysian lawmakers have called for an investigation following the death of a 16-year-old girl who asked her Instagram followers whether she should live or die. One Malaysian MP said those who voted could be guilty of abetting suicide.