Dark day for Aussie expats in Asia as ABC names cut-off date

Published on Sep 14, 2014 by Luke Hunt

It’s official. The lives of tens of thousands of Australian expatriates in Asia will change forever at midnight on September 28, hours after the AFL grand final. A stake will be driven through our souls. For months we have been in denial: how could it be true that our government could close the ABC-managed Australia Network service?Read more from Lindsay Murdoch at The Sydney Morning Herald..

Malaysia Airlines Emotional Trauma

Published on Jul 27, 2014 by Luke Hunt

Many Malaysia Airlines staff are arriving at work with tears in their eyes. “Some of our members cannot fly because they have been affected mentally,” says the president of Malaysia Airlines’ flight attendants’ union Ismail Nasaruddin.Back-to-back disasters that killed six pilots and 21 flight attendants have had a devastating impact on the morale on thousands of air crew and employees of Malaysia’s national carrier.Read more from Lindsay Murdoch in The Age  .

Brunei’s Royal Partiers To Curb Their Enthusiasm

Published on Feb 25, 2014 by Luke Hunt

Plans to introduce Sharia Law within the next few months in Brunei has its supporters. Writing in the Brunei Bulletin, “Jaya” perhaps summed up the sentiments of many in the Islamic Kingdom when he wrote that he was looking forward to the introduction of strict laws.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..

Surfers and a Boat Load of Pot

Published on Jan 16, 2014 by Luke Hunt

American academic and author Peter Maguire is best known for his work on war crimes and legal issues surrounding conflict. Weighty issues of state like the Khmer Rouge tribunal in Cambodia are more his fare and stand in stark contrast to the drug smuggling days of the 1960s, 70s and 80s that feature in his latest book, Thai Stick – Surfers, Scammers and the Untold Story of the Marijuana Trade.This article first appeared in The Edge ReviewBy Luke HuntThat business thrived on the antics of young surfers from California, Hawaii, Australia and elsewhere — men and women who dreamed of perfect waves in exotic locations like Bali, access to cheap pot and deep pockets. For many, smuggling would become a....

In Malaysia, It’s Two Words for One God

Published on Oct 18, 2013 by Luke Hunt

Malaysian attempts at juggling local Islamic dictates against a desire by moderates and non-Muslims to forge a secular democratic society have often fallen flat, with the country winning too many comparisons with the likes of Pakistan.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..