China's increased spending on military material causes concern among neighboring countries. Background Asia is gearing up this year, with China becoming the continent’s new leading military spending power. China, Japan and India rank 2nd, 6th and 7th respectively in the list of the 10 countries with the most military spending in 2011. Whereas the US cut down their expenses in 2011 due... Continue Reading
Vietnamese food culture reflects life, family and Asian philosophy. It often times seemed to my siblings and me that my family is the only one in my hometown not to own an Asian diner or restaurant. My parents have been living in Germany for more than 30 years now, but even though my mother is a culinary master and could easily appease the Germans’ hunger for the Asian cuisine, it has... Continue Reading
The transition from a military rule to democracy will be a long process but the government with President Thein Sein at the helm shows that Myanmar is moving in the right direction. Background Myanmar is slowly but strongly undergoing major changes. Having been ruled by a military regime that was established in 1962 after a coup d'état, the current civilian government was... Continue Reading
Islam originally spread through Asia by way of Central Asia, but has since spread to the southern regions of the continent. Radical Islam has been feared by governments throughout history. While South Asia now harbors the majority of the worldwide Muslim population, the religion underwent the most tumultuous development in Central Asia. Islam was first introduced to Central Asia by nomadic... Continue Reading
Two decades after the fall of the Soviet Union, Central Asia still faces the challenge of finding the right path to a sustainable democratic future. The Russian Revolution of 1917 led to the formation of the 15 republics of the Soviet Union amongst which the countries Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are today found. These five countries gained independence by... Continue Reading
Commentary on the preparation which goes into the successful hosting of the Oktoberfest in Germany every year. More than 6 million people visit the Oktoberfest every year to experience one of the most unique festivals that Germany has to offer. To ensure visitors are satisfied with their experience, a workforce of around 12,000 people is employed on and off-stage. For the security of... Continue Reading
