Wrap: HIV Tragedy, a Sufi Poet and a Granny on Drugs
Published on Jan 4, 2015 by Luke Hunt
In a small village in Cambodia’s west, a tragic tale of international significance has caught the local authorities off-guard. An unlicensed doctor has been charged with causing an outbreak of HIV and murder after lax practices resulted in at least 201 people contracting the potentially fatal disease.Read more from Luke Hunt in The DiplomatBelievers of All Faiths Celebrate Sufi PoetAs conductor of 20 of the world’s most accomplished whirling dervishes, and 30 of the greatest Sufi musicians, Fahri Ozcakil holds one of the highest spiritual positions in Turkey. But despite his high status, Mr Ozcakil remains resolutely humble.Read more from Dan Boylan in The NationalAussie Drugs Granny May Have Been Fooled By LoveAn Australian grandmother facing execution on drugs charges....
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Kathleen O’Keefe: 1960-2014
Published on Dec 14, 2014 by Luke Hunt
To journalists working across Southeast Asia in the 1990s and 2000s, the name Kathleen O’Keefe was the stuff of legends.In 1992, the Medford native, along with her then-husband Michael Hayes, a Wellesley native, moved to war-ravaged Cambodia to launch one of the bravest free press publishing experiments in recent journalism history: Cambodia’s first, modern independent newspaper — The Phnom Penh Post.Read more from Dan Boylan in the Boston Herald..
Boxing's Great Leap Forward
When boxing great Manny Pacquiao put Chris Algieri on the canvas for a sixth time at the Venetian Cotai Arena in Macau, 15,000 fans leapt from the edge of their seats. Pacquiao’s status as one of the fight game’s greats was secured and victory raised the tantalizing prospect of a showdown with Floyd Mayweather – the world’s highest paid athlete.The smart money, however, already had their victory, and with an eye on China promoters were already counting the cash as a hopelessly outgunned Algieri struggled to his feet.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..
Cambodia Brings Its Water Festival Back
Published on Nov 16, 2014 by Luke Hunt
With a terrific sense of relief, Cambodia has held its first Water Festival since 2010, the year 353 people, mainly youths, were killed in a tragic crush on Diamond Island Bridge, raising serious questions about the government, the police, and their ability to control large crowds effectively.Read more from Luke Hunt in The Diplomat..
Scoffing at Thai crackdown on sex tourism
Published on Oct 26, 2014 by Luke Hunt
Tim “Sharky” Ward boasts he pays to have sex with many Thai women. The muscle-bound and tattooed former Australian loan shark and nightclub owner says his life is “there for all see” and he is not ashamed of it.“I am a single man. There’s no one in my life who can say I am an embarrassment to them,” he said.Read more from Lindsay Murdoch in The Age. .