In The News

Tiananmen: Vietnam's Newspapers Criticize Crackdown

Nga Pham June 13, 2014
Vietnam news media shocked readers by covering the anniversary of China’s 1989 Tiananmen Square massacre and deploring the harsh crackdown on protesters. In the past, Vietnamese news media avoided such topics. Like China, Vietnam is a communist government. This year’s coverage reflected recent tense relations between China and Vietnam. The two nations are engaged in bitter quarrel over islands...

Twitter to Take India Election Innovations Global

Aditya Kalra June 3, 2014
Twitter became a key tool for politicians and media companies during the world’s largest democratic elections in India, and “Now, with polling due in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia and the United States later this year, the San Francisco-based company plans to take its India lessons abroad to expand its foothold in the political arena and increase its user base,” reports Aditya Kalra for...

Non-Resident Supporters Prop Up AAP's Lok Sabha Campaign

Himanshi Dhawan April 9, 2014
People who relocate do not leave behind an interest in the politics of their homeland – and use the internet and global financing to support candidates: “A motivated band of non-resident Indians (NRIs) are pitching in from across the globe to lend a helping hand to AAP's ambitious Lok Sabha campaign through the party's ‘support a state’ (SAS) initiative,” reports Himanshi Dhawan for the...

Turkey: Erdoğan Faces Twittering Opposition

Anna Beth Keim March 26, 2014
A desire for democracy – the ability to select one’s representatives, but also engage in informed debate on policies with compromise – may slowly take root in Turkey. Spring protests in Gezi Park gave way to harsh crackdown, a government corruption investigation in December and active debate over Twitter since, including leaks of recordings that led to resignations of ministers and growing...

Turkey's President Gul Challenges PM's Move to Ban Twitter

Rory Cellan-Jones March 21, 2014
Those who try to shoot messengers often appear guilty, frustrated and infuriated about getting caught. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan vowed to wipe out a social-media site and “took action against Twitter after some users had posted documents reportedly showing evidence of corruption relating to his office – a claim he denies,” reports Rory Cellan-Jones for BBC News. “His spokesman said Mr...

China “Monitored” US Bombers in New Air Zone

Jonny Dymond November 27, 2013
China announced a new air defense zone for the East China Sea, overlapping a Japanese air zone and part of a long-running dispute over the Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands. The US response was to defy China by flying two B-52s over the islands; Japan asked airlines not to file flight plans with China as demanded by Beijing. “The idea that Washington was going to start filing flight plans with China before...

Biggest Protests in 20 years Sweep Brazil

Todd Benson, Asher Levine July 3, 2013
"The people have awakened" is one slogan of the massive demonstrations underway in Brazil. About 200,000 demonstrators marched through the streets of Brazil's biggest cities, organized mostly through social media campaigns. Corruption, poor public services, rising prices and lackluster growth during the past two years are among the widespread complaints. While billions are spent on...