Word: asia
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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Online citizens may be more plentiful in East Asia, but even there paper rules. In Japan, the average household still subscribes to more than one newspaper. In fact, the Japanese are the world's most avid newspaper readers, despite a dip in circulation over the past couple of years. "One would be hard-pressed to find another country in the world where newspaper companies are publishing several million issues a day," says Yoichi Funabashi, editor in chief of the Asahi Shimbun, the world's second largest daily (after its rival the Yomiuri Shimbun) with more than 8 million subscribers. Nonetheless...
...world's most fertile ground for newspapers is also the most dangerous for reporters. In 2008, 26 Asian journalists were killed in the line of duty, according to the International Press Institute, making Asia even deadlier than the Middle East for the fourth estate. Some 54 Asian journalists are languishing behind bars, says media watchdog Reporters Without Borders. Those disheartening statistics underline, however, the importance of Asia's newspapers as a check on the excesses of power - something that should never go out of fashion...
They are already suffering; the long war has seen to that. "When the dust settles, we may see countless victims and a terrible humanitarian situation," says Jacques de Maio, head of Red Cross operations for South Asia. Hospitals, ambulances and even the so-called safe zones set up so civilians can escape the fighting have been hit. The government insists that it is doing everything possible to protect civilians and blames the LTTE for using civilians as human shields. But international observers are worried. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a joint statement Feb. 3 with the British Foreign Secretary...
Washington believes Moscow - despite its firm denials - is behind the order evicting the U.S. from its last airbase in Central Asia. "The Russians are trying to have it both ways with respect to Afghanistan in terms of Manas," Gates said Thursday. "On one hand you're making positive noises about working with us in Afghanistan, and on the other hand you're working against us in terms of that airfield which is clearly important to us." About 15,000 U.S. personnel and 500 tons of cargo flow through Manas each month, primarily to support U.S. efforts in Afghanistan...
...least guarantee some sort of stability for China to pursue its strategic and economic interests. "Pakistan today needs China more than China needs Pakistan - that is why there is more enthusiasm in Pakistan about its relations with China than vice-versa," says Shabbir Cheema, director of the Asia-Pacific Governance and Democracy Initiative...