MANILA, Philippines (ViaNews) – US president Donald Trump’s raising a glass of wine with Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte may seem like everything is fine and splendid here at the 31st summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). But in the streets of Manila, the atmosphere was quite fiery and tense as Filipino activists…
MANILA, Philippines (ViaNews) – “Please stop. Please stop. I have a test tomorrow.” These were among the last words heard from Grade 12 student Kian delos Santos as he was being manhandled by the police one August evening. Later, he was found dead, with an autopsy report revealing he was shot twice in the head….
NEW DELHI, India (ViaNews) – During Richard Nixon’s Beijing visit in 1972, Zhou Enlai, the Chinese premier was asked about the effect of the French Revolution on South East Asia. Even though the event in mention happened nearly two centuries back, Zhou’s answer was amusing -‘it’s too early to say’. This witticism is often cited…
ANKARA, Turkey (ViaNews) – Zeynep Tufekci is a Turkish writer and a self-described “Techno-sociologist” writing about the influence of technology on politics and society. In April this year, the Yale University Press published her book entitled: Twitter and Tear Gas: The Power and Fragility of Networked Protest. She describes the book as a “quasi-historical account…
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (ViaNews) – The U.S. and Pakistan relations may face many geostrategic and geoeconomic challenges, but one, such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), stands above all else. The CPEC is a collection of infrastructure to modernize and strengthen the Pakistan economy by the construction of transportation networks and energy projects. Pakistan is a…
New Delhi, India (VIAnews) – For centuries, the majority of the world’s trade has been under the influence of India and China in the Eastern world, and Europe to the west. Back in the 16th century, the maritime technology power of the Europeans and trade supremacy lead to an eventual colonization of the east. Going…
ANKARA, Turkey (ViaNews) – On Wednesday, nearly 200 human rights activists gathered outside the courthouse in Istanbul to protest against the lack of press freedom in Turkey. The activists were holding signs saying “Free rights defenders”, “Freedom for journalists”, and “Independent press cannot be silenced.” According to the Turkish Journalists’ Association, around 160 journalists are…
JAKARTA, Indonesia (ViaNews) – Most Indonesians keep wondering about the reasons behind the U.S. ban on Indonesia’s Military Head. General Gatot Nurmantyo was denied entry to the United States a week ago and the U.S administration has already issued a formal apology. Despite that, lingering questions persist regarding the sudden decision to refuse entry to…
NEW DELHI, India (ViaNews)– Indian Supreme Court banned fireworks in Delhi during this year’s Diwali celebration. Diwali is the foremost festive season of the city, and most of the country for that matter, for which bursting of crackers and lighting of streets formed the major axis of celebration. There were frowns from various people who…
Islamabad, Pakistan (ViaNews) – President Trump delivered a speech on August 21 at Fort Myer military base, near Washington, about the Strategy in Afghanistan and South Asia. He singled Pakistan out for particular criticism of their alleged role in giving sanctuary to insurgents operating from Pakistan against the USA. “Pakistan often gives safe haven to…
