Filipino death squads target fringe parties

According to research by marginal political parties in The Philippines, and backed up by human rights organisations, a wave of political and journalistic killings since 2001 has surpassed that of the corrupt Marcos dictatorship of the 1970s and 80s.

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New China journalism not just mouthpiece

China’s media network is by far the largest in the world.

More than 1.1 billion people have access to the 3,000 television stations nationwide. Chinese radio broadcasts in 43 languages worldwide, and 900,000 students are enrolled in just one of the many journalism schools.

But internationally, China’s media is often viewed as the mouthpiece of the central government, or to use the Chinese phrase — “the throat and tongue of the party”.

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Australian blazing Chinese art trail

The Beijing of 20 years ago is a far cry from the quickly-modernising, creative hotbed and soon-to-be-host-of-the-Olympic-Games Chinese capital of today.

Back then, a young idealistic Australian enrolled in a language school and helped his new artist friends arrange exhibitions. This year, he celebrates the 15th anniversary of his art gallery which is housed in an enormous Ming Dynasty-era watchtower in central Beijing.

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Drawing upon the history of dinosaurs

The allure of dinosaurs has always held a special place in the hearts of children and adults alike.

And for one Singaporean-Australian, a life-long fascination is now garnering awards as his research and accurate illustrations of these prehistoric creatures appear in books and magazines worldwide.

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Festival director continues to challenge

For the second edition of her 3-year term, Melbourne International Arts Festival director Kristy Edmunds promises more challenging material, more flavours from unconventional places and faces, and more cross-cultural dynamism.

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