Mr. Yuan is remembered as the government spokesman who said that “not one person” died in the 1989 assault on protesters. Hundreds were reported killed.
Author: MIKE IVES
Meng Lang, Poet Who Promoted Dissident Writers, Dies at 57
Mr. Meng co-founded the Independent Chinese PEN Center, a nonprofit organization formed in 2011 to promote freedom of expression and publication.
Jack Dorsey, Posting About Myanmar on Twitter, Is Accused of Being Tone Deaf
Mr. Dorsey’s tweets about his silent-meditation retreat in the country were criticized for not mentioning the plight of the Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority.
Quiet Casualty of Sri Lanka’s Political Crisis: A Sugar Tax
In an effort to increase public support for the disputed prime minister, the government is reducing a tax on sugary drinks that experts say is vital for the country’s health.
Music Festivals Are Gaining Popularity in Asia. Just Not With Officials.
Conservative governments have been canceling Western-inspired events, which they see as threats to public safety, political stability or social and religious values.
Ma Jian, Exiled Chinese Novelist, Hails Appearance as Victory for Rights
The temporary cancellation of his appearance at a literary festival had been seen as the latest sign of erosions of freedom in Hong Kong.
What Do North Korean Gymnastics Say About Kim Jong-un’s Politics?
North Korea included something new, a giant image of China’s leader, Xi Jinping, at a mass gymnastics performance on Sunday, and excluded something old: missiles.
Singapore’s Claim as a Street-Food Hub Riles Malaysians
The city-state is bidding for Unesco recognition for dishes like chicken rice, nasi lemak and curry laksa that are also served in Malaysia.