Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei Named Most Powerful in the World

“Art Review” journal has named Chinese artist Ai Weiwei the most powerful person in the art world. Ai’s detainment by Chinese officials this past spring brought an international outcry for his release.

Famous Vietnam Dissident Jailed for Promoting Political Reform

The son of one of modern Vietnam’s founding fathers is in prison for speaking out against the Communist government.

Blogs of missing Chinese dissident published

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Anchor Marco Werman talks with Lee Ambrozy about Chinese artist and dissident Ai Weiwei. Ambrozy has just translated and published a book on Weiwei’s controversial blogs. Download MP3

Video: PBS Frontline : Who’s afraid of Ai Weiwei

Liu Xiaobo wins Nobel

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Author and political activist Liu Xiaobo has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Liu, who is known as one of China’s leading dissidents, is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence for “subverting state power” after helping write a manifesto, called Charter 08, which calls for political change in China. The World’s Mary Kay Magistad has the story. Download MP3
>>Read 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo’s final statement

Chinese dissident on trial for subversion

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Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo (pictured with his wife Liu Xia in 2002) has gone on trial in Beijing on charges of “inciting subversion of state power”. Liu, a prominent government critic and veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square democracy protests, could be jailed for 15 years if convicted. He has been in jail since 2008, after being arrested for writing a document calling for political reform in China. The US, EU, and human rights groups say the trial is politically motivated and have called on Beijing to release Liu. China has dismissed criticism of the trial as an “unacceptable” attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. Mary Kay Magistad reports.

• BBC coverage
• Human Rights Watch: “Trial travesty of justice”