Promoting democracy has been a longstanding part of the United States' foreign policy. But should the country continue on this path? Katie Fischer's guests debate the motion:
The U.S. should stop promoting democracy as its foreign policy
CHINA'S COAL DILEMMA FARMERS' FILM DREAM TRAFFIC CONGESTION CHARGE JOB PROSPECTS FOR RETURNEES CHINA NOT INTERESTED IN DEMOCRACY SELLING DREAMS AND CONFIDENCE MORE OR LESS CHINESE STUDENTS FOR US?
Hundreds of pro-democracy supporters turned out in Hong Kong's Central district this week, following the staged resignation of a group of legislators. The government has played down the significance of the move, while a stalemate looks to be the likely result.
The political system in Hong Kong has, in the words of the New York Times, "grown increasingly paralyzed" as many have become dissatisfied with the lack of democracy in the former British colony.
Five legislators in Hong Kong resigned their seats earlier this week, in the hope that the resulting by-election would be seen as a de facto referendum on universal suffrage. Democrats want full direct elections by 2012 – instead of 2017, the timetable set by Beijing.
Coming up, what Hong Kong residents really think about the democracy proposals, plus can you tell when an article has been censored? And the story of a man who checked his bank balance and found rather more than he was expecting! First though let's kick things off with Front Page – a quick look at the headlines China woke up to this morning.