Larry King talks with Lisa Ling and the families of detained U.S. journalists held in North Korea.
Embedded video from CNN Video
Images from the Los Angeles candlelight vigil for Laura Ling and Euna Lee.
Photos courtesy Natasha Bishop.
Candlelight vigils were held in 9 cities June 3 as American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee are in court in North Korea facing charges of "illegal entry" and "hostile acts."
Read tonight's message from Laura Ling's sister, Lisa.
After more than two months of silence hoping that their daughters would be released through diplomatic channels, the Ling and Lee families have now gone public to plead for their daughter' safe return home.
UPDATE June 3, 2009 11pm PST
Message read at all 9 vigils, June 3rd - Trial Day for Laura and Euna:
Statement by Lisa Ling
On behalf of the families of Laura and Euna, I thank you. Words cannot express how moved we are that you have all come out here to support the girls. To the organizers and volunteers of this unbelievable grassroots movementat last count there were 9 vigils happening in cities across the U.S.--we are awed and deeply humbled by your efforts. Some of you we know, many of you we dont, most of you dont even know Laura and Euna. But tonight, we are forever linked.
It is the morning of June 4, in Pyongyang, North Korea. As we stand here tonight, it is entirely possible that my sister Laura and Euna Lee are standing trial in a North Korean courtroom. I know they are scared.
They are being charged with illegal entry and hostile acts. My sister is strong, but there is nothing hostile about her. Euna is the mother of the most angelic 4-year-old daughter, hardly a threatening character.
As many of you may have heard from some of...
Members of the Asian American business, accounting and finance community gathered in Los Angeles to rethink how they will do business in the future.
This is their second annual event since the founding last year of the LA Chapter of ASCEND, a non-profit organization which has ten professional chapters, 16 student chapters and more than 4,500 members nationally.
On May 20, 2008, the Los Angeles Metro Chapter of Ascend, whose aim is to be the premier professional association for enhancing the presence and influence of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the finance, accounting and business related professions, celebrated their 2nd annual event commemorating the launch of this local chapter last year.
Renowned actor and producer Ming Lo, appearing in Hollywood hits like Million Dollar Baby and Jarhead, emceed the event for the more than 200 guests and VIP's of the Asian American business community.
Co-Keynote speaker, the honorable Carol Liu, California State Senator, gave an insightful interpretation of the recent election results where Californians voted against all but one of the proposed propositions on the ballot noting that "Californians have spoken. Yesterday's election was a wake up call to government. It needs to revamp the ways of doing things in the state. The taxpayers have said [California's government] needs to make due with what [they] currently have, just like Californians have to do everyday." She also noted that going forward, governments need to "return to...
Unemployment and the long wait lists for preschool are prompting some Chinese parents, whove traditionally valued education, to turn to a new way to teach and care for their toddlers preschool at home. News feature by New America Media reporter NAMs Vivian Po.
By Reporter Vivian Po, New America Media
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif-- Unemployment and the long wait lists for preschool are prompting some Chinese parents, whove traditionally valued education, to turn to a new way to teach and care for their toddlers: preschool at home.
More and more Chinese parents asked to join the playgroup programs. They want to learn the skills to teach their kids at home, said Suzanne Cheung, a former commissioner of San Francisco's First Five child development program.
Playgroups, for children 6 and under, began in the Chinese community to support inexperienced parents. During these sessions, parents participate in lessons with their kids and learn skills to teach and communicate with them. Free playgroup programs are offered by many organizations, such as the Asian Womens Resource Center and the Asian Perinatal Advocate..
Playgroup has now become a place where parents learn child care and teaching skills. We instruct them on how to read to kids, how to engage children in artwork, we help parents build an in-home preschool environment, said Cheung, who designed the curriculum.
As demand for the playgroups has spiked, Cheung now offers classes twice a week, instead of once, doubling the number of...