FSN REPORTERS BLOG - NEWS COVERAGE AND ANALYSIS

Pros & Cons of Tech-heavy World for Children & Teens

The explosion in the use of technology and online social media has led to many new opportunities for children and teens who are able to explore virtual worlds beyond their real physical boundaries. There are clear educational and developmental opportunities in such ready access to information and online friends. But these rapid changes are also raising new questions and concerns for parents who worry about the potential harm new communication technologies could be doing to their children. FSN produces this TV report for CCTV English.

Obviously this is a short introduction to some of these complex issues and can't possibly incorporate all the very varied and complex issues related to this fast-changing world. The two interviewees in this video are important authorities on these issues.

James Steyer is the CEO and founder of Common Sense Media.  His organization provides  parents with tons of advice on its website thus avoiding the need to shoot a laptop! Follow on twitter @CommonSenseNews.  James has also written a book on these issues called Talking Back to Facebook.

For greater depth in the analysis of current trends, Amanda Lenhart is a great person to follow.  she works at the  Pew Internet and American Life Project which has years of good research published on its website.  She's also on twitter @Amanda_Lenhart.

Many thanks to the Hwang family for allowing us to film in their home.

Video Editor: Emily Carpeaux

Cameras: Denis Levkovitz, Quinn Bowman, Priscilla Huff

Reporter: Daniel Ryntjes

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LISTEN: Assange extradition appeal dismissed, but case goes on

I joined Radio New Zealand's Morning Report to discuss the latest twists in Julian Assange's attempts to halt his extradition to Sweden.

Listen here. 

Nina-Maria Potts and I spent the day at the Supreme Court reporting on its decision to dismiss the appeal, but allow an application for the case to be re-opened.

VIDEO: Eurozone ripples reach Africa

FSN's Nina-Maria Potts reports on the effect the eurozone crisis is having on trade with and investment in Africa.

Lord's Resistance Army Intelligence Chief to stand trial in Uganda: INTERVIEW

The Ugandan government has announced that it will try former Lord's' Resistance Army intelligence chief  Ceasar Acellam in a civil process.  Chief of Public Prosecutions Richard Buteera said that Ceasar Acellam "will be investigated and the prosecution of the case will be taken on its merit and on the basis of evidence available." Acellam is the most senior LRA leader ever captured (last May in the  Central African Republic).  Some have wondered whether the Uganda authorities might have been working out an amnesty deal with him, seeking to clamp down on the activities of the LRA and potentially provide information to help them capture the group's notorious leader Joseph Kony. 

Kasper Agger works in Kampala, Uganda with the Enough Project. Here's his blog posting on the capture and here is FSN's interview with him, in which he provides some great background and context for why this capture is so significant.

0524kampala-enough-project

posted by: Daniel Ryntjes, Washington Correspondent

A complex story of adoption, citizenship and a small crime for TimesNow of India

India is up at arms over the story of a woman adopted as a baby from India.

Kairi Shepherd has only known the United States as her home. But, that's all likely to change, because she's under deportation back to India.

Kairi Shepherd was adopted as a baby and brought to the U.S.  Tragically, her adoptive mother died of breast cancer when she was 8. Later, went she was 17, now a drug addict, wrote some bad checks to fund her addiction, enough to be convicted of a felony. See more at her hometown newspaper, the Salt Lake Tribune.

Here's the sticking point. Immigration laws for adopted children changed in 2000. Neither Kairi Shepherd's adoptive mother nor her later guardians ever formalized her American citizenship. Kairi Shepherd carries a green card, which grants the right to legal residency but not full citizenship. And, if you violate the terms of the green card by committing a felony, you can be deported to your home country.

The U.S. State Department considers her a citizen of India and the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees immigration, refuses to comment on the specifics of any case.

But, going by the rules, its likely Kairi Shepherd will have to make a new life in India. Here's my report for India's TimesNow.tv

--Priscilla Huff, Washington bureau