Social Media in Afghanistan Takes On Life of Its Own

A U.S.-financed network to connect Afghans across forbidding physical and cultural divides still survives three years after American funding ended.

World Briefing: Ethiopia: 9 Media Workers Arrested

Nine bloggers and journalists were arrested in Addis Ababa last week just days before Secretary of State John Kerry’s scheduled visit to Ethiopia on Tuesday.

Russia Experts See Thinning Ranks’ Effect on U.S. Policy

With the end of the Cold War, Russia ceased being a concentration of choice among future foreign policy professionals. The dearth is being felt now.

    



Chinese Ask Kerry to Help Tear Down a Firewall

Meeting with Secretary of State John Kerry, a group of Chinese bloggers appealed to the United States to take up the cause of Internet freedom.

    



Israeli Official’s Reported Criticisms of Kerry and Peace Effort Draw U.S. Rebuke

A news report that the Israeli defense minister thinks John Kerry’s efforts are naïve and messianic drew criticism from Washington and some Israeli leaders.

    

Accounts Differ to F.B.I. and CBS on Benghazi

Conflicting statements given by a security officer to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and to CBS call into question a “60 Minutes” report.

    



China Wants Its Movies to Be Big in the U.S., Too

China’s ambitious new film entrepreneurs, dozens of whom gathered in California this week for industry events, want something that has largely eluded them: a homemade global hit.

    



The Caucus: Clinton Defender Takes On Fox News Over Benghazi Attack

David Brock, the founder of a liberal watchdog group, has written an e-book titled “The Benghazi Hoax” and plans to advertise it on the Fox News Channel.

    



Leaked Report Cites Pakistan’s Failings Before U.S. Killed Bin Laden

A report that cited “collective incompetence” of the country’s security forces was leaked after Pakistani authorities had suppressed it for months.

    

Rodman Made North Korean Trip After Jordan Said No, H.B.O. Show Says

The creators of “Vice,” an HBO newsmagazine, said the former basketball star Dennis Rodman was asked to visit North Korea after Michael Jordan said no.