CitizenTube

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube-- Dramatic rescue in Italy, protests in Tunisia, and uneasy truce forms in Zabadani, Syria

2012-01-20T13:37:00.000-08:00

Everyday on the CitizenTube Channel (and @CitizenTube on Twitter), along with our curation partners @storyful, we look at how the top news stories are covered on YouTube. Every week we'll post a weekly recap of the top news stories of the week:

We witnessed dramatic rescue efforts as the cruise ship Costa Concordia crashed into rocks in shallow waters in Giglio, Italy.
We watched the CEO of the Costa company blame human error, as most accused the ship's captain, Francesco Schettino, of being at fault for the crash.
We monitored events in Syria where military forces attacking rebels in Zabadani agreed to a ceasefire, as Obama raised concerns about the violence there.
We saw unprecedented amounts of snow falling in the state of Washington, with many going out and making the most of the rare event.
We followed the GOP candidates during a dramatic week on the US campaign trail, as Jon Huntsman and Rick Perry both dropped out of the running for the Republican nomination.
We marked the anniversary of the 'Arab Spring' with protests in Tunisia at the slow pace of reforms.
We witnessed Russian oil supply ship Renda arriving in Nome, Alaska with assistance from the US Coastguard.
We viewed the forced closure of Kruger National Park in South Africa due to prevalent flooding caused by heavy rain.
And finally, we celebrated with Muhammad Ali, one of the most iconic figures alive, who turned 70 this week.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube-- Mitt Romney claims victory in New Hampshire, award-winning French journalist is killed in Syria, and a national strike paralyses Nigeria

2012-01-13T08:40:00.000-08:00

Everyday on the CitizenTube Channel (and @CitizenTube on Twitter), along with our curation partners @storyful, we look at how the top news stories are covered on YouTube. Every week we'll post a weekly recap of the top news stories of the week:

We were saddened as award-winning French journalist Gilles Jacquier was killed during attacks on a pro-government rally in Homs, Syria.
We watched strong condemnation worldwide as video emerged of four US marines urinating on Taliban corpses.
We monitored events in Syria as eleven Arab League observers were injured in an attack on one of their cars in Latakia.
We marked Guantanamo Bay's tenth year of operation, a period Amnesty is calling "a decade of damage to human rights".
We followed the GOP candidates on the US campaign trail, as Mitt Romney took New Hampshire and looked ahead to South Carolina.
We saw more than ten feet of snow falling on parts of Alaska, especially around the town of Cordova.
We viewed a national strike in Nigeria bringing the country to a standstill as thousands continued to protest the scrapping of the fuel subsidy
We witnessed a surfer's paradise develop in California as massive waves hit beaches all along the coast.
And finally, we watched South Africa celebrate one hundred years since the forming of the African National Congress.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--New Year celebrations, the Iowa Caucuses, and more

2012-01-06T15:28:00.000-08:00

Everyday on the CitizenTube Channel (and @CitizenTube on Twitter), along with our curation partners @storyful, we look at how the top news stories are covered on YouTube. Every week we'll post a weekly recap of the top news stories of the week:

We began the New Year by remembering some of biggest events of 2011: from Occupy Wall street to the death of Steve Jobs
We monitored events in Bahrain as protesters and security forces endlessly clashed, leading to the tear-gassing of the funeral of a 16 year old.
We witnessed the powerful eruption of Sicily's Mount Etna volcano, which sent huge plumes of ash into the air, sparking flight disruption fears
We viewed thousands of Nigerians take to the streets in protest over the doubling of petrol prices due to fuel subsidy cuts.
We followed the GOP candidates as they gave eloquent speeches at the Iowa caucuses; the first major electoral event on the US campaign trail.
We saw Occupy Wall Street protesters get the drop on New York police as they reoccupied Zucotti Park on New Years Eve.
We watched a devastating landslide kill and injure dozens in the Philippines after a week of heavy rain.
We were shocked at a bomb attack in Damascus that killed at least 25, sparking more anti-government protests.
And finally, we watched the world bring in the new year with widespread celebrations in Asia, Europe and the US

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube-- North Korea holds two days of funeral ceremonies for Kim Jong-il, Arab league monitors arrive in Syria, and Nordic storm "Dagmar" batters Scandinavia

2011-12-30T14:37:00.001-08:00

Everyday on the CitizenTube Channel (and @CitizenTube on Twitter), along with our curation partners @storyful, we look at how the top news stories are covered on YouTube. Every week we'll post a weekly recap of the top news stories of the week:

We observed scenes of uninhibited mourning in North Korea as the country held two days of funeral processions to mark the passing of Kim Jong-il.
We monitored the heavy military crackdown in Syria as Arab League officials arrived in Homs amid large-scale funerals and demonstrations.
We witnessed the powerful storm "Dagmar" smash into Northern Europe, causing building damage and huge power cuts.
We viewed dramatic images of bomb attacks on five churches in Nigeria on Christmas day.
We followed the GOP candidates on the US campaign trail in Iowa as Occupy Caucus protesters made their presence known.
We watched in shock as Turkish air-strikes mistakenly killed 30 Kurdish villagers, believing they were rebels.
We watched Australia suffer through an unpleasant Christmas as Melbourne was hit with tennis ball-sized hail and the country endured widespread flooding.
We saw heavy snow in Texas interrupt the holidays as poor road conditions caused life to slow to a crawl.
And finally, we celebrated the holidays in style as we watched the world celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--North Korea's "dear leader" dies, Egyptian women protest after beatings, and dozens killed in Iraq after US troops leave

2011-12-22T21:20:00.001-08:00

We monitored the news out of secretive North Korea that the country's notorious "dear leader" Kim Jong-il died and the videos showing a country in mourning.
We witnessed an unprecedented uprising of thousands of Egyptian female protesters who marched in solidarity for more rights, democracy, and respect after seeing other women brutally beaten by the country's armed forces.
We saw dozens of Iraqis die in a series of Baghdad bomb blasts a day after the last US troops left a country embroiled political chaos.
We watched devastating floods kill over one thousand people in the Philippines as Tropical Storm Washi (or Sendong) roared through over the weekend.
We followed the wives of the GOP candidates on the US campaign trail as they became more visible and featured themselves in ads.
We were saddened by the death of former Czech president Vaclav Havel, who was one of the key figures in Czechoslovakia's democratic reform movement.
We watched security forces in Bahrain and Syria continue to violently suppress protesters as tensions escalated in both countries.
We viewed dramatic videos from Kazakhstan that showed striking oil workers clashing with police in the cities of Zhanaozen and Aktau.
And finally, we got in the holiday spirit with some celebrities who spread Christmas cheer and goodwill in different ways.

The Top Political Videos of 2011

2011-12-20T01:00:00.000-08:00

From candidate ads to pundit debates, speeches from the White House to impassioned pleas from the American heartland, this year’s most-viewed political videos show us that a message that resonates can come from anywhere -- and anyone.

Surpassing the President and various presidential hopefuls in views, the #1 video on our list comes from a young man in Iowa speaking candidly to his government. This video of Zach Wahls speaking about gay marriage has been viewed more than 18 million times.

Three candidates for 2012 made the most-viewed political videos list. Gov. Rick Perry's highly-covered "Strong" ad was uploaded just this month, but has already racked up 7 million views (another one of his ads, “Proven Leadership” is also on the list). Herman Cain, who recently suspended his bid for President, showed that quirky gets views. President Obama reached an audience of millions on YouTube as both commander in chief, and stand up comedian.

Here’s the full list of the most-viewed political videos from the YouTube News and Politics category:

1. Zach Wahls speaks about family
2. President Obama at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
3. Strong [Rick Perry ad]
4. President Obama on death of Osama bin Laden
5. Brother, can you spare a trillion? Government gone wild!
6. Seth Meyers remarks at the 2011 White House Correspondents’ Dinner
7. Rick Perry - Proven Leadership
8. Jon Stewart Goes Head-to-Head Bill O'Reilly
9. Now is the time for action! [Herman Cain ad]
10. President Barack Obama's First Ad of 2012 [NRSC Ad]

In all, the videos on this list account for over 50 million views, demonstrating that there is significant interest in political video on YouTube before the primaries have even begun. For all the key moments in online political video during the coming election, visit YouTube.com/Politics. For more of YouTube’s most-viewed videos of 2011, visit YouTube.com/Rewind.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--The war in Iraq officially ends, post-election violence in Egypt, and a tragic attack in Belgium

2011-12-16T14:04:00.001-08:00

We witnessed the relatively low-key end to the nine-year war in Iraq in a quiet withdrawal of troops that left many wondering if it was all worth it.
We watched more violence erupt in Egypt, this time following the country's second round of parliamentary voting as a sit-in at the parliament reached two weeks long, with rumors of activists being detained and badly beaten.
We saw an awful tragedy unfold in Liege, Belgium when a man went on a rampage in a busy marketplace with grenades and firearms, killing at least five people and himself.
We observed the largest protests to take place in Russia in decades after people fed up with corruption came out in the tens of thousands against recent allegedly fraudulent parliamentary elections.
We followed all of the GOP candidates on the US campaign trail in their final debate before the primary season kicks off with the Iowa caucuses on January 3.
We were saddened by the killing of two student-teacher protesters during clashes with police in Mexico in which the demonstrators were reportedly protesting their daily food subsidies.
We noted the first post-World War II conviction for a former French head of state in which Jacques Chirac was found guilty of embezzlement and sentenced to a 2-year suspended jail term.
We monitored Occupy protests all along the US west coast that attempted to shut down numerous city ports as well as an Occupy protest at Goldmen Sachs bank in New York.
And finally, we took note of record breaking rains, mudslides, and flooding on New Zealand's south island with an array of videos documenting the damage.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Horrible deja vu for Virginia Tech, Mass sectarian killing in Afghanistan, and Russians protest election

2011-12-09T16:51:00.000-08:00

We were shocked by the shooting on the Virginia Tech campus that left people with a feeling of deja vu in which a police officer was killed and another person was found dead.
We witnessed the first sectarian attack in Afghanistan in recent memory that left at least 55 Shi'ite Muslims dead and tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan strained.
We observed thousands of angry Russians take to the streets in unprecedented protests after reports of fraud and irregularities in parliamentary elections.
We saw embattled former Penn State coach Jerry Sandusky get arrested and jailed on new charges of child molestation.
We followed Herman Cain's announcement he was "suspending" his campaign and a controversial Rick Perry ad on the US campaign trail.
We watched Syrian president Bashar al-Asad speak to America's ABC News and deny accusations that the government is involved in killing thousands of protesters as more violence raged on.
We monitored opposition protests around the world as people waiting to hear election results in the Democratic Republic of Congo grew frustrated at what they fear is a sham vote.
We took in the early winter snow storm across parts of Texas and New Mexico as locals had some fun with the unusual weather.
And finally, we gazed at images of NASA's incredible discovery of an Earth-like planet with the potential of containing life 600 light years away.

This Week's Top News on YouTube: Egyptians voting, Clinton in Burma, and #OWS kicked out in LA and Philly

2011-12-01T16:30:00.001-08:00

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Egyptians go to the polls, Secretary of State Clinton goes to Burma, and Occupiers in LA and Philadelphia go away

We watched history unfold in Egypt as citizens went to the polls to elect their first post-Mubarak parliament after a week of violent clashes and protests killed dozens of people.
We monitored US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's trip to Burma (Myanmar) to promote change and democratic freedoms on the highest level US official visit to the country in more than 50 years.
We noted police raids on Occupy encampments in Los Angeles and Philadelphia that ended in arrests and effectively wiped out the movements' city bases.
We witnessed enraged Iranian protesters storming the British embassy in the capital Tehran after diplomatic relations with the UK were downgraded by the Iranian parliament.
We followed Rick Perry confusing the voting age, a Sarah Palin for president ad, and a creative promo from Jon Huntsman's daughters on the US campaign trail.
We saw up to two million public sector employees go on a strike in the UK that closed down schools, hospitals, and transport in an effort to prevent having to pay and work more for their pensions.
We observed the second elections to take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the country's five year war amid reports of widespread irregularities and following violence.
We were blown away by videos showing uprooted trees, property damage, and power outages because of extremely high winds from California to Utah.
And finally, we marked World AIDS Day by looking at the state of the disease around the globe and hearing from world leaders and those affected.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Occupy protests, a deadly storm rips through the US south, and Italians cheer at Berlusconi's demise

2011-11-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

We watched police officers in cities across the United States forcibly remove Occupy protesters from their camps and later clash with Occupy Wall Street demonstrators who continued to speak out.
We saw a huge storm system that produced several possible tornadoes and killed at least six people sweep across the southern US states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and South Carolina.
We observed thousands of Italians rejoice in song and cheers at the resignation of their controversial prime minister Silvio Berlusconi after many wanted new leadership in dealing with the country's economic woes.
We witnessed protesters in Kuwait storm parliament calling for the resignation of their prime minister over allegations of corruption.
We followed Herman Cain's brain freeze over Libya, Mitt Romney's Google+ hangout, and Newt Gingrich's rise to the top of the GOP polls on the US campaign trail.
We monitored the Penn State Jerry Sandusky scandal as it continued to grow after the charged sex offender spoke out.
We observed an estimated 50,000 people take to the streets in Greece on the anniversary of the Nov. 17 students' uprising to protest the country's latest austerity measures.
We noted the continued deadly violence in Syria despite a suggestion from Jordan that President Assad should step down and the suspension of the country from the Arab League bloc.
We looked on as security forces in Brazil moved into Rocinha slum in Rio de Janeiro in an intense crack down on drug gangs.
And finally, we were entertained by the unusual venue of an aircraft carrier for a NCAA basketball game between the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Michigan State Spartans.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--A huge Penn State scandal, a busy US campaign trail, and the Eurozone economic crisis claims more victims.

2011-11-11T19:05:00.001-08:00

We witnessed Penn State's college football program become front-page news after former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky was charged with sexually abusing eight boys, legendary head football coach Joe Paterno was fired, and students protested Paterno's ouster.
We watched the Eurozone economic crisis claim its next victims with the resignation of Greece's PM George Papandreou and the announced resignation of Italy's PM Silvio Burlusconi.
We saw Alaska get pounded by an "epic" Beric Sea "superstorm" that left residents inundated with heavy snowfall, strong winds, and powerful coastal waves.
We monitored the aftermath of a deadly 5.6 earthquake in Turkey that followed the October 23 devastating 7.2 tremor in which over 600 people were killed.
We followed a busy week on the US campaign trail with one year to go until the 2012 elections as Rick Perry's major debate "oops" and Herman Cain's sexual harassment charges took center stage.
We observed roads turning into rivers in Genoa, Italy as deadly floodwater wreaked havoc on local citizens.
We were stunned by a massive landslide in the northwestern Colombian city Manizales that killed 48 people and buried 14 homes.
We noted the deferral of the Obama administration's decision to move forward with the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada that was preceded by large protests at the White House.
We examined major Middle East events including further violent crackdowns on Syrian protesters in defiance of an Arab League agreement, the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia marking the festival Eid al-Adha, and another aid flotilla to Gaza stopped by the Israeli navy.
And finally, we were saddened by the passing of two giants of their professions: CBS newsman Andy Rooney and former heavyweight boxing world champion Joe Frazier.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--An economic and political Greek roller coaster, Occupy protests heat up, and an incredible emergency airliner

2011-11-03T18:50:00.001-07:00

We tracked a roller coaster week for Greece as the country went back and forth on whether to hold a referendum on an EU bailout for the country that stole headlines at the G20 meetup in Cannes, France.
We watched intense Occupy protests in Denver and once again in Oakland as police in both cities used non-lethal weapons to reign in demonstrators.
We witnessed an amazing emergency landing of a Boeing 767 airliner with no landing gear and 231 passengers on board that touched down in Warsaw, Poland after taking off from Newark, New Jersey.
We noted the loss of thirteen American military personnel and three Australian soldiers in separate attacks by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
We followed Herman Cain on the US campaign trail as he defended himself against accusations of sexual harassment while he was president of the National Restaurant Association in the 1990s.
We observed roads turning into rivers in Bangkok, Thailand as floodwater in the city and surrounding areas steadily inundated neighborhoods in the country's worst flooding in decades.
We were amazed by the powerful, early season snowstorm in the US Northeast that was blamed for at least 29 deaths and enormous power outages.
We monitored the quick breakdown of a supposed Arab League deal with Syria for the country's security forces to stop the violent suppression of anti-government demonstrations which lead to over a dozen people killed.
And finally, we celebrated Halloween along with YouTubers around the world and saw US politicians get into the spirit too!

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Tunisia makes history, Turkey gets leveled, and #OccupyOakland gets violent.

2011-10-31T05:17:00.001-07:00

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Tunisia makes history, Turkey gets leveled, and #OccupyOakland gets violent.

We watched history unfold in Tunisia as the country's people were the first to go to the polls since they ignited the Arab Spring, and chose the moderate Islamist Ennahda party as their majority representatives in their first ever democratic elections.
We witnessed Libya mark its "declaration of liberation" and the secret burial of Moammar Gadhafi, as the country prepares for a new, democratic future.
We saw eastern Turkey's Van province get leveled by a massive 7.2 earthquake that crushed buildings and killed at least 500 people despite some fortunate rescues.
We noted a violent escalation in police enforcement during Occupy Oakland protests and the subsequent solidarity marches by affiliated Occupy movements across the US.
We followed Michelle Bachmann as she filed her paperwork for the New Hampshire primary and a baby-kissing Barack Obama on the US campaign trail.
We monitored worsening floods in Thailand as water crept in on the capital Bangkok and forced officials to issue evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents.
And finally, we were mystified along with the rest of the US with Republican candidate for president Herman Cain's newest viral ad in which his chief of staff is seen smoking.

Chancellor Angela Merkel takes your questions on new German government YouTube channel

2011-10-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

From the Philippines to Israel, Mexico to Iraq, governments from around the world have created YouTube channels and are using the site to communicate with their constituents. Today, the German government launched their YouTube channel to provide regular updates to German citizenry.

Better still, they want to hear from you. Chancellor Angela Merkel will be taking questions from citizens through YouTube. You can vote on the questions you'd like to see asked and she'll answer the top ten questions in a three-part video series on the new channel.

What questions do you have for the Chancellor? Upload them now.

Nonprofits use video to drive action on World Food Day

2011-10-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

Cross-posted on the YouTube Blog.

Today is World Food Day and we wanted to highlight some of the ways we’re seeing nonprofit organizations around the world are sharing stories of the over one billion people who are living in hunger.

Organizations like the ONE Campaign are employing famous faces like Bono, George Clooney and Jessica Alba to help raise awareness about the issue:

Others like LinkTV are using this important day to highlight the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, which has affected over 11.5 million people thus far:

A collection of videos related to World Food Day are featured on the YouTube homepage today. Watch them to learn more about the global hunger crisis and to see how you can help.

Live Conversation with Jeffrey Immelt (CEO of GE) on jobs and the economy

2011-10-14T16:26:00.000-07:00

With unemployment at 9.1%, Jeffery Immelt, Chariman and CEO of GE and Chairman of the President’s outside panel of economic advisors, faces a daunting task: to figure out how to get American firms hiring again. In a recently published October report, Immelt and staff laid out recommendations for President Obama and Congress, including the formation of a new government “financing institution” to invest in alternative energy and manufacturing projects, among others. Dubbed “The Jobs Czar”, Immelt stands front and center of issue number one in the mind of the American voter: jobs, jobs, jobs.

Beginning 8:30 (EST) on Monday October 17, Thomson Reuters will explore the jobs agenda in a conversation with Jeffrey Immelt. The event will be held in New York City at the Thomson Reuters Newsmaker event, moderated by Thomson Reuters Digital Editor, Chrystia Freeland.

To watch the conversation, please visit the Reueters YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/reuters. The event will air live at 8:30 EST on Monday October 17th.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--tensions in Egypt, New Zealand's oil disaster, and global Blackberry outages

2011-10-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

We saw a dramatic renewal of tensions in Egypt after deadly clashes broke out between Coptic Christian protesters and army forces that killed at least 24 people.
We watched an environmental disaster unfold in New Zealand because of tons of oil from the crashed cargo ship Rena spilling into the Bay of Plenty and onto nearby beaches.
We witnessed Occupy Wall Street protesters in New York take aim at Fox News and Occupy protesters in Boston forcibly removed from Dewey Square.
We celebrated the eightieth birthday of world-renowned South African activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu amidst the controversy of the Dalai Lama not being granted a visa to attend.
We observed dramatic, deadly flooding half a world a part devastate local communities in Thailand and Mexico.
We enjoyed the beautiful fairy tail royal wedding of the king of Bhutan and his commoner bride.
We followed Mitt Romney on the US campaign trail as he received a coveted endorsement from New Jersey governor Chris Christie, as well as all of the GOP candidates as they debated economic policy in New Hampshire.
We monitored intense Arab Spring fighting in Bahrain, Syria, and Libya.
We tracked massive Blackberry outages as they spread across the globe and the angry backlash from frustrated customers.
And finally, we reflected on ten years of war in Afghanistan by looking at the fighting, protests, and politics surrounding the conflict.

"What's your story?" video challenge

2011-10-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

The White House recently launched a creative initiative asking Asian American Pacific Islanders (AAPI) to record their personal stories via short YouTube videos:

A select number of videos will be posted to the White House website and exceptional AAPI leaders will be invited to the White House for a special gathering. To learn more, or submit your own video (deadline November 1st), visit WhiteHouse.gov/WhatsYourStory.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube

2011-10-04T11:39:00.001-07:00

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Michael Jackson's doctor goes on trial, Typhoon Nesat rips through the Philippines and China, and the passing of the first African woman Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

We watched the highly anticipated trial of Michael Jackson's personal doctor get underway with Conrad Murray facing charges of involuntary manslaughter.
We saw Hollywood celebrities join protesters trying to curb "corporate greed" with the "Occupy Wall Street" movement in NYC, while organizers started solidarity campaigns in cities across the United States.
We observed the Russian government in flux as the finance minister resigned in an open confrontation with President Medvedev, who announced he would swap roles in next year's elections with current Prime Minister and former President Vladimir Putin.
We witnessed Typhoon Nesat pound the Philippines, killing at least 35 with another 45 missing, and then move on to produce dramatic flooding and destruction in China.
We followed an "animated" Barack Obama, a "new" ad for Newt Gingrich, and 200,000 people who "like" Hermain Cain on the US campaign trail.
We monitored the latest in the European economic crisis as Germany's parliament voted to increase the European bailout fund and Greece tried to convince the EU and IMF to release more emergency cash.
We tracked the ongoing Arab Spring uprisings in Libya, where anti-Gadhafi forces made advances on the stronghold of Sirte, and in Syria, where the US ambassador's convoy was pelted with stones as security forces continued to kill protesters.
And finally, we reflected on the life and achievements of the first African woman Nobel Peace Prize laureate, environmentalist Wangari Maathai, who died at the age of 71.

This week on YouTube

2011-09-26T13:00:00.001-07:00

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Palestinians make history at the UN, a highly controversial death penalty case, and Republicans square off in their seventh debate.

We watched as hundreds of protesters in New York City marched to "Occupy Wall Street" in an effort to end "corporate greed."
We witnessed powerful Typhoon Roke sweep through Japan and cause heavy flooding and landslides that left as many as thirteen people dead or missing as 2.2 million residents across the country were ordered to evacuate their homes.
We observed the highly contentious request by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to the United Nations for full Palestinian statehood recognition while clashes erupted between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank.
We kept track of attempts to save convicted felon Troy Davis from his eventual controversial execution in Georgia.
We followed a busy week on the US campaign trail as President Obama took aim at the wealthy saying they must pay their fair share of taxes while the Republican contenders squared off in their seventh debate.
We held our breath as markets continued to slide amid fears of a global recession while Greeks protested austerity measures.
We monitored a bloody week in Yemen where armed security forces reportedly killed numerous anti-government protesters as they marched for their rights and mourned their martyrs.
And finally, we saw baseball's NY Yankees clinch their twelfth AL East title in sixteen years after they beat the Tampa Bay Rays in both games of a double-header.

DADT Officially Over; Soldier comes out on YouTube

2011-09-21T17:09:00.000-07:00

Following the official end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, one soldier who has been anonymously posting videos on his channel about being gay in the military finally showed his face. The 21 year-old Air Force serviceman filmed a heartfelt call from Germany coming out to his father, who assured his son "I still love you. It doesn't change our relationship."

Since April, the US soldier has gained close to 10,000 subscribers and describes himself via his Twitter account as a "Military member in the closet, using social media to build up the courage to come out to family, girlfriend, friends, and coworkers." He has done just that and more. His video, posted less than 48 hours ago, has almost 2,000,000 views and 22,000 likes.

Ferris Salameh, YouTube Policy, recently watched "Fox News Google Debate"

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--A brazen twenty-hour Taliban attack, a hi

2011-09-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

We were saddened by the deaths of two hundred passengers on a ferry carrying at least eight hundred people that capsized in Zanzibar.
We witnessed an awful oil pipeline explosion in a Nairobi, Kenya slum village that killed more than eighty people.
We watched an incredibly brazen twenty-hour attack on the US Embassy compound and ISAF headquarters in Kabul, Afghanistan by the Taliban that left a number of local Afghanis dead
We saw a Norwegian cruise ship fire kill two people and injure at least nine after what was believed to be an explosion in the ship's engine room
We followed Rick Perry with Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann with Sheriff Joe Arpaio, and Ron Paul slamming Mitt Romney and Rick Perry as "pretty boys" this week on the US campaign trail.
We marked a historic day in Libya as the first two high-level foreign diplomats to visit the country since the Gadhafi regime was toppled, UK prime minister David Cameron and French president Nicolas Sarkozy, promised to help rebuild the embattled nation.
And finally, we commemorated the people lost and reflected on the horrific events of September 11, 2001 on the ten year anniversary of that tragic day.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--A tragic Russian plane crash, extreme US weather, and fresh violence in Syria.

2011-09-10T12:25:00.000-07:00

We were saddened by the Yaroslavl, Russia plane crash that killed almost the entire Lokomotiv KHL hockey team and its crew on board.
We documented dramatic images of the fires raging across Texas in the state's worst wildfire season (in terms of acres burned) on record.
We watched as Tropical Storm Lee moved across the US, but first pounded the Gulf Coast bringing heavy rain to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama while President Obama inspected Hurricane Irene damage in Paterson, New Jersey, and the Northeast flooded as a result of both storms.
We saw Typhoon Talas wreak havoc on Japan, swelling rivers and causing mudslides as more than one hundred people died or went missing in the aftermath.
We followed a busy US campaign trail with the Republican debate at the Reagan Library in California and President Obama's jobs speech to a joint session of Congress.
We tracked opposition fighters in Libya as they surrounded the Gadhafi stronghold Bani Walid hoping to find him there and finally end the war.
And finally, we witnessed a new wave of deadly force from the Syrian government on protesters throughout the country as the victims appealed for international help.

This Week's Top News Stories on YouTube--Libya is overthrown, a rare earthquake rattles the US East Coast, and Hurricane Irene slams the Caribbean on

2011-09-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

We were on the edge of our seats as rebel forces in Libya gained control of the capital Tripoli and pressed on in search of Moammar Gadhafi in order to claim an all out victory in the fight against his regime. Meanwhile, we were amused by this viral video of the man who had captured Gadhafi's hat.
We got rattled by a rare 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Virginia that shook up many all along the US East Coast but caused no casualties or serious damage.
We watched some Caribbean islands get slammed with heavy rains and flooding by Hurricane Irene as the major storm approached the US East Coast.
We saw prominent Indian social activist Anna Hazare take on a 15-day fast, supported by thousands of followers seeking stronger legislation against corruption.
We followed John Huntsman slamming Barack Obama , President Obama vacationing on Martha's Vineyard, and a mob of "barbarians" as they took on Marcus Bachmann's clinic in a dancing flashmob this week on the US campaign trail.
We recognized aid workers who help millions of people around the world and celebrated World Humanitarian Day in their honor along with the UN.
And finally, we reflected on the amazing contributions of technology pioneer Steve Jobs after hearing the announcement of his resignation as CEO of Apple.

Video Edifies Case Against Pakistani Rangers

2011-08-30T22:57:00.000-07:00

How did one video change the paradigm in a Pakistani courtroom? The footage (WARNING: graphic content) of a group of military rangers dragging out and shooting a young man at point blank provoked outrage in Pakistan. The clip is raw and visceral. An onlooker caught the incident and released it to TV media and within hours it was ubiquitous. Citizens took to the web and the streets to show support for Sarfraz Shah and his family: protesters hung the ranger in effigy, bloggers broadcasted the incident to the world and discussed a series of recent extrajudicial killings, and tweeters called directly on Chief Justice of Pakistan to take measures against Shahid Zafar. Earlier this month the court convicted the shooter, Zafar and the other rangers involved.

This post was written by Nicole McDonald, YouTube Policy.