In The News

Rockers Tuning in to Chinese Market

Ben Sisario November 29, 2007
China, with 1.3 billion people and rapidly growing wealth, is an irresistible market for many industries, and rock 'n’ roll is no different. The Internet has flooded China with Western tunes, building an appetite for rappers like Talib Kweli and mainstream bands including Linkin Park. While the musicians appreciate the opportunity to play to rapt crowds and experience culture shock, the...

Visit Africa. Bring Checkbook.

Jonathan Power November 15, 2007
The West has viewed Africa as an undifferentiated mess of war, disease, corruption and poverty for some time. The International Monetary Fund, however, estimates that sub-Saharan will grow at 7 percent in 2008, largely due to investment by Chinese and Indian companies. US and European experts are divided about Asian influence in Africa, whether India and China engage in mutually beneficial...

Vive La Vélorution

Manfred Dworschak November 13, 2007
Confronting astronomical gas costs and clogged city arteries, urban residents find a new way to get around. In exchange for little to no fee, they can temporarily rent a bicycle from stations scattered throughout the city and leave them at the destination. The system is wildly popular: For the rental program's first three months in Paris, Vélib provided more than six million rides. Cities...

Plain English Gets Harder in Global Era

Phred Dvorak November 12, 2007
The globalizing economy – particularly the rise of outsourcing and offshoring, along with the growing acceptance of English as the universal language within multinational corporations – raises the demand for sophisticated language training. English speakers confront a broader range of accents and cultures than ever before, and education programs step up their offerings. Some concepts – sarcasm,...

Latin America’s Hidden War in Iraq

Kristina Mani October 11, 2007
The mercenary companies operating in Iraq recruit a large number of fighters from Latin America – roughly a third of the estimated 30,000 currently deployed. The region boasts a large number of trained ex-military fighters, and a high level of unemployment makes many willing to accept wages that are a fraction of what American or British elite forces demand. An intense need for soldiers in the...

Number of Obese Growing on Global Scale

Stephen J. Hedges October 5, 2007
While some countries suffer from hunger, a growing part of the world struggles with the opposite problem of obesity. The problem is no longer confined to rich countries: Nigeria and Uganda struggle simultaneously with hunger and obesity. With a 2000 percent increase in the share of China’s population considered obese, the growth in waistlines outpaces the nation's economic growth. Obese...

Trade and Security Trump Democracy in Burma – Part II

Salil Tripathi October 4, 2007
Human-rights abuses in Burma have caused worldwide outrage, with no effect on the regime. This series analyzes external influences on the junta that controls Burma. Western activists who pressure businesses rather than supportive governments do not maximize their resources or influence, argues writer and Asian specialist Salil Tripathi, in the second article of the two-part series. Assuming that...