In The News

Japan's Mating Culture Extends Baby Drought

David Turner December 9, 2003
The world population will rise to slightly over 9 billion people within the next century. Yet Japan and many European countries face possibly catastrophic population declines. Strikingly low birthrates don’t only threaten economic growth and domestic familial dynamics, but could provoke "shifts in the political weights of countries in the international arena." Concern is so great...

Franco-German Duo Infernale

Gerald Braunberger December 5, 2003
The old rivalry between Germany and France has long kept Europe from being able to move forward together as a region. Unfortunately, these two nations are now coming into line, but at the expense of the European Union and smaller states. Both countries are demanding power over EU institutions and the draft constitution, says this article in Germany's F.A.Z. Weekly, while at the same time...

Headscarf Issue has Europe Tied up in Knots

Pek Siok Lian December 5, 2003
Secularism has long been considered a fundamental feature of many European democracies. With increasing immigration from Muslim countries to France, Germany, and elsewhere, these nations have to deal with a growing minority who has a different take on ideal democracy. In France and Germany, the debate has largely centered on the question of the headscarves that are worn by many Muslim women....

Goh Urges Portugal to Renew Old Ties

Tan Tarn How December 4, 2003
Seeking to build on linguistic and historical ties to Portugal, Singapore's Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, visited Lisbon to expand bilateral relations. "We welcome you in Asia, like you are welcoming us in Europe," Tong said. Singapore is already one of Portugal’s biggest investors, although trade between the countries has so far been modest. Being at the forefront of an economic...

Canada's View on Social Issues Is Opening Rifts With the U.S.

Clifford Krauss December 2, 2003
A long running joke among Americans has been that Canada will eventually become the 51st state, so alike are the attitudes and attributes of the two populations. In recent years, however, a chasm has grown between the neighbors with issues such as gay marriage, drug use, and church attendance revealing growing division on fundamental values. Canada has increasingly taken the progressive route,...

Korean-Chinese Demand Citizenship

Kim So-young November 27, 2003
More than 5,000 ethnic Koreans from China have demanded citizenship in South Korea after living in the country illegally for some time. 2,200 of them have been on a 14-day hunger strike since the government in Seoul announced it would be deporting all illegal residents of the country. At least one former prime minister supports the immigrants' position, claiming a parallel with Jews wishing...

Seeing the Funny Side of Islamic Law, and Not Seeing It

Neil MacFarquhar November 24, 2003
For the past 11 years, a Saudi television show has aired during the holy Muslim month of Ramadan that subtly and sometimes not-so-subtly pokes fun at the Saudi regime and the religious bureaucracy. Muslim leaders call the show religious blasphemy, while the show's avid viewers consider it a light-hearted portrayal of the truth of everyday life. A particularly controversial episode...