In The News

The Islamist Mouseketeers: Hamas Mickey Mouse Teaches Jihad

May 10, 2007
Clips from the Palestinian show “Tomorrow’s Pioneers,” feature a bright-colored set and a human-sized mouse with big black ears. But resemblance to the cartoon character of Mickey Mouse stops there. The voice of this Disney look-alike, Farfur, is shrill – more urgent than happy – as he rattles off vocabulary that goes beyond the understanding of most young children: world leadership, liberation,...

Calling India

Scott Kraft May 10, 2007
The word “outsourcing” may carry plenty of negative connotations in the US – but not when consumers are hunting for a good deal. Parents in the US, desperate to help their children achieve in an increasingly competitive global environment, seek tutoring services but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Using a voice-over-internet phone and an interactive computer “whiteboard,” a pupil in Beverly...

Iraq’s Refugee Crisis

Anna Husarska May 7, 2007
The US and its coalition partners invaded Iraq, but have failed to provide for the 2 million Iraqis displaced since the start of the war. Nearly 15 percent of Iraq’s 26.8 million people have been displaced, with most moving to other parts of their war-torn nation or neighboring Jordan and Syria, and smaller numbers headed to Turkey, Lebanon and Egypt. Poor nations throughout the Middle East...

India’s Skills Famine

James Surowiecki April 18, 2007
Entrepreneurship in India has captured the attention of onlookers around the world. But despite many success stories, the world’s second most populated nation has run into a big challenge – a shortage of skilled workers. Education opportunities are limited, with only 10 percent of Indians pursuing higher education and 30 percent of the population labeled as illiterate. Yet “India’s impressive...

Chinese-Language Classes Full, But Teachers Scarce in US

Ben Arnoldy April 2, 2007
Growing numbers of US students want to learn Mandarin, but a dearth in resources makes this a trying feat. While federal funds pour into guest visa programs for foreign teachers, critics say this is not enough to strengthen disorganized language-education programs throughout the US. Other school districts look to immigrant populations as potential wellsprings of language educators. However, many...

India Attracts Universities From the US

Somini Sengupta March 26, 2007
Despite its reputation as an up-and-coming global competitor, India’s economic growth has been stunted by the limited higher-education opportunities – with only 7 percent of young adults entering universities. Recognizing the demand of Asia’s university-aged population, American schools seek to establish relationships with their counterparts in countries such as China and India. Through...

The Poisonous Legacy of the Iraq War – Part II

Husain Haqqani March 19, 2007
The term "jihad" is often used to describe the violent struggle against those outside the community of Islamic believers. Yet jihad is also the struggle within each Muslim's heart, an attempt to abide by the teachings of the Koran. This article is the second of a two-part series that reflects on the impact of the Iraq war and attitudes in the Muslim world. Author and former...