In The News

Confucius Says: It's Time to Learn Mandarin

Hamish McDonald March 7, 2005
As China continues its ascent as a global power, the demand for Chinese-language speakers has, indeed, increased. In response to – and perhaps to reinforce –these needs, China has launched an international initiative to boost language proficiency. Dubbed the Confucius Institutes, over 100 Chinese language learning centers are planned to open in cities worldwide. As with many Chinese global...

A Pageant with a Purpose

Simon Robinson February 28, 2005
Last week, Botswana played host to a unique type of beauty pageant. Twelve competitors from around the nation danced, smiled, and glamorized in the 5th annual Miss HIV Stigma Free Pageant, designed to showcase the fact that even with the AIDS virus, life goes on. Botswana, regarded as one of the most progressive African nations in its handling of the AIDS crisis, views the culture of shame and...

Pan-Asian Biotech Federation Formed

February 23, 2005
The global technological center of gravity seems to be slowly shifting away from the developed world towards Asian countries like India. Recognizing that their scientific prowess commands increasing respect on the world stage, leading biotech associations across the continent joined together this month to accelerate Asian scientific development. At the recent BioAsia 2005 conference in Hyderabad...

Can the World Deliver for Africa?

Larry Elliott February 2, 2005
2005 may be the year of Africa, if UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and other officials have anything to do with it. Britain, charged this year with the coinciding presidencies of both the EU and the G8, has vowed to make African economic revival a priority. The poorest continent in the world is steadily growing poorer, as standards of living, health, education, and economic productivity are far...

Critics See Hypocrisy in China's Support for Baghdad Elections

Mark Magnier January 28, 2005
China contributed US$1 million to help ensure the success of Iraq's upcoming election this Sunday. But at home, democracy is still something to which leaders have a serious aversion. Chinese officials argue that their country's history provides a tenuous foundation for democracy and that their people are too poor and uneducated to participate in the electoral process. Yet neighboring...

Spies Are Us: Interest in Arabic Soars

Benjamin Sutherland January 19, 2005
The skyrocketing number of American and Europeans studying the Arabic language is a trend affecting relations between Arabic-speaking lands and the rest of the world. While some Arabic students seek business opportunities, the majority aim for language proficiency to obtain work in some political or governmental capacity. The students recognize the need for advanced speakers by US and European...

On AIDS, Avoid Acting Too Late

Solomon Sacco December 1, 2004
This World AIDS Day brings with it greatly advanced knowledge about combating the deadly illness, but also concerns for regions where the risk is silently increasing. Many observers fear that, much like sub-Saharan Africa in the 1990s, Middle East and North African nations will not confront the threat of AIDS until it is too late. Although infection rates in the Middle East are much lower than in...