In The News

Cross and Headscarf

Fritz Friedebold October 17, 2003
"Muslim teachers are not suited to working in German schools if they insist on wearing a headscarf during class," says the German Protestant Church. Even though it understands that one day this stance could be extended to ban the cross in German schools and public offices, the Church argues that there should not be a ban but merely a limit on the donning of religious symbols by civil...

As It Tries to Cut Costs, Wall Street Looks to India

Saritha Rai October 8, 2003
In the latest development of the trend towards outsourcing US jobs to India, some Wall Street financial houses are looking to hire India-based researchers. J. P. Morgan, Lehman Bros., and Morgan Stanley are among the latest US investment firms to seek cheaper, well-educated labor in India. Merrill Lynch already has a technology center in the country, and Goldman Sachs has similar plans to...

Teenage Generation Is Biggest Ever

Shaoni Bhattacharya October 8, 2003
With 20 per cent of the world's population aged between ten and nineteen, Planet Earth's demography is witnessing the largest youth group ever. According to a new report from the UN Population Fund, about half of the world's population is now under the age of 25. This adolescent surge is posing an "economic opportunity" for countries, especially those in the developing...

US Sees Bias in South Korea Textbooks

September 30, 2003
Last year, when two Korean girls were run over by an American armored vehicle, anti-American sentiment reached a new height in South Korea. Although this sentiment seems to be slowly declining, US diplomats are still very concerned about the US public image in the Korean population, especially among students. Korean textbooks often tend to detail America's intervention in other parts of the...

Tough Struggle at Sea

September 30, 2003
Women are increasingly manning the world's ships, yet they continue to face discrimination. According to a new study published by the International Labor Office, women currently represent between 1 and 2 percent of the world's 1.25 million seafarers, serving on some 87,000 ships. Even in the Philippines – the world’s largest supplier of seafarers to the global merchant fleet – only...

Foreign Religious Students on the Run

Hasan Mansoor September 26, 2003
The Pakistani Intelligence Agency raided two extremist religious seminaries this week and took 19 students of East Asian origin into custody for connections to groups acting against "the integrity of Pakistan." The students are currently being interrogated by a joint United States FBI-Pakistani team, and their visas have been revoked. "It is not a case of terrorism;" argues...

Majority of 20s, 30s Wish to Emigrate

Hong Seo-rim September 18, 2003
More and more young adults in South Korea are looking to relocate to Canada, America, Australia and elsewhere. This potentially massive emigration would seriously damage the Korean economy and lead to even greater political instability. Citing better educational possibilities, less unemployment, and more opportunities elsewhere, young Koreans are frustrated with the lack of possibilities within...