In The News

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...

WHO Unveils Plan to Fight HIV and AIDS

David Brown December 1, 2003
A program that was deemed "too ambitious" two years ago is set to be implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO). By providing instruction, expertise, and written documents, as well as calling for the training of 100,000 workers for 10,000 clinics, the WHO hopes to provide 3 million people with AIDS treatment by 2005. The WHO will not pay for the treatment itself, but it hopes...

India Plans Free AIDS Therapy

Amy Waldman December 1, 2003
On the eve of an election day in India, the government announced plans to provide free antiretroviral therapy to H.I.V.-positive new parents and H.I.V.-positive children in the six states most affected by the disease. This is part of a larger initiative spearheaded domestically by Sushma Swaraj, India's Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, and internationally by organizations like...

Asean-China FTA must get priority, says Singapore Prime Minister

Loh Hui Yin November 21, 2003
At the end of a six-day visit to China, Singapore’s Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong announced that he would not pursue a bilateral trade agreement with China until Beijing finalizes a free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). The China-Asean agreement will enhance economic integration between the regional grouping and the mainland, while allowing for bilateral...

Remarks by the President at Whitehall Palace

George W. Bush November 19, 2003
In London, President Bush spoke to members of Prime Minister Tony Blair's government about the progress of the coalition-led war in Iraq. He called upon the British to remain strong in their resolve, while acknowledging that many of Prime Minister Blair's constituents were against the war. Though the President never mentioned weapons of mass destruction in Iraq – his main selling...

Worthy Goal

Eric Farnsworth November 18, 2003
“The negotiations over a Free Trade Area of the Americas are not ultimately about agriculture subsidies, orange juice, or even competing claims of jobs won or lost,” argues Eric Farnsworth, Vice President of the Council of the Americas. “Rather, they are about building a democratic hemisphere consistent with strategic interests.” He explains that direct foreign investment drives economic growth...

Europeans Need Clearer Vision to Revive WTO Talks

Shada Islam November 14, 2003
The US and the European Union helped derail negotiations at the Cancun meeting of the World Trade Organization by refusing to end subsidies to their farmers. Although European leaders talk of building a multi-polar new world order, says Shada Islam, their stand at the WTO betrays a reluctance to deal with the developing world as equals. The deal the European Union struck with Washington is...