In The News

Pentagon Seeking New Access Pacts for Africa Bases

Eric Schmitt July 5, 2003
The United States influence and presence in Africa is set to increase with the signing of a series of bilateral agreements between the United States and several African countries. The US is already planning to provide troops to join an international peacekeeping force in Liberia. The US is also seeking to establish Army bases in Mali and Algeria, and sign aircraft refueling agreements with...

Delay by UN on Rebuking North Korea is Urged

Felicity Barringer July 3, 2003
The United States, backed by Great Britain and France, has continually asked the Security Council to issue a statement condemning North Korea’s violation of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, the issuing of the statement has been held up by the lack of consensus among the permanent members of the Security Council . China and Russia remain reluctant, believing that doing so, will...

U.S. May Cut Aid Over Court Immunity

Peter Slevin July 1, 2003
Washington has threatened to cut off military aid, including military equipment and training programs, to countries that refuse to grant US citizens immunity from prosecution in the newly formed International Criminal Court. The Bush administration is demanding a written promise, known as an Article 98 agreement, from countries such as Croatia and Lithuania that "no Americans charged in the...

American Missionaries Pitch Baseball in India’s Cricket Citadel

Phil Reeves June 28, 2003
Is America's favorite pastime destined to become Asia's favorite as well? Maybe. Two American envoys are currently touring India in an effort to introduce baseball into India, a country where cricket is a national obsession and baseball is relatively unknown. In recent decades, baseball leagues have found a foot-hold in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, and opened doors for profitable...

The Great Rainforest Tragedy

Michael McCarthy June 28, 2003
Brazil’s 1.6 million acres of rainforest is the most species-rich habitat on earth. But it has long been threatened by development, logging, and farming undertaken by a burgeoning population mired in poverty. Deforestation has jumped by 40% in the last year, shocking environmentalists and government officials, who have promised to take action against the problem. But the cause of deforestation...

Nike Versus Sweatshop Critic: Back to California

S.L. Bachman June 27, 2003
Nike, the world's largest shoe manufacturer, could become the world's leader in improving labor standards across the globe. If US courts decide that it must, that is. The US Supreme court decided on June 26 to allow a California state court to proceed with a trial in which US-based Nike is charged with lying to the public about labor conditions in its factories overseas. A California...

Controlling the Flow

Gamal Nkrumah June 27, 2003
In the same week that European Union (EU) leaders met in Thessaloniki, Greece to discuss migration issues, a vessel carrying African migrants trying to enter Europe sank off the coast of Tunisia, killing some 70 people. This was one of the many vessels operated by illegal immigrant-trafficking gangs in Northern Africa who carry Africans to Mediterranean coastlines. Ironically, top on the agenda...