In The News

A Stalled Arab Spring

Dilip Hiro August 4, 2011
Revolutions are rarely smooth affairs. So the Arab Spring extends into the scorching heat of summer. Securing lasting change takes longer than many analysts in the West and young protesters on the streets of Egypt, Yemen, Syria, Libya and Tunisia might have anticipated, explains author Dilip Hiro. Quick exits by presidents of Tunisia and Egypt spread hope throughout the Middle East and North...

Obama's Winning Formula for Syria

Ali Younes July 14, 2011
With brutal force and intimidation visible the world over, Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad has lost his countrymen’s support. The international community responds with condemnation and sanctions. Al-Assad can resign, lead in establishing democratic rights or live life as a pariah. Regardless, Al-Assad is weakened, and that benefits the US, explains policy analyst Ali Younes for Ahram Weekly. If...

Why Syria Will Get Away With It

Gideon Rachman June 14, 2011
Deep in debt, the US struggles to end three wars. At the same time, the departing US secretary of defense criticized European NATO allies for a lack of commitment and poor military preparation. The combination of a lack of funds and fortitude has complicated Libyan intervention, which could allow the Syrian regime to get away with its brutal repression of its own citizens. Gideon Rachman of the...

Sorry, We're Closed

Leo Cendrowicz May 11, 2011
Citizens of 25 European nations can cross those borders freely without delay, thanks to the Schengen Agreement of 1985, which abolished internal borders in lieu of a single external border and applies common rules on visas and border controls. But with unrest in North Africa, illegal immigration to Europe has climbed, and leaders of Italy and France have called for temporary imposition of border...

Ai Weiwei's Incarceration Stumps German Culture Vultures

Aya Bach May 2, 2011
As Ai Weiwei prepared to open a Berlin show of his work, Chinese authorities detained the celebrated artist in a bid to limit damage his criticism might cause abroad. The censorship immediately triggered international censures and debate about effective methods – gentle education or intense pressure – for achieving human rights in China, explains Aya Bach for Deutsche Welle. Ironically, Ai was...

Going Home: The Polish Migrants Who Lost Jobs and Hope in UK

Amelia Gentleman April 11, 2011
For Poles, the UK has long been a destination for opportunity. But the promise of prosperity is deceptive, as higher wages in the UK are accompanied by a higher cost of living. Competition for employment is intense, with a strained UK economy and dwindling numbers of construction, janitorial and restaurant jobs, writes Amelia Gentleman for the Guardian. Young migrants from Poland increasingly...

Italy Seeks to Pass Problem on to EU Partners

Hans-Jürgen Schlamp April 11, 2011
As protests rage throughout northern Africa, young men crowd onto small vessels to cross the Mediterranean for Italy. For 23,000 Tunisian immigrants, Italy’s interior minister negotiated a deal with Tunisia to grant six-month residence permits. Criminals or those with a record of deportation, as well as those who arrived after the initial wave or are not from Tunisia, will be turned away,...