In The News

Beijing Closes Schools as SARS Cases Rise

Erik Eckholm April 23, 2003
After revealing an increase in SARS cases in Beijing, Chinese officials have shut down the city's primary and secondary schools for at least two weeks. The city recently admitted it had concealed the severity of the epidemic, and is now struggling to contain both the disease and related public panic. In an effort to maintain a semblance of routine, and aided by a recent increase in computer...

Globalization and Science: A Speeded-Up Virtuous Cycle

Ramamurti Shankar March 28, 2003
In many academic disciplines, books, journals, and letters have long been the preferred ways of communicating over long distances. Thanks to the 'information revolution' facilitated by the internet, though, today the spread of knowledge around the world can happen almost instantaneously. In Physics and other branches of science, researchers and scholars are enjoying tremendous...

Al-Jazeera Site Experiences Hack Attack

Peter Svensson March 25, 2003
The newly launched English language version of Al-Jazeera’s Web site was hit by a "bombardment of data packets." Known as a "denial-of-service attack," the bombardment has rendered the site intermittently unavailable. American hackers are suspected because only the site's American server is affected. The attack may be a response to Al-Jazeera's broadcast of U.S....

TV Appearance Convinces US Hussein Is Alive

Dana Priest March 25, 2003
Despite early targeted attacks of Saddam Hussein's bunkers, American officials are now convinced that the Iraqi leader is still alive. A videotaped recording of Hussein is believed to be recent, not pre-recorded as was earlier thought. Email communications and cell phone "attacks" aimed at Hussein's military commanders continue, in hopes that if further American bombing...

War Is Test of High-Speed Web

David D. Kirkpatrick March 24, 2003
Throughout history, war has often provided an ideal setting for testing and showcasing the capabilities of new communication technologies. The current conflict in Iraq is the first test of the internet’s role in news coverage, and thus far, the results have been remarkable. Visits to the major news sites have doubled and tripled in the last week, as users search for the comprehensive, on-demand...

Vigils Are Held Around the World to Oppose Military Action

Thomas J. Lueck March 17, 2003
Anti-war protestors utilized the internet to organize vigils around the world on Sunday night. In almost 140 countries, people came together to protest an impending US-led military action against Iraq, all at 7:00pm in their local time. In major cities and small towns of the US, the mostly silent vigils provided thousands of protestors with the opportunity to protest the Bush Administration...

Canada Tackled on Internet Drugs Sales to US

Christopher Bowe March 13, 2003
The flood of drug sales from Canadian pharmacies to US consumers raises many ethical, political, and trade questions. In response, American and Canadian health authorities have begun discussions on the flow of price-controlled drugs into the US. This growing cross-border business illuminates many loopholes in US health care policies and the problem of insufficient drug coverage for many elderly...