In The News

Coup Ousting Thailand's Premier Tests Democracy in Key US Ally

James Hookway September 20, 2006
Tanks moved in and took command of the Bangkok and its government offices – while the prime minister was in New York for a meeting at the United Nations, reports “The Wall Street Journal.” The coup could challenge the candidacy of Thai Deputy Prime Minister Surakiart Sathirathai, the sole candidate approved by ASEAN member countries for the post of UN secretary-general, according to “The Korean...

Detainee Decision Greeted Skeptically

Kevin Sullivan September 13, 2006
US President Bush announced a decision to transfer 14 suspected terrorists from Central Intelligence Agency detention centers around the world, including some European countries, to the US military prison in Cuba. By admitting the existence of such secret prisons, Bush put some of his European allies in the crosshairs of human-rights groups. Human-rights advocates and lawmakers suggest that at...

Living Under Police Protection: Advocates for Muslim Women Face Constant Danger

Cordula Meyer September 11, 2006
The legal system is often helpless, when it comes to intervention on cultural or family differences, such as assisting women who refuse to enter arranged marriages. Or the police help arrives too late. Muslim women who want to shed cultural restrictions endure taunts, brutal attacks and even death. Intimidation is so intense that some lawyers refuse to assist Muslim women in family disputes....

Precious Wetlands Rapidly Disappearing

Hiroaki Sato August 30, 2006
Some deride wetlands as swamps, and others regard them as invaluable habitat providing a buffer during floods, a system that contributes to climate moderation and a habitat for diverse wildlife. The US Clean Water Act was supposed to prevent the discharge of pollutants into rivers, lakes and coastal waters of that nation – and later expanded to include wetlands. In 1988, US Congress devised a...

Terror Plot Exposes Flaws in How UK Tackles Extremism

Andrew Higgins August 21, 2006
Preventing extremism requires funds, resources and mutual understanding about the nature of terrorism. In a working-class London neighborhood, some residents take steps to provide a forum for Muslims and local officials to meet and reduce ethnic tensions. Imtiaz Qadir, owner of an Islamic gym and sauna called Al-Badr, has also started a youth center. Local officials visit, playing pool, talking...

British Law Against Glorifying Terrorism Has Not Silenced Calls to Kill for Islam

Souad Mekhennet August 21, 2006
British authorities suspect that extremist speech and writings stoke the anger of young men who turn to radical Islam and terrorist plots. A strict law – the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006 – aims to curtail violent speech or publications. But clerics and online radicals test the limits of the law, adjusting their language just enough to avoid prosecution while keeping the angry context clear....

Can Arnold Terminate Emissions?

Christa Case August 15, 2006
Some politicians view global heating as a major issue in upcoming elections – and are taking preemptive action. Europe, anticipating expiration of the Kyoto Treaty in 2012, created an emissions market: Companies buy and sell rights to emit greenhouse gases, and face fines for excess waste, in a market providing incentives to improve corporate practices. The system recognizes that the emissions...