In The News

The Middle East's New Map

Mark Perry January 2, 2007
Humans are fond of categories, and the Middle East has long been subject to such analysis: nations that align with one power or another, nations with wealth or without, nations that function and those that don’t. But boundaries designated by people are not so distinct, argues analyst Mark Perry. Arbitrary lines that created nations of the Middle East in 1919 did not put an end to sectarian...

Erosion of English Skills Threatens Growth in the Philippines

Carlos Conde December 29, 2006
Lawmakers in the Philippines have passed a law making English the primary language of instruction from high school onward, reversing a trend that encouraged instruction in native languages. About 95 percent of Filipinos speak English, but call centers and other business run by foreign firms impose high standards. English skills declined rapidly after a 1987 law required bilingual education to...

Seeking Iran Intelligence, U.S. Tries Google

Dafna Linzer December 15, 2006
With the Central Intelligence Agency busy, the US State Department turned to Google to track individuals linked to Iran’s nuclear development program, collecting names that emerged most often when searching for “Iran” and “nuclear.” Critics question whether a Google search is the best way for tracking down targets for international sanctions that involve limiting their travel and freezing assets...

Revisiting the Debate on America's Pro-Israel Lobby

Rami G. Khouri December 14, 2006
When it comes to issues of conflict and hatred, debate is best managed with a calm, evidence-based approach, according to analyst Rami Khouri. The comment comes amid world condemnation for Iran hosting a conference that questions the Nazi effort during the mid-20th century to kill all Jews. Khouri bemoans the lack of “rational middle ground between those who question or deny the Holocaust...

Everybody Wants One Now

December 12, 2006
English-language television news channels have been cropping up all over the globe, in places as diverse as China, Russia, the Middle East and, surprisingly enough, in France. Many of these stations are at least partly government-owned, and some viewers question their ability to avoid becoming a mouthpiece for certain policies. Proponents counter that these broadcasts will cover areas neglected...

Outsourcing Hits a New Class of Workers: Journalists

Doreen Carvajal December 5, 2006
Declining circulations and advertising revenue have forced newspapers in the US and UK to reduce costs – and some editors now look for low-wage, talented help in India, Singapore and other countries. Such moves may reduce costs, but could also lead to community backlashes and further erosion in circulation. Any employee whose work can be transferred online is vulnerable to such outsourcing,...

Kentucky Fried Globalization

Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom December 5, 2006
US media have been fascinated by both China’s and Vietnam’s success in embracing global markets while retaining communist governments. But that fascination resulted in a limited, oft-repeated presentation that does not delve into the cultural complexities, according to history professor Jeffrey N. Wasserstrom. Journalists tend to make two mistakes, according to Wasserstrom: first, equating...