In The News

Hollywood Caters to a Ravenous Global Appetite

William Booth June 2, 2006
Hollywood is big business, but the largest portion of its revenues no longer comes from the US. Instead, Hollywood reaps more international than domestic profits, and as a result, the global marketplace influences everything from what films get made to how they are made. In fact, big Hollywood productions no longer make US audiences their primary target and aim to entertain thousands of...

The Arabs and Africa: A Topic for Discussion

Mustafa el-Fikky Al-Hayat June 1, 2006
The current rift in Arab-African relations can be traced to a historical residue of opposition and colonialism, which must be understood in order to be mended. Egyptian Author Mustafa el-Fikky Al-Hayat offers 10 points for understanding the Arab-Africa relationship. From myths concerning the Arab role as African slave traders during the colonial era to the split of the Organization of African...

India's 'Idol' Recipe: Mix Small-Town Grit and Democracy

Somini Sengupta June 1, 2006
Like previous versions in the US and the UK, "India Idol" is a singing competition that has become a favorite part of popular culture. The show invites aspiring singers to display their life dreams and perform for a national television audience that then votes for its favorites. The Indian show has two distinct characteristics: Women do not win, and rural and isolated regions of the...

Gulf States: Educational Reform's Real Goals

Ebtisam Al Kitbi June 1, 2006
The Arab Gulf states – Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman – are not known for eagerly incorporating reforms suggested by other countries. Education is an exception, however. Young students attending universities are products of a system that owes much – and some would say too much – to foreign influence. English has become the language of higher education in the Gulf...

The Contest for Memory

Naima Bouteldja May 30, 2006
In taking responsibility for their most ignominious periods, including colonialism and slavery, nations must display honesty and commitment. Gestures from the government of France to recognize its history have been undercut by attempts to revise the story of a colonial past depending on geography, sometimes emphasizing glory and achievement rather than bloodshed and victimization. France has...

Extremism Isn’t Islamic Law

Kyai Haji Abdurrahman Wahid May 26, 2006
The Koran is clear: “Let there be no compulsion in religion.” (2:256). Yet the government of Afghanistan came close to executing a Muslim man who had converted to Christianity. Bowing to international pressure, the government ruled that the man was insane and called off the trial. The man’s life was spared, but using the Koran to justify the death penalty for apostasy in Muslim society remains...

Put Movie Scenes Into Perspective

Rousseau Chen May 26, 2006
Like any other residents whose city is featured in a major film, the people of Shanghai have eagerly awaited the Chinese release of “Mission: Impossible III.” Some of the scenes shot in the metropolis, however, must be cut before the film’s release in China, according to a ruling by humorless censors in the Chinese Film Bureau. Images of drying laundry and criminal activity offended the bureau...