In The News

To Be or Not to Be at Cancun

Ernesto Zedillo August 29, 2003
World trade has increased nearly twenty-fold over the past fifty years, bringing unprecedented prosperity – but mostly to developed countries. As the development round of the World Trade Organization draws closer, many key issues – including agricultural subsidy reform and essential drug access – remain unresolved and deeply contentious. According to Ernesto Zedillo, director of the Yale Center...

China's Growth Creates a Boom for Cargo Ships

Keith Bradsher August 28, 2003
The world's cargo ships are heavily laden and busily transporting goods around the globe, but largely to or from China. Two years ago, many of these ships could be found lying idle in their home ports. Now, thanks to China's rapidly expanding economy, shipping lines are enjoying one of their most profitable booms ever. China is not only importing huge quantities of raw materials from...

Coping With the Newest Threat to Global Health - Fat

Derek Yach August 26, 2003
Obesity is as great a threat to global health as malnutrition, says Derek Yach, the Representative of the Director-General of the WHO. One billion people -or one out of six --are overweight worldwide - the same number as are malnourished - and some 300 million of those are clinically obese, leading to a global rise in chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes....

Tough New US Rules a Challenge

August 22, 2003
Seaports have traditionally been very vulnerable entry points to the United States. And, as focus on homeland security has increased since September 11, American officials have sought to impose new security measures to better monitor the goods that are constantly entering US ports. To ensure that biological, chemical, or other weapons are not concealed in incoming cargo, US officials initiated...

Cutting Support Can Help Farmers to Prosper

Stefan Tangermann August 22, 2003
Farm subsidies remain an extremely contentious issue as the widely anticipated WTO meeting in Cancun draws closer. While farmers in developing countries plead with wealthy nations to eliminate trade distorting tariffs and subsidies, farmers in the developed world fear that doing so will destroy their farms and way of life. However, Stefan Tangermann, director for food, agriculture and fisheries...

A Head Trip: Indian Hair Finds Parts in Hollywood

Julia Angwin August 21, 2003
After the birth of a long-awaited son or the recovery of an ill spouse, Hindu women often visit a temple and shave their long locks as a gesture of thanks. Few suspect that their sacrificed hair may end up on the head of a European or American woman, possibly even a Hollywood actress. Yet temples across India make tidy profits selling the hair of pilgrims to foreign companies that make hair...

Japan Vows to Proceed with Oil Deal in Iran

David Pilling August 19, 2003
Japan may seek an oil deal with Iran, despite US objections. Earlier this year, many speculated that Tokyo had abandoned a lucrative deal to develop Iran's Azadegan oilfield because of US opposition and accusations that Tehran was seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Several months later, however, Japanese companies have revived the temporarily stalled deal. Analysts maintain that Japan is...