In The News

President Bush's Visit to Africa Isn't All about Oil

Peter Fabricius June 30, 2003
US interests in Africa go well beyond oil, says this editorial in South Africa's Cape Times. Though oil is likely a factor prompting US President Bush’s upcoming trip to the continent, American national security interests are the definitive motivation for the visit – and for expanded US interest in general. Since September 11, the United States has been forced to realize the immense impact...

At the Crossroads of History

Kofi Annan June 30, 2003
In a speech delivered at the World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan, Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, spoke of the follies of the past to present his vision for the future. The first half of the 20th century, marked by two world wars, totalitarianism, holocaust and Hiroshima should not be emulated in this new century. Rather, humanity should "build on the achievements of...

Nike Versus Sweatshop Critic: Back to California

S.L. Bachman June 27, 2003
Nike, the world's largest shoe manufacturer, could become the world's leader in improving labor standards across the globe. If US courts decide that it must, that is. The US Supreme court decided on June 26 to allow a California state court to proceed with a trial in which US-based Nike is charged with lying to the public about labor conditions in its factories overseas. A California...

Time to Trade

Anke Bryson June 27, 2003
Three years ago, Germany’s major stock exchange operator, Deutsche Börse, extended its trading hours until 8:00pm. The move, an anomaly in a country where all shops close every Sunday, was designed to appeal to a flood of new private investors who had no time to speculate during the regular work day. Now, after a market decline caused those investors to flee, Deutsche Börse will likely bow to the...

Triumph of Pragmatism

June 25, 2003
Settling boundary disputes between China and India will draw the two countries closer together, this editorial in the Hindu maintains. Indeed, the Beijing Declaration produced at the recent India-China summit talks aims to settle long-disputed territorial claims and constitutes a mutual effort to repair strained relations between the two giants. By resolving these border issues, an agreement...

Asia Throws a New Challenge to Washington

Michael Richardson June 25, 2003
Burma's repression of democracy advocates like Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi has won the country infamy in the international human rights community. Even after allowing a free election a decade ago, the military junta that runs Burma ignored the results and refused to give up power. Another brutal crackdown on opposition just weeks ago has brought the country back into the international...

Cargo Ship Raided by Greece Was Going to Sudanese Capital

Frank Bruni June 24, 2003
Greek officials detained a ship carrying several hundred tons of explosives bound for Sudan this weekend. The ship, with a crew of five Ukrainians and two Azerbaijanis, went undetected by marine officials as well as US anti-terrorism intelligence for over six weeks - departing from Albania, collecting its cargo in Tunisia, and stopping in Istanbul - before Greece detained it in response to a tip...