In The News

Beijing Olympics' Opening Ceremonies a Big Hit

Peter Fimrite August 11, 2008
Drumming, dancing and technology – breathtaking in their precision – marked the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics. “Amid Friday night's spectacle, athletes from 205 nations marched in and celebrated what is being touted as China's emergence as a cultural, political and economic power,” writes Peter Fimrite for the San Francisco Chronicle. “The Olympic slogan, ‘One World, One...

From Cradle to Grave

Galal Nassar August 7, 2008
“Fear is now one of the most pervasive factors in perpetuating political regimes,” writes Galal Nassar in an opinion essay for Al-Ahram Weekly. Leaders who maintain control by increasing apprehension over imminent dangers benefit by ever keeping danger close at hand. Intimidation leads to corruption in communities, education systems and the workplace, which only reinforces fear and insecurity,...

Spectatorship Is Also a Competition

August 6, 2008
Not only athletes, but China and spectators attending the Beijing Olympics are on display for the world, suggests this editorial from the People’s Daily Online. Like the athletes, spectators represent their home countries: Polite or enthusiastic, focused on sports or global issues, the onlookers can compete for attention. “Spectators are part of a competition's success,” the editorial...

Texas Execution Plan Defies Hague Order

Suzanne Goldenberg August 5, 2008
The International Court of Justice, as the principal legal body of the United Nations, is expected to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by member states. But the state of Texas in the US insists the court does not have jurisdiction over the case of José Medellín, charged with the 1993 brutal rape and murder of two teenagers and since convicted and...

Neo-Nazis Using Web Sites to Threaten Opponents

Guido Kleinhubbert August 1, 2008
Neo-Nazis use the internet to their advantage. To intimidate left-leaning politicians and activists, the Nazis publish names, family information, photos and threats. Followers then use that information to damage cars, fire shots near politician’s homes or deface property. Germany tightly restricts Nazi symbols, but has discovered that it’s near impossible to stop the practice of using the...

Palestinians Capture Violence of Israeli Occupation on Video

Peter Beaumont July 31, 2008
People are often uncomfortable about photos or films of themselves – and especially so if caught acting boorish or cruel. Even so, such footage encourages self-reflection. Relying on such principles, the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem distributed 100 video cameras to Palestinians in Hebron, the northern West Bank and elsewhere, to document abuses. The amateurs film Israeli...

Not All Bad News

July 29, 2008
Newspapers have had to contend with lots of competition. Reporters are likely to run their own blogs, fewer people read newspapers, and the internet has become a popular source for the news. Yet newspapers are still thriving, especially in Asia and Latin America. The newly literate regard newspaper reading as a sign of their achievements. In countries like India, the government and NGOs lead...