In The News

The NU Convention and Nonconventional Islam

Rizqon Khamami November 24, 2004
Throughout Indonesian history, Islam emerged with a unique eclecticism differing from that of Arab lands. In recent years, however, political Islam has been on the march, with violent consequences for the world's most populous Muslim country. Indonesia's largest Islamic organization, Nehdlatul Ulama (NU), now prepares for a crucial meeting regarding the interpretation of shariah,...

Bridging the Mediterranean

Ayman El-Amir November 15, 2004
The Euro-Mediterranean region has historically been a culturally diverse area with European, African, and Middle Eastern influences. The Byzantine, Roman, and Prussian empires have all taken foot-hold in this region, creating a cycle of "conquest, counter-conquest, competition, and colonialism," according to the Al-Ahram Weekly. When the Arabs extended their regional influence, they...

Multilingual Broadcasting Gives Support to All Disaster Survivors

Eriko Arita November 4, 2004
Local government authorities in northern Japan are rushing to minimize damage in the aftermath of last Thursday’s magnitude 5.7 earthquake. Easing recovery for Japanese residents is not their only concern: Multilingual broadcasting of emergency information is the latest development for accommodating a growing population of foreign residents. Particularly in metropolitan areas, new efforts...

The Fear That Chokes the Arab World

Youssef M. Ibrahim October 30, 2004
Since 9/11, Arab media outlets, such as Al-Jazeera, have appeared on the international news radar. However, the current Middle Eastern writers and pundits are not effectively performing their jobs, writes Youssef M. Ibrahim in this International Herald Tribune opinion. While quick to jump on inconsistencies and biases in the American media, they fail to scrutinize their own shortcomings....

The Dotboomers

Shobita Dhar October 29, 2004
Since Newsweek branded Indian model Saira Mohan the "new global standard of beauty" last year, the Indian aesthetic has truly established itself in the world of fashion. The rising popularity of Indian models and the growing sophistication of the modeling industry within India reflect a globalizing trend in the fashion scene. In order to appeal to a wider audience, designers are...

Bloggers Cut Through Fog of War

Mark Glaser October 29, 2004
For up-to-the-minute, in-depth news coverage, people are increasingly turning to personal weblogs, or blogs. As Mark Glaser reports, the phenomenon of blogging has fundamentally altered the scope of communications, providing a global megaphone for otherwise marginalized voices. Maintaining live journals, US soldiers and civilians in Iraq circumvented traditional media outlets and exposed...

For Its Own Reasons, Singapore Is Getting Rather Gay-Friendly

Gordon Fairclough October 26, 2004
Singapore today remains a conservative culture where the government retains the right to censorship, but a combination of international media and economic factors have led to a wider acceptance of homosexuality. While open organization and public demonstration may still be off limits for gay activists, the internet and other international news sources have allowed for an influx of gay awareness,...