In The News

Cross and Headscarf

Fritz Friedebold October 17, 2003
"Muslim teachers are not suited to working in German schools if they insist on wearing a headscarf during class," says the German Protestant Church. Even though it understands that one day this stance could be extended to ban the cross in German schools and public offices, the Church argues that there should not be a ban but merely a limit on the donning of religious symbols by civil...

Canadian Film Industry Worries

Richard Blackwell October 9, 2003
With Arnold Schwarzenegger acting as California’s new governor, Canada is worried the superstar will flex his political muscles to keep movie productions in his home state. Schwarzenegger has often bragged that he shifted filming of Terminator 3 back to California from Vancouver, and Canadian producers worry he will create incentives and use his star power to encourage other productions to...

Teenage Generation Is Biggest Ever

Shaoni Bhattacharya October 8, 2003
With 20 per cent of the world's population aged between ten and nineteen, Planet Earth's demography is witnessing the largest youth group ever. According to a new report from the UN Population Fund, about half of the world's population is now under the age of 25. This adolescent surge is posing an "economic opportunity" for countries, especially those in the developing...

Africa's Betting Public Lures Foreign Investors

Marc Lacey October 7, 2003
People across the world's poorest continent are gambling their limited incomes on scratch-off cards and lotto tickets. As countries ease betting restrictions to encourage economic growth, foreign companies have begun investing in Africa's new blossoming industry. "The African market is a relatively small part of the world market," one British investor noted, "but it...

U.S. Must Counteract Image in Muslim World, Panel Says

Steven R. Weisman October 1, 2003
A team of academics, diplomats, and writers convened by the Bush administration has found "shocking levels" of hostility towards the US in the Muslim world. The panel found anti-American sentiment increasing in the wake of the Iraq war and escalating Israel-Palestine conflict, and called this sentiment a "lethal threat" to American interests and public safety. The panel's...

Iranian Pilgrims Resume Journeys to Iraq

September 30, 2003
Two of the holiest places for Shi’ite Muslims – the cities of Karbala and Najaf – are located in Iraq. Devout Iranian pilgrims have traditionally journeyed to these cities each year to visit the burial sites of prominent Shi'ite religious figures. The Iranian government halted pilgrimages when the US invaded Iraq, fearing for the safety of the travelers. However, these measures did not...

US Sees Bias in South Korea Textbooks

September 30, 2003
Last year, when two Korean girls were run over by an American armored vehicle, anti-American sentiment reached a new height in South Korea. Although this sentiment seems to be slowly declining, US diplomats are still very concerned about the US public image in the Korean population, especially among students. Korean textbooks often tend to detail America's intervention in other parts of the...