In The News

The Olympic Games and Asia’s Rise

Susan Brownell November 27, 2014
The Olympics are global mega events. The world briefly pauses to admire athletic skill and dedication. The audience also assesses the host city’s customs and capability. Anthropology professor Susan Brownell points out that the Olympic Games are increasingly being hosted by nontraditional powers like China. “Concern that this is a sign of Asia’s rise and the West’s decline is unfounded,” she...

Bud Crowded Out by Craft Beer Craze

Tripp Mickle November 27, 2014
Big-factory beers have fallen out of favor as customers increasingly demand the flavors offered with small and local craft beverages. Some bars no longer sell major brands like Budweiser. Meanwhile, many of the craft beer makers began as do-it-yourself home brewers, tinkering with recipes and relying on local ingredients. Young beer drinkers have flocked to the diverse flavors, paying more for...

Barack Obama: “We Are and Always Will Be a Nation of Immigrants”

Paul Lewis November 21, 2014
The US president took steps to allow millions of immigrants to remain in the country without fear of deportation. He has authorized increased resources for border security, and set priority of removing “felons, not families.” Another program will defer action on 3.7 million immigrants who are parents of US citizens or legal residents – if they have lived in the country for more than five years,...

The Lost Children: France Takes Stock of Growing Jihadist Problem

Julia Amalia Heyer November 19, 2014
In regulating immigration, policy planners anticipate newcomers to assimilate, especially over generations. Most do, but children of immigrant families long settled in France are often intrigued by jihad. Julia Amalia Heyer profiles a French family – the mother atheist and the father Muslim – whose 17-year-old daughter traveled to Antakya on the Turkish-Syrian border and then called home to...

WWII Celebration Plans by Putin and Xi to Score Points

Stein Tønnesson November 13, 2014
The end of World War II was met with relief and massive infrastructure investment, and some one-time enemies even became close allies. Celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the war’s end may revive old animosities. Presidents of Russia and China are organizing a joint commemoration, and the early planning includes harsh rhetoric. Both countries have agendas. At a time when the West and Japanese...

Teaching Them Young: Tots Learn to Say “Ni Hao” to Mandarin

Neha Bhayana November 13, 2014
Children have a knack for learning foreign languages in early childhood and those who master an extra language can even gain some cognitive advantages, suggests the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Parents in India are enrolling children as young as 3 years old in after-preschool language programs, and many were pleased when the founder of Facebook surprised the globe by...

3 Foreigners Who Make Audiences Laugh on Korean TV

Gwendolyn Ng November 7, 2014
South Korean television stardom is no longer the exclusive domain of Korean nationals. The emergence of foreign stars on Korean television programs draws international attention to South Korea’s entertainment and media industries. Hailing from Australia, France, Ghana, the United States and other countries, foreign stars are breaking down barriers in Korean TV. Their secret? They studied the...