In The News

Immigrant Voters' Split Ticket

Phuong Ly October 30, 2003
As American political candidates court growing numbers of Asian and Latino immigrants, so too are political contenders in overseas elections. Candidates from El Salvador and Taiwan have made certain US cities campaign stops this year. Experts say the phenomenon is occurring for both monetary and political reasons. In addition to campaign contributions, countries such as El Salvador receive more...

The West Will Miss Mahathir – And for Good Reason

Sunanda K. Datta-Ray October 28, 2003
Despite his penchant for remarks that incensed many foreign observers, Malaysia's retiring Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, will be missed by Western governments, says this opinion article in Singapore's Straits Times. Governing for 22 years, Mahathir oversaw the development of Malaysia into one of the world's top 20 trading nations. Appreciating his success and considering...

The Seeds of Iraq's Future Terror

Shirley Williams October 28, 2003
Reacting to the recent attacks on foreign targets in Baghdad, British parliamentarian Baroness Shirley Williams worries that the resistance will continue as long as an un-democratic occupation force remains in control of Iraq. The decision to privatize most of Iraq's economy was made without consultation of the Iraqi people, she notes, but rather initiated by the American head of Iraq's...

Bolivia's Backlash

October 23, 2003
Uncertainty looms over Bolivia again now that isolationist and populist politicians have taken over former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada's post. Bolivia is the fourth country that has fallen victim to the trend in Latin America's political leadership of failing to complete presidential terms due to trying circumstances. His forced resignation, which followed violent clashes that...

Iranian Lawyer Awarded Nobel Peace Prize

Christopher Brown-Humes October 10, 2003
Amidst international tension over Iran's nuclear program and debates on the role of Islamic extremists in promoting international terrorism, the Nobel Committee chose an Iranian lawyer as the recipient of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize. Citing Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian lawyer, for her brave advocacy of human rights and democracy, the Committee said it hoped her example would inspire democratic...

German Sundays Stay Truck-Free

Kristina Merkner October 10, 2003
In an apparent last-minute save, Germany's transportation minister persuaded his Italian counterpart to join Berlin in blocking other EU countries from granting more authority to Brussels over transportation rules. The German government fears that if the EU Commission acquires more authority, it could require Germany to end its ban on heavy truck traffic on Sundays. According to this...

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...