In The News

China Raises Estimates of HIV-AIDS Cases to 1 Million

Elisabeth Rosenthal September 6, 2002
China's "closed attitude" toward its growing AIDS epidemic opened slightly today when officials acknowledged that at least a million Chinese were infected with the disease and appealed for international assistance. Officials also admitted that the Chinese government had been aware of the growing AIDS problem as early as 1995. This confession was issued in compliance with the...

For More Japanese, Love is a Multiethnic Thing

Howard W. French August 31, 2002
Japan has traditionally been a closed, ethnically uniform society, where foreigners are rare and conformity rules. In a sign of increasing openness, however, the number of international marriages has jumped in the past decade. Despite long-held prejudices and a language barrier, many Japanese are marrying Chinese spouses. Social factors in Japan have contributed to the increase; the Japanese...

Pakistanis Arrested with 550 Pirated Video Discs

August 29, 2002
Pakistani smugglers were caught with 550 pirated video discs in Malaysia. The video discs – copies of films from Bollywood, India’s answer to Hollywood – were capable of producing 100,000 copies in turn. As video piracy spreads, this recent capture is an example of the global crime network. – YaleGlobal

Oh Blue-Eyed Thais, Flaunt Your Western Genes!

Seth Mydans August 29, 2002
People have traversed the world for millennia, marrying and producing children of multiple heritages. In some parts of the world, the ethnically mixed 'look' is quickly becoming a new trend in beauty. In Thailand, mixed-race people discriminated against for looking “different” when they were younger are finding themselves rising to fame as models, pop stars, and game show hosts. Some...

World Banker Assails Indonesia’s Corruption

Jane Perlez August 28, 2002
Of the “Asian tiger” nations, Indonesia has been the slowest to recover from the financial crisis of the 1990’s. Mark Baird, the World Bank’s chief representative in Indonesia, argues that this is in large part because of pervasive corruption present in the Indonesian government, which deters foreign firms from investing in the nation. While expressing his belief that it will take years before...

Indonesia Must Learn from Illegal Migrant Issue

Philips Jusario Vermonte August 28, 2002
Unemployment in Indonesia is widespread, and jobs are hard to find. An estimated 600,000 Indonesians have migrated to neighboring Malaysia and taken jobs. About 400,000 of those are working in Malaysia illegally. To protect its domestic labor market, Malaysia recently passed a strong anti-immigration law, and thousands of Indonesian workers will soon be deported. The Indonesian government is...

Chinese Communists Set for Policy Shift

James Kynge August 26, 2002
China plans to initiate several wealthy entrepreneurs into the central committee of the Communist Party on November 8. Because the Communist Party outranks all other governmental structures, its new members may be able to wield significant power. China’s president is spearheading the move; he believes, “The party should represent advanced productive forces, advanced culture and the broad...