In The News

When It Comes to Political Islam, Moscow Seems Confused

Konstantin Eggart May 1, 2006
Moscow has a contradictory relationship with radical Islam. On one hand, Russia embraces Islam as part of its general, sometimes subtle, oppositional stance towards the West. After inviting a Hamas delegation to Moscow, Russia deflected accusations from Israel and the US – suggesting that the group had not conducted terrorist acts on Russian soil – eager to prove it does not tow the US, EU or...

EU Accused of Ignoring Human Rights Abuses in Rush for Gas Deal

Nicholas Watt April 26, 2006
The lucrative gas reserves in Turkmenistan attract the EU to such an extent that parliamentary committees are prepared to disregard the harsh regime of President Niyazov and many human-rights abuses. In contrast, the EU has banned Belarussian leaders from traveling for vote-rigging their country’s elections, a less serious crime than human-rights abuses. Coincidentally, Belarus does not have oil...

Shaking Spain Out of Its Siesta

John Ward Anderson April 26, 2006
Globalization and intense competition across borders has made it more challenging for countries to maintain some cultural traditions. In January 2006, the Spanish government enacted regulations requiring that all federal agencies enforce a strict 45-minute lunch break – allowing workers to head home at 6 pm rather than 8 pm. By abolishing the siesta, a 3-hour lunch break once traditional in Spain...

The World: Set Ways; Vive La Dolce Vita

Roger Cohen April 25, 2006
With the accelerating convergence of ideas and commodities, the world has more jobs available. Yet, many Europeans prefer job security to risky endeavors and resist the process of globalization. Pundits expected recent elections to decide the direction for Europe, but voters are polarized. Close results in the Italian election could undermine the credibility of Italy’s next political leadership,...

Poland Averts Clash With Europe Over Italian Bank Deal

Mark Landler April 18, 2006
The Polish government has agreed to allow the Italian bank UniCredito to go forward with a deal to acquire two of Poland’s own banks. In return, UniCredito will sell nearly half of its new Polish bank branches, preserve and put out for bid a leading Polish bank brand name, and guarantee jobs for at least two years to its new Polish employees. Without these conditions, the deal would have...

Stitching Labor Change in Italy

Jennifer Clark April 17, 2006
Italy’s economy relies on traditional industries such as textiles and shoes—the type of products that China manufacturers have targeted as well. Facing rising foreign competition, more than 2000 Italian firms closed in 2005. But rather than fight outsourcing, Italian fashion-textile union leader Valeria Fedeli contends that the industry must “adapt or die.” Fedeli supports more tax breaks for...

Gas Deal Roils Ukraine and May Have Cut Leader's Vote

Steven Lee Myers April 16, 2006
A mysterious company called RosUkrEnergo, whose executives and addresses are largely unknown, brokered a deal in January to resolve a confrontation between Russia and Ukraine over the price and sales of natural gas in the Ukraine. The company has links to Russia's state energy monopoly, Gazprom. Opposition to that deal reflects concerns about other corrupt privatization deals of the past –...