In The News

Nepal’s Kingdom of Discontent

Jo Johnson February 2, 2006
Since King Gyanendra seized absolute power in Nepal last February, civil war has paralyzed the country, with palace forces battling the radical Maoists abated only by the Maoists’ recent unilateral ceasefire. Appearing on the scene as rural-based insurgents, the Maoists alone lack mainstream legitimacy as a viable alternative to the monarchy. But after a landmark meeting with eight opposition...

Expats Become Nepal's Biggest Money Spinner

AFP January 31, 2006
Nepal’s Maoist insurgency has paralyzed the country, driving civilians from their villages and leaving the kingdom’s economy in ruins. The war has driven away many of the tourists on which the poor-but-picturesque Himalayan nation relies, while foreign aid donors have cut off their assistance to the country in protest of King Gyanendra’s autocratic style of government. Nepalese, fearful for...

They’re Rounding the First Turn! And the Favorite Is…

Nicholas D. Kristof January 19, 2006
Anticipating President Bush’s February trip to India, Nicholas D. Kristof evaluates the other Asian giant ready to seize the 21st century as the great world power. While autocratic China boomed over the past decade, democratic India has lumbered under the weight of its overly bureaucratic civil society and socialist economic policies, producing fewer jobs than its potential. But with flourishing...

Educating for the 21st Century – Part II

Orly Friedman January 17, 2006
Orly Friedman visits an experimental boarding school that introduces the tools of globalization to impoverished children. Started by technology entrepreneur Abraham George, Shanti Bhavan aims to be a world-class institution that propels India’s poorest students into the prosperous digital age, giving them access to world news and computer learning software. Despite challenges of running a modern...

In Asia, English Is Useful But Mandarin Is Rising

Simon Montlake January 13, 2006
Given the innate capacity for language acquisition in schoolchildren, it makes sense to introduce immersion programs at a young age. In many Asian countries, elementary schools already instruct in English, a language seen as widely useful, especially for global business. Now Thailand has started programs to train students in Mandarin, perhaps equally practical in the growing inter-Asian economy....

Insults from America

Mike McPhate January 13, 2006
Indian call center employees have discovered an unexpected drawback in their line of work. Of millions of calls, about 5 percent involve bigotry from US customers who are angry about outsourcing and grasp an opportunity to speak their minds. Call center workers hear attacks about cultural inferiority and accusations about reaping the benefits of outsourcing at the expense of US workers. These...

Encouraging ASEAN

December 15, 2005
Three primary issues emerged this week in Kuala Lumpur: First, ASEAN confronted member state Myanmar over its human rights violations, marking what may be the first such criticism levied against a member. In the past ASEAN has overlooked and defended Myanmar’s junta even as human rights violations ignited international protests and damaged ASEAN credibility. But the patience of the other...