In The News

Manitu’s Shoe Walks onto U.S. Movie Screens

Carola Schlagheck November 15, 2002
Only infrequently do German films make it to the United States, but the makers of “Manitu’s Shoe” hope that it will be as successful across the Atlantic as it has been around the world. This version has been dubbed in English, using accents familiar to American audiences. The film’s voice-overs are adapted to incorporate the dialect of the country in which it is shown, thus ensuring the comedy’s...

Job Subsidies May Clash with EU Law

Carola Schlagheck November 15, 2002
EU antitrust regulation has placed strict restrictions on government subsidies to private businesses. The German government’s plan to create jobs by financing job placement agencies and temporary employment contracts may contradict EU policy, and infringement proceedings against the country are pending. For the one million Germans who benefit from publicly-subsidized employment, the results of...

Al Qaeda’s New Tactics

Peter Bergen November 15, 2002
Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaeda’s new tactics are both broader in scope and more focused in purpose. Judging by recent attacks, more countries have been placed on Bin Laden’s hit list. The US was previously Al Qaeda’s bulls-eye, but now most of the West is on the dartboard. Although more countries are now fair game, the targets are more specific: the heart of economic well-being. As noted, Bin Laden...

As New Tape Is Evaluated, Bush Calls Qaeda Threat Real

James Risen November 14, 2002
News of the existence of an audio message claiming to be Bin Laden’s has prompted the Bush administration to once again emphasize the real danger of the Al Qaeda network. Recent events, such as the bombings in Indonesia, seem to indicate that Al Qaeda is regrouping in preparation for more attacks against the United States. For months, U.S. military experts have debated whether or not Bin Laden...

Arab Journalist Certain Tape Was Made by Bin Laden

November 14, 2002
The U.S. military’s mission to catch Osama Bin Laden after the attacks of 9/11 has met with little success. Of particular interest has been the surfacing of a new audio tape in which a voice, supposedly Bin Laden’s, praises the bombing attacks in Indonesia and promises further vengeance upon the United States. The identity of the voice has been verified by Gulf officials and Muslim activists as...

Coral Reefs off the Florida Keys Get Protection from Large Ships

November 14, 2002
The advent of globalization has increased international trade and the volume of shipping which supports that trade. More than 40 percent of the world’s commerce passes through the Florida Straights, damaging its fragile coral reef ecosystem. This area has already been weakened through pollution, over fishing, and coastal development. To combat these negative effects, the Bush administration has...

Brain Drains Are Not So Bad After All

Jean-Pierra Lehmann November 13, 2002
It is well-known that a brain drain benefits the receiving nation. This nation profits through the innovations and improvements made by the best and brightest immigrants. However, what is not always recognizable is the fact that a brain drain benefits the sending nation as well. The fact that the best minds of a nation leave to live elsewhere puts tremendous pressure upon the home nation to...