In The News

A Second Chance for Brazil and the I.M.F.

Joseph E. Stiglitz August 14, 2002
In this opinion piece, former World Bank economist Joseph Stiglitz writes that the success—or failure—of the I.M.F. rescue package announced this past weekend will likely settle the fate of I.M.F., Brazil, and the rest of Latin America. The I.M.F.’s loan history is making many question the Fund’s latest package; a closer look at Brazil, however, may brighten one’s outlook. Sound monetary and...

Japan will not slash aid budget for East Asia

Kwan Weng Kin August 13, 2002
As the largest provider of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to East Asia, Japan plays a crucial role in maintaining regional economic stability. However, domestic concerns over Japan’s declining fiscal health have left others anxious about its role as a benefactor to China’s growing prosperity . Some feel that Japan is financing China’s economic growth. Nevertheless, recognizing East Asia as...

'Heat Island' Tokyo Is in Global Warming's Vanguard

James Brooke August 13, 2002
In Tokyo and in other growing metropolitan areas, global warming has become an increasingly grave and worldwide concern. The Japanese capital has seen an average increase in temperature of over 5 degrees Fahrenheit since 1900. To help tackle the problem, the Japanese government has given tax breaks to those who plant gardens on their roofs. With new architectural innovations that make roofs...

Amnesty Urges Malaysia to Stop Whipping Illegals

Reuters August 12, 2002
Until recently, caning was an infrequent practice in Malaysia, authorized as a supplementary punishment for many crimes but used only 13 times in 2001. The practice has been revived now as a punishment for illegal immigrants, most of whom come from Indonesia. Amnesty International has requested that the practice be stopped, calling it cruel and unlikely to deter immigrants or asylum-seekers....

Chinese Meals Are Tops When Britons Eat Out

Alfred Lee August 12, 2002
Britons now dine out more often at Chinese rather than Indian restaurants. And while a British politician acknowledged the popularity of Indian cuisine last year, Parliament has gone as far as to include Chinese and Indian meals in its catering service. Though foreign meals have won over the British palate, original recipes have been altered to suit Western tastes. Are common flavors the...

Vegetable Prices Set to Soar After Exodus of Illegals

August 8, 2002
When more than 320,000 illegal immigrants left Malaysia during a four month amnesty, the agricultural sector took a bad hit. Farms in Johor Baru and Bukit Kempas were left unattended or worse, completely weeded over. With supply down by 40 percent, officials fear that consumers in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore might have to pay 30 percent more for all their vegetables. Farmers say they hired illegal...

Mining Company to Offer H.I.V. Drugs to Employees

Henri E. Cauvin August 7, 2002
AIDS has had a devastating impact on the mining industry in southern Africa. Anglo American P.L.C. estimates that 28 percent of its workers are afflicted, and after months of indecision, the company has finally decided to provide them with antiretroviral drugs. This is a significant step in the fight against AIDS; the influence of a major company may provoke governments in Botswana and South...