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Southeast Asia Could Have Power to Spare

March 16, 2007
Often linked with disasters, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions could offer some hidden energy benefits. Geothermal energy is clean, with no emissions, and yet such sources have hardly been tapped. Researchers warn that drilling could cause dangerous seismic activity, particularly in the earthquake...

Challenges for a Squabbling Europe – Part II

François Godement
October 16, 2010

The Day Civil Society Got its Nose Bloodied in Hanoi

September 21, 2004
Attendees of the Asia-Europe People's Forum in Hanoi received the cold shoulder by the Vietnamese government in early September. Visitors and journalists alike were denied access to the non-governmental conference by the host nation. Yet according this Straits Times commentary, the rude...

Rice Visit Fails to Build Bridges

December 7, 2005
Condoleezza Rice’s visit to Berlin was quickly derailed from its purpose of establishing a harmonious trans-Atlantic relationship by the sensitive and inflammatory issue of torture. German Chancellor Angela Merkel reported that Rice had admitted the US made a mistake by abducting Khaled al-Masri,...

Afghan Strikes by Taliban Get Pakistan Help, US Aides Say

March 27, 2009
Trusting an alliance with divided allegiances is difficult, if not impossible. Pakistan is a US ally in the fight to control Afghanistan, but evidence has emerged that Pakistani military intelligence operatives provide support for Taliban attacks on foreign troops. “The support consists of money,...

Democratic Resurgence in Washington Is No Cause for Celebration

November 9, 2006
Democrats snatched control of the US Congress from Republicans, the party of President George Bush – and many in the international community, particularly those who opposed the war in Iraq, celebrate new checks on his power, anticipating new solutions to a range of crises around the globe. But...

US Had Doubts on North Korean Uranium Drive

March 2, 2007
In 2002, US officials used intelligence reports not only to expound the danger of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, but also build a case against North Korea. The US accused Pyongyang of seeking to enrich uranium for use in a nuclear bomb and North Korea expelled weapons inspectors. Nearly five...

“Stem Rust” Fungus Threatens Global Wheat Harvest

March 23, 2009
With global stockpiles of grain already low and food prices high, a deadly airborne fungus, known as stem rust or Ug99, could compound famines and unrest in developing countries that cannot afford fungicides for their crops. “Plant breeders are now racing against time to develop new resistant wheat...
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