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COMMENTARY

Nov 24, 2007

Evidence on Iran doesn't seem to matter

By Gwynne Dyer

LONDON — Shaul Mofaz, the Israeli defense minister, is not a fan of Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency. In fact, he wants him fired. "The policies followed by ElBaradei endanger world peace. His irresponsible attitude of sticking his head in the sand over Iran's...

COMMENTARY

Nov 23, 2007

Australia facing tough nuclear issues

By Robyn Lim

Australia's election Saturday will be fought mostly over domestic issues, especially interest rates. While Labor is well ahead in the polls, its victory is not assured. But whoever becomes prime minister after the election will face some contentious decisions on nuclear issues. And it's not just Australians...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 23, 2007

It's Taiwan's referendum

By Hisahiko Okazaki

For China, the launch of the Fukuda Cabinet in late September was good news, so it must expect many things from the new administration. What concerns me now in this respect is Taiwan's move to hold a national referendum on whether to seek U.N. membership in the name of "Taiwan."

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 22, 2007

Thanksgiving Day's economic lessons

By Christopher Lingle and George Akerlof

BALI, Indonesia — One aspect of globalization is that some holidays have become internationalized. That is certainly the case with Thanksgiving Day, a distinctly American feast day now celebrated throughout the world on the fourth Thursday of each November.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 21, 2007

Crime and punishment, refugee style

By Norman Manea

PRAGUE — The horrible murder of Giovanna Reggianni that took place near a Romanian refugee camp in the suburb of Tor di Quinto in Rome shocked both Italy and Romania. The case gained significance by adding fuel to the fiery public debates now under way not only in Italy but across Europe on the status...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 21, 2007

Myth of U.S.-EU economic decoupling

By Melvyn Krauss

PALO ALTO, Calif. — The fact that America's economy is slowing is bad news for Europeans, regardless of claims that Europe's economy has successfully decoupled itself from the United States. Decoupling is an idea that is based on bad economics — and on some Europeans' reluctance to accept the fact...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 20, 2007

An Asia-Europe partnership

By Frank Walter Steinmeier

BERLIN — Asia's rise as an economic and political player exemplifies what globalization is all about. By the decade's end, China's economy will be larger than Germany's. By 2040 three of the world's five largest economies — China, India and Japan — will be in Asia.

COMMENTARY

Nov 20, 2007

Robbed of childhood, bereft of a future

By Cesar Chelala

NEW YORK — Looking at photographs of Iraqi children maimed by the war makes the conflict unforgettable. Reflecting on the causes that led to that war makes it unforgivable. New information is steadily coming out on the effects of the war on children, and how it has affected not only their health but...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 19, 2007

March of the South American caudillos

By Roberto Laserna

LA PAZ — The re-election for unlimited periods that Presidents Hugo Chavez and Evo Morales have sought in Venezuela and Bolivia, respectively, reflects a phenomenon — caudillismo — that has, sadly, never been far from the surface of Latin American politics.

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 19, 2007

Containing the Mideast fires of reform

By Mai Yamani

LONDON — The recent meeting in the Vatican between "Custodian of the Holy Places" King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia and Pope Benedict XVI was a seminal event, particularly as it comes at a time when radical Muslims are decrying the role of "Crusaders" in Middle East politics. It was also the clearest sign...

COMMENTARY

Nov 19, 2007

Feasible cuts in emissions

By Takamitsu Sawa

Debate is raging over the pros and cons of the proposed target of halving global greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050. The goal, initially proposed last June by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, was supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leaders at the Group of Eight summit at Heiligendamm,...

COMMENTARY / World

Nov 19, 2007

New Rumsfeld of Europe

By Nick Popescu and Mark Leonard

PRAGUE — Russia's Duma elections this December are almost certain to cement the power of forces loyal to Vladimir Putin. That outcome is likely to confirm Russia's emergence as the most divisive issue in the European Union since former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld split the continent into...

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

The sun shines from behind a waving Philippine flag at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.

Eighty years after the Battle of Manila, old foes forge new ties

By Anton L. Delgado

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

Challenging spirit and teamwork keep ANA flying high

Challenging spirit and teamwork keep ANA flying high

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