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November 30, 2024

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COMMENTARY

Nov 1, 2003

Break the chain of violence

By Hugh Cortazzi

LONDON -- There are new incidents almost every day in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Both sides retaliate and innocent bystanders, including children, are killed. No remorse is shown. Mercy and forgiveness seem never to be considered.

EDITORIALS

Oct 31, 2003

Malaysia's strongman steps down

Today, Mr. Mahathir bin Mohamad steps down as prime minister of Malaysia. It has been a remarkable 22 years in office, and his departure marks the end of an era for Malaysia and for Southeast Asia. Mr. Mahathir has been the rarest of species: a visionary and a savvy political realist. He frog-marched...

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 31, 2003

APEC's inevitable discussion of security

By George Sioris

BANGKOK -- The recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bang kok could, in an oversimplified manner, be summarized as an event in which economic issues were overshadowed by a strong security agenda. Moreover, the whole exercise was partly sidelined by the spectacular arrangements on the Thai...

COMMENTARY

Oct 31, 2003

Economic freedom pays off

By Ronald Meinardus

MANILA -- More than a decade ago, the global confrontation between the West and the East ended with a convincing victory for the liberal paradigm. The ideological triumph of the Western political and economic concept was so pervasive that some argued that mankind had reached the "end of history."

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 31, 2003

Australia basks in afterglow of two high-powered visits

By Alan Goodall

SYDNEY -- The world's two most powerful leaders stopped by in Canberra the other day. It was a neighborly visit, all smiles and trade deals. They're home in Washington and Beijing now, leaving behind the biggest bonanza for Australia since Japan came calling a generation or so ago.

COMMENTARY

Oct 30, 2003

Europe rues decline amid shift to Asia

By Brad Glosserman

PARIS -- Officially, we were discussing Russia's place in Asia. It was hard to tell whether the French senator/historian on the panel was warning of Moscow's return to great-power status or urging it on. He was no crypto-communist, however: For him, Russia's resurgence would signal the return of multipolarity...

EDITORIALS

Oct 30, 2003

Gearing up for a decisive election

Campaigning for the Nov. 9 general election, the first in the 21st century, officially kicked off Tuesday. The focal question is whether power will switch from the three-way coalition led by the Liberal Democratic Party to the enlarged and emboldened Democratic Party of Japan. Put it another way, the...

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 30, 2003

Style trumps substance in Bangkok

By Kevin Rafferty

BANGKOK -- The appearance of the 21 leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in their handmade shiny silk shirts said a lot about this year's summit in Bangkok -- style over substance.

COMMENTARY / World

Oct 30, 2003

Malaysian mood resurgent as Mahathir bids farewell

By Eric Teo Chu Cheow

SINGAPORE -- After more than 20 years at the helm of Malaysia, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will step down Friday to make way for his chosen successor, Abdulla Badawi, who will become the country's fifth prime minister. All indicators point to a smooth and successful political transition, only the...

EDITORIALS

Oct 29, 2003

APEC makes the grade

The 10th annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit has come and gone, leaving the usual questions in its wake. Perennial doubts about the forum's relevance have been highlighted following the collapse of the last round of world trade negotiations. APEC members acknowledged this year's...

COMMENTARY

Oct 29, 2003

Democracy for whom?

By Doug Bandow

WASHINGTON -- Although the Bush administration won formal U.N. recognition for its rule in Iraq, that diplomatic victory is likely to yield few allied troops for occupation duty. In fact, even Turkey, which agreed to dispatch 10,000 soldiers after Washington's approval of $8.5 billion in loans, is now...

EDITORIALS

Oct 28, 2003

Manifestos leave voters in the dark

Not all political parties campaigning for the Nov. 9 general election describe their campaign promises in the form of a "manifesto." But they all have a common objective: explaining their beliefs and policies to the electorate in clear language. Yet many descriptions are equivocal and even confusing...

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

Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Totopa in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward was picked by consultants TTNE as the best sauna of the year.

Japan’s sauna movement: Relax, refresh, repeat

By Greg Dvorak

SUSTAINABLE JAPAN

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

The celebrated artist ‘updating’ the kimono

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