When Dominique Strauss-Kahn awoke in a French detention cell Wednesday morning, he probably wasn’t experiencing the sort of déjà vu one might expect. Because in contrast to his incarceration last May in New York on suspicion of …
Tragedy Strikes Our Tribe, Again
To conflict journalists, a tiny, tight-knit tribe, tragedy is practically an occupational requirement: our work requires us to seek it out, measure it, contextualize it, and chronicle it. It’s impossible to be totally …
The U.S. and Other ‘Friends of Syria’ Still Search for a Strategy to Oust Assad
“It is time we gave them the wherewithal to fight back and stop the slaughter,” said Senator John McCain on Monday, referring to Syria’s opposition amid the carnage being wrought by the Assad regime’s efforts to quash a year-old …
Must-Reads From Around the World: February 22, 2012
Tribute to a Legend – Intense shelling Wednesday claimed the lives of American journalist Marie Colvin and French photojournalist Remi Ochlik. Colvin, 56, a long-time correspondent for the Sunday Times of London, was the only …
Can Senegal, and Youssou N’Dour, Turn the Tide on Africa’s Big Men?
The dynamic of Senegal’s Feb. 26 election is a familiar-sounding one: an aging, increasingly autocratic African President trying to cling to power, sending in the security services to beat up – and occasionally kill – young …
When a Country Cracks Down on Contraception: Grim Lessons from the Philippines
The U.S. is once again at battle over birth control. It started with President Barack Obama’s “compromise” on mandatory coverage for contraceptives and has evolved into national shouting match about faith, family and fundamental …
A Hunger Striker at Death’s Door Turns Up the Heat on Israel — and on the Palestinian Leadership
Update 2.21.2012: Palestinian detainee Khader Adnan has reportedly agreed to end his hunger strike on its 66th day, following a deal under which the Israelis have agreed to release him in April and not seek an extension of his …
Must-Reads from Around the World: February 21, 2012
Ballot for One – Yemen heads to the polls on Tuesday to replace long-time ruler Ali Abdullah Saleh. Interestingly, the only candidate on the ballot is Vice President Abd-Rabbua Mansour Hadi, who took power after Saleh stepped …
A Diplomatic Solution to the Iran Nuclear Standoff? That May Depend On Achieving Compromises
Sanctions on Iran are beginning to work, goes the argument from the Obama Administration, and they should be given more time to bring Tehran to heel. The primary audience for this argument is the leadership of Israel, whom the …
Pakistan’s Sesame Street: Can an Urdu Elmo Aid a Blighted Nation?
For a 3-year-old who has yet to master the use of the personal pronoun, Elmo is a whiz at foreign languages. Already fluent in Chinese, German, Hindi, Spanish and Arabic, among others, the fluffy red icon has just picked up Urdu, …
Must-Reads from Around the World: February 20, 2012
Changing China — The announcement that Foxconn, one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of products for Apple, Dell, Hewlett Packard and others, will raise salaries from 16 to 25% at its Chinese factories signals a …
Storm Clouds over News Corp., but Rupert Murdoch Declares the Sun Will Shine Every Day
He might have been expected to e-mail staff at the Sun about his plans for the tabloid after senior members of its staff were arrested by police investigating the bribery of public officials. Or, given the gravity of the rumors …
Emperor Akihito’s Heart Surgery a Success, but Concerns for Monarchy Linger
Japan’s 78-year-old Emperor Akihito underwent successful heart bypass surgery yesterday at the University of Tokyo Hospital. The procedure, which lasted less than six hours, was not an emergency; the Emperor’s team of doctors …