Satire flourishes in Syria as violence intensifies
The violent repression of dissent in Syria has sparked an explosion of satire produced by anonymous artists who are flooding the internet with film, music and art that mock the…
Spielberg seeks ‘old-fashioned’ spectacle in war film
Steven Spielberg's new film "War Horse" is almost deliberately old-fashioned, pitting noble beast against the horrors of war, with sweeping, emotional set pieces — and dividing critics as Hollywood's awards…
Nepal’s ‘singing nun’ shares the sound of music
Wrapped in a maroon robe, her head shaven, Ani Choying Dolma treads gingerly into a Kathmandu hotel, exuding the composure and serenity one might expect from a Buddhist nun. But…
Ugly, gaudy Christmas sweaters all the rage in US
Gaudy Christmas sweaters have become all the rage. Ugly-Christmas-sweater parties are so popular that US thrift stores and specialty retailers are making sure the kitschy clothing is in stock, and…
Court ends virginity tests procedures in military prisons
CAIRO: The Administrative Court Tuesday banned the practice of virginity tests conducted on women inside military prisons, in a landmark case filed by protester Samira Ibrahim who was subjected to…
Rights group resorts to UN, African commissions as investigation into prisoner mass killings drags
CAIRO: The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights called on the United Nations and African commissions to intervene in the cases of the mass killing of prisoners during the January uprising,…
Pakistan on the precipice
By Shahid Javed Burki ISLAMABAD: Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari abruptly returned to Karachi on the morning of Dec. 19, following a 13-day absence for medical treatment in Dubai, where he…
Parliaments and pacts
By Lindiwe Mazibuko JOHANNESBURG: The United Nations’ recent 17th Conference of the Parties (COP-17) in Durban, South Africa succeeded in renewing the Kyoto Protocol, which aims to reduce global greenhouse-gas emissions.…
Who will fix the US economy?
By Henry Mintzberg MONTREAL: Much commentary about the American economy nowadays leaves the impression that economists should fix its problems. But Washington is teeming with smart economists, and the problems remain.…
The exchange-rate delusion
By Michael Spence MILAN: If one looks at the trade patterns of the global economy’s two biggest players, two facts leap out. One is that, while the United States runs a…