Analysis

Political lethargy is rife in Iran and turns into cynicism at election times. But despite people’s disappointment with politics, the country is heading for tough times, both economically and politically.

The rise to prominency on the world stage of China and India has implications for the US hegemony in the Far East.

Europe’s future international relations hinge on the outcome of the debate about what to do with the rejected constitution. During the upcoming 16-17 June EU summit, a start will be made tackling the most pressing issues.

The Egyptian population’s referendum on a constitutional amendment paving the way for a more convincing democracy has strongly been rejected by the country’s handful of opposition parties.

The most recent polls have shown French voters going back and forth in their support for the proposed European Union Constitution. Surveys ahead of the May 29th referendum show either the "yes" or the "no" camp winning by anywhere between four and six percentage points.

In Palestinian municipal council elections earlier this month, Hamas won 30 of the 84 councils and dominated in four of the five major Palestinian cities.

Many analysts say the biggest problem for the United Nations is its failure to adapt to new global challenges.

Recent international wars and the often spectacular ways in which the established media is covering them, have given media researchers ample opportunity to see whether technological developments are giving us the opportunity to have a closer experience of democracy.

Only in recent years german media have focused more attention on the human tragedy of the massive allied air raids during WWII. One reason for the current interest in the allied bombing of Germany is the curiosity of the new generation of Germans, free of the guilt their grandparents might have felt.

More and more Americans are choosing to get their news from sources that reflect their political viewpoints. While the tradition of non-partisan news reporting is still alive in the United States, studies show that the tradition is being challenged by cable networks and the Internet.

In these times of major label mergers, downsizing, the slashing of label rosters, and thousands of record company jobs being lost over the last three years comes one of the most disturbing reports we have come across. It further reveals just how profoundly out-of-touch certain companies TRULY are when addressing the problems within their own record divisions.

British Petroleum teamed up with the Alfa Group-Access-Renova (AAR) concern to equally form Russia's third largest energy company. The new titan will digest Tyumen Oil Company (TNK) International, Rusia Petroleum and Sidanco Oil, which produce, between them, c. 1.2 million barrels per day. The combined outfit will tap between 5-9 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as well as perhaps 100 trillion cubic feet of gas.

To regain its position, the KLA must regenerate itself and revert to its grassroots. It must dedicate equal time to diplomacy and to politics. It must identify its true constituency - and it is by no means UNMIK. Above all, it must hone its skills of collaboration and compromise. Politics - as opposed to warfare - are never a zero sum game.