More than broken buildings and twisted rebar, more than images of Su-34 bombers and pickup trucks toting soldiers armed with AK-47s, the face of Omran Daqneesh, 5, tells the story of Aleppo, Syria.In a photo taken after an airstrike hit his apartment building Wednesday, the dust-covered boy sits in an ambulance, staring blankly. The left side of his face is caked in blood. His left eye is nearly shut, his right eye appears encircled by a large bruise. His floppy hair is filled with dust, blood s

Viewpoints Aug. 24, 2016

The leadership race of The Minjoo Party of Korea is following the path taken by the ruling Saenuri Party, which in its recent leadership contest ended up consolidating the hegemonic power of its mainstream faction that is largely unpopular outside the party. None of the Minjoo candidates — Choo Mi-ae, Lee Jong-kul and Kim Sang-kon — offer a vision for the party, which many liberals hope will be able to win back power at next year’s presidential election by defeating the conservative ruling party

Editorial Aug. 23, 2016

North Korea poses a constant security threat to South Korea, yet recent developments call on us -- government and public alike -- to take extra caution against possible provocations from the rogue regime. Tension had already been running high on the Korean Peninsula since the UN imposed the harshest-ever sanctions on the North over its nuclear and missile provocations early this year. Adding to the tension is Seoul and Washington’s decision to deploy an advanced missile defense system in the Sou

Editorial Aug. 23, 2016

Yangon is suddenly a city of phablets. Nowhere in Asia, let alone Europe, have I seen so many supersized smartphones in public spaces, and with such egalitarian appeal: Pavement vendors selling early 20th century British guides to English grammar seem as transfixed by them as Yangon’s smart set playing Pokemon Go.For many in an isolated country, a 4G smartphone is their first taste of modern consumer luxury. Its proliferation, in a country where a SIM card once cost more than $2,000, seems an ex

Viewpoints Aug. 23, 2016

Despite the agreement with the government of South Korea in late 2015, Japan has yet to halt its distortions of historical facts about the wartime sex slavery during the Japanese colonial rule of the peninsula.On the English website of its foreign ministry, a senior Japanese official again denied forceful mobilization of the so-called comfort women by its military and government authorities during World War II.Deputy Foreign Minister Shinsuke Sugiyama was quoted as saying that the Japanese gover

Editorial Aug. 22, 2016

International crude prices, which retreated in July after a noteworthy rebound during the first half, are spiraling again this month.Dubai crude, which peaked at $48 per barrel on June 8, plunged to $38 on Aug. 2. But it has bounced back over the past few weeks to surpass $44 per barrel. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude have touched $48 and $50, respectively.The recent trend hints that the era of $30-$25 per barrel, which came in early 2016, will not come again in the coming years, while

Editorial Aug. 22, 2016

The political history of the US from the late 1830s through the 1850s is one long tragedy. President after president struggled to hold together an increasingly polarized nation. None served more than one term, two died in office -- and by 1860 the country was falling apart.We hear a lot these days that we’re in a new age of polarization, with measures of partisanship showing a divide greater than at any time since the Civil War. But there’s a striking difference: It’s pretty clear what the polar

Viewpoints Aug. 22, 2016

LONDON -- In the wake of the 1953 workers’ uprising in East Germany, the playwright Bertolt Brecht mordantly suggested that “if the people had forfeited the confidence of the government,” the government might find it easier to “dissolve the people and elect another.” It is a sentiment that resonates with many in the United Kingdom today, in the aftermath of June’s Brexit referendum.In the heat of the referendum campaign, Michael Gove, then the justice secretary and a leading member of the “Leave

Viewpoints Aug. 22, 2016

CAMBRIDGE -- This year’s presidential election campaign in the United States is certainly unique. Donald Trump has shaken up the way a campaign is run, how a nominee communicates with voters, and the Republican Party’s platform, with many of his positions deviating from GOP tradition. But, on tax policy, Trump has toed the party line -- and that’s not a good thing.Of course, any assessment of Trump’s declared positions risks being rendered meaningless within a few hours. He changes his positions

Viewpoints Aug. 22, 2016

With the Summer Olympics closing ceremony around the corner, are Brazilians raising their national cocktail caipirinhas or crying in them? There is reason for Rio to revel -- the Zika scare has not turned into a Zika crisis. The polluted waters of Guanabara Bay, Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon and along Fort Copacabana have not induced outbreaks of retching among swimmers, rowers and sailors. Rafaela Silva, a young female judo athlete from Rio’s infamous City of God favela, gave Brazil its first gold

Viewpoints Aug. 22, 2016

President Park Geun-hye will visit Russia and China next month, amid backlash from the two countries over South Korea and the US’ decision to station the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system on the peninsula.After her visit to Vladivostok for the Eastern Economic Forum from Sept. 2-3, Park is scheduled to participate in the G-20 summit, slated for Sept. 4-5 in Hangzhou.A summit between South Korea and Russia has been arranged and it remains to be seen whether Park will be able to hold bila

Editorial Aug. 19, 2016

About 4 in every 10 units of the nation’s top 10 conglomerates saw their sales fall during the first half of the year.Data from the Korea Exchange showed that 26 of 68 listed firms, or 38.2 percent, of the 10 business groups suffered a drop in sales on-year.On a consolidated basis, five of the 10 groups reported decreases in revenue. SK topped the list with 6.8 trillion won ($6.1 billion), followed by POSCO with 6.6 trillion won, Hyundai Heavy Industries with 4.1 trillion won, LG with 1.4 trilli

Editorial Aug. 19, 2016