Word: stands
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...political quandary. Japanese who feel uncomfortable with the reforms of recent years see Abe as just a friendlier version of the disliked Koizumi-while those eager for faster reforms have come to view Abe as an obstacle. Hisashi Hirano, an official with the Yubari government, couldn't stand Koizumi, but says that at least with him, "we knew where we were headed. With Abe you can't understand what his intentions are." At the same time, Koizumi's most ardent fans-especially the young, unaffiliated voters he lured back into politics-reject Abe as a conservative relic. "His popularity...
...Indonesian province of Aceh, rebels of the separatist Free Aceh Movement (G.A.M.) opened fire on a car carrying me and three colleagues, almost killing us. Afterwards, furious, I called and text messaged my G.A.M. contact, code-named "Iskander," to tell him to get his trigger-happy men to stand down. Iskander's role as a G.A.M. operative was secret-until I unwittingly blew his cover that day. When I called, he was being questioned by the police, who saw my incriminating messages arrive on his phone. Iskander was arrested and began a nine-year sentence in prison in the province...
...hands of thieves. Irwandi publicly opposes such ideas, which he knows offend the Western donor countries upon which his province's frail economy partly depends. But the clout of Aceh's ulemas cannot be ignored either, and it is unclear yet whether he has the courage or inclination to stand up to them...
...There are a number of reasons. First, nuclear status is a political trophy for Kim Jong Il. From senior party members down to young children, North Koreans have boasted to recent visitors that Kim's great feat of testing a nuclear bomb last October has enabled their country to stand as an equal with the big powers. Second, the nuclear program is intended to deter a possible external attack-indeed, Pyongyang blames America's military prowess and policy of pressure for its pursuit of nuclear weapons. Third, North Korea's nuclear capability gives it an upper hand militarily in relation...
...Like most blocos, it was typically Carioca, that is, loud, chaotic and great fun, which explains its success. "We're sick of the Broadway element [of official carnival]," said Roberto da Matta, one of Brazil's best know anthropologists. "It's a 12-hour show and no one can stand it. So if you go to the city center or to a praça [a square] and see folks having a good time, you join them. With blocos you don't have to look for carnival, carnival comes...