'Green China' Marks Sputnik of 21st Century

Thomas Friedman: But it's because I'm worried about us

(NEWSER) - China is mocking us. At this year’s World Economic Forum, they aired a cartoon in which a runner representing America fell over panting, while others teased, “He ate too many hamburgers.” And given China’s incredible growth, they have room to tease, says Thomas Friedman in today’s New York Times . But just when you think he’s about to go into one of his patented—and oft-criticized —diatribes on Chinese superiority, Friedman swerves. “I know, I know,” he writes. “With enough cheap currency, labor and capital—and authoritarianism—you can build anything.” More»

US problems won't be solved by mimicking other nations

(NEWSER) - America's present woes have revived the wrongheaded liberal tradition of believing that emulating other countries is the answer, writes Jonah Goldberg. People who suggested becoming more like the Soviet Union or Japan were wrong, and people like Thomas Friedman are just as wrong when they ignore obvious shortcomings to declare that the Chinese or French way is better, Goldberg warns in the Los Angeles Times. More»

(NEWSER) - A Chinese worker accused of stealing an iPhone 4G prototype jumped to his death from the 12th floor of his apartment building in the southern city of Shenzhen, the BBC reports. The man, 25, responsible for shipping 16 iPhone prototypes to Apple, had reported one missing. His friends say he felt humiliated after security guards sent by his employer, Foxconn Technology, searched his home, locked him in a room, and beat him. More»

Two 'green' revolutions could bring down regime: Friedman

(NEWSER) - Pundits and politicians are wasting their time telling Barack Obama what he should be saying about the growing "green revolution" in Iran, writes Thomas L. Friedman. The country's reformers and protesters don't need American encouragement; they need a weakened theocracy—which will only happen when oil prices go into freefall. "Launching a real green revolution in America," writes the New York Times columnist, "would be the best way to support the Green Revolution in Iran." More»

Optimism on Chinese stimulus felt around the world

(NEWSER) - Stocks made gains today as a rally in China’s Shanghai Composite lifted several sectors, the Wall Street Journal reports. Optimism over further stimulus efforts by Beijing lifted shares of firms in manufacturing, mining, and technology stocks around the world on hope of increased Chinese demand. The Dow Jones rose 149.82 points to close at 6,876; Nasdaq gained 32.73 points, settling at 1,354; the S&P 500 gained 16.54 points to close at 713. More»