Showing 71 - 80 of 250
When English turkeys vote for Christmas
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 16/12/2019
» Down on the turkey farm, the Scottish and Irish birds noticed that the smiling man in the festive costume was holding a hatchet behind his back, and hid. The Welsh turkeys looked confused and huddled together squawking. But the English turkeys marched bravely up to the chopping block, confident that this would be a Christmas to remember.
Giants vie for influence in Myanmar
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 04/11/2019
» Behind the scenes of this year's Asean and East Asian summits, currently taking place in Bangkok, the region's key nations -- China, India and Japan -- are engaged in a quiet battle for greater influence in Myanmar. While on the sidelines, the countries of Asean, especially Thailand, as the current chair of the regional organisation, are offering qualified support for its problematic ally, largely behind the scenes.
Chemical ban opponents led by misinformation
News, Ploenpote Atthakor, Published on 08/11/2019
» By the end of today, an online "hearing" process initiated by the Department of Agriculture over whether the ban on three extremely toxic chemicals -- paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos -- should be lifted will have come to an end. The results are expected to be released shortly after the hearings are over, especially if those who vote against the ban emerge as the winners.
Tribalism fuels today's politics
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 15/11/2019
» 'Homo economicus" is dead. Long live "homo tribuarius"!
It all began with 'Newsgirl Nan' in 1960
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 24/11/2019
» Switch on BBC World Service television and there is a good chance there will be a female news presenter. Among the more familiar faces these days are Lucy Hockings, Sally Bundock, Philippa Thomas and Karin Giannone. I'm always amazed how calm and relaxed they look in what must be such a stressful job.
Why Germany is seeking deeper ties with Asean
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 15/10/2019
» With supersonic speed in terms of the decision and process, Germany will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in around two weeks' time. If everything goes as planned on the German side, which requires cabinet endorsement, there will be a signing ceremony in Bangkok during the 35th Asean Summit from Oct 31-Nov 2. Bahrain will also join the ceremony.
What populists can learn from the Polish model
News, Published on 18/10/2019
» There is a tension at the heart of populist political parties that may ultimately lead most of them to electoral defeat. They depend heavily on the votes of the old, the poor and the poorly educated -- "I love the poorly educated", as Donald Trump once put it -- but they are also right-wing parties that do not like what they call "socialism". (Other people call it the welfare state).
Three small victories in Europe: A turning point?
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 07/09/2019
» Have we reached peak fascist in Europe? Well, all right then, peak hard-right nationalist, but are we there yet? That would be reassuring, and three events in the past week give some cause for hope.
Proroguing parliament was Johnson's only option
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 30/08/2019
» Shock! Horror! Johnson prorogues Parliament! End of democracy in Britain! The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, says he was not even consulted, and calls it "a constitutional outrage".
The last prime minister of the United Kingdom
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 24/07/2019
» It has been suggested that Boris Johnson (who becomes the prime minister of the United Kingdom this week) is what you would get if Donald Trump had been educated at Eton and Oxford. Maybe, although there is a great gulf between Mr Trump's bombastic self-promotion and Mr Johnson's self-deprecating, rather shambolic persona.