Showing 1 - 10 of 227
UN top council slams N Korea's rights record
Oped, Published on 19/06/2024
» North Korea's ongoing human rights violations were slammed and shamed by most members of the UN Security Council in a meeting last week. In a powerful briefing by both diplomats and a high profile North Korean political defector, the 15-member council underscored the noxious relationship between the regime's massive military buildups at the expense of both its population's human rights and physical well being -- namely access to sufficient food and nutrition.
Asia-Pacific's loss of biodiversity
Oped, Published on 22/05/2024
» In recent months, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and others have pointed to an increase in food insecurity and "hunger hotspots" in various parts of Asia and the Pacific. While conflicts and climate crises can carry some of the blame, we must acknowledge that the slow but steady erosion of our region's biodiversity is an equal or even greater threat to our future food security.
Russian moves block UN probe of North Korea
Oped, Published on 05/04/2024
» In a classic under-the-political radar ploy, Russia has vetoed a UN committee investigating North Korean nuclear missile and banking sanctions violations. The low-profile but highly significant sanctions committee regularly monitors illicit actions by Pyongyang to develop, improve and implement the regime's nuclear weapons and offensive missile programmes.
The fascists are (probably not) coming after all
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 29/01/2024
» ‘Fascism is on the march everywhere!” shrieked the headline on a recent think-piece by my least favourite foreign affairs commentator (who must remain nameless because I don’t want to give him any publicity). But articles and op-eds about the fascist threat are certainly on the march, and occasionally a real fascist pops up in public.
Predicting 2024's global challenges
Oped, Published on 03/01/2024
» Looking into the snow globe, it's that time of year to predict and prognosticate what awaits this tired world in the new year. There's a certain trepidation in the air as we view the current and emerging crises, especially during a highly contested election year in so many key countries.
North Korea's launches still making a splash
Oped, Published on 27/12/2023
» There they go again again! North Korea's reclusive communist regime ended the year with a provocative intercontinental ballistic launch, flying near Japan and splashing down in the Pacific. The ominous firing of a powerful Hwasong-18 rocket came a month after Pyongyang put a spy satellite into orbit.
Kim Jong-un marks spy satellite victory
News, Published on 30/11/2023
» North Korea got lucky. After two previous failures earlier this year to launch a spy satellite, the Pyongyang regime successfully sent a satellite into orbit.
Hamas hostage crisis bodes terror for the world
News, Published on 28/10/2023
» Hostage-taking, like collective punishment, is among the most barbaric but also oldest tactics in human warfare. And yet something qualitative changed on Oct 7, when Hamas went on its murderous rampage in Israel and abducted more than 200 innocent people into the Gaza Strip. What Hamas, Israel and others do in the coming days and weeks will set new precedents that may open a 10th circle of hell in this and other conflicts to come.
North Korea's newfound confidence is dangerous
News, Published on 15/09/2023
» The split in the global community over Ukraine and China has been a gift to North Korea. It is increasingly clear that Pyongyang has been emboldened by the formation of a new anti-US bloc, prompting it to reach out to Beijing and Moscow.
US Navy trainers preparing for a worldwide war
News, Peter Apps, Published on 28/08/2023
» As the US aircraft carrier Dwight D Eisenhower sat moored for maintenance last week in its home port of Norfolk, Virginia, many of her crew were below decks, engaged in training for a simulated conflict in the North Atlantic.