Showing 1 - 10 of 19
Political tsunami sweeps Southern Hemisphere
Oped, John J. Metzler, Published on 26/10/2023
» 'It's the last bus stop in the world," a former New Zealand prime minister once told me while he was visiting New York. Indeed a remote South Pacific island nation of merely 5 million, known for the Kiwi, its All Blacks Rugby team, and some pretty good wines, was sadly hobbled by a woke progressive government who turned the once idyllic place into a land beset by inflation, unaffordable housing and rampant crime and gangs.
Tyranny's propagandists triumph
Oped, Maria Ressa & Nishant Lalwani, Published on 05/04/2023
» If democracy had its own doomsday clock, it would be at two minutes to midnight. According to the most recent analysis by Varieties of Democracy (known as V-Dem), 72% of the world's population lived in autocracies last year, compared to 50% a decade ago. For the first time in more than two decades, there are more authoritarian regimes than liberal democracies -- and we are not doing enough to address this threat.
Quitting what you're doing while still on top
Oped, Peter Singer, Published on 16/02/2023
» Last month, Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's 42-year-old prime minister, resigned from office, despite the support of a solid parliamentary majority and no challenge to her leadership from within her party. New Zealanders have to go back only six years to find a precedent. In 2016, John Key surprised everyone when, at the age of 55, he made way for his deputy to take over.
Ardern's exit and the persistence of other politicians
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 25/01/2023
» 'All political lives, unless they are cut off in midstream at a happy juncture, end in failure because that is the nature of politics and of human affairs," wrote British politician Enoch Powell half a century ago -- and then proceeded to demonstrate the truth of this proposition in his own lengthy but undistinguished political career.
Ardern gives world lesson in humility
News, Andreea Papuc, Published on 20/01/2023
» Jacinda Ardern announced her decision to step down as New Zealand Prime Minister showing her characteristic modesty.
Look to Ardern
News, Postbag, Published on 09/10/2022
» Re: "Killing spree a red flag," (Editorial, Oct 7).
How women can break the bias
Oped, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Lilian Best, Published on 06/05/2022
» Since 1911, societies around the world have dedicated days, months, and even decades (in Africa's case) to celebrating women's achievements and promoting solutions to new and persistent challenges. But over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has expanded the plight of women to outsize proportions, sharply highlighting the urgency of this year's International Women's Day theme: "Break the Bias."
Thailand's high stakes for Apec 2022
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 09/11/2021
» Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was happy to have a chat and a photo with US President Joe Biden at COP26 in Glasgow last week. Gen Prayut also took the opportunity to personally invite Mr Biden to Bangkok for the Asia-Pacific Economic Leaders Meeting (Apec) in late November next year. He could have done the same to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin if they were there but unfortunately but both leaders only participated in COP26 via online.
Apec needed now more than ever
News, Damien O'Connor, Published on 01/11/2021
» Many people might be unfamiliar with the work the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) forum does, but those four letters represent an economic and trade powerhouse that affects all our lives, from the price of a new car, to promoting renewable energy.
Reinvigorating multilateralism
Oped, Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Jacinda Ardern Stefan Lofven, Cyril Ramaphosa, Macky Sall & Pedro Sanchez, Published on 30/09/2021
» Last year, the United Nations conducted a worldwide consultation involving more than one million people from 193 countries. The feedback pointed to some important facts. And this year's UN General Assembly must respond by bolstering rules-based multilateralism.