Showing 1 - 10 of 35
An intriguing case of daylight robbery
Published on 26/10/2025
» You can't beat a good old fashioned diamond heist to make media headlines around the world. Even better when it involves an iconic institution like the Louvre museum in Paris home of the much loved Mona Lisa.
First as tragedy, then as farce: that's Trump
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 03/03/2025
» Hegel wrote that "all great world-historic facts and personages appear twice." It was Karl Marx who said that Hegel forgot to add that these repeating events happen "first as tragedy, then as farce." You know, like Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump.
A country full of Eastern promise
Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/06/2024
» Watching the current Euro football championships has served as a reminder that the official name of the country known to most of us as Turkey, is now Turkiye, pronounced "Turkiya". This name was approved by the UN in 2022. The change was believed to have been made partly to disassociate the country from the large bird of the same name and other negative interpretations of the word "turkey". You can understand why Turks could be irritated by silly newspaper football headlines such as "England roast Turkey".
It's not entertaining
Oped, Postbag, Published on 06/04/2024
» Re: "Parents and children explore a maze at 'The Maze Adventure'", (BP photo, April 1).
Building a shared future together
News, Han Zhiqiang, Published on 18/03/2024
» The Lancang-Mekong River, which begins in China and stretches for nearly 5,000 kilometres, flows through the highest number of riparian countries than other rivers in Asia. The six riparian countries -- China and other five downstream nations (namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand) which are "enjoying the same river" -- form a community with a shared future featuring "equality, sincerity, mutual assistance and kinship". The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism, named after the river, has been warmly received and responded to by all relevant countries since its initiation.
Charting China's decline, at a slow pace
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 11/12/2023
» For several years now, I have had a file on my computer named "China -- has the moment arrived?" But I think I missed the moment -- or rather I forgot that these things aren't a moment, they're a process.
How two little piggies saved their bacon
Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/11/2023
» Following last week's gripping yarn concerning the rescue of Fiona, the loneliest sheep in the world, it seems only fair to report on another tale featuring animals in distress. My thanks to reader Paul Drew for alerting me to the saga of two pigs, Butch and Sundance, who became known in England as the Tamworth Two, belonging to the breed of that name.
Ukrainian breakthrough is a slow affair
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 28/09/2023
» It's nothing like the great breakthroughs of the mid-20th century wars, when combined air and ground forces would tear a hole in the enemy line, the tanks would pour through, and the front would roll back several hundred kilometres before it stabilised again.
Rise of mixed-sex athletics will be good for sport
News, FD Flam, Published on 11/09/2023
» The assumption that an athlete's birth sex dictates his or her performance level has made transgender participation in sports a lightning rod -- but the issue is moot in a growing number of coed sports, from competitive sailing to pickleball to esports. And in the future, athletics are likely to evolve so that mixed-gender competition becomes much more common. That will lead to a rise in sports that are just as riveting, but more inclusive.
Inspirations for travel
Pattarawadee Saengmanee, Published on 21/08/2023
» When I visited Ayutthaya Historical Park last week, I noticed some tourists posing for photos among the ruined temples while wearing classic period attire. My companions and I started to perspire under the brilliant blue sky and soaring temperatures, but they carried on happily exploring various places to take in the nostalgic atmosphere. I could not help but admire how eager they were to enjoy their vacation.