Showing 1 - 10 of 16
An anniversary worth celebrating
Oped, Jonathan Kings, Published on 24/06/2025
» This year marks a significant milestone for New Zealand's relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) -- 50 years of formal dialogue relations. This anniversary is an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to this important partnership and a strong future together.
Be wary of the TikTokalypse on the radar
Oped, Todd G Buchholz, Published on 31/01/2025
» When the United States president, Congress and Supreme Court are all in a tizzy at the same time, the topic under discussion is usually a global meltdown or, at the very least, income taxes. Today, the concern is dancing cat videos. In his first day back in the White House, Donald Trump launched a strike against the Court and Congress by signing an executive order to pause the ban on TikTok, earning applause from the Chinese-owned company. TikTok's online content creators are relieved, too, for many warn that a ban (or a forced sale to a US company) would devastate them. I call it the TikTokalypse.
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.
Building bridges from Asia to Africa the right way
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 29/04/2023
» The quest to build bridges between Asia and Africa is longstanding. A Chinese Admiral -- Zheng He -- led a series of voyages from East Asia to East Africa, down to Kenya and possibly Zanzibar, from the year 1405. The ships he navigated were enormous -- about 400 feet long and 100 feet wide (122 metres by 30.5m) -- especially when compared with Christopher Columbus' Santa Maria, which was about 70 feet long. For centuries, people have also migrated and traded between the two regions.
Could your vacation end up changing the world?
Oped, Christopher Endy, Published on 31/08/2022
» As the United States sends stockpiles of weapons to Ukraine, another transatlantic mobilisation is underway. Freed from two years of Covid restrictions and testing requirements, Americans are once again travelling in large numbers. Market observers have predicted a six-fold increase in American tourism to Europe compared to summer 2021. If you're wondering what shipments of weapons and planeloads of tourists have in common, the answer is: quite a bit. Tourism has long had a way of getting mixed up in international politics.
Time for Biden to build bridges with Hun Sen
Oped, Christopher Beres, Published on 17/12/2021
» As is widely known, in 1975, the United States abandoned Cambodia's Lon Nol government and the Khmer Rouge took power. What is less known is that at the time then-freshman Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware supported the evacuation of Vietnam and Cambodia. On April 25, 1975, the United States exited Cambodia. Sirik Matak Sisowath, the former Cambodian prime minister who refused to leave and who was killed by the Khmer Rouge days later, famously remarked: "I have only committed the mistake of believing in you [the Americans]."
Breaking down the global supply chain breakdown
Oped, Christopher S Tang, Published on 30/11/2021
» Rescuing Christmas from the supply-chain Grinch won't be easy. To make it happen, policymakers and business leaders need to take an expansive approach, paying attention to logistics beyond our clogged-up harbours.
Will we talk to the Taliban? Why not?
Oped, Christopher Stokes & Jonathan Whittall, Published on 21/08/2021
» As United States forces withdraw from Afghanistan, putting an end to the longest war in US history, a new era has begun again for a country that has seen invading forces come and go over the centuries.
Headless chickens
Oped, Postbag, Published on 09/01/2021
» So, on Jan 8 we had the headline "Gov u-turns on Mor Chana" concerning the tracking device Mor Chana. And "Covid travel permit 'impractical'" concerning interprovincial travel documents. And with many other backtracking moves by those in power, it once again shows that decisions are made without thinking them through.
Greedy bosses win
Oped, Postbag, Published on 08/01/2021
» Re: "Interior Ministry seeks cabinet nod for registration of illegal migrant workers", (BP, Dec 29).