Showing 1 - 10 of 221
A fond farewell to the poster people
Oped, Roger Crutchley, Published on 08/02/2026
» For a couple of months the streets in Bangkok and throughout Thailand have been decorated with posters of political candidates. But now the Big Day has arrived and soon the posters will disappear. In a strange sort of way, I will miss their presence as they were at least something to look at when stuck in the traffic. They generally appeared to be a cheerful lot, beaming at us with big cheesy grins as one would expect in the Land of Smiles.
It could take 1 Danish soldier in Greenland
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 23/01/2026
» In 1910, Henry Wilson, the British army officer charged with planning for a possible war with Germany, visited the French officer doing the same job in Paris, Ferdinand Foch. The Anglo-French alliance was still a tentative, semi-secret thing, so Wilson asked Foch, "What is the smallest British military force that would be of any practical assistance to you?"
The treacherous sycophancy of the populists
Oped, Michael Burleigh, Published on 15/12/2025
» Until a few days ago, it had never crossed my mind that people across Europe -- including Londoners like me -- were living in a strife‑afflicted hell hole, "suffocated" by regulations, stripped of political liberties, and bound for "civilisational erasure". So, it was with some surprise that I read this assessment in the new US National Security Strategy -- a document that echoes pseudo‑intellectual propaganda more than resembling any serious foreign‑policy analysis.
The last word on weird book titles
Roger Crutchley, Published on 14/12/2025
» Being somewhat old-fashioned I still love browsing in bookshops. It provides a brief escape to a completely different world, both relaxing and therapeutic. Alas it is a pleasure future generations are unlikely to experience as these days bookshops are something of an endangered species.
Trickery in the land of tavern trivia
Published on 23/11/2025
» The world of pub quizzes was shaken in Britain recently when a team at The Barking Dog pub in Manchester was kicked out for cheating. Although disputes may occasionally occur in such quizzes it doesn't usually come down to such strong disciplinary action. However the team involved was believed to be clearly in breach of trivia etiquette.
New eco-friendly fuel shows promise
News, Ranjana Wangvipula, Published on 27/10/2025
» Shuttle buses carrying people to Yumeshima Island in Japan to join the Expo 2025 provided their last services on Oct 13, but their potential as new energy-powered vehicles is just beginning to gain momentum.
SET expat problems
Oped, Postbag, Published on 09/10/2025
» Re: "Capital market task force unveils 'quick win' reform", (Business, Oct 7). One still unresolved issue is foreigners/expats at times not getting their freely issued warrants, even those who reside here in permanence and own the so-called NVDR shares.
Vaccine risk data
Oped, Postbag, Published on 01/10/2025
» Re: "Dept quick to dispel vaccine naysayers", (BP, Sept 29). Unfortunately, this article, in which the Department of Disease Control dismisses claims that vaccines are unnecessary or harmful, uses authoritarian declarations. There are copious testimonies and a recent definitive paper presented to the US Congress committee investigating vaccine safety.
Clean Air Bill offers hope
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/09/2025
» Parliament is reportedly set to deliberate the Clean Air Bill today. The scrutiny will be the third and final reading -- jointly conducted by MPs and senators in both houses. If passed immediately, the long-awaited clean air legislation will take effect this year.
Gaza war phase
Postbag, Published on 13/09/2025
» Re: "Answering my critics about the war in Gaza", (Opinion, Aug 19) & "Indefensible Israel", (PostBag, July 11).