Showing 1 - 10 of 29
The loveliness of a flying beetle
Roger Crutchley, Published on 20/07/2025
» The recent cricket match between England and India at Lord's was reportedly briefly delayed by a swarm of ladybirds which were bothering the players. It is believed to be the first recorded instance of "ladybirds stopped play". More importantly, swarm is not the correct term for these flying beetles. The collective noun for ladybirds (ladybugs for our American friends) is a "loveliness".
Conflict in Gaza and Kashmir on a parallel track
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 12/05/2025
» There is a striking parallel between the 20-month war in the Gaza Strip and the week-old not-yet-war between India and Pakistan. Both confrontations were set off by horrendously cruel mass murders by terrorists whose goal was obviously to start a war that drew the attention of the world back to their own goals and grievances.
Accountability matters
Postbag, Published on 23/06/2024
» Re: "Army abuse still with us", (Editorial, June 22).
Disney's 'Shogun' has a lot to teach the West
News, Gearoid Reidy, Published on 28/02/2024
» One of the most famous tales ever set in Japan is back. Walt Disney Co is spending millions on a glossy new adaptation of the James Clavell saga Shogun, the story of the Englishman who arrives in 1600s Japan and goes on to become a samurai.
A teenage shooter and accountability
Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Published on 16/10/2023
» It is hard to believe that a shooting rampage by a teenage student, such as we see in America, would one day happen in our country.
Abe Shinzo, it seems we hardly knew you
News, Koichi Hamada, Published on 10/07/2023
» A year has passed since former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo was assassinated by a gunman during a campaign rally in Nara on July 8, 2022. Much like the assassination of US President John F Kennedy in Dallas in 1963, Abe's murder marked a watershed moment in Japan's history.
Competitiveness affects Indonesia ties
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 27/06/2023
» Just two years ago, Thailand and Indonesia commemorated the 70th anniversary of relations, with both sides holding events to celebrate. Over the year, they mapped out various plans that would boost bilateral ties with the aim of establishing and hastening a "strategic partnership". These included strengthening political and economic relations, investment, as well as people-to-people exchanges. In particular, both countries would establish "High-Level Committees" in their law enforcement agencies, including the police and military, to counter common challenges such as narcotics, human trafficking and call centre scams. Then a month later came the Myanmar quagmire.
Migrating giant honey bees need their rest stops
News, W. S. Robinson, Published on 07/02/2022
» I'll bet you this, from this remote ranch 13,000km from Thailand: there's no buzz filling my favourite Thai mango orchard now.
Moral conundrum
Oped, Postbag, Published on 15/01/2022
» Re: "Bill on media council gets cabinet nod," (BP, Jan 13). When we read in "Bill on media council gets cabinet nod" that "the exercise of media freedoms must not infringe on social mores", all who value good public morals will be deeply concerned. This must be so since being a social mores never has and cannot of itself guarantee that any belief, custom, or attitude is morally good.
Time for weed to bloom
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/01/2022
» Just glancing at the local cannabis laws can leave you feeling punch-drunk. According to new anti-drug law, effective from Dec 9, cannabis is no longer a narcotic substance. Yet, state authorities, police and anti-narcotics officers continue to arrest people who have cannabis plants, some with only a few, in their possession.