Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Iran's water weapon against Gulf
Oped, Michael Christopher Low, Published on 07/04/2026
» The oil-rich monarchies of the Persian Gulf are often described as petrostates. But the US-Israeli war with Iran has highlighted that they are also saltwater kingdoms, societies whose survival depends on desalination, or converting seawater into potable water at industrial scale.
UN debate swerves, slides, but scores
Oped, John J Metzler, Published on 01/10/2025
» US President Donald Trump lambasted the United Nations on opening day for its failure to stop global crises in the midst of major regional wars, humanitarian disasters, looming security threats, never mind costly bureaucratic waste. But as the leader of the most prominent and founding UN member state, he then added that the world organisation isn't living up to its potential, and scathingly challenged, "What's the purpose of the United Nations?" The old rebuke, "You can do better!" Sometimes it works.
UN assembly opens amidst wars, other woes
Oped, John J Metzler, Published on 23/09/2025
» Presidents, prime ministers, kings and potentates are converging on New York for the United Nations General Assembly session. The upcoming General Debate, starting today, will bring together a cast of thousands of delegates for 10 days.
Too long in power a bad idea for leaders
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 01/07/2025
» Leading an entire country for a few years is a steep learning curve, but it's useful experience. Being in power for a dozen years makes most leaders arrogant and careless, but some remain more or less functional. Being in power for more than 30 years just makes you stupid. Consider Cambodia's Hun Sen and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
'Learn' how to drive
Oped, Postbag, Published on 21/09/2024
» Re: "No justice for Nong Cartoon", (Editorial, Sept 19).
Who benefits from Bangladesh's strife?
Oped, Sultan Mahmud, Published on 03/08/2024
» Domestic peace and stability have been the key to national progress in every part of the world. Growth of civilisation and prosperity of the West had been possible due to political stability and social harmony.
Tackling the scammers on the border
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 05/07/2024
» Abbas (assumed name) and Beni were excited when their friend and compatriot, Chihab, offered them a lucrative e-commerce job in Thailand. Abbas and Beni accepted the offer at once. The monthly salary started at US$1,000 (36,000 baht) and they were told the boss would double the salary after they gained more experience.
Hubris meets nemesis as Israel refuses compromise
Oped, Shlomo Ben-Ami, Published on 14/10/2023
» Sooner or later, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's destructive political magic, which has kept him in power for 15 years, was bound to usher in a major tragedy. A year ago, he formed the most radical and incompetent government in Israel's history. Don't worry, he assured his critics, I have "two hands firmly on the steering wheel."
Is it too late for Iran to rejoin nuclear treaty?
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 17/06/2021
» 'Lifting Trump's sanctions, @SecBlinken, is a legal & moral obligation, NOT negotiating leverage. Didn't work for Trump -- won't work for you," tweeted Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif late last month. But what if US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (and President Joe Biden) have just decided that reviving the 2015 nuclear deal is a lost cause?
Objective allies: Netanyahu and Hamas militants
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 14/05/2021
» 'Objective allies' generally don't even talk to each other. They don't have common values, their ultimate goals may be completely incompatible, they often hate each other. But they share some intermediate goal, and are clever enough to realise they can both get what they want by acting together in certain ways.