Showing 1 - 10 of 255
After 66 years, Cuba's regime faces reckoning
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 21/02/2026
» Fidel Castro and his communist band of brothers have had a good long run in power (66 years), but they have run out of road.
The case of the disappearing senior generals
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 10/02/2026
» Armies can be used against both against foreigners abroad and against citizens at home, but the two roles require quite different equipment and tactics. The same applies to their commanders: you need a different kind of general if you think that the primary task of their troops will be controlling dissent at home.
Artists resist repression in Thailand, US
Oped, Sally Tyler, Published on 08/12/2025
» In late August, two seemingly unrelated events occurred in Thailand and the US. The Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC) altered a major exhibit it had recently opened and, a few weeks later, the comedian Jimmy Kimmel was temporarily taken off the air by the ABC television network. These events are linked as forms of artistic repression and perhaps more concerning, as examples of the growing use of intermediary censorship by authoritarian regimes.
Keeping in step with ballroom moves
Roger Crutchley, Published on 02/11/2025
» The most entertaining news of the week was the response to President Donald Trump's demolition of the East Wing of the White House so he can build a "big, beautiful ballroom". It is probably fair to say it prompted a "mixed reaction" -- many being totally horrified.
Brothers' trial puts focus on 'Wild West of crypto'
News, Miles J Herszenhorn, Published on 18/10/2025
» Two brothers, both recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduates, are going on trial this week in a case that promises to shed light on a secretive and controversial cryptocurrency trading strategy.
Digitisation needed
Oped, Postbag, Published on 02/10/2025
» Re: "New DES minister urged to prioritise AI", (Business, Sept 23). My son, who completed a BBA, has just joined an MBA programme at a local university. For this, he had to cancel his existing visa from his college and apply for a fresh one through his new university. He reached the immigration office at 8am and was given token 78 for cancellation and 900 for issuance of a new visa. With each applicant's process taking about 10 minutes, he would easily be spending over 12 hours there. The officials work beyond 4.30pm and until 9pm to issue or reject every visa.
Dollar haven status may always have been a mirage
News, Mike Dolan, Published on 10/09/2025
» The dollar's sharp drop in April during a burst of tariff-related financial stress called into question what many had assumed to be its critical function as a safety trade. Some now wonder whether that haven status was ever truly warranted.
Beach clean-up
Postbag, Published on 17/08/2025
» Re: "Clock ticks as plastic talks drag on", (Opinion, Aug 15).
Central banks caused own woes
News, Otmar Issing, Published on 02/08/2025
» US President Donald Trump's fierce attacks on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell have attracted global attention, rattled markets and, perhaps most importantly, sparked debate about the wisdom of central-bank independence -- a complex issue with constitutional and economic implications.