SECTIONS

world view

SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 23

Sustaining the rule of law thanks to German vote

Last Tuesday there was a vote in the Bundestag, the lower house of the German parliament, that may have changed the course of history.
Sustaining the rule of law thanks to German vote
Sustaining the rule of law thanks to German vote
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 18

Unexpected triumph for justice but a long way from paradise

Most crimes everywhere have always gone unpunished.
Unexpected triumph for justice but a long way from paradise
Unexpected triumph for justice but a long way from paradise
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 16

Perennially impatient Trump only party seeking speedy end to war

What is hard to keep in mind, with all the hype that is flying around, is that there is no particular reason for either side in the Ukraine war to want a ceasefire right now, let alone a full peace settlement.
Perennially impatient Trump only party seeking speedy end to war
Perennially impatient Trump only party seeking speedy end to war
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 12

Syria’s tragedy: who is to blame?

"They kidnapped; they killed; they humiliated; they kicked people out of jobs," explained an Alawite writer living in coastal Syria.
Syria’s tragedy: who is to blame?
Syria’s tragedy: who is to blame?
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionMarch 5

Nato — the late, great alliance

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) retired to its sickbed as soon as Donald Trump won the presidential election last November.
Nato — the late, great alliance
Nato — the late, great alliance
OpinionFebruary 26

Who needs an army? Not Myanmar

If the people of Myanmar drive General Min Aung Hlaing and his brutal military regime from power, the first thing they should do afterwards is take a leaf from Costa Rica’s book and abolish the army.
Who needs an army? Not Myanmar
Who needs an army? Not Myanmar
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 19

The two different kinds of thieves

What is the difference between smash-and-grab raids and protection rackets?
The two different kinds of thieves
The two different kinds of thieves
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 12

Two steps forward, two steps back

In classical civilisations, there was a continuing, unresolved debate about whether history moved forward or just went around in circles: was it linear or was it cyclical?
Two steps forward, two steps back
Two steps forward, two steps back
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 9

I’m not saying we’re all doomed but the heat is on

I am very cross with myself.
I’m not saying we’re all doomed but the heat is on
I’m not saying we’re all doomed but the heat is on
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionFebruary 2

Of no importance but front and centre

The Strait of Malacca is strategically important.
Of no importance but front and centre
Of no importance but front and centre
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 29

Slide back to might makes right

We seem to be drifting back into the world of "might makes right".
Slide back to might makes right
Slide back to might makes right
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 22

Where next in the Middle East?

In the 80 hours between Wednesday, January 15, when the Gaza ceasefire agreement was announced, and Sunday, January 19, when it went into effect, Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip killed 123 Palestinians, including dozens of women and children.
Where next in the Middle East?
Where next in the Middle East?
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 19

Vintage tonnage a weighty modern day headache

The name is brilliant: "vintage tonnage".
Vintage tonnage a weighty modern day headache
Vintage tonnage a weighty modern day headache
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 8

‘Self-coup’ bids inspired by Trump

Turning yourself from a democratically elected president into a dictator is a tricky operation, and most people who try it fail.
‘Self-coup’ bids inspired by Trump
‘Self-coup’ bids inspired by Trump
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionJanuary 1

Iran: Some day soon this will end

Six months ago, at the end of Iran’s presidential election, I finished an article by speculating the long-lived theocratic dictatorship in Iran might be a lot closer to its end than its beginning.
Iran: Some day soon this will end
Iran: Some day soon this will end
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionDecember 4

Syria stirs again as Lebanon settles

One week in, the ceasefire in Lebanon seems to be holding, but everything is connected: only three days later, the civil war in Syria started up again after a de facto four-year truce.
Syria stirs again as Lebanon settles
Syria stirs again as Lebanon settles
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionNovember 28

Netanyahu and international justice

The indictment of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza has triggered a great deal of public moralising, both pro and con.
Netanyahu and international justice
Netanyahu and international justice
SUBSCRIBER
WorldNovember 20

South Korea as Ukraine’s saviour?

The consensus assumption is still that Donald Trump will force Ukraine to yield to Russia as soon as he takes office on January 20.
South Korea as Ukraine’s saviour?
South Korea as Ukraine’s saviour?
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 20

Netanyahu and Biden: decisions, decisions ...

Two weeks ago Iran, in response to Israel’s assassinations of the leaders of Hezbollah and Hamas, its most important allies in the Arab world, fired 181 ballistic missiles at Israel.
Netanyahu and Biden: decisions, decisions ...
Netanyahu and Biden: decisions, decisions ...
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 10

Curtain call on growth does not spell end

"No-one can stop the wheel of history," said China’s President Xi Jinping on the 75th anniversary of the day when the CCP proclaimed the creation of the People’s Republic of China.
Curtain call on growth does not spell end
Curtain call on growth does not spell end
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionOctober 3

Will He? Won’t He? Netanyahu decides

Will Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, really launch a full-scale war against Lebanon-based Hizbollah when Israel is still fighting Hamas in Gaza? Of course he will.
Will He? Won’t He? Netanyahu decides
Will He? Won’t He? Netanyahu decides
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 29

Who ruined Sri Lanka? So many choices

It's hard to know who ruined Sri Lanka, because there are so many plausible candidates.
Who ruined Sri Lanka? So many choices
Who ruined Sri Lanka? So many choices
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 25

Animals are our friends, not food

A bit behind the curve (it was first posted last April), I have stumbled across the New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness.
Animals are our friends, not food
Animals are our friends, not food
SUBSCRIBER
OpinionSeptember 5

Netanyahu running out of options

Six Jewish hostages were murdered by Hamas last week just before the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) reached them, and a controversy has erupted in Israel about whether Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu should have done more to save them.
Netanyahu running out of options
Netanyahu running out of options