Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
My review of an excellent new book on international politics
January 17th, 2016 by Roger Darlington
I’m a bit of a news junkie and am fascinated by national and international politics. However, so much reporting of current affairs lacks context. One needs to know something of the history and geography of a nation or region to make real sense of what is happening today. British journalist Tim Marshall has written an […]
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Who were the 73 most powerful people on the planet in 2015?
December 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Each year, the “Forbes” magazine compiles a list of those it believes to be the most powerful in the world. This year – for the third year running – top place goes to Vladimir Putin, President of Russia. Second place is given to Angel Merkel, Chancellor of Germany. No 3 is Barack Obama, the President […]
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Major upset in Spanish politics
December 21st, 2015 by Roger Darlington
The Spanish went to the polls on Sunday to election a new Congress of Deputies and a new Senate. For the first time in anti-austerity Continental European politics, the party of government that had imposed severe budget cuts managed to win the largest share of the votes – but the People’s Party lost its overall […]
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The danger in the South China Sea
December 15th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Five years ago, I did a posting which pointed out: “We think of the Middle East as the most likely location for global conflict, but the South China Sea is the scene of many worrying developments. China has declared that it views the South China Sea as a “core” interest and is beginning to deploy […]
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A short guide to the Spanish political system
December 12th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
In just over a week’s time, Spanish voters will elect a new parliament and the two establishment parties are being challenged by two new parties, so the result could represent a new political settlement. In preparation for the election, I have written the 14th contribution to my collection of essays providing a short guide to […]
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What should be done about the starlings in Rome?
November 24th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
During a recent visit to Rome, I did a blog posting in which I mentioned seeing lots and lots of starlings flying overhead in wonderful formations. But apparently these birds cause problems and the authorities are considering a number of ways of tackling the issue as explained here.
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Why do jihadis seem so evil?
November 23rd, 2015 by Roger Darlington
“There appears … to be something especially potent about Islam in fomenting terror and persecution. Contemporary radical Islam is the religious form through which a particular kind of barbarous rage expresses itself. So, to understand why jihadis have been drawn into a different moral universe that allows them to celebrate, brutally inhuman acts, we have […]
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A 30-mile traffic jam in Kenya
November 20th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Since my son and his family relocated to Kenya about three months ago, I have been more than usually interested in the history of, and news from, the country. So I was amazed to learn that more than 1,500 trucks are locked into a traffic jam stretching for 50 km (30 miles) on the highway between […]
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100 amazing women from around the world
November 19th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
Our news and current affairs are still dominated by men, so it’s good to see the BBC compile a list of 100 women who are changing the world. Check out some of these special people here.
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The remarkable story of Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi
November 10th, 2015 by Roger Darlington
It’s exciting news that in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma), the National League for Democracy (NLD) looks set to have won a stunning election victory, although there are many constitutional, economic and ethnic problems ahead. The NLD leader is the remarkable Aung San Suu Kyi who has a special connection with the UK because her late […]
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