Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
What do I think about Scottish independence?
April 29th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
This question was recently put to me by an online friend in Australia. I responded briefly as follows: I’m a democrat so, if Scotland wants independence, I accept that. But I hope that the Scots vote to remain in the United Kingdom with a fresh look at how much power can be devolved to the […]
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Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah have reached a new accord – but what’s the difference?
April 26th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
The “Guardian” has this brief comparison: Hamas Founded 1987 as offshoot of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt by a group in Gaza including Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, later assassinated by Israel. Military wing is the Izz al-Din al-Qassam brigades. Its founding charter committed to the destruction of Israel and the founding of a state based on Islamist values. […]
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OK, William and Kate, but we were there (sunset at Uluru) first
April 23rd, 2014 by Roger Darlington
William and Kate – otherwise known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – are pictured in many newspapers today witnessing the sunset at Uluru (Ayers Rock) in Australia. You can see some pictures here. A year ago, Vee and I thrilled to exactly the same view and you can read our account here.
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North Korea – the most secretive and enigmatic nation on earth – how much do you know about it?
April 22nd, 2014 by Roger Darlington
The “Guardian” has compiled this 15-question quiz. I scored 8 out of 15 which is above average and received the comment: “You did alright (it’s tricky country).” How about you?
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OK, William and Kate, but we were there (jet boating on the Shotover River) first
April 14th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
William and Kate – otherwise known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – are pictured in many newspapers today enjoying a jet boat ride on the Shotover River in New Zealand. You can see some pictures here. A year ago, Vee and I thrilled to exactly the same ride and you can read our account […]
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Is this the most important book that you (and I) will never read?
April 13th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
It’s called “Capital In The Twenty-First Century” and it is authored by the French economist Thomas Piketty. Politicians and economists around the world are calling it a stunning critique of the capitalist system. But you and I will never read it because it is more than 700 pages long with footnotes, graphs and mathematical formulae. […]
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Where are the most dangerous places on earth? If, you’re a man: the Americas and Africa. If you’re a woman: home.
April 11th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
Almost half a million people (437,000) across the world lost their lives in 2012 as a result of intentional homicide, according to a new study by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Globally, some 80 per cent of homicide victims and 95 per cent of perpetrators are men. Almost 15 per cent of […]
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The good news: the most democratic month in world history
April 4th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
In terms of sheer numbers, this April will be the most democratic month the world has ever seen as national elections take place in half a dozen countries with total electorates of more than one billion people – in India, Afghanistan, Hungary, Indonesia, Algeria and Iraq. Check out a summary of the elections here. The […]
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The bad news: Syria becomes an ever-greater tragedy
April 4th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
The civil war in Syria has now been running inexorably for three years. In that time: At least 150,000 people have been killed. The total number of deaths could be about 22o,000. Half the population is believed to have fled their homes. The total number of refugees is around 2.5 million. One million of the […]
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How will the crisis over Crimea ‘end’?
March 26th, 2014 by Roger Darlington
“We know where this is likely to end. We will accept Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea. Sanctions will be quietly dismantled, Moscow will reassure Kiev with a deal on neutrality. Nato will agree no further eastward expansion. The G7 will again become G8; and Crimea will join Tibet, Kosovo, East Timor, Chechnya, Georgia and other territorial interventions […]
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