Archive for the ‘World current affairs’ Category
How to make £10 billion in two days by doing nothing
August 20th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Does this sound impossible and crazy? Well, it is possible but it is crazy. For most people around the world, the coronavirus global pandemic has been a terrible experience. Even if you stayed alive, even if you didn’t actually catch the virus, there’s a good chance that your business has gone bust or your job […]
Posted in American current affairs, World current affairs | Comments (0)
Could China become a democracy?
August 18th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
“China is bound to go through political transformation, toward democracy, political freedom, rule of law and constitutionalism. This is the inevitable trend of modern human political civilisation. China will enter this stage sooner or later. Because the CCP [Chinese Communist Party] has been in power since 1949, they have made many mistakes and even crimes. […]
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How did Lebanon get into this state?
August 11th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
The Prime Minister of Lebanon has offered his resignation stating: “I said that corruption is rooted in every part of the state, but I found out that corruption is greater than the state.” This situation has come about because of the history of the state and the meddling of so many external players. It may […]
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Today my heart is with the people of Beirut
August 5th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Like so many others around the world, I was horrified to hear the news about, and see the pictures of, the huge explosion in Beirut. This is a country, and especially a city, that has already suffered so much in recent decades. Fortunately the people I know in Beirut are safe but shocked. In 2011, […]
Posted in My life & thoughts, World current affairs | Comments (0)
What happens when the world’s population stops growing?
July 15th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Most adults around the globe – me included – have contributed to the relentless rise in the world’s population which has devastated the planet. Today the world population stands at 7.8 billion and it is still growing – but this will not always be the case with huge consequences. You can find a good estimate […]
Posted in Environment, World current affairs | Comments (0)
Which countries are doing best and worst in tackling the coronavirus? Is Britain really doing that badly?
May 27th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Of course, it depends on how you measure this. Do you use the number of confirmed cases which depends massively on the testing regime in that nation? Or the number of deaths confirmed as caused by or involving Covid-19? Or the number of excess deaths over and above what would be expected for the time […]
Posted in British current affairs, Science & technology, World current affairs | Comments (0)
Think coronavirus is the worst thing that could happen to the world? Think again. It could be worse, much much worse. Feeling better now?
April 26th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Things are tough just now, right? You want to be cheered up, don’t you? Well, consider this: things could be much worse. The existence of humankind is not a given. There are a variety of existential threats out there and, put is this way, the odds could be better. I was reminded of this by […]
Posted in Environment, Science & technology, World current affairs | Comments (2)
How do we decide who will live and who will die in this global pandemic?
April 24th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
Three years ago, I did a blog posting which posed an ethical dilemma. There is a runaway trolley barreling down the railway tracks. Ahead, on the tracks, there are five people tied up and unable to move. The trolley is headed straight for them. You are standing some distance off in the train yard, next […]
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And in other news … this year’s World Press Freedom Index is published and it’s not good for the UK or the US
April 21st, 2020 by Roger Darlington
At this time of crisis and lockdown, many of us are deprived of some basic freedoms – but hopefully this is temporary. Meanwhile media freedom around the world is under challenge. The latest World Press Freedom Index shows that the United Kingdom has slipped to 35th and the United States is no better at 45th. […]
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Coronavirus is not an enemy; it is a pandemic. This is not a war; it is a crisis.
April 12th, 2020 by Roger Darlington
It’s interesting how some politicians like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson talk of the coronavirus as if it is a person – a cunning arch enemy with evil intent that can be defeated like the Nazis. On his discharge from hospital today, the Prime Minister declared “We will win”. What does winning mean when already […]
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