The headline’s a cheap shot (no pun intended) but as a naturalized Australian I think I can get away with it. Australians have something of a reputation as a hard-drinking crowd, but now it seems the wildlife are getting in the act. Darwin's red-collared lorikeets are literally falling out of
The recent Arizona immigration clamp down has divided the nation. There are those who favor labor mobility, globalization, racial sensitivity and employment supply-demand equilibriums. Of course, as in any argument, there are those who oppose - some rationally, some not. On both sides, there are
Cambodia's troubled history is not a new theme for us. We covered it extensively after our visits there last year, particularly in relation to the still horrendous landmine legacy. Two reports out of Phnom Penh this week indicate the true bookends of this nation as it deals with its history an
06.1.2010 | Asia, Cambodia | Stuart Ford
Poverty is often mistakenly used as the catchall explanation for radicalization, terror and violence. We have reported previously why this rather simplistic explanation doesn’t stand up to analysis of the empirical evidence, such as our article “Facts and fiction about Muslim radicalization
In a development that will see shudders go down the spine of those who believe national integrity greater than transnational cooperation, British troops in Afghanistan will now come under direct US command. The complicated NATO multinational chain of command and the often conflicting ‘national cav
In light of the latest set of nuclear maneuverings of Iran and Brazil and new proposed sanctions, it is worthwhile revisiting the confusion of global nuclear policy. Who can be and can’t be granted self-governance over nuclear development plans seems to be based on whim. It reads like a Marx B
05.18.2010 | Americas, Asia, Editorials, Europe, Middle East, Rest of the World | Stuart Ford
It used to be that stand and deliver meant a robber wanted you to handover your money, but the stakes in armed robberies can now be much higher. We reported on the disturbing trend during this global recession for the impoverished to sell their organs, such as kidneys, as a means to survive. The
03.17.2010 | Asia, India | Stuart Ford
In a case perhaps of where there is a dollar there is little principle, Weightwatchers New Zealand has added McDonalds to its list of approved diet venues. While McDonalds is trying to add more nutritious and healthy choices to its menu, observers fear that any body hungry drawn into McDonalds
Afghanistan is a complex theater enough due to its inherent nature; but adding to the level of difficulty is the chain of command challenge. We have reported on this before in relation to NATO, where the chain of command is riddled with what are called “National Caveats.” These are the spe
India, like many other developing countries, faces the dual challenge of poor roads and overflowing trash landfills. Poor roads are a challenge both economically and in terms of human development. Fast, efficient transit corridors are an integral enabler of societal advancement. Now an entrepren
03.9.2010 | Asia, India | Stuart Ford
Last week we covered some of the initiatives that “moderate” Muslims are undertaking to marginalize the jihadists that undermine the religion. The concept of fatwa has much abused of late. There are non-clerics issuing Fatwas left and right, there are even TV stations where viewers can reque
03.5.2010 | Asia, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
To many Westerners Pakistan is an enigma. They are served simplistic picture by the media of a complex country told that is extremely poor, a sometime ally, nuclear armed, but suspected of having a sympathy for the Taliban and an age old grudge against India. . Even the most well-informed We
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