Gwynne Dyer
Independent journalist
Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. His new book is 'Growing Pains: The Future of Democracy (and Work)'.
China, climate and the blame game
China took a major stride forward on climate on Tuesday. President Xi Jinping, addressing the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, for the first time committed China to a hard target for future greenhouse gas emissions.
Last days of the Old Middle East
President Donald Trump declared "the dawn of a new Middle East" in Washington on Tuesday as the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain signed public agreements with Israel for the first time.
Be suspicious of miracle vaccines
Nine of the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies have just promised not to apply for regulatory approval for any new Covid-19 vaccine before it has gone through all three phases of clinical study. Why would they do such a thing?
What if Trump triumphs again?
'To lose one parent... may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness," wrote Oscar Wilde in his play The Importance of Being Earnest in 1895.
Forced schooling of Mongolians driven by fear
'Residential schools" were a common feature of European settler societies (except New Zealand) until quite late in the 20th century, and their purpose was not just to educate but to "deracinate" their aboriginal pupils: to cut them off from their roots. The Chinese government would reject the analogy with its last breath, but it is now doing the same thing.
Greece tries to keep Erdogan at bay
There are eight Turks for every Greek, so you might think the Greeks have to fold. But Greece has the backing of France, Italy, Israel, Egypt and practically every other country in the eastern Mediterranean and the Arab world, as well as the entire European Union, so it has just called the bet and raised it.
Vladimir Putin, Navalny and Thomas à Becket
In 20 years of writing about Russia's President Vladimir Putin -- he was completely obscure before 1999 -- I have never before had reason to mention him and Saint Thomas à Becket in the same sentence. Finally, however, the time has come.
Belarus: Non-violence wins again?
On Monday Belarusian strongman Alexander Lukashenko went to the Minsk Tractor Works, the country's biggest factory with almost 15,000 workers, and did his tough-guy act: "Until you kill me, there will be no other election." The horny-handed sons of toil simply replied by chanting "Ukhodi!" -- Get Out!
Lebanon was cursed even before the blast
Beirut has been living with car bombs and air raids on a sporadic but continuing basis for so long that it would probably make sense to rebuild this time with shatterproof glass. The torrent of broken glass falling from a thousand shattered buildings probably accounted for half the 158 dead found so far in Beirut and certainly for most of the 6,000 wounded.
Will Trump pull 'October surprise'?
An "October surprise" in the United States is now almost inevitable, because that will be Donald Trump's last chance to get re-elected legitimately. He might try to cling to office even if he loses the vote, but it would be a lot easier and neater if he actually won a majority in the Electoral College on Nov 3.