Wednesday, September 10, 2025

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Global Affairs

Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 9, 2025
Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit was a stage-managed coming-out party for China’s new superpower status, but no actual deals were done, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 9, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 9, 2025
Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s recent Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit was a stage-managed coming-out party for China’s new superpower status, but no actual deals were done, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, held a White House meeting to discuss plans for Gaza’s future, with former British prime minister Tony Blair in the mix among real estate developers and others. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 4, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, held a White House meeting to discuss plans for Gaza’s future, with former British prime minister Tony Blair in the mix among real estate developers and others. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 3, 2025
British MP Nigel Farage recently promised that a Reform U.K. government would deport 600,000 people during its first five years in power. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 3, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 3, 2025
British MP Nigel Farage recently promised that a Reform U.K. government would deport 600,000 people during its first five years in power. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 28, 2025
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
Denmark has accused the United States of running a covert operation in Greenland. The attempt to recruit a few ‘pro-American’ Greenlanders to front the operation suggests President Donald Trump’s regime prefers a non-violent conquest if at all possible, writes Gwynne Dyer. Official White House photograph courtesy of Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 28, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 28, 2025
Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin
Denmark has accused the United States of running a covert operation in Greenland. The attempt to recruit a few ‘pro-American’ Greenlanders to front the operation suggests President Donald Trump’s regime prefers a non-violent conquest if at all possible, writes Gwynne Dyer. Official White House photograph courtesy of Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 26, 2025
People are learning ‘from a distorted map,’ says Speak Up Africa founder Fara Ndiaye, leading to ‘a biased view of Africa’s role in the world.’ Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 26, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 26, 2025
People are learning ‘from a distorted map,’ says Speak Up Africa founder Fara Ndiaye, leading to ‘a biased view of Africa’s role in the world.’ Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2025
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
The campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump, left, for the peace prize includes pretending he can end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but that conquest is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s heritage project, and he can still keep the war going for years, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 21, 2025
Donald Trump, left, and President Vladimir Putin.
The campaign by U.S. President Donald Trump, left, for the peace prize includes pretending he can end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, but that conquest is Russian President Vladimir Putin’s heritage project, and he can still keep the war going for years, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 19, 2025
Donald Trump
It will take a massive campaign of perpetual flattery for the old NATO countries to keep U.S. President Donald Trump, far right, on side while simultaneously keeping Ukraine out of Russia’s hands, writes Gwynne Dyer.  White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 19, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 19, 2025
Donald Trump
It will take a massive campaign of perpetual flattery for the old NATO countries to keep U.S. President Donald Trump, far right, on side while simultaneously keeping Ukraine out of Russia’s hands, writes Gwynne Dyer.  White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2025
We are probably in the final phase of the artificial intelligence investment frenzy right now, writes Gwynne Dyer. Unsplash photograph by Igor Omilaev
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 14, 2025
We are probably in the final phase of the artificial intelligence investment frenzy right now, writes Gwynne Dyer. Unsplash photograph by Igor Omilaev
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 11, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 Summit in Japan in June 2019. With no leverage in Moscow, Trump's recent deadline for a Russian ceasefire in Ukraine passed unmentioned, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 11, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 11, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump at the G20 Summit in Japan in June 2019. With no leverage in Moscow, Trump's recent deadline for a Russian ceasefire in Ukraine passed unmentioned, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 6, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still in power because he’s now a war leader and the courts can’t hold an inquiry into his behaviour until the war is over, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 6, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 6, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is still in power because he’s now a war leader and the courts can’t hold an inquiry into his behaviour until the war is over, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 5, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Not only are major powers resorting to war more often, but they are doing so without even trying to justify it under the UN Charter rules for the use of force: Russia in Ukraine, Israel in Gaza, the United States over Iran.  The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 5, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 5, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Not only are major powers resorting to war more often, but they are doing so without even trying to justify it under the UN Charter rules for the use of force: Russia in Ukraine, Israel in Gaza, the United States over Iran.  The Hill Times photographs by Sam Garcia and courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 1, 2025
Lower birth rates do bring with them problems like a higher dependency ratio, but managing this kind of 'problem' is what governments are there for, writes Gwynne Dyer. Unsplash photograph by Lingchor
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 1, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | August 1, 2025
Lower birth rates do bring with them problems like a higher dependency ratio, but managing this kind of 'problem' is what governments are there for, writes Gwynne Dyer. Unsplash photograph by Lingchor
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 28, 2025
All the back-and-forth diplomacy in Gaza over the past six months was just for show, and the only audience that mattered was U.S. President Donald Trump, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 28, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 28, 2025
All the back-and-forth diplomacy in Gaza over the past six months was just for show, and the only audience that mattered was U.S. President Donald Trump, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 23, 2025
Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping will never rule out using force to ‘recover’ Taiwan, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 23, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 23, 2025
Xi Jinping
Chinese President Xi Jinping will never rule out using force to ‘recover’ Taiwan, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 21, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pictured on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in the Oval Office. The arrival of Trump 2.0 has been a shock to both the global trading system and the alliance structures that had prevailed since the 1950s, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 21, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 21, 2025
Prime Minister Mark Carney, left, U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice-President J.D. Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, pictured on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, in the Oval Office. The arrival of Trump 2.0 has been a shock to both the global trading system and the alliance structures that had prevailed since the 1950s, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 14, 2025
Solar panels
Volume production and technical innovations have brought the price of solar panels down so low that China is exporting them in huge quantities even to developing countries, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 14, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 14, 2025
Solar panels
Volume production and technical innovations have brought the price of solar panels down so low that China is exporting them in huge quantities even to developing countries, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 10, 2025
Most American political analysts have dismissed the electoral prospects of Elon Musk’s new political party, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 10, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 10, 2025
Most American political analysts have dismissed the electoral prospects of Elon Musk’s new political party, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 7, 2025
The Dalai Lama, pictured in April 2012 during a visit to Ottawa, turned 90 on July 6. China views his death as a golden opportunity to ‘nationalize’ Tibetan Buddhism by giving the state the power to choose his successor, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 7, 2025
The Dalai Lama, pictured in April 2012 during a visit to Ottawa, turned 90 on July 6. China views his death as a golden opportunity to ‘nationalize’ Tibetan Buddhism by giving the state the power to choose his successor, writes Gwynne Dyer. The Hill Times photograph by Jake Wright
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 3, 2025
The key fact in any discussion about climate refugees is that the tropical countries—like the South Pacific island of Tuvalu—will be hit sooner and harder than those closer to the poles, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 3, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | July 3, 2025
The key fact in any discussion about climate refugees is that the tropical countries—like the South Pacific island of Tuvalu—will be hit sooner and harder than those closer to the poles, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 30, 2025
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, left, is facing calls for her resignation after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 30, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 30, 2025
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, left, is facing calls for her resignation after a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s Hun Sen. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 26, 2025
It took U.S. President Donald Trump a long time to realize that he had been played by the Israeli prime minister, but it won’t last because he cannot bear the idea that he was outsmarted, writes Gwynne Dyer. Official White House photograph courtesy of Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 26, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 26, 2025
It took U.S. President Donald Trump a long time to realize that he had been played by the Israeli prime minister, but it won’t last because he cannot bear the idea that he was outsmarted, writes Gwynne Dyer. Official White House photograph courtesy of Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 23, 2025
Donald Trump
Why did Iran start enriching uranium past the 3.5 per cent limit that it accepted in the 2015 deal? Because U.S. President Donald Trump tore up that deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 23, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 23, 2025
Donald Trump
Why did Iran start enriching uranium past the 3.5 per cent limit that it accepted in the 2015 deal? Because U.S. President Donald Trump tore up that deal in 2018 and re-imposed sanctions, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 19, 2025
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs photograph by Haim Zach 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 19, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 19, 2025
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on May 22, 2017. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs photograph by Haim Zach 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 16, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Iran is on the brink of getting nuclear weapons half a dozen times in the past 20 years, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph by Loey Felipe
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 16, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 16, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared that Iran is on the brink of getting nuclear weapons half a dozen times in the past 20 years, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph by Loey Felipe
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 12, 2025
We cannot rebuild healthy oceans unless that bottom trawling stopped in the safe zones where fish populations should be able to recover, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of David Dodge/Green Energy Futures/Creative Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 12, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 12, 2025
We cannot rebuild healthy oceans unless that bottom trawling stopped in the safe zones where fish populations should be able to recover, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of David Dodge/Green Energy Futures/Creative Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 9, 2025
It’s unlikely the United States ends up in a de facto alliance with Russia, but it’s possible, given U.S. President Donald Trump’s bizarre but undeniably very close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 9, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 9, 2025
It’s unlikely the United States ends up in a de facto alliance with Russia, but it’s possible, given U.S. President Donald Trump’s bizarre but undeniably very close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the White House/Shealah Craighead
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 5, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
As Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently pointed out to his colleagues, the problem with starving people is that the country’s allies cannot tolerate ‘images of mass famine,’ writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph courtesy of Loey Felipe
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 5, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | June 5, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
As Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently pointed out to his colleagues, the problem with starving people is that the country’s allies cannot tolerate ‘images of mass famine,’ writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph courtesy of Loey Felipe
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2024
Women line up for food aid in the Aweil East region in South Sudan. In most cases, starvation is a byproduct of war, not even the main event, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the PCPM Foundation
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2024
Women line up for food aid in the Aweil East region in South Sudan. In most cases, starvation is a byproduct of war, not even the main event, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of the PCPM Foundation
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 20, 2024
Rishi Sunak, a Hindu of Indian heritage born in Southampton, is Britain's current prime minister. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 20, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 20, 2024
Rishi Sunak, a Hindu of Indian heritage born in Southampton, is Britain's current prime minister. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
A few thousand years of human activity like farming released enough greenhouse gas to raise the average global temperature by one full degree Celsius. Pexels photograph by Ákos Helgert
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 13, 2024
A few thousand years of human activity like farming released enough greenhouse gas to raise the average global temperature by one full degree Celsius. Pexels photograph by Ákos Helgert
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
More to the point, if Joe Biden really wanted the Palestinians to have food, he would order the Israelis to let them have it or face losing American support with arms, money and the regular loan of the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council. But he can’t bring himself to do that, no matter what Israel does, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 11, 2024
More to the point, if Joe Biden really wanted the Palestinians to have food, he would order the Israelis to let them have it or face losing American support with arms, money and the regular loan of the U.S. veto at the UN Security Council. But he can’t bring himself to do that, no matter what Israel does, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
The national anxiety about this is so great that South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, pictured, has said the unsayable: South Koreans are 'excessively and unnecessarily competitive,' he admitted, and that is why the nation has the world’s lowest birth-rate, writes Gywnne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/JEON HAN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 6, 2024
The national anxiety about this is so great that South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, pictured, has said the unsayable: South Koreans are 'excessively and unnecessarily competitive,' he admitted, and that is why the nation has the world’s lowest birth-rate, writes Gywnne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/JEON HAN
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Gwynne Dyer talks about his 1986 National Film Board documentary Harder Thank It Looks, which explored how difficult it is for northern counties to remain neutral. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 29, 2024
Gwynne Dyer talks about his 1986 National Film Board documentary Harder Thank It Looks, which explored how difficult it is for northern counties to remain neutral. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Sanctioning Israel has always seemed unthinkable in Washington, but the time may be coming when saving Israel from itself is the least bad alternative, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Cameron Smith
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 26, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, left, meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Oct. 18, 2023. Sanctioning Israel has always seemed unthinkable in Washington, but the time may be coming when saving Israel from itself is the least bad alternative, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Cameron Smith
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Even if Donald Trump is convicted of a criminal charge or becomes visibly incapacitated, Republicans won't move against him unless a viable alternative presidential candidate is available, and Nikki Haley, pictured, is that candidate, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 21, 2024
Even if Donald Trump is convicted of a criminal charge or becomes visibly incapacitated, Republicans won't move against him unless a viable alternative presidential candidate is available, and Nikki Haley, pictured, is that candidate, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
There is no reason to doubt that Alexei Navalny, the de facto leader of the democratic opposition in Russia, was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin, pictured, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of The World Economic Forum/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 19, 2024
There is no reason to doubt that Alexei Navalny, the de facto leader of the democratic opposition in Russia, was killed on the orders of Vladimir Putin, pictured, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of The World Economic Forum/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Joko Widodo, left, and Prabowo Subianto, pictured on Oct. 11, 2019. Indonesia's outgoing president Widodo, nicknamed 'Jokowi,' still enjoyed a 70 per cent public approval rating and the national economy had grown 43 per cent. But Indonesian voters were left with limited choices once the 'good guy' and the 'bad guy' made a deal, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | February 14, 2024
Joko Widodo, left, and Prabowo Subianto, pictured on Oct. 11, 2019. Indonesia's outgoing president Widodo, nicknamed 'Jokowi,' still enjoyed a 70 per cent public approval rating and the national economy had grown 43 per cent. But Indonesian voters were left with limited choices once the 'good guy' and the 'bad guy' made a deal, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons