Friday, October 17, 2025

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Global Affairs

Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 16, 2025
In the latest example of American influence, Argentina President Javier Milei, left, has welcomed Donald Trump’s $20-billion bailout even as the American president mused about the country’s elections, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 16, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 16, 2025
In the latest example of American influence, Argentina President Javier Milei, left, has welcomed Donald Trump’s $20-billion bailout even as the American president mused about the country’s elections, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Gage Skidmore 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 15, 2025
The biggest players in the system supporting AI are spending vast amounts of borrowed money on a technology they don’t even fully understand, writes Gwynne Dyer. Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann/Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 15, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 15, 2025
The biggest players in the system supporting AI are spending vast amounts of borrowed money on a technology they don’t even fully understand, writes Gwynne Dyer. Image courtesy of Gerd Altmann/Pixabay
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 8, 2025
Jane Goodall, pictured in 2019, died on Oct. 1 at the age of 91. She was also one of the greatest self-taught scientists in history, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Simon Fraser University 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 8, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 8, 2025
Jane Goodall, pictured in 2019, died on Oct. 1 at the age of 91. She was also one of the greatest self-taught scientists in history, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/Simon Fraser University 
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 7, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, has a very short attention span, but he was able to bully Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into at least the opening stages of a ceasefire, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 7, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, has a very short attention span, but he was able to bully Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into at least the opening stages of a ceasefire, writes Gwynne Dyer. White House photograph by Daniel Torok
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2025
Donald Trump.
After the June U.S. bombing on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, President Donald Trump claimed the key facilities ‘have been completely and totally obliterated.’ Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | October 2, 2025
Donald Trump.
After the June U.S. bombing on Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities, President Donald Trump claimed the key facilities ‘have been completely and totally obliterated.’ Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 30, 2025
Portland, Ore., residents protest the U.S. president’s deployment of troops to the city to ‘protect’ an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 28. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/KPTV Fox 12
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 30, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 30, 2025
Portland, Ore., residents protest the U.S. president’s deployment of troops to the city to ‘protect’ an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Sept. 28. Screenshot courtesy of YouTube/KPTV Fox 12
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 24, 2025
American President Donald Trump, pictured, attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a February White House visit, but this week at the United Nations Trump suggested Ukraine could win back its territory. Official White House photograph
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 24, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 24, 2025
American President Donald Trump, pictured, attacked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a February White House visit, but this week at the United Nations Trump suggested Ukraine could win back its territory. Official White House photograph
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 22, 2025
The cascade of recognitions at the United Nations General Assembly’s annual session in New York is pure gesture politics, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph by Manuel Elias
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 22, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 22, 2025
The cascade of recognitions at the United Nations General Assembly’s annual session in New York is pure gesture politics, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph by Manuel Elias
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 17, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s real goal with the Poland drone strike is to stampede NATO’s European countries into spending large amounts on their own national defence, instead of continuing to send arms to beleaguered Ukraine, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 17, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 17, 2025
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s real goal with the Poland drone strike is to stampede NATO’s European countries into spending large amounts on their own national defence, instead of continuing to send arms to beleaguered Ukraine, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 15, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Most Republican voters still believe that U.S. President Donald Trump, left, won the 2020 election. By contrast, only 36 per cent of Brazilians doubt that former president Jair Bolsonaro was part of the 2022 coup plot, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 15, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 15, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump, left, and former president Jair Bolsonaro.
Most Republican voters still believe that U.S. President Donald Trump, left, won the 2020 election. By contrast, only 36 per cent of Brazilians doubt that former president Jair Bolsonaro was part of the 2022 coup plot, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 10, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
With the bombing of Qatar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it blindingly clear he wants to avoid a ceasefire in Gaza, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph courtesy of Loey Felipe
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 10, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | September 10, 2025
Benjamin Netanyahu
With the bombing of Qatar, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it blindingly clear he wants to avoid a ceasefire in Gaza, writes Gwynne Dyer. UN photograph courtesy of Loey Felipe
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 | May 1, 2025
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro could go to jail for more than 40 years if he is found guilty of plotting to reverse his electoral defeat in 2022 by a military coup, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | May 1, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | May 1, 2025
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro could go to jail for more than 40 years if he is found guilty of plotting to reverse his electoral defeat in 2022 by a military coup, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 30, 2025
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The relationship between the two nations is fundamentally unstable because Pakistan has only one-sixth of India’s population and one-10th of its wealth, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 30, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 30, 2025
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The relationship between the two nations is fundamentally unstable because Pakistan has only one-sixth of India’s population and one-10th of its wealth, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 23, 2025
Donald Trump
There has certainly been outrage at U.S. Donald Trump’s threats to crush the Canadian economy and take over the country, which doubtless moved more votes to Liberal Leader Mark Carney, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/the White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 23, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 23, 2025
Donald Trump
There has certainly been outrage at U.S. Donald Trump’s threats to crush the Canadian economy and take over the country, which doubtless moved more votes to Liberal Leader Mark Carney, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/the White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 17, 2025
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, left, leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, while General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan commands the ‘official’ Sudanese Armed Forces. The mercenaries who work for them are the scum of the earth, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 17, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 17, 2025
General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, left, leads the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, while General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan commands the ‘official’ Sudanese Armed Forces. The mercenaries who work for them are the scum of the earth, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 14, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump not only blinked first, but he blinked at exactly the right time, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 14, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 14, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump not only blinked first, but he blinked at exactly the right time, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 10, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Estimates put the deaths at more than 50,000 in Gaza, compared to at least 12,650 in Ukraine. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 10, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 10, 2025
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Estimates put the deaths at more than 50,000 in Gaza, compared to at least 12,650 in Ukraine. Photographs courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 7, 2025
Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump has greatly overestimated America’s ability to prevent a realignment of global trade that simply goes around it, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 7, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 7, 2025
Donald Trump.
U.S. President Donald Trump has greatly overestimated America’s ability to prevent a realignment of global trade that simply goes around it, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Flickr/The White House
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 2, 2025
Nobody set out to destroy the deterrence system, least of all U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured in 2013, who was just seeking some short-term advantages in his usual way, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 2, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | April 2, 2025
Nobody set out to destroy the deterrence system, least of all U.S. President Donald Trump, pictured in 2013, who was just seeking some short-term advantages in his usual way, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2025
Donald Trump
The Iranians claim that they are only enriching uranium for nuclear fuel and other peaceful uses, but nobody believes them. U.S. President Donald Trump should have left the nuclear deal alone, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 27, 2025
Donald Trump
The Iranians claim that they are only enriching uranium for nuclear fuel and other peaceful uses, but nobody believes them. U.S. President Donald Trump should have left the nuclear deal alone, writes Gwynne Dyer. Photograph courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Flickr
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 25, 2025
Residents walk along a road in Bombo Lumene Natural Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC has 60 per cent of the world’s coltan, a mineral essential for electronic devices. Photograph courtesy of Unsplash
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 25, 2025
Opinion | BY GWYNNE DYER | March 25, 2025
Residents walk along a road in Bombo Lumene Natural Reserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DRC has 60 per cent of the world’s coltan, a mineral essential for electronic devices. Photograph courtesy of Unsplash