One cause for Syria’s torments is that regional powers have used proxy forces to advance their position in the “great game” of influence, without regard for the effects on the Syrian people.An example is the standoff between two Syrian Kurdish militia groups. One, known as the YPG, appears to be tacitly backed by an odd coalition that includes the United States, and, less visibly, Russia and Iran. The other, much smaller group known as the Peshmerga of Rojava, or “Roj Pesh” is supported by Iraqi

Global political leaders are scrambling to send a message out. They have been in almost unison in underscoring the challenges Great Britain may face once it decides to leave the EU. The British national referendum is just three weeks away, to be held on June 23. Polls indicate that the outcome is too close to call.The pro-remain group in the United Kingdom points to the economic damage that it says will result from the departure. Statistics put a possible British economic loss as a result of the

Son Yeon-jae from South Korea is verifying her global competitiveness in rhythmic gymnastics, clinching five medals at an International Federation of Gymnastics World Cup in Bulgaria over the weekend.Son took bronze in the individual all-around, a gold in clubs, two silvers in hoop and ribbon and a bronze in ball during the Sofia competition.She is drawing close attention as to whether she will become the first Korean rhythmic gymnast to take an Olympic medal in Rio de Janeiro in August. Her pop

South Korea lagged behind some European countries whose per capita gross domestic product exceeded $50,000 in the 2015, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.The nation, which ranks 28th in per capita GDP among OECD members at about $25,000, posted 2.6 percent economic growth last year -- behind Luxembourg, Iceland and Ireland. The three nations were included in the world’s top 10 per capita GDP ranking.Korea has usually exceeded the high-income countries in annu

In the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet empire, most Western nations basked in the illusion that liberal democracy had triumphed. Many thought NATO had become an anachronism in an era of permanent European peace.Some countries freed from Kremlin control, including tiny Estonia, knew better. Only 2 1/2 decades later, the European Union teeters and populism thrives -- on both sides of the Atlantic. A revanchist Russia bent on restoring past glory makes nuclear threats against members

When Disney opens its largest-ever theme park in Shanghai on June 16, the competition won’t be idle. Wang Jianlin, China’s second-richest man and CEO of Wanda Group, is promising to unleash a “pack of wolves” -- his affectionate term for his own network of family-friendly theme parks -- on the Disney “tiger,” rendering it unprofitable. In its place, he promises a theme park experience less Western in feel and characters, and more in keeping with Chinese culture and values.　Wang isn’t totally cra

A number of Republicans rationalize Donald Trump’s proposals on immigration and trade as just political show. Similarly, some free-trade Democrats suggest that Hillary Clinton’s protectionist stance is merely rhetoric.They are deluded. Academic research and recent history show that newly elected presidents try to hew closely to their campaign commitments.“New presidents actually believe they have a mandate, feel empowered,” says Shirley Anne Warshaw, a presidential scholar at Gettysburg College.

Bad news is all around us. The world confronts the possibility of a sexist, racist ignoramus occupying the White House next January. Unreconstructed authoritarians already are in charge in Russia and China. Populists of varying ugliness are winning elections from Poland to the Philippines. And Islamophobia is overriding compassion in almost every country, including my own, that must respond to the current refugee crisis. What Abraham Lincoln described in his first inaugural address as “the bette

Here’s a positive move by Turkey, a country that often seems to be heading in the wrong direction: Despite Ankara’s severe misgivings, it is allowing the U.S. military to fly daily bombing missions from Incirlik Air Base against the Islamic State — in support of a Syrian Kurdish militia called the YPG that Turkey regards as a terrorist threat. Turkey offered the Incirlik base last year after a dozen years of tepid military relations with the United States, its superpower ally. Turkish President

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is to return to New York today, wrapping up his six-day visit to his native country and Japan. During his stay in Korea, he rocked political circles by strongly suggesting that he could run in the 2017 presidential election after completing his second term as U.N. chief.“Next January, I will be a Korean citizen again. I will contemplate what I should do as a citizen, bearing in mind that people have high expectations for me,” Ban said in a press conference. Lam

Following the April general election, the ruling and opposition camps both pledged to depart from their usual politics to establish a new tradition of collaboration in the 20th National Assembly. The new Assembly kicks off today, but the two camps are back in confrontational mode.What has strained relations between the two sides is a bill intended to allow parliamentary standing committees to hold hearings more frequently, thus helping them keep close tabs on state affairs.Under the current modu

Let’s say Donald Trump manages to romp his way to the White House in November. The New Yorker’s Adam Gopnik paints a dire picture of what will follow: “If Trump came to power, there is a decent chance that the American experiment would be over. This is not a hyperbolic prediction; it is not a hysterical prediction; it is simply a candid reading of what history tells us happens in countries with leaders like Trump.”Gopnik goes on to assure us that “Countries don’t really recover from being taken

All of us are worried about growing global debt as a precursor to another round of crises. After the last global financial crisis, 2007-2009, global debt rose to more than $200 trillion or $27,000 for each person in the world. Since 2.8 billion or nearly 40 percent live on $2 per day, there is no way that the debt can ever be repaid.   The bulk of debt owed by governments, banks and companies will be repaid by creating more debt. If we are happy to create money, we should be happy to create more

So much has been said and written about striking the proper work-life balance. And of all the people in the world, Hong Kong people must work the hardest to find the ideal balance, as we have the questionable honor of logging the longest period each week -- a staggering 50.1 hours, which does not even factor in the daily commute between our home and workplace. If included, it can be safely concluded that most Hong Kong employees, and very likely many of their employers as well, are left with les

Toyota is investing in and planning to collaborate with Uber, the largest ride-hailing service. Volkswagen is investing $300 million in Tel Aviv-based Uber rival Gett. And that’s just Tuesday’s news. In January, General Motors put $500 million into Lyft, another Uber competitor. Earlier this month, Apple invested $1 billion in Chinese ride-hailing company Didi and Fiat Chrysler made a deal with Alphabet to develop self-driving minivans.After almost a century of making cars and selling them in mo

Here’s today’s Officially Reductive Question: Do you vote by party, policy or person?One of those three p’s usually drives citizens into a voting booth. In November, you’ll probably wear one of those “I Voted” stickers because you’re a staunch Republican or Democrat who turned up to support the party, or because you vote gun rights or women’s health issues and, therefore, choose candidates who most effectively argue for those causes, or because you think a particular candidate will be an intelli

Since its humiliating defeat in the April 13 general election, the ruling Saenuri Party has been drifting rudderless. Torn apart by factional strife, the party has not even been able to fill its leadership vacuum, much less make concerted efforts toward reform. Yet it appears to have created momentum for normalizing its operation.The burden to save the party from sliding further into crisis rests solely on the shoulders of Chung Jin-suk, who was elected as the party’s new floor leader early this

Allegations of misconduct are mounting against Hong Man-pyo, a prosecutor-turned-lawyer suspected of having peddled his influence for a CEO of a cosmetics company convicted of illegal gambling.As a prosecutor, Hong was highly competent. He made a name for himself with investigations into high-profile corruption cases involving heavyweight politicians and big corporations. He became a lawyer in 2011 and soon emerged as one of the highest-earning lawyers. In 2013, he earned 9.1 billion won ($7.7 m

Thailand’s next constitution, which is born of authoritarianism, will only be detrimental to the citizenry and the future of the kingdom.As part of its 20-year national strategy, the military-led government has said it aims to foster integrity among public servants well into the future. To concerns expressed about a coup-based regime dictating principles for the future, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha has offered reassurances that the intention is only to provide broad guidelines by which succe

Nature and the travel agent conspired to get me to Seoul, Korea at the best possible time.  I landed at Incheon in early April to clear skies, nippy winds and the most beautiful trees in full pink bloom. Could it get any better than this? Yes, it could! I was introduced to Namsan Park and I spent most mornings strolling along, admiring the trees, the profusion of flowers and the bird life there.Tourists like myself visit with avidity, eager to take in temples, fortresses and malls and gawk at sk