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The newly reconstituted European Commission has acted quickly (2.3.10) to push through decisions permitting use of genetically modified potatoes and maize – revelling in failure by the European Council to block it.
Echoing concerns of consumer groups, Greenpeace has declared the move will put the environment and public health at unacceptable risk. … Read More »
COMMENTARY: Work stoppages by airline workers, and air traffic controllers campaigning against job-cuts, wage-cuts or changed working conditions in their industry, have been choking up Winter travel movements in Europe. … Read More »
The twentieth anniversary of the shootings at and around Tienanmen square (4.6.09) is being greeted with refreshed horror worldwide, and a certain arrogance in Beijing – where the archived news has been officially called “groundless allegations”.
In this commentary Lee Duffield recalls the moment as seen from another public square, in Europe; and he reprises the information that came out, about the reality of a “Tienanmen Solution” much feared in Eastern Europe, just months after the tragedy in China. … Read More »
The Fiji Islands looked to be on the path to despotism as never before, as Commodore Frank Bainimarama (picture), declared he would ensure that government decision-making was removed from “politics”. … Read More »
The “G20” economic summit in London (3.4.09) has signaled a change in the way world business activity is to be managed – in its response to the economic crisis.
Lee Duffield sets out to make sense of the claims about how a dinner meeting and set-piece round table by 20 heads of government might make a great difference. … Read More »
An Australian-first alliance between three of the country’s main universities will expand higher learning in a range of European and Asian languages.
With $2.27 million in Australian Government funding, the Brisbane-based University of Queensland (UQ), Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology (QUT) will pool teaching of at least nine languages. … Read More »
CLIMATE CHANGE: The Australian government has announced a minimum target of 5% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020 – amid both condemnation from the greens movement, and arguments that it may still match the more ambitious figures set up by the European Union. … Read More »