海角大神

The Nation / Bangkok, Thailand

How vulnerable is China to a trade war?

鈥淚n the Chinese media, business commentators are all talking about the same thing: The coming trade war with the United States...,鈥� . 鈥淭he business commentators have been explaining to readers why a trade war won鈥檛 be a good thing. But they should do more than just talk. Business owners and the Chinese government can do many things to make the economy less vulnerable to outside influences and stronger to resist an imminent trade war.... [I]n the face of [President] Trump鈥檚 trade war, the best defence that China can have is not to get distracted by his attacks ... and to be steadfast in pursuing its own economic reform.鈥�

Arab News / Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

After Mosul falls

鈥淪ome good news is finally coming from Iraq, with Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi announcing ... the full liberation of the eastern bank of the besieged city of Mosul, the country鈥檚 second-largest urban center and the main base of [Islamic State] militants...,鈥� . 鈥淎s [IS fighters] withdrew to the western side of the city, they blew up all bridges across the Tigris, making the second phase of the battle more difficult.... Mosul will be retaken eventually, albeit at a high price, but what follows will be more challenging for Al-Abadi and the people of Iraq.... Al-Abadi and other political players must summon the strength and courage to launch a process of national reconciliation that ends ethno-confessional politics and salvages what remains of Iraq鈥檚 threatened unity.鈥�

Balkan Insight / Belgrade, Serbia

So-called experts need to stop fearmongering

鈥淭hey say that generals always fight previous wars,鈥� . 鈥淏alkan experts, on the other hand, always keep a keen eye on future ones, watching for that spark that would ignite the proverbial powderkeg. [These past few weeks] saw several articles, all published in respectable Western newspapers, predicting renewed bloodshed in the region.... [The] articles have some things in common: they鈥檙e so full of stereotypes, false analogies, and factual errors that one barely knows where to start.... It is true that the overall situation in the Balkans is far from rosy. There are tensions, and incidents, and the economic situation is dire.... The West should re-engage in a serious way, but the last thing the peoples of the Balkans need is a bunch of bloodthirsty 鈥榚xperts鈥�, eager to [stoke] the flames of war for fun and profit.鈥�

Ottawa Citizen / Ottawa

Standing in solidarity with Muslims

鈥淭he prime minister called it a 鈥榙espicable act of terror鈥�: six people dead, 19 injured in a spree of bullets at a Quebec City mosque...,鈥� . 鈥淚t is ... tempting to link the attack to the xenophobia rearing its head south of the border. But Canadians need to focus inward. Threads of intolerance are woven through Canadian 鈥� and Quebec 鈥� society.... This is not simply fallout from the 鈥楾rump Effect.鈥� ... We do not saddle Canadians with collective guilt over the carnage at the mosque. Blame rests squarely with whoever held the gun.... [B]eliefs can be challenged and changed; dialogue and reasoned debate can take place. During this time of national mourning, we all should examine our assumptions about others.鈥�

The Times / London

The nauseating hypocrisy of Trump鈥檚 vilification

鈥淧resident Trump鈥檚 executive order suspending immigration from certain countries has taken the hysteria over his arrival in the White House to an unprecedented level...,鈥� . 鈥淗e is being accused of racism, anti-Muslim bigotry and discrimination, described as 鈥榩rejudiced鈥�, 鈥榲icious鈥�, 鈥榓 tinpot dictator鈥�, 鈥榓 megalomaniac鈥�, and likened to Hitler.... For sure, the way this was introduced was dreadful.... [But] Mr Trump is merely heeding urgent, vital and informed advice. Moreover, the hypocrisy and historical amnesia among those baying for his head are quite extraordinary. The seven-state list was actually drawn up by the Obama administration.... Can everyone please calm down now?鈥�