Talking points 26 June

A big hello to Tony who is going to be moderating for the first time tonight. Thanks Tony! Enjoy!

What’s the world’s most pointless pastime?

“What’s the point of skiing….it’s totally stupid. You climb up to ski down. Why not stay down and read a good book?!” The thoughts of Slovenian  philsopher Slavoj Zizek here on the BBC. He goes on….on football “why is it so fascinating that one stupid guy kicks football better than another?” Such pronouncments got us to thinking here on the World Today about other pointless pastimes. Any suggestions?

On Air: Has Iraq turned the corner at last?

You may have noticed recently that Iraq has been appearing far less in the news than it did a year ago. Last month there were fewer American casualties in the country than at any time since the 2003 invasion.

Talking points 25 June

Goodmorning it’s Karnie…

Thanks to Chloe and Raffles in Singapore who took care of the blog for us overnight..

Thoughts for today…

Recipe for Disaster?

There is a new idea around in US foreign policy circles. John McCain has endorsed it and Barack Obama hasn’t trashed it. So it may have legs. The idea is that of a League of Democracies or sometimes, a concert of democracies: an alliance of the world’s democratic nations.

Zimbabwe: Mandela’s shame?

NB: Jon wrote this before Mr Mandela made his comments last night..
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So Nelson Mandela turns 90 this week. But as he celebrates his birthday he’s facing growing criticism for failing to take a stand over Robert Mugabe’s regime in Zimbawe. Some people are even calling it Mandela’s shame . Should he be ashamed? Or it is fair enough, given that he’s long retired from political life?