Opinion Archives - Page 30 of 45

Relationship between horses and humans is special and here to stay, says equine expert

10Sep

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Relationship between horses and humans is special and here to stay, says equine expert

Working horses in Ontario live in some of the best conditions and are protected by some of the most stringent animal welfare laws in the world, says a University of Guelph veterinary expert. And removing a horse as a working animal also diminishes its importance in the history of human culture, said Dr. Luis Arroyo, of Guelph’s equine studies program. Animal rights protesters have become almost as much of a Niagara-on-the-Lake fixture as ice cream shops and vineyard visiting cyclists over the past three years. On any given weekend or holiday “carriage-free by 2023” banners can be seen adorning the intersection of Queen and King streets. With the rise of a pro-carriage protest movement, The Lake Report sought out an expert on equines to offer insight on the difficulties and strains that

Customers’ Feedback on Amazon manipulation by Chinese Sellers

10Sep

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Customers’ Feedback on Amazon manipulation by Chinese Sellers

Recently, some of the largest Chinese merchants have been banned by Amazon for improper use of review system. They have been found to have solicited false reviews from consumers and manipulated reviews through gift cards. These companies have also been alleged to have leaked data derived from billing information. This has plunged Amazon into a public opinion crisis in the US and Europe. These developments occurred after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of the US launched a formal investigation into Amazon and Google to address concerns that the two companies were not doing enough to tackle fake reviews. Upon further investigation by Amazon it was found that Chinese sellers had resorted to malpractices of selling their products by either compensating /reimbursing real cus...

9Sep

By Desk TeamNo Comments

PM tipped to top censure vote

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is expected to secure the most votes of support among the cabinet ministers targeted for censure as lawmakers cast their votes of confidence on Saturday with sources claiming he has seen off threats to his authority from within the ruling party. Gen Prayut on Friday cleared the air with Deputy Prime Minister and Palang Pracharath Party (PPRP) leader Prawit Wongsuwon and received an apology from Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thamanat Prompow following reports alleging a move to unseat him in the no-confidence vote on Saturday, according to officials within the party. The debate was carried out against a backdrop of factions within the PPRP pushing for cabinet seats in exchange for their votes of support for ...

China can be controlled if world came together

8Sep

By Desk TeamNo Comments

China can be controlled if world came together

New Delhi: The Chinese Communist Party is influencing the media houses, fundings and it is sponsoring institutions which are opinion maker under President Xi Jingping. A report by think-tank ‘Law and Society Alliance’ titled “Mapping Chinese Footprints and Influence Operations in India” Speaking at a virtual discussion following the release of the report by exiled World Uyghur Congress Director for Chinese Affairs Department Ilshal Kokbore, who joined from New York, said the contents of the study report shocked him as he came to know how deep penetration Communist China had made inside a democratic India. He said the CCP, the rules from Beijing, was really adept at twisting reality and spreading propaganda in its favour, not just in India but globally. He said while CCP

Boston edges toward historic shift as mayoral field narrows

26Aug

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Boston edges toward historic shift as mayoral field narrows

BOSTON (AP) — With Boston’s preliminary mayoral election just a month off, voters are on the verge of making a historic decision by narrowing the field of five major candidates — all of whom are people of color. Since it first started electing mayors nearly 200 years ago, Boston has only tapped white men to lead the city — a streak certain to end this year, a reflection in part of the city’s changing demographics. With the departure of former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh earlier this year to become President Joe Biden’s labor secretary, the city has already witnessed a political first — the elevation of Kim Janey as acting mayor, the first woman and Black person to hold the office. But Janey, who as city council president stepped into the office, is facing stiff competition as she tries to

South Algonquin councillor votes in favour of byelection

23Aug

By Desk TeamNo Comments

South Algonquin councillor votes in favour of byelection

South Algonquin Township council voted to appoint former Councillor Joe Vermaire’s successor at their Aug. 4 meeting versus having a byelection to fill the now vacant seat. The only councillor that voted in favour of a byelection was Councillor Bongo Bongo, and he explains to Bancroft This Week why he voted for a byelection instead of an appointment. Vermaire resigned from his duties as councillor representing Dickens Ward on July 27. At the next council meeting on Aug. 4, council and staff discussed the best alternatives to filling the vacant council seat. While most of the council voted in favour of appointing Vermaire’s replacement to save money and staff time, as well as acknowledging that the next general election is only 16 months away, Bongo voted against this route, and was in fav

17Aug

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Finding harmony online

Finding harmony online While 29 provinces have been designated as a dark red zone and the government has prolonged lockdowns for another two weeks, people have utilised social media platforms to relieve anxiety and stay connected with the outside world. With a score of 69%, Thailand ranked 19th in the recent Microsoft Digital Civility Index (DCI) survey, with the top five being the Netherlands (51%), the United Kingdom (55%), the United States (56%), Singapore (59%) and Taiwan (61%). Conducted annually for the past five years, the DCI study gathered data from 16,000 users in 32 countries between April and May last year, with a low score suggesting limited exposure to online hazards. This year, nine countries from Asia Pacific namely Australia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines...

11Aug

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Asean at 54: In need of some speed

Asean at 54: In need of some speed Despite the plethora of criticism, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in its 54th year is actually stronger and bolder than ever. That might sound propagandistic but it is not. Today, member countries are more engaged and expressive in their exchanges of opinions and ideas, especially on proposed plans of action in relation to the challenges confronting the bloc. External powers are also wooing Asean in a way that has never seen before. Given the current regional strategic environment, the role of Asean has expanded and is under close scrutiny by the international community. Indeed, in the era of smartphones and social media, Asean members can no longer hide their disagreements. Taking it a step further, a few Asean members also have sav...

Almost half of Aussie population under lockdown

26Jul

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Almost half of Aussie population under lockdown

SYDNEY - Almost half of Australia’s population has been placed under lockdown as authorities face Covid-19 clusters in multiple cities across the country for the first time since the initial outbreak last year. As the cluster in Sydney grew to 149 cases, authorities in Brisbane and Perth imposed snap lockdowns of three and four days, respectively. Sydney is in a two-week lockdown while Darwin is in a lockdown that is due to end on Friday (July 2). The measures, including parts of regional Queensland, left more than 40 per cent of Australia’s 25.7 million residents under stay-home orders. States have also imposed various travel bans to restrict entry from hotspots. As authorities struggled to contain the various clusters, the federal and state governments have faced questions about their

Participatory democracy: A way forward for Thais

25Jul

By Desk TeamNo Comments

Participatory democracy: A way forward for Thais

Participatory democracy: A way forward for Thais Students at a school in Phichit province join a recent campaign to promote democracy in schools. (Photo: Sitthipoj Kebui) A functional parliament is a strong foundation of a participatory democracy. Globally, the governing bodies of the socio-economically and politically advanced countries operate under some form of participatory democracy. In comparison, the parliamentary system in Thailand, which has been guided by constitutions written to benefit the elites, is still operating under a nominal representative democracy, effectively representing only the few. The 1997 constitution was the one and only constitution, among the 20 since 1932, that was drafted by the people and was known as the "people's constitution". This constitution prom...