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UN says over 12m people stateless • Man arrested for sexually abusing daughters over 40 years • Businessmen offer $1.7m for Col Gaddafi, \'dead or alive\' •

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 16:59 | By: Charles Laffiteau

And then there were four. First Herman Cain was driven from the race for the Republican Presidential nomination by a litany of adultery and sexual harassment allegations before the first votes were even cast in Iowa. Then Michelle Bachman followed suit after her dismal showing in the Iowa caucuses. But after the results from the second primary in New Hampshire, Bachman and Cain were joined on the political campaign sidelines by Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman.

What’s bringing all these tourists to South Korea?

Last update: Wednesday, February 1, 2012, 16:59 | By: Andrew Farrell

Monday 23 January 2012 in Seoul was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie. Streets in this booming metropolis were eerily silent, with barely any of the eighteen or so million people who live within 90 minutes of its downtown. Restaurants were closed, and shop shutters pulled down. Perhaps the only noise was the sound of airborne garbage blown around by the arctic winds howling down from Siberia.

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 02:14 | By: Charles Laffiteau

The results of the Iowa caucuses are in, and one of the first casualties was an Iowa native, Michele Bachman. The representative had spent most of her time and campaign money barnstorming the state where she grew up, hoping that the combination of her evangelical Christian and Tea Party bona fides would allow her to finish as one of the top two or three Republican candidates.

New year for South Korea but same old story

Last update: Sunday, January 15, 2012, 02:14 | By: Andrew Farrell

On 19 December last, I received an ominous text message. It read: “Kim Jong-il is dead. South Korea on emergency alert.”

South Korea’s year in review

Last update: Thursday, December 15, 2011, 00:13 | By: Andrew Farrell

It's that time of the year again, when journalists fill newspaper pages with lists of the most memorable, tragic and funny moments of the past 12 months.

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 03:24 | By: Charles Laffiteau

Last time I discussed the impact that Tea Party activists and Christian ‘values’ voters had on the presidential aspirations of three Republican governors held in high regard by the GOP establishment, but no longer involved in the 2012 campaign. Two other Republican governors also declined to run, but for markedly different reasons.

A day at the races

Last update: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 03:24 | © Metro Éireann

Andrew Farrell visits the track for another sample of South Korea’s sporting culture

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 13:16 | By: Charles Laffiteau

Last time out I discussed the extraordinary influence that right wing evangelical Christians and the anti-tax Tea Party movement currently exert on the Republican Party, and in turn the field of Republican Presidential candidates. That influence has played a significant part in the decision of several Republican candidates to either withdraw from the race, or not run in the first place.

The magic of The Way Home

Last update: Tuesday, November 15, 2011, 13:15 | By: Andrew Farrell

Andrew Farrell on a popular South Korean film with a universal message

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 14:35 | By: Charles Laffiteau

On 6 November 2012, just a year from now, Americans will troop to the polls to cast their ballots in an extremely important general election. While all votes involving the selection of America’s President are considered vital for the future of the United States, this time America truly stands at a crossroads. In 2012 American voters will not only be choosing who the next President will be, they will also be making a decision about what they want their government to be.

The ‘Wild West’ frontier in the heart of Seoul

Last update: Tuesday, November 1, 2011, 14:35 | By: Andrew Farrell

Several months ago I wrote about the most notorious neighbourhood in Seoul. Itaewon is roughly like Temple Bar in Dublin; it is the favoured playground for foreigners, it is perfectly located in the heart of the city centre and it has a vast array of bars, restaurants and entertainment facilities. But there are some major differences, too. For starters, Itaewon is an enormous city district; it is arguably not as popular with the locals as Temple Bar is to Dubliners; and, most importantly, it is full of US military personnel.

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Saturday, October 15, 2011, 10:04 | By: Charles Laffiteau

Now that the Republican Party’s field of presidential candidates finally looks complete, I guess it’s about time for me to begin analysing these hopefuls’ chances of winning their party nomination and going up against President Obama in next year’s general election.

The truth about French culture

Will I ever get over French culture? That’s what I?asked myself as my followed my host out of the airport in Paris, bag in hand. The warm hug and peck on both cheeks I got a few minutes before that is a tradition the French would practise even with their eyes closed. It’s the norm I have observed over many years of my visits to France. But it’s still exciting to me, even though I’m very aware of the flaws.

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Saturday, October 1, 2011, 12:01 | By: Charles Laffiteau

Last time out I expressed my concern that with no judicial institutions to protect the rights of minorities, the flowers of freedom that have bloomed in countries like Egypt and Tunisia during the ‘Arab Spring’ will be trampled by the “tyranny of the majority”.

Minding your manners

Dining etiquette is integral to professional and social life in Korea, finds Andrew Farrell

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Thursday, September 1, 2011, 09:11 | By: Charles Laffiteau

As I said last time out, Congressional Republicans are putting their selfish personal and political interests ahead of their country by pandering to the Tea Party. However, they’re not the only ones pandering to narrow-minded, right wing interest groups in a bid to win elections. The GOP’s Presidential candidates are also tripping over each other in an effort to appease the Tea Party and Christian fundamentalists. But what does this mean going forward?

What a palaver!

Forget the DMZ - South Korea’s most heated dispute is with Japan over a few rocks in the ocean, says Andrew Farrell

Charles Laffiteau's Bigger Picture

Last update: Monday, August 15, 2011, 19:32 | By: Charles Laffiteau

Last time out I accused Republicans of ‘kicking the can down the road’ by using a bit of legislative sleight of hand to allow an increase in America’s debt ceiling without agreeing to a plan to address the deficit.

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