Word: thrones
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...years on the throne, King Bhumibol has made the constitutional monarchy a moral counterpoint to the slime pit of Thai politics. Revered by his subjects as semidivine and for his work among the poor, he intervenes in politics only during times of crisis?most notably ending the bloodshed of the May 1992 democracy uprising. He prefers giving advice to Premiers in private. So, as Thaksin and his ministers sat in the Dusidalai Throne Hall awaiting the King's annual birthday address to the nation, they were expecting the usual sermon on development peppered with parables and gentle jibes. Instead, Bhumibol...
...funk born of a years-long economic bust. Japanese did celebrate in the streets, but there was a hitch. Under current rules, only a male can be Emperor, and since Naruhito's brother has two daughters, there remains no legal heir to succeed Naruhito on the Chrysanthemum Throne. (Remember, folks, Japan's our ally, so this little gender-role eccentricity falls under "acceptable cultural differences.") There have, however, been eight Empresses in Japan's history, and the birth has renewed debate over changing the rules of succession again. But you haven't come a long way just yet, baby...
...taken Naruhito and Masako more than eight-and-a-half years to produce their first child; Naruhito's younger brother, Akishino, 37, has two daughters and no son. Under the current laws, after Naruhito, Akishino and an uncle, no one is in line to ascend to the Chrysanthemum Throne. "I have to say I was disappointed it was a girl," says Naomi Shiraishi, who stood in line Saturday night buying special commemorative crackers near Masako's childhood home in Tokyo's Meguro ward. "I hope she gives it another shot, and that next time, it'll be a boy." Given...
...Shortly after Masako's pregnancy was announced, there was a flurry of discussion about changing imperial laws to scrap the requirement that a male take the throne. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi himself said he thought it was a good idea. But last month, a leading Liberal Democratic Party politician, Taro Aso, said such discussion was premature. "We are not at a point where we can assume that no boys will be born in the future," Aso said. Of course, that was before the birth of the princess. The next round of royal debate has begun: Can Japan tolerate an Empress...
...Winners QUEEN ELIZABETH II Monarch goes to The Full Monty and receives Jennifer Lopez. The throne hasn't seen that much booty since the days of Sir Francis Drake ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER The Terminator gets a California ski run named after him. Modeled after his career, it's a steep downward slope ending in a bottomless abyss "MR. McCHINA" U.K. entrepreneur beats McDonalds and is allowed to sell Chinese fast food as McChina. McGizzard Happy Meals come with a cheap toy Losers FABIEN BARTHEZ Sieve-like French goaltender may get butter brand named after him. The money will be handy when...