Showing 71 - 80 of 162
Giants vie for influence in Myanmar
News, Larry Jagan, Published on 04/11/2019
» Behind the scenes of this year's Asean and East Asian summits, currently taking place in Bangkok, the region's key nations -- China, India and Japan -- are engaged in a quiet battle for greater influence in Myanmar. While on the sidelines, the countries of Asean, especially Thailand, as the current chair of the regional organisation, are offering qualified support for its problematic ally, largely behind the scenes.
What populists can learn from the Polish model
News, Published on 18/10/2019
» There is a tension at the heart of populist political parties that may ultimately lead most of them to electoral defeat. They depend heavily on the votes of the old, the poor and the poorly educated -- "I love the poorly educated", as Donald Trump once put it -- but they are also right-wing parties that do not like what they call "socialism". (Other people call it the welfare state).
Why Germany is seeking deeper ties with Asean
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 15/10/2019
» With supersonic speed in terms of the decision and process, Germany will accede to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in around two weeks' time. If everything goes as planned on the German side, which requires cabinet endorsement, there will be a signing ceremony in Bangkok during the 35th Asean Summit from Oct 31-Nov 2. Bahrain will also join the ceremony.
Asean nears its Thucydides trap turning point
News, Published on 14/10/2019
» In the whirlwind of the 554 officially listed events which marked the start of the UN General Assembly debates in New York two weeks ago, the concern raised by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres -- that the world is moving towards a Great Fracture -- was understandably lost in the cacophony.
Three small victories in Europe: A turning point?
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 07/09/2019
» Have we reached peak fascist in Europe? Well, all right then, peak hard-right nationalist, but are we there yet? That would be reassuring, and three events in the past week give some cause for hope.
Proroguing parliament was Johnson's only option
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 30/08/2019
» Shock! Horror! Johnson prorogues Parliament! End of democracy in Britain! The Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow, says he was not even consulted, and calls it "a constitutional outrage".
Give cabs a fare deal
News, Postbag, Published on 11/08/2019
» Re: "For commuters, taxi fare hike is least of worries", (Opinion, Aug 10).
Modern world leaders are just walking cliches
News, Leonid Bershidsky, Published on 30/07/2019
» One of the most striking things about Boris Johnson, who became UK prime minister, is how precisely he fits the stereotype of the eccentric upper-class Brit. With his elevation, Britain joins several major nations led by people who embody their national stereotypes and not the best of them at that. However, it could be argued that it's leaders defying such cliches who take their countries forward.
A taxing matter
News, Postbag, Published on 29/07/2019
» Re: "Revenue mulls capital gains tax", (Business, July 26). The old chestnut of introducing capital gains tax on gains generated on shares sold through the Stock Exchange of Thailand has come up again.
Begging for a drink
News, Postbag, Published on 27/07/2019
» There is a shortage of fresh water. It happens most years and is far from unexpected. Where is the rainmaking initiative? Maybe the government has forgotten about it in the same way that they have forgotten everyone but themselves.