Showing 41 - 50 of 111
Govt, BoT spat may not be economic
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 09/05/2024
» The row between the government and the Bank of Thailand (BoT) over its "high" interest rate is all over the news. Many have started questioning the appropriateness of the central bank's independence.
Stats don't add up
Oped, Postbag, Published on 08/05/2024
» Re: "Astra jab blood clots 'rare' insists institute", (BP, May 4). One in 10 million in Thailand and one in 100,000 in the UK? How can the National Vaccine Institute possibly reconcile such a large sigma statistical anomaly and claim the risk of vaccine-induced blood clots is extremely rare in Thailand while it is criminally deadly in the UK? Worldwide, young people have been harmed and have died from blood clots -- a phenomenon that has never before been seen in these huge numbers.
The rise of AI in political warfare
News, Published on 07/05/2024
» This year promises to be a whopper for elective government, with billions of people -- or more than 40% of the world's population -- able to vote in an election. But nearly five months into 2024, some government officials are quietly wondering why the looming risk of AI hasn't, apparently, played out. Even as voters in Indonesia and Pakistan have gone to the polls, they are seeing little evidence of viral deepfakes skewing an electoral outcome, according to a recent article in Politico, which cited "national security officials, tech company executives and outside watchdog groups". AI, they said, wasn't having the "mass impact" that they expected. That is a painfully shortsighted view. The reason? AI may be disrupting elections right now, and we just don't know it.
Israel, Hamas and the elusive ceasefire
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 07/05/2024
» Hamas did not need a ceasefire. It had already demonstrated that Israel could not eradicate it. It had achieved its primary goal of wrecking the anti-Iran alliance that was brewing between Israel and the major Arab Gulf states. And it doesn't care about how many Palestinians get killed; they are all "martyrs" for the cause.
Choice of words
Oped, Postbag, Published on 07/05/2024
» Re: "Man dies in tube well fall", (BP, May 4).
Pavements must be safe
Oped, Editorial, Published on 07/05/2024
» About two weeks ago, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) launched a project to upgrade the city's footpaths. The plan is to start the work along 16 routes which bisect the city's busiest areas, before improving some 1,000 kilometres of pavements across the city.
Our freedoms depend on press freedom too
News, Published on 06/05/2024
» In just the first week of this year, at least 18 journalists were assaulted while covering alleged election irregularities and violence in Bangladesh. Then, in early February, journalists in Pakistan were hindered from covering elections by a wave of violence, widespread internet blackouts, and mobile-network suspensions. In March, journalists in Turkey were shot at and banned from observing local elections.
The winner-take-all economy is ruining art, too
News, Published on 06/05/2024
» I was on the whole disappointed by this year's Whitney Biennial -- it was hard for me to tell if one video installation was art or an HR training video -- but as an economist, I have to admit the exhibition was successful in at least one respect: It did what art is supposed to do, which is to hold up a mirror to our society and economy. And this year's biennial shows how America's elite institutions are stifling innovation and creativity.
A failed state?
Oped, Postbag, Published on 04/05/2024
» Re: "Thai police graft highlights bigger issues", (Opinion, April 26).
Cops and robbers
Oped, Postbag, Published on 03/05/2024
» Re: " 'Big Joke' awaits another miracle", (Opinion, April 29).