Showing 1 - 10 of 273
New rules for pot use
News, Editorial, Published on 24/09/2024
» Thailand was the first country in Southeast Asia to legalise cannabis. Despite the policy mandated on June 9, 2022, being made for medical use and wellness, the outcome was one of disarray.
Former Merkel rival aims to become chancellor
News, Published on 24/09/2024
» Squeezed out of top-level politics by his arch-party rival Angela Merkel more than two decades ago, Friedrich Merz is on course to land his first-ever government job as Germany's next chancellor. The conservative Christian Democrat Party (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, which together are topping nationwide polls, last Tuesday agreed to nominate Mr Merz, 68, as candidate for chancellor in next year's federal election.
Reimagining human rights and China?
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/09/2024
» Should human rights be reimagined, especially in the context of China? From one angle, the answer is obvious. Plenty of norms are already agreed upon globally without the need for reimagination, and China is part of that universality. Yet given the situation on the ground level and the evolving nature of human rights, there might be room for some innovative reimagination, and this deserves balanced reflection.
Thailand's Election Commission must improve local poll practices
Editorial, Published on 22/09/2024
» Thailand is set for major provincial elections early next year, after the four-year terms of their administrative leaders and councillors end in December.
Flood woes are systemic
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/09/2024
» The severe floods in Chiang Rai and Phayao provinces raise questions about Thailand's early warning systems. Are there sufficient early disaster warning systems in place? If so, why were hundreds of thousands of villagers in flood-hit areas left to fend for themselves?
Candidates vying to lead economy out of crisis
News, Published on 21/09/2024
» Sri Lanka's upcoming presidential election has become a referendum on a US$3 billion (99.1 billion baht) International Monetary Fund loan programme that has helped to pull the island nation out of its worst economic crisis since independence. The contest pits the incumbent president, who negotiated the bailout, against the country's main opposition leader -- both members of the Sri Lankan political elite -- and a Marxist politician waging a populist campaign. The three have put contrasting views before voters over how to steer the South Asian nation past the crisis.
Entertainment complex plan needs rejig
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 21/09/2024
» The contentious casino entertainment complex project has become one of the top 10 priorities for the Paetongtarn Shinawatra government.
We must not lose sight of Myanmar
Oped, Published on 20/09/2024
» Three years on, there remains no end in sight to the crisis in Myanmar. As the international community is increasingly beset by the gridlock in Myanmar and instead drawn towards conflict elsewhere in the world, there is a real concern of a "Myanmar fatigue" setting in. Be that as it may, Thailand cannot afford to lose sight of the dire situation in its immediate neighbour.
Surviving a climate disaster isn't a vote-changer
News, Published on 20/09/2024
» This year, elections and extreme weather events have collided: In India, the spring general election was snarled by a heat wave that killed dozens of people, including poll workers. In Germany, severe flooding prompted evacuations just days before elections for the European Parliament. And in the US, people attending campaign rallies have fallen ill from record-breaking heat.
Tracking air quality the right way
News, Published on 19/09/2024
» Every year, the World Health Organization (WHO) summarises global progress on malaria control. It details the number of cases in affected countries, shows year-on-year changes, outlines goals, and assesses the current funding landscape. The United Nations puts out a similar annual report for HIV/Aids. This regular tracking of serious public-health concerns is essential for addressing them effectively, because it can help channel resources to where they are most needed and identify interventions that are working.