Showing 81 - 90 of 532
Antitrust laws need a rethink
News, Editorial, Published on 04/08/2020
» Big Tech roared back into the headlines last week after US President Donald Trump declared that Washington would ban the Chinese video-sharing platform TikTok. The sudden announcement came just days after the US House Judiciary subcommittee grilled four tech chiefs -- Google's Sundar Pichai, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Apple Inc's Tim Cook, and Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg -- in a marathon five-and-a-half-hour antitrust hearing. The US-based firms, worth nearly US$5 trillion (156 trillion baht), stand accused of stifling competition and establishing "monopolistic" dominance.
Repositioning the region in the Asian Century
Oped, Published on 15/07/2020
» In 2018, the little red dot in Southeast Asia -- Singapore -- caught the world's attention as a result of the success of the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Viewers saw Mercedes-Benz AMGs and Ferraris, and all the other luxuries that one might expect to see in London or Paris. Indeed, Singapore has offered any experience that one could expect in developed countries. Not only Singapore, other capital cities in Asean -- Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur and Manila -- have increasingly become important business hubs in Asia.
Thai-US alliance comes with new twists
News, Published on 14/07/2020
» Before General James C McConville, the Chief of Staff of the US army, was able to sign the Joint Vision Statement 2020 for the Thai-US Defence Alliance last Friday, he had to go through the stringent Covid-19 measures required under Thai law for foreign visitors.
Speech curbs hold back nation
News, Editorial, Published on 05/07/2020
» Last week's final acquittal of rights activist Andy Hall by the Supreme Court, whilst certainly welcome and the correct verdict, was also a stark reminder of just how damaging to free speech Thailand's laws are.
Thai Airways a microcosm of Thailand
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 29/05/2020
» Not so long ago, when air travel was not so commonplace, Thai nationals studying and working abroad could feel like they were half-way home when they saw Thai Airways (THAI) planes on tarmacs around the world. It was a symbolic comfort to know that getting on one of the national flag carrier's aircraft would eventually end up getting them home. As THAI has entered a massive and unprecedented reorganisation plan, the national airline is a microcosm of Thailand itself.
Geopolitical outcomes beyond Covid-19
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 15/05/2020
» The coronavirus crisis is on course to significantly reshape and realign the pecking order among nations in geopolitics. Rather than a fundamental shift in patterns and contours, the likely geopolitical outcomes beyond Covid-19 appear to reinforce pre-existing trends and dynamics. As the two competing superpowers, neither the United States nor China will come out of the pandemic period with flying colours.
Path to economic progress: A tale of two nations
News, Published on 17/04/2020
» The present pandemic, which has generated concerns over Asean countries' economic sustainability and global food supplies, reminds us that Thailand and Vietnam are primarily agrarian societies, competing with each other as major rice-exporting countries. In the 1960s, both were classified as economically less developed countries before moving a notch higher to "developing countries". Presently, both countries are ranked as middle-income, although Thailand is slightly ahead since its advancement to the category's upper tier in 2011, while Vietnam has remained in the lower tier since 2013. It is expected that Thailand will not be able to progress much over the next 20 years, while Vietnam could achieve high-income status by 2045. Still, this relative decline is not inevitable.
Water, the sole global hope for food security
News, Published on 04/04/2020
» As leaders of the world are preoccupied with the coronavirus pandemic, little attention is given to the problem of water shortages which currently put millions of people in agony around the world.
Financial illiteracy a big problem
News, Published on 18/02/2020
» Income and wealth inequalities in Thailand flash signs of improvement, according to recent studies. Nonetheless, that does not mean we are off the hook of economic disparity. While a multifaceted set of policies is required to address this conundrum, financial literacy plays a critical role in cultivating healthy financial habits and bridging the gap between the rich and the poor.
Army not sacred nor above criticism
News, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 15/02/2020
» The Thai army is a closed system governed by feudal authoritarianism which breeds corruption and abuse of power. Yes? Tell me something new.