Showing 1 - 10 of 197
You can look, but please don't touch
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/09/2024
» When we were kids, most of us heard the words "don't touch that!" from our parents if we were in the presence of something breakable and possibly valuable. That's probably what a father wishes he had said when he took his four-year-old son to a museum in the Israeli city of Haifa last week.
Are tourists ready for Thai ghosts?
Roger Crutchley, Published on 16/06/2024
» The latest inspiration from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to promote "Ghost Tourism" to spice up the experiences of visitors who may be a little weary of bars, beaches and the usual bunkum.
20 years later, time for justice for Tak Bai
Oped, Saritdet Marukatat, Published on 16/05/2024
» Time flies. But it doesn't fly fast enough for security officers responsible for the Tak Bai massacre almost two decades ago.
Will Cupid's aim improve this year?
Oped, Published on 14/02/2024
» Cupid may be hitting the mark in the shopping aisle, but he's not having much luck coaxing couples down the wedding aisle. Although Valentine's Day spending on significant others will reach a record high in the United States this year, fewer Americans are marrying and having sex, leading to fewer babies being born. But there is evidence to suggest that Cupid's aim will improve in coming years. If we want to survive as a species, we should be rooting for the pudgy cherub's success.
A painful ride with a certified horn honker
Roger Crutchley, Published on 04/02/2024
» Despite the frustration of sitting in endless jams, I've always felt Bangkok motorists display remarkable restraint when it comes to using horns. Unlike many cities in the world it is rare to hear a chorus of angry car klaxons. Things are admittedly a bit different on the provincial highways with buses and trucks not averse to giving a blast on their air horns with the clear message "Get out of the way."
Asean role stuck on Myanmar coup
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 25/08/2023
» President Joe Biden's decision to skip Asean-related summits in the Indonesian capital Jakarta on Sept 5-7 in favour of the G-20 leaders' meeting in India just two days later has been greeted with howls of disappointment and criticism around Southeast Asian capitals and elsewhere that are concerned about America's role in the region.
Sino-Russia ties: A Thai perspective
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/03/2023
» Watching Sino-Russia relations from Beijing gives off a different feeling altogether.
Myanmar's military takeover falters
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 03/02/2023
» Global news headlines this month will be focused on the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which falls on Feb 24. This external aggression, where a bigger state unilaterally takes territory from a smaller neighbour by force, can be juxtaposed to an internal subjugation in Myanmar, where a military coup took place two years ago this week. Whether the aggression is externally between states, or internally within a state, the oppressors behave the same way and pursue similar objectives of conquest and dominance. Reversing an internal subjugation is as morally compelling as turning back an external aggression. What Myanmar's civilian-led resistance coalition needs is a fraction of the aid the Ukrainians have been receiving.
Trussonomics: No better than 'liberty' lettuce
Oped, Published on 29/10/2022
» Following the brutal market backlash against her plans for unfunded tax cuts and tens of billions of pounds in additional spending, Liz Truss resigned as British prime minister, succeeded by her Tory rival, Rishi Sunak. The international media is now struggling to make sense of it all, but the task may be impossible. I have been working at it for over a decade and remain perplexed.
Time to fix city's trash
Oped, Editorial, Published on 27/09/2022
» The Bangkok Metropolitan Council on Sept 14 made the right decision to shelve a plan to increase garbage collection fees from 20 baht to 80 baht a month for each city household. Given rising inflation and the high cost of living faced by the public, it's just not the right time.