Showing 1 - 10 of 121
Hedgehoppers in search of good news
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/02/2026
» Being the very first day of February it would have been nice if there was some good news worth celebrating, but unfortunately nothing immediately springs to mind. Cheerful news is an increasingly rare commodity these days. It all seems to be gloom and doom and hardly portends a joyful 2026. It can get a bit wearying grappling with news reports featuring contradictions, cover-ups and cock-ups, often accompanied by half-truths, prevarications and porky pies. But this is the world we now live in.
A missing item in the rural soundtrack
Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/01/2026
» As usual at this time of the year I have been enjoying life in the Northeastern province of Chaiyaphum for several weeks. However on this visit there was something slightly different which I couldn't immediately put my finger on. It took a few days before realising I was not being woken up by the usual early morning chorus of roosters or chickens of any sort.
Krabi deserves protection
News, Editorial, Published on 25/10/2025
» Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul this week granted a small victory to Krabi villagers fighting the quarry industry by agreeing to set up a fact-finding panel to assess the impact of quarrying on ecologically and archaeologically important areas.
Grasberg disaster exposes copper market fragilities
Andy Home, Published on 02/10/2025
» The copper market is long accustomed to unexpected supply hits but the catastrophic events at Freeport-McMoRan’s Grasberg mine in Indonesia are unprecedented in terms of scale and potential impact.
Tourism at a crossroads
Oped, Editorial, Published on 30/09/2025
» China's Golden Week starts tomorrow, when over a billion mainland Chinese people return to their homes to celebrate with their families or go travelling abroad. In the lead-up to this, the Thai government, especially the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), have been working hard to urge Chinese travellers to visit the Land of Smiles.
MRT sinkhole sparks fears
News, Published on 27/09/2025
» The massive sinkhole that appeared early on Wednesday morning at the under-construction Vajira Hospital MRT station was not just a shocking incident. It represents a serious and indelible mark on the public safety record of underground train construction projects in Thailand.
Two models for future autonomous agentic AIs
News, Daron Acemoglu, Published on 10/04/2025
» AI "agents" are coming, whether we are ready or not. While there is much uncertainty about when AI models will be able to interact autonomously with digital platforms, other AI tools, and even humans, there can be little doubt that this development will be transformative -- for better or worse. Yet, despite all the commentary (and hype) around agentic AI, many big questions remain unaddressed, the biggest being which type of AI agent the tech industry is seeking to develop.
Leave no stone unturned in graft probes
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 05/04/2025
» The collapse of the State Audit Office's (SAO) under-construction building last week following a powerful quake in Myanmar set a world record -- but not in a way that Thai people would take pride in.
Bad governors unwelcome
Oped, Editorial, Published on 03/10/2024
» The recent flood disaster in the North, particularly Chiang Rai, brings to light the issue of bureaucratic setbacks.
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.