Showing 1 - 6 of 6
Trump's doubling of tariffs is hitting India hard
Oped, Shashi Tharoor, Published on 05/12/2025
» US President Donald Trump's doubling of tariffs on a wide range of Indian goods, from a steep 25% to a catastrophic 50%, is reshaping India's export economy. Half of what India sells to the United States -- its largest trading partner -- is now prohibitively expensive, and ordinary Indians are suffering as a result.
Kingdom's top cops set poor example
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 24/06/2024
» The handling of the bitter feud between two heavyweights of the Royal Thai Police, Torsak Sukivimol and Surachate Hakparn, aka Big Joke, by a prime minister-appointed committee led by Chatchai Promlert is typical of a Thai style of conflict resolution that reflects the "mai pen rai" and "forget about it" attitude, despite the core issue being the integrity and honesty of the two officers.
Keep hemp free of cannabis law
Editorial, Published on 12/11/2023
» The controversial bill to regulate the use and production of marijuana and hemp is back on the parliamentary agenda. However, the Hmong hill tribe people want the law to leave hemp out, fearing it would jeopardise the age-old use of hemp in their culture and traditions. The government should listen to their concerns.
The tide of history shifts in Thai politics
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 02/06/2023
» Notwithstanding the ongoing political shenanigans by appointed agencies to shape final outcomes after the May 14 poll, Thailand already will never be the same again. The Move Forward Party's (MFP) victory as the largest winning side, with 151 out of 500 parliamentary seats, is profound but not unprecedented. Together with the Pheu Thai Party's 141 MPs, these two opposition parties are unwittingly sending a message to each other and to the broader political establishment that the curve of Thai history is shifting tectonically. Failing to grasp and adjust to this evolving tide of history could marginalise Pheu Thai and challenge the establishment to its core foundations.
Keeping democratic institutions weak
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 22/07/2022
» The worst thing one can do in Thai politics is to run for office and win by a landslide. When this happens, the knives will come out and the massive election winner will be overthrown before long -- one way or another -- because the real source of power in Thailand is unelected. Such was the fate of Thaksin Shinawatra when he spearheaded the Thai Rak Thai Party to win two landslide poll victories in January 2001 and February 2005, first a near majority and later a thumping 75% of the lower house of parliament.
UN backs Thai resolution on sustainable development
News, Matti Joutsen, Published on 09/06/2018
» Thailand has achieved a milestone as the country's resolution on sustainable development has won recognition from the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice.