Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Tiny Vanuatu steps up to protect the climate
Oped, Antara Haldar, Published on 28/08/2025
» Although the International Court of Justice (ICJ) turned 80 this year, there is a sense in which it has never felt younger. In a David-versus-Goliath moment, the tiny Pacific Island state of Vanuatu recently changed international law forever by bringing the world's most important issue before its highest court. The result is an ICJ advisory opinion on "the legal obligations of states in respect of climate change", as requested -- at Vanuatu's urging -- by the UN General Assembly (with 132 states co-sponsoring the resolution).
Thailand wants faster inflation
News, Daniel Moss, Published on 06/06/2024
» It's hard to find a leader anywhere these days who will argue the case for faster inflation. Politicians would rather drink hemlock than call for a renewed acceleration; they are often too busy nodding sympathetically at what their opponents call a cost-of-living crisis. But there is a kingdom where calling for more elevated prices, sooner, isn't off limits. In fact, the government embraces the concept.
Take this tea tale with a pinch of salt
Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/02/2024
» Last month a US scientist caused bit of a stir in Britain when she suggested adding a pinch of salt was the secret to a perfect cup of tea. Not surprisingly this bold assertion from someone across the pond did not go down too well with the traditional tea-drinking English public. In some cases the reaction almost reached "boiling point".
There ain't no mountain high enough
Roger Crutchley, Published on 28/01/2024
» In the final weeks of 2023 the old chestnut of introducing a cable car system on Phu Kradeung (Bell Mountain) national park resurfaced. It came as no surprise when a Bangkok Post headline concluded on the very last day of the year that the project "faces uncertainty".
Trying to keep small islands afloat
Oped, Ralph Gonsalves, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa & Wavel Ramkalawan, Published on 26/05/2023
» It is too early to tell whether all the talk about reforming development finance at this year's International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring Meetings will translate into meaningful policy action for the Global South. But multilateral financial institutions increasingly recognise the need to evolve to remain relevant in light of new global challenges.
Update donor policy
Oped, Postbag, Published on 22/03/2022
» Re: "Donor issues", (PostBag, March 21) and "Review blood donation criteria", (Opinion, March 18).
Back in the cinema again with 007
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 17/10/2021
» Just got back from watching No Time to Die, Daniel Craig's fifth and final appearance as James Bond and the 25th film in the franchise. It was quite a decent send-off for Craig and entertaining enough to sit back and enjoy my first visit to a cinema in a couple of years.
It is not the US's job to protect Taiwan from China
News, John Mac Ghlionn, Published on 09/08/2021
» On Tuesday, July 27, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned the Chinese Communist Party to cease its aggressive operations in the Pacific. Speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Singapore, Mr Austin declared that the United States "will not flinch when our interests are threatened". One of these "interests", according to Mr Austin, involves the protection of Taiwan.
A chimp that became a space pioneer
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 31/01/2021
» Today marks the 60th anniversary of the first chimpanzee in space. Not a lot of people know that.
ING penalty puts Europe's laundering controls on spot
News, Toby Sterling & John O'Donnell, Published on 06/09/2018
» When Dutch prosecutors trawled through ING's books they found a "women's underwear trader" had been able to launder €150 million (5.7 billion baht) through the bank's accounts without ringing alarm bells.