Showing 1 - 10 of 5,326
When will the IMF ever learn?
Oped, Timothy Kaldas, Published on 16/04/2026
» This year's International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings come at a time of heightened economic uncertainty and intense scrutiny of the institution's capabilities and approach. Critics on the left argue that the IMF imposes regressive austerity measures on borrowers, exacerbating poverty, hampering economic growth, and undermining their ability to achieve debt sustainability. On the right, US President Donald Trump's administration has accused the IMF of "mission creep," claiming that it has strayed from its core mandate of maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Oil shock risks wider chain reaction
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 16/04/2026
» There is no such thing as a free lunch. When global oil prices rise sharply, as they are doing now, someone must bear the cost. Some countries choose to absorb it through government support, as in Japan, while others pass the burden on to consumers, as in Thailand. Neither approach is inherently right or wrong; each carries different economic consequences. Policymakers must decide which set of outcomes is more acceptable and act accordingly.
China's water security ambitions
News, Amit Ranjan and Genevieve Donnellon-May, Published on 15/04/2026
» China holds only 6% of the world's fresh water, which supports nearly 20% of the global population and generates over 18% of global gross domestic product. The country faces water challenges largely due to water quality concerns and significant spatio-temporal imbalances.
Rethink Asean-Pakistan relations
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/04/2026
» Pakistan became an Asean sectoral dialogue partner in 1993. Yet for more than three decades, the grouping's engagement with this nuclear-armed state has remained limited. The time has surely come to reconsider its status and elevate it to a full dialogue partner.
Nepal's new govt faces challenges
News, Brabim Karki, Published on 13/04/2026
» Nepal's new government, led by Balendra Shah, more popularly known as Balen, is moving fast and shaking the politics of the Himalayan nation.
Control and fear inside the clergy
Editorial, Published on 12/04/2026
» Silence in the Sangha -- the official institution of Buddhist monks -- is often mistaken for virtue. In reality, it is driven by manipulation and a culture of fear.
It can even get a bit chilly in Hell
Roger Crutchley, Published on 12/04/2026
» The pause in the Middle East conflict is very welcome although with the opposing elements both claiming a "great victory" it's all a trifle confusing. Prior to the ceasefire, we had witnessed increasingly belligerent exchanges from both sides containing sombre warnings that the opposing forces were destined to end up in "hell". In fact the word "hell" was appearing so frequently it was in danger of losing its intended impact.
What are Thailand’s visa changes really about?
Vanich Kittichai, Published on 11/04/2026
» There have been a number of announcements from state agencies to do with visa policies in Thailand over the past several months that seem to have made the matter rather convoluted.
Suu Kyi, media bias and morality
News, Fergus Harlow, Published on 11/04/2026
» History rarely collapses in an instant; more often, it is quietly rewritten until reality itself feels negotiable. In the years leading up to Myanmar's 2021 coup, a story took shape in the international imagination -- one that cast Aung San Suu Kyi not as a constrained civilian leader navigating a military-dominated state, but as a symbol of moral failure.
Temple aid halt signals deeper crisis
News, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 11/04/2026
» Wat Suan Kaew in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai district has announced a temporary suspension of its long-running social charity programmes for needy groups due to mounting financial pressures.