Showing 1 - 10 of 35
Securing Thailand's energy future
News, Published on 22/05/2024
» Since the 2021 military coup in Myanmar, foreign governments -- in particular the European Union and the United States, have issued travel bans and frozen the financial assets of corporate entities and individuals involved with the military regime. The most recent US financial sanction on the Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise (Moge), a major source of foreign currency revenue for the military government, which took effect in November 2023, is a potential risk to Thailand as it is reliant on gas from Myanmar for electricity generation.
Those acronyms can be bit of a pain
Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/05/2024
» One of my pet peeves with newspapers around the globe has always been the proliferation of acronyms, especially in headlines. Apart from the fact that no one really has the faintest idea what they stand for there's something about them that's just plain ugly.
The popular decimation of India's democracy
Oped, Pranab Bardhan, Published on 18/05/2024
» India's ongoing parliamentary election, in which nearly a billion people casting their votes over a six-week period, should represent an extraordinary exercise of democracy. The bleak reality, however, is that the election appears poised to consolidate a decade-long process of democratic decay, which has included the decimation of liberal institutions and practices and weakening of political competition. After all, the leader who has presided over this process -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) -- remains wildly popular.
Taylor Swift can learn a lot from Billie Eilish
News, Published on 17/05/2024
» Not long ago, I lamented the lack of climate anthems. Perhaps we'll find one on Hit Me Hard and Soft, the third studio album from Billie Eilish that's due to drop today.
NACC sparks problems
Oped, Editorial, Published on 18/05/2024
» The decision by the Rayong Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases on May 13 to acquit Itthipol Kunplome of granting an illegal construction permit for a high-rise condo project in Pattaya again raises questions about the performance of the National Anti-Corruption Commission -- our independent graft-busting agency.
Senate election gets trickier by the day
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 18/05/2024
» The election of the Senate to replace the junta-appointed high chamber, which ended its term early this month, kicked off rather slowly.
Thai Human Rights Council aspirations
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 17/05/2024
» Thailand's quest for membership of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC), Geneva, for the period 2025-2027, is rightly gaining interest among the general public. With a new foreign minister today, it is intriguing to prospect whether there will be more (or less) momentum in the competition towards the winning post -- with elections for the HRC due in New York in October.
Stark reality behind economic figures
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 16/05/2024
» At the time of writing this, the official Q1 GDP has not been announced by the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC). I expect the growth figure will be around 1.2%. My own estimation, using the Output Approach and actual sectoral production index, gives a growth figure of 0.98%. Detailed data are in the below table.
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.
Migrant workers face heatwave risks
News, Published on 15/05/2024
» As extreme heat becomes more common, Thailand needs a comprehensive labour protection law to safeguard at-risk migrant workers from the hotter climate.