Showing 1 - 10 of 15
Today's a great day to turn over a new leaf
Life, Patcharawalai Sanyanusin, Published on 08/10/2014
» Today is Wan Awk Phansa,the official end of Phansa (Buddhist Lent). It falls on the full moon day of the 11th month in the traditional lunar calendar and marks the conclusion of a three-month annual retreat during which Theravada monks are obliged to stay in their monasteries and engage in intensive meditation and reflection.
Public apathy feeds high-level graft
News, Published on 15/06/2015
» Ours is a world of impunity. Allegations of corruption swarmed around Fifa for decades, culminating in mass indictments of Fifa officials last week. Yet Fifa president Sepp Blatter was re-elected four times, including after the indictments were filed. Yes, Mr Blatter has finally resigned, but only after he and dozens of federation members once again showed their scorn for honesty and the law.
The sexual politics of 2016 and redefining masculinity
News, David Brooks, Published on 30/03/2016
» In the middle of the Civil War, a colonel named Robert McAllister from the 11th Regiment of New Jersey tried to improve the moral fibre of his men. A Presbyterian railroad contractor in private life, he lobbied and preached against profanity, drinking, prostitution and gambling. Some of the line officers in the regiment, from less genteel backgrounds, rebelled.
Crimean conflict simmers on with Jamala's victory
News, Leonid Bershidsky, Published on 18/05/2016
» Ukraine may not be able to win its wars against Russian-backed rebels and against domestic corruption, but it has just beaten Russia in spectacular fashion at the Eurovision Song Contest. The political message has been amplified by the pundits, but the Russians and Ukrainian voters themselves seemed unwilling to be dragged into the propaganda war.
The message is definitely in the song
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 06/05/2018
» While having a chat with friends about those misheard song lyrics (mondegreens) that appeared recently in this column, the conversation got around to another intriguing realm of the musical world -- country & western songs. It almost has a language of its own.
The long, distant echoes of World War I resonate
News, Published on 12/11/2018
» A hundred years ago yesterday, at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, World War I in Europe ended. It had cost tens of millions of lives, utterly destroyed the existing political order, and paved the way for the rise of fascism and a repeat performance of global conflict in the form of World War II.
Late King's wishes for Thai children
News, Published on 12/01/2019
» As Thailand celebrates National Children's Day today, I wish to share my recollection of a memorable audience with His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his profound message and wishes for the children of Thailand and the world. I had the great honour to meet the late king on Nov 12, 1998. I was then serving as Unicef's regional director for East Asia and the Pacific, based in Bangkok. The occasion of my audience with the late king at Chitralada Palace was to accompany visiting Unicef executive director Carol Bellamy. Also accompanying us was the late Thai foreign minister Surin Pitsuwan.
Crisis of faith is reaching a crescendo
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 31/07/2021
» The harsh words by MC Chulcherm Yugala, a staunch royalist, against the Prayut Chan-o-cha government, denouncing its poor handling of the Covid-19 outbreak, have stunned political observers and supporters of the prime minister. Given his senior royal status, the prince's criticism has triggered wild speculation over a possible new prime minister endorsed by the palace.
Prison ills
Oped, Postbag, Published on 25/08/2022
» Re: "Indigenous rights bill languishes," (Editorial, Aug 21).
Could the study of humanities be automated?
Oped, Published on 29/09/2022
» There has been much hand-wringing about the crisis of the humanities, and recent breakthroughs in artificial intelligence (AI) have added to the angst. It is not only truck drivers whose jobs are threatened by automation. Now, they are demonstrating proficiency in the tasks that occupy humanities professors when they are not giving lectures: namely, writing papers and submitting them for publication in academic journals.