Showing 1 - 10 of 2,892
Is the OECD relevant for Thailand?
Oped, Published on 03/05/2024
» On the 60th anniversary of Japan's accession to the OECD, it is a great honour for Japan to chair this year's OECD Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) with the participation of Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos (the Asean chair) and the Asean secretariat.
Understanding 'Animal Farm' in Zimbabwe
Oped, Published on 27/04/2024
» I began to notice Animal Farm references start to proliferate in Zimbabwe in 2008.
Thai police graft highlights bigger issues
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 26/04/2024
» There is no bigger news on the current Thai political scene than corruption among the top echelons of the police force. At issue is the tussle between Thailand's two senior-most cops, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn and Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, both accusing each other of being on the take. Their high-stakes feud would normally be a run-of-the-mill story for the infamously shady Thai police but this case has become a mirror and microcosm of structural graft that is corroding the highest corridors of politics, economy, and society.
The threat posed by Cambodia's new strongman
Oped, Published on 26/04/2024
» Although 2024 is being heralded as a banner year for elections, with dozens of countries -- representing more than half the global population -- holding polls, for some, it marks the nadir of democracy. Cambodia is one such case.
All in to fix charter
Oped, Editorial, Published on 25/04/2024
» Through its endorsement of three referendums that would amend Thailand's entire charter, a proposal that was forwarded by a study panel under Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai, the government has now set in motion the charter drafting process. It is looking like it will proceed at a snail's pace.
India election fuels nationalist sentiments
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 19/04/2024
» Extreme nationalism always looks foolish or even deranged to those who have not caught the virus, but in India it's now official.
Handle Myanmar influxes with care
Oped, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 19/04/2024
» 'Preparedness" and "humane response" offer keywords for handling the various mass influxes from Myanmar. Those influxes might range from civilians in search of refuge to fighters ("combatants") in flight, all the more poignant today because of the armed conflagration in that country and the precarious border situation.
International challenges demand action
Oped, Published on 18/04/2024
» It's not often an American ally addresses the US Congress, but when they do, it's time to listen. That was the case on April 12 when Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida spoke before a joint session of Congress in Washington to both thank America for its post-war friendship and to reaffirm the continuing political and strategic partnership between Japan and the US.
Southeast Asian banks must stop funding coal
Oped, Published on 11/04/2024
» Indonesia is by far a major top producer of dangerous climate emissions -- more than any country in the Southeast Asian region, mainly due to its burning of coal. The country is also feeling the full force of worsening climate disasters, from floods and storms to deadly landslides. My hometown, Jakarta, is sinking -- and this is compounded by regular catastrophic flooding and air pollution that disrupts millions of lives. Indonesia faces huge risks as it currently sits as the second most disaster-prone country in the world, according to the World Risk Report 2023.
In Russia, the really dangerous ones are sane
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 08/04/2024
» There are plenty of crazies in Russian politics who make bizarre claims about their country's victim status ("the evil West made us do it") and issue blood-curdling but implausible threats about using nuclear weapons on their enemies. But the really dangerous ones are quite sane.