Showing 71 - 80 of 3,728
It all began with a soapy TV 'moustache'
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 18/09/2022
» With Liz Truss becoming the 56th British prime minister, it got me thinking about how many PMs there have been in my lifetime. The answer is 16, going back to Clement Atlee, which is a bit scary. In fact, while I was still residing in the UK there were only six PMs.
Gorbachev -- the greatest democrat Russia ever had
News, Published on 05/09/2022
» 'We all need to have perestroika," Mikhail Gorbachev would often say. The Soviet Union's last leader lived by that credo. After becoming the general secretary of the Communist Party in 1985 and implementing his programme of restructuring and glasnost ("openness"), he even changed his job title, preferring to be called president.
Did China just blink?
News, Editorial, Published on 21/08/2017
» The annual mid-year Asean meetings discussed, but then once again set aside, the highly disputatious issue of the South China Sea. This was no surprise. The host of the meetings, the Philippines, has had its own problems settling on a policy towards the regional disputes. Since last year's election of colourful President Rodrigo Duterte, Manila has seemed rudderless on the issue. Despite efforts by several of the 27 countries that took part in the Asean meetings earlier this month, that lack of direction prevailed.
Support for nuns long overdue
News, Editorial, Published on 18/09/2022
» The constitution guarantees gender equality. Why do female monastics not receive state support as monks do then? The Thai Nuns Institute raised this question last month at parliament. They are still waiting for an answer.
Riding the green wave
Life, Thana Boonlert, Published on 27/06/2022
» Only two weeks after decriminalising cannabis, Thailand is experiencing a green rush. Since June 9, when the legalisation of marijuana for home and commercial use took effect, almost 1 million people registered to grow it with food and drug officials, while more than 40 million have checked out the registration platform. There's a growing public interest in the cash crop -- though some farmers remain doubtful -- and it is paving the way for "cannabis journalism".
White House in-tray still looking a bit grim
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 15/01/2017
» When Barack Obama won the US presidential election more than eight years ago, the BBC commented that when he took over the White House from George W Bush a few months later, he would be inheriting "the in-box from Hell".
Voters need to know of any economic hit
News, Umesh Pandey, Published on 29/07/2016
» A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to meet the Election Commission (EC) during an event that I had helped organise for the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand.
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.
Pork crisis rubs salt into government wounds
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 15/01/2022
» Despite numerous presents from the government over the New Year celebrations, the public's jovial spirit was quickly dampened by a rush of bad news, first and foremost, the fifth wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and reports of African swine fever (ASF) wreaking havoc on the pig farming industry.
Fascists really are coming in the United States
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 25/06/2021
» Godwin's Law, coined in 1990, says that as a discussion on the internet grows longer, the likelihood of somebody being compared to Hitler or the Nazis rises inexorably towards 100%. But once in a very long while the comparison is correct.