Showing 1 - 10 of 11
New tech disrupts global order
Oped, Mark Blyth & Daniel Driscoll, Published on 18/11/2025
» News media tend to focus on the world's major powers because they command more resources by dint of their relatively larger economies, militaries and energy endowments. But there are costs to such dominance. For example, a single American Gerald R Ford-class aircraft carrier costs $13 billion (421.6 billion baht), while the F-35 fighter jet costs about $100 million. So, if you can build your military equipment for less than your opponent, you can gain a strategic advantage.
How about road safety?
Oped, Editorial, Published on 01/02/2025
» A recent crash involving a motorcyclist ramming into a male tourist on the zebra crossing -- where ophthalmologist Dr Waraluck "Kratai" Supawatjariyakul was killed in a similar manner three years ago -- is deeply alarming.
Decarbonisation needs joint effort
Oped, Francesco La Camera & Bruce Douglas, Published on 21/05/2024
» As countries around the world experienced record temperatures last year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared, "We must turn a year of burning heat into a year of burning ambition." But to move away from fossil fuels and unlock the green transition's economic benefits, such as job creation and universal access to clean energy, industry leaders and policymakers must work together to translate the commitments made at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28) into actual renewable gigawatts.
A turning point for clean cooking
Oped, Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak & Joseph Nganga, Published on 15/05/2024
» For most of her life, Florence Auma Ode cooked over an open fire in her Kenyan home. The resulting smoke coated the walls with a layer of soot and filled her lungs -- and those of her family members -- with particulate matter.
Global South's climate leadership
Oped, Omar Andrés Camacho & Soipan Tuya, Published on 26/03/2024
» Last month, the International Energy Agency's ministerial gathering took place in Paris, while the African Union, which recently joined the G20, held its annual summit in Addis Ababa. Both fora recognised the urgent need to fulfil the commitments made at last December's United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai, not least to triple installed renewable-energy capacity by 2030. But the challenges ahead are substantial.
Addressing the great debt conundrum
Oped, Anne O Krueger, Published on 30/09/2023
» The exponential growth of international capital flows, predominantly in the form of debt, has been one of the great development successes of the past 50 years. But while foreign lending has played a pivotal role for developing economies, loans are a two-edged sword. When used judiciously, they can generate high returns, boost GDP growth, and improve the well-being of borrower countries. But if debts accumulate and the debt-servicing burden increases without a commensurate increase in repayment capacity, the consequences can be severe and even disastrous.
'Insect apocalypse' coming to your neighbourhood
Oped, Adam Minter, Published on 03/08/2023
» An unusually large influx of tiny insects called aphids have been sucking on Dallas-area pecan trees in recent weeks. After they've had their fill, they "excrete" the waste out their back ends and onto cars, driveways and sidewalks. "Texas is covered in a sticky, icky goo," declared a Dallas Morning News headline. Other news outlets offered tips on how to clean up the mess.
Why counting queers is a sign of progress
Oped, Egerton Neto, Published on 11/08/2022
» 'What is your sexual orientation?" In Brazil, where queer people have historically been ignored and excluded from statistics, this question holds special significance for the LGBTQ+ community.
The world must build a digital tech lifeline
Oped, Riccardo Puliti, Published on 21/07/2022
» In periods of crisis, digital technologies provide a lifeline that keeps people, communities and businesses functioning. From the Covid-19 pandemic to violent conflicts and natural disasters, these have shown us that being connected is vital for everyone to continue working, learning and communicating.
Africa's domestic violence woes
Oped, Tijani Salami and Jane Otai, Published on 14/06/2022
» In April, the beloved Nigerian gospel singer Osinachi Nwachukwu died at the hands of her husband. Accounts from relatives and friends indicate that, despite enduring severe abuse, she had stayed in her marriage because she hoped things would get better. And Nwachukwu's situation was hardly unique. Earlier this month, the Kenyan actor Idah Alisha opened up about the violence she suffered before she divorced her husband, a youth pastor.