Showing 1 - 10 of 250
How world's super-rich are rewriting the rules
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz & Jayati Ghosh, Published on 13/02/2026
» Ongoing efforts to derail multilateral tax cooperation lie at the heart of a global programme to replace democratic governance with coercive rule by the extremely wealthy -- or what we call 21st-century Caesarism. Any strategy to counter this programme, therefore, must recognise that taxing extreme wealth is essential to saving democracy.
Are the Iranians pretending to have nukes?
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 04/02/2026
» The Iranian regime is brutal, fanatical and corrupt. It has just committed the mass murder of its own citizens in the city streets and in their own homes. But the story we are told about Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons is very misleading.
Monks and politics
Oped, Postbag, Published on 26/01/2026
» Re: "Statue rivalry sows conflict", (Editorial, Jan 25).
When infrastructure meets AI
Oped, Bertrand Badré & Saurabh Mishra, Published on 16/01/2026
» Infrastructure investment is booming. Around the world, governments are pouring trillions of dollars into roads, power grids, data centres, water systems, and housing, with many responding to intensifying climate shocks and the growing need for adaptation. Yet the construction industry -- the single largest force physically reshaping the planet -- is among the last major sectors to unlock all the benefits that digital technology offers. As a result, it accounts for about 21% of greenhouse-gas emissions, produces half of global landfill waste, and overspends by US$1.6 trillion a year.
Narrative challenged
Oped, Postbag, Published on 11/12/2025
» Re: "Thailand's delicate stance with Israel", (Opinion, Dec 9). As a Jew living in Thailand for over 20 years, I must admit I was not happy with what I read. Indeed, found a number of statements to be offensive: The second paragraph implies that Israel's response to the terrorist attack on Oct 7, 2023, was "genocide" -- a term coined in 1944 to describe Hitler's campaign to exterminate all European Jews, and defined as "the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial, or religious group".
No special species
Oped, Postbag, Published on 29/11/2025
» Re: "Jakarta dog meat ban sparks debate", (World, Nov 27). Yes, if an animal is infected with rabies or any other disease, it is probably better not to eat its meat, however tasty, albeit recognising that the starving might reasonably have different priorities. This is true whether the animal is a dog, a cow, a cat, a pig, a chicken, or another of our animal relatives.
AI as Asia's new growth engine?
Oped, Lee Jong-wha, Published on 27/11/2025
» Two decades after globalisation fuelled a global economic boom, growth has shifted onto a more subdued path, where it is likely to remain for the foreseeable future. Beyond the immediate shock of fragmenting trade and investment ties -- a result of rising geopolitical tensions, particularly between the United States and China -- lie structural headwinds, including population ageing, stagnant productivity, and the growing costs of inequality and natural disaster. These challenges strike at the heart of Asia's growth model.
Meters won't end taxi woes
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/10/2025
» It is no secret that Bangkok's taxi service is plagued with problems, which multiple governments have tried to fix over the years to no avail. The most recent effort to reform the system is a good start, but it will take more than new meters to solve the issues haunting the city's taxi service.
Asean advance
Oped, Postbag, Published on 20/10/2025
» Re: "Timor-Leste finally joins the Asean fold", (Opinion, Oct 14).
Digitisation needed
Oped, Postbag, Published on 02/10/2025
» Re: "New DES minister urged to prioritise AI", (Business, Sept 23). My son, who completed a BBA, has just joined an MBA programme at a local university. For this, he had to cancel his existing visa from his college and apply for a fresh one through his new university. He reached the immigration office at 8am and was given token 78 for cancellation and 900 for issuance of a new visa. With each applicant's process taking about 10 minutes, he would easily be spending over 12 hours there. The officials work beyond 4.30pm and until 9pm to issue or reject every visa.