Showing 1 - 10 of 490
Rethinking Thailand's visa-free policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 31/03/2026
» Thailand is planning to cut visa-free stays from 60 days to 30 days. This long-overdue change reflects growing concern over the effectiveness of immigration surveillance. Moreover, scaling down visa-free stays underscores the seriousness of the Anutin government's efforts to combat scammers, illegal work, and other underground activities that exploit easy visa access to turn Thailand into a base for under-the-table operations.
MPs' pensions on the line
Oped, Editorial, Published on 26/03/2026
» A bleak economic outlook driven by the oil crisis has prompted renewed calls for a review of the pension scheme for former members of parliament, which critics say has become a heavy burden on taxpayers.
Peepo's story exposes lack of child support
Oped, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 20/03/2026
» The story of a 13-year-old boy in Nakhon Si Thammarat who lived on the streets, was hit by a car, and later rebuilt his life has gone viral. Yet the life of Peepo -- as the boy is called by the media -- offers not just inspiration. His story exposes years of parental neglect and a lack of state mechanisms to help abandoned children.
Preparing for AI-enabled bioweapons
Oped, Sania Nishtar, Published on 11/03/2026
» We don't know when the next epidemic or pandemic will hit, or where the next infectious threat will emerge. But we do know that the nature of the threat is constantly evolving. One of the most sobering takeaways from this year's Munich Security Conference was that AI-enabled gene editing has radically lowered the barrier to developing genetically engineered bioweapons. We must prepare to live with even deeper uncertainty about whether emerging infectious threats are natural or man-made, and whether they have been accidentally or deliberately released.
Women can lead push for growth
Oped, Anisha Chugh, Laura Leonelli Morey & Teresa Zapeta Mendoza, Published on 09/03/2026
» Across the Global South, painful austerity measures such as benefit caps, pay freezes and subsidy cuts have followed donor governments' recent cuts to foreign aid. The policy pivot has had an especially dramatic impact on women -- costing them jobs, services and protections -- and is causing widespread economic hardship in many developing countries.
It's never been more important to strengthen ties
Oped, Genevieve Donnellon-May, Published on 09/03/2026
» Australia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) face a defining moment. Intensifying great-power competition, climate crises and economic fragmentation are reshaping the Indo-Pacific, raising urgent questions about how the two sides can build a truly resilient partnership.
Curb online hate now
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/03/2026
» As Thailand and Cambodia observe a truce, a group of social media users is pursuing aggressive online campaigns to incite hatred between the peoples of the two countries.
Diplomacy over silence
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/02/2026
» Caretaker Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow is garnering praise for his open diplomacy aimed at re-engaging with Myanmar. Last Wednesday, he formally met his counterpart Than Swe in Phuket. There, Mr Sihasak was quoted by international media as saying that Thailand will serve as a "bridge" to bring Myanmar back into Asean.
Deliberation and bureaucracy can live together
Oped, Joe Mathews, Published on 23/02/2026
» Deliberative democracy is now officially entangled in state bureaucracy. And that's good news for citizens around the world.
Border traders need help
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/02/2026
» After months of suffering in silence, businesses along the Thai-Cambodian border are finally starting to speak up, saying the security measures implemented in the wake of the armed clashes between the two countries -- including border closures -- have dealt a heavy blow to their livelihoods.