Showing 1 - 10 of 10
AI alone cannot save the planet
Oped, Yana Gevorgyan, Published on 21/01/2025
» This year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos held during Jan 20-24, where participants will address the theme of "Collaboration for the Intelligent Age," comes at a critical juncture for the planet. Ecosystems are straining under the pressure of climate change, and the interconnected cycles that maintain freshwater availability, soil moisture, ocean health, and plant growth are spinning out of balance at an alarming pace.
Diplomacy a very different ball game
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 16/05/2023
» With the election now over, a new government can be expected to emerge fairly soon. The time is, therefore, right to discuss the trajectory of Thai foreign policy in the coming months, always assuming that there is a need to do so to keep up with the rapidly changing international landscape.
Rethinking public debt as a positive
Oped, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Published on 04/04/2023
» The unprecedented fiscal firepower used to protect the vulnerable from the harsh socio-economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting economic contraction have pushed the average government debt level in the Asia-Pacific region to its highest since 2008.
Artificial idiocy and the rise of the chatbots
Oped, Slavoj Žižek, Published on 29/03/2023
» There is nothing new about "chatbots" that are capable of maintaining a conversation in natural language, understanding a user's basic intent, and offering responses based on preset rules and data. But the capacity of such chatbots has been dramatically augmented in recent months, leading to handwringing and panic in many circles.
New Thai-Malaysia economic dynamics
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/02/2023
» Without any diplomatic pleasantries, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha kicked off bilateral talks last week with his Malaysian counterpart, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, by stating clearly that Thai-Malaysian ties have not been progressing very well. The opening remarks drew a big smile from Mr Anwar as a sign of appreciation. It immediately set the tone of his two-day visit.
On the right track
Oped, Postbag, Published on 14/06/2022
» Re: "Chadchart plots campaign to plant 1 million trees", (BP, June 4, 2022).
Myanmar challenges the 'Asean way'
Oped, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Published on 21/04/2021
» Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the leaders of Asean will hold a special leaders' meeting this Saturday at the Asean Secretariat in Jakarta to discuss how to deal with the deteriorating situation in Myanmar and its repercussions on the region and beyond. Along with the other leaders, General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council of Myanmar (SAC) is also expected to attend the gathering. The summit is unprecedented in the 54-year history of the organisation in that it is the first time that Asean will be meeting at the highest level to address principally a situation of concern in a fellow member state.
Multilateralism in a post-Covid World
Oped, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Published on 18/11/2020
» The Covid-19 crisis has highlighted the crisis of multilateralism and international cooperation that we already witnessed well before the pandemic broke out. Multilateralism has come under tremendous stress and strain. Much of this is due to the growing sentiments of anti-globalisation in many countries, particularly in the US and the European Union, coming from both the extreme right and left of the political spectrum. The backlash against globalisation has manifested itself in the rise of nationalism, populism, unilateralism, protectionism and xenophobia. In the midst of such discontent, globalisation and multilateralism are blamed for loss of jobs, loss of control over national borders, loss of national sovereignty and loss of confidence in the future by millions of people who have not been able to keep pace with the speed and depth in which our world has become integrated and globalised.
Long overdue history review
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/11/2020
» If the Education Ministry has its way, the subject of Thai history in the Basic Education Core Curriculum will be overhauled, with the revised version available for the 2022 academic year.
New dynamics of Asean's external ties
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 01/09/2020
» Before Brexit, very few people in this part of the world would have imagined that the United Kingdom would leave the European Union, then immediately want to become the 11th Asean dialogue partner. Asean senior officials have already discussed the UK's prospects. They have yet to reach any consensus as it is not just about adding a former EU member but involves a plethora of issues that would come with the lifting of a moratorium that has been in place for 24 years. Some members are saying that admitting the UK, a former colonial master of four of the grouping's members, would open Pandora's Box with unknown consequences.