Showing 1 - 10 of 11
Timor-Leste finally joins the Asean fold
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 14/10/2025
» Timor-Leste will be made a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) on Oct 26. President José Ramos-Horta of Timor-Leste often joked that joining Asean was more difficult than going to heaven. Not anymore.
When non-interference becomes policy
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 20/05/2025
» What US President Donald Trump said in Saudi Arabia on May 14 resonates very well in Thailand. Last week in Riyadh, Mr Trump reiterated that the Middle East had changed because "local people did it", and not because "Western countries interfered and told you how to live or run your countries".
Strengthening ties between Thailand and Israel
Oped, Orna Sagiv, Published on 30/04/2025
» As the State of Israel marks its 77th Independence Day, we celebrate this special occasion with hearts full of pride, gratitude, and reflection. This day is a celebration of our resilience, innovation, and the enduring spirit of our people. It is also a time to honour the close and growing bonds we share with other nations -- and among them, the friendship with the Kingdom of Thailand is a cherished and long-lasting bond.
Casino bill latest throw of the dice
Oped, Yuangrat Wedel & Paul Wedel, Published on 29/01/2025
» The Thai government is once again struggling to establish a consistent and enforceable policy on gambling, hoping to win big on tourists, revenue, and jobs. This is the latest twist in more than a century of shifting approaches to games of chance.
Second chance beckons for South Africa?
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 18/06/2024
» Cyril Ramaphosa is the president of South Africa again, but everything else is different. He got his job back in a vote late on Friday, but only because at the last moment he managed to cobble together a coalition that has a majority in parliament. It's so new that the coalition partners still haven't agreed on who does what in the new government.
Disaster awaits
Oped, Postbag, Published on 20/08/2022
» Re: "Bangkok still tangled up in sky spaghetti", (PostScript, Aug 14).
Vulnerability marks 100 years of the CCP
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 30/06/2021
» The Chinese Communist Party is celebrating the centenary of its foundation tomorrow and most people in China accept the origin myth that justifies its dictatorial rule. China was a horrendously impoverished and unequal society in 1921, the official line says, and owes its current prosperity and freedom from foreign rule to the Communist revolution of 1949.
Thailand tightens information law
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 25/05/2021
» In September 1997 Thailand became the first country in Asean to enact a freedom of information law. The Official Information Act (OIA), as it is known here, became a new benchmark for a free society as well as its openness and transparency. For the first time, the public had the right to access information, especially that previously held by the government.
No will to stop encroachers
News, Editorial, Published on 29/07/2019
» Demolition orders recently issued by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) for 11 resorts, including the controversial 88 Garmonte which was found to have encroached on a national park, invite a sense of deja vu. These infringements have been an unsolved problem in Thap Lan National Park for almost 40 years.
Something of a mixed bag at the supermarket
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 09/12/2018
» I nipped into the local supermarket last Tuesday to see if it was abiding by the promise not to use plastic bags in celebration of Thai Green Day. I was pleasantly surprised that the usual sea of plastic bags were not decorating the checkout counters. There was also a notice encouraging customers to use their own bags.