Showing 1 - 10 of 2,870
'Paris of the East' turns 'Concrete Oven'
Oped, Drew B Mallory, Published on 29/04/2026
» If you stand on the banks of the Khlong Saen Saep today, near the glossy high-rises of Wireless Road, you are witnessing a battle for the soul of Bangkok. On one hand, you see the future: concrete embankments and new walkways, part of a government push to connect the city in the vein of European capitals or our neighbour, Singapore. On the other hand, you see the ghosts of the past: fresh stumps of rain trees that stood for decades, severed to make way for the very cement intended to "beautify" the city. It is a paradox that defines modern Bangkok. We are a city desperate to be green, yet addicted to grey.
Thailand's need for AI sovereignty
Oped, Craig Warren Smith, Published on 29/04/2026
» Thailand is building a serious AI policy architecture. Last year, the National AI Committee, formed by then Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra and Digital Economic Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, initiated drafting a unified AI law, officially known as the Draft Principles of the Artificial Intelligence Law.
Anutin govt faces three diplomatic tests
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 28/04/2026
» Less than three weeks into office, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signalled three immediate foreign and security priorities: managing tensions with Cambodia, addressing unrest in the country's southern border provinces, and quietly preparing for a more active role in Myanmar.
The art of speaking English badly in Africa
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 28/04/2026
» It is a matter of chronic surprise that politicians, otherwise well-trained in saying just the right thing for the audience they are addressing, forget that whatever they say can be heard everywhere. Right away. By anybody who cares to listen, including journalists always hungry for the next story.
Urban heat is a man-made hazard
News, Chayakorn Kumchoke, Published on 25/04/2026
» We often joke that our country has three seasons: hot, very hot, and extremely hot. Last summer, however, the country recorded its highest heat index or "feels-like temperature" of 59.5C or 41C in actual temperature, a level classified as extreme danger beyond the limits of human endurance. This joke hides a darker reality. Year-round heat has bred a sense of familiarity, with many people treating high temperatures as simply part of tropical life.
NACC must try harder
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/04/2026
» The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), our national graft-busting body, tried and failed on Thursday to win public trust for its controversial ruling clearing Saksayam Chidchob, a former minister from the Bhumjaithai Party (BJT), of a false asset declaration.
Vaping menace shifting more into childhood
Oped, Karnjana Karnjanatawe, Published on 23/04/2026
» The news of primary school children posting themselves vaping on Instagram is a warning sign. Viral images of young students vaping or smoking e-cigarettes have now become strikingly casual and performative, speaking volumes about how far the problem has gone.
The generational shift in learning needs addressing
News, Mariano Miguel Carrera, Published on 22/04/2026
» Picking mangoes at home recently highlighted the generational shift in learning. My sons, 10 and 13, were not interested in the mangoes. After years of pushing, pleading and prompting, climbing the trees is a problem for them. Interest muted. They occasionally pick mangoes with a rod to eat, but the joy of climbing trees and picking mangoes by hand is not there. Convenience, interest and options make what was once a rite of passage, a joy, a form of exercise, learning, a communion with nature and more, a mundane -- meh.
PM must step up for peace
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/04/2026
» On Monday, a bomb exploded in front of a school in Bannang Sata district of Yala province, injuring an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer. The same morning in adjacent Pattani province, a security volunteer was killed by someone using a military-grade weapon as he rode a motorcycle from his home to begin a security protection shift.
Chinese economy turns a corner
News, Stephen Jen, Published on 18/04/2026
» China has turned a corner, finally. Five years after Beijing began cracking down on its bloated property sector, its economy is now on a much more sustainable path anchored in high-quality growth -- and the correction has left far fewer scars than many feared.