Showing 1 - 10 of 24
Trump's tariffs are not simply about dolls
Oped, Nancy Qian, Published on 20/05/2025
» In a famous scene from the hit American television series Succession, the savvy patriarch of a family-owned media empire is infuriated to learn that none of his children knows the price of a gallon of milk. He understands that such a disconnect between decision-makers and ordinary people is a recipe for failed leadership. Now, the same tension is playing out not on our screens, but in the White House.
Leveraging Thailand's superyacht exposure
Oped, Pun-Arj Chairatana and Andy Treadwell, Published on 19/04/2025
» The feature of the 117-foot (35.7-metre) catamaran Spacecat in the television series The White Lotus Season 3, set in the Gulf of Thailand and in the waters around Phuket, highlights the potential of Thailand's superyacht charter market. Delivered in November 2022 by Silver Yachts, the vessel showcased luxury against the backdrop of Thailand. This visibility presents an opportunity to further develop Thailand's luxury tourism and service industry, moving beyond glamour to build a sustainable sector that could drive economic growth. Thailand has significant assets; strategic support can help this industry thrive.
Unpunished crimes, except Duterte's maybe
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 18/03/2025
» Everybody has heard the saying: "The mills of justice grind slowly, but they grind exceeding fine". The saying is a promise that all crimes will eventually be punished -- but it is a lie.
Raise the bar
Oped, Postbag, Published on 28/01/2025
» Re: "Trump's cabinet picks come under US Senate spotlight", (World, Jan 14) & "US Senate confirms former Fox News co-host as Pentagon chief", (World, Jan 25).
MFP decision sparks collusion rumours
Oped, Chairith Yonpiam, Published on 09/03/2024
» The decision of the Move Forward Party (MFP) and the opposition bloc to seek a general debate instead of no-confidence censure against the Srettha Thavisin government has sparked suspicion of political collusion between political opponents.
A Thai view on the Hamas-Israel war
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 20/10/2023
» The Palestinians' longstanding and legitimate grievances have been irrevocably subverted by Hamas' brazen attack against Israel on Oct 7. Unlike previous rounds of conflicts and clashes between Israel and the Palestinians on the one hand and neighbouring Arab states on the other, Thailand has become a direct casualty like never before, as 30 Thai workers have been killed to date, with at least 16 injured and 17 taken hostage. As a militant political movement motivated by Islamic fundamentalism using methods of terrorism to achieve its objectives, Hamas has made a bad name for the Palestinian cause, eliciting condemnation and opposition all the way over here in Thailand.
Soldiers are not servants
Oped, Editorial, Published on 06/05/2023
» The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has done the country and the Thai armed forces a great service in recommending that the military brings to an end the use of conscripts as personal employees of higher-ranking officers within 90 days. Rights commissioners made a loud and clear official statement last week that the practice is a human rights violation.
Road chaos inaction
Oped, Postbag, Published on 29/04/2023
» Re: "Mean streets of the capital", (Editorial, April 29).
Cambodia and the rise of a small power
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 11/04/2023
» For Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, timing is everything. Therefore, it was not surprising that the world's longest-serving leader signalled recently that he would step down from politics. Unbelievable, right? He used to say he would remain in power until he was 90. If it had not come directly from him, nobody would have believed a word. His carefully calibrated decision comes at a critical time due to current domestic and external conditions and their likely long-term repercussions.
How are Thais spending so much now?
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 01/12/2022
» Third-quarter GDP growth for 2022 (Q3/2022) is 4.5% -- substantially higher than the expected 4%. The main driving factor is robust private consumption -- not tourism income -- which expanded 9% in real terms and 15.7% in nominal terms, compared to the same quarter last year. On the surface, this high growth phenomenon may look normal as most Asean countries have enjoyed similar benefits of low Covid infections and pent-up demand. For instance, Malaysia's private consumption also expanded 15.7% in the same third quarter.