Showing 1 - 10 of 34
Japanese PM Takaichi comes out on top
Oped, Taniguchi Tomohiko, Published on 11/02/2026
» Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has just scored an unprecedented victory in the country's general election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which she leads, won 316 seats in the 465-member House of Representatives (the Diet's lower house), up sharply from 198. The combined strength of two parties that had merged hastily -- despite their fundamentally opposing platforms -- in an effort to bring Ms Takaichi down fell from 167 seats to just 49. The LDP, which celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, has never looked more robust.
Who is next for the United States?
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 12/01/2026
» The Crazy Gang are high on the "brilliant success" of their Venezuela caper and looking for new targets. Like Alexander the Great, US President Donald Trump weeps because there are no more worlds to conquer. But wait! Actually, there are still lots of places to conquer.
Voting fraud still an issue
Oped, Editorial, Published on 19/08/2025
» The latest report about MPs receiving cash offers to vote for bills proposed by the government shows how money politics continues to corrode Thailand's parliamentary system. An immediate and thorough investigation is needed to clear up any doubts about the integrity of our lawmakers and find out who the wrongdoers are, in the hope of preventing illegal lobbying in the future.
A new agenda for climate-resilient development
Oped, Saliem Fakir, Published on 01/08/2025
» Mitigating the worst effects of climate change requires reconciling ambition and justice. But achieving both a just energy transition and ambitious global climate action depends on trade rules that foster equitable development. To facilitate the shift to low-carbon economies, developing countries must have reliable access to green technologies, investments, and international markets.
UK setbacks dent soft power push
Oped, Nopporn Wong-Anan, Published on 08/07/2025
» As Thailand hosts the Splash Soft Power Forum from today to Friday, showcasing the country's ambitions across 14 soft power industries -- from Muay Thai and fashion to wellness and cuisine -- two recent developments in the UK threaten to undermine the credibility and momentum of this strategic initiative.
Power politics
Oped, Editorial, Published on 14/05/2025
» A recent row that saw a policeman beaten for warning a politician not to take photos inside a polling booth confirms that local politics still wields significant influence over law enforcers.
Asia must unite to survive Trump 2.0
Oped, Lee Jong-wha, Published on 01/04/2025
» US President Donald Trump has raised the spectre of economic and geopolitical turmoil in Asia. While individual countries have few options for pushing back against Mr Trump's transactional diplomacy, protectionist trade policies, and erratic decision-making, a unified region has a fighting chance.
Arizona aspires to be chip off the Taiwanese block
Oped, Pinelopi Koujianou Goldberg, Published on 21/09/2024
» Contrary to expectations, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) semiconductor plant in Arizona is reportedly on track to meet its 2025 production targets. This announcement poses a challenge to the many observers who predicted that the effort to bring chip manufacturing back to the United States would fail. What went right this time?
Give a man a fish...
Oped, Postbag, Published on 14/09/2024
» Re: "Thai household debt at record high", (BP, Sept 10). The average debt per Thai household is now 606,378 baht, up 8.4% from 2023 -- the most since the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce began its survey in 2009.
A smart shift
Oped, Published on 16/07/2024
» Re: "Auto parts makers nudged towards medical devices", (Business, July 12).