Showing 1 - 10 of 673
Implications of conservative triumph
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 13/02/2026
» The incumbent and conservative Bhumjaithai (BJT) Party has surprisingly swept Thailand's Feb 8 election with a commanding win. With the previously poll-leading and progressive People's Party (PP) coming in a distant second, Thailand appears headed for a conservative coalition government revolving around BJT and like-minded junior partners. Known for its conservative stance and being pro-status quo, it would not be surprising if the BJT-led coalition government, led by Prime Minister-elect Anutin Charnvirakul, were not challenged by the Constitutional Court, the Election Commission, and other supervisory agencies, which have derailed and dissolved reform-minded winning parties in the past.
How world's super-rich are rewriting the rules
Oped, Joseph E Stiglitz & Jayati Ghosh, Published on 13/02/2026
» Ongoing efforts to derail multilateral tax cooperation lie at the heart of a global programme to replace democratic governance with coercive rule by the extremely wealthy -- or what we call 21st-century Caesarism. Any strategy to counter this programme, therefore, must recognise that taxing extreme wealth is essential to saving democracy.
The remarkable rise of Rukchanok ‘Ice’ Srinork
Oped, Sanitsuda Ekachai, Published on 06/02/2026
» No matter what happens on Sunday election, one fact is already sealed. Rukchanok “Ice” Srinork, a former lawmaker representing the People’s Party, is now the most popular politician in Thai history. The word “female” is almost redundant.
Will poll be breakout or more of same?
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 06/02/2026
» As Thais go to the polls this Sunday, the most consequential question is whether Thailand will finally break out of its debilitating cycle of political instability and economic underperformance that has marked the past two decades. The signs and signals suggest otherwise -- at least not yet.
Politics at the border
Oped, Editorial, Published on 06/02/2026
» Amid a fierce election campaign, Bhumjaithai -- once a mid-sized party -- has ridden a wave of nationalism, becoming a force to be reckoned with in Sunday's poll.
Graft thrives along Mae Sot border
Oped, Paskorn Jumlongrach, Published on 20/01/2026
» The arrest of Ratchapong "Pond" Soisuwan, a constituency candidate representing the People's Party and then incumbent MP for Constituency 2, former MP for Mae Sot district in Tak province, came as little surprise to local people.
People’s Party’s diplomatic 'elegance' rings hollow
Oped, Pavin Chachavalpongpun, Published on 16/01/2026
» On Jan 11, the People’s Party held a high-profile event to showcase its “People’s Government”, offering a glimpse of its proposed executive leadership. Among the key speakers was Pisan Manawapat, a former diplomat and senator, designated as the party’s future foreign minister.
When infrastructure meets AI
Oped, Bertrand Badré & Saurabh Mishra, Published on 16/01/2026
» Infrastructure investment is booming. Around the world, governments are pouring trillions of dollars into roads, power grids, data centres, water systems, and housing, with many responding to intensifying climate shocks and the growing need for adaptation. Yet the construction industry -- the single largest force physically reshaping the planet -- is among the last major sectors to unlock all the benefits that digital technology offers. As a result, it accounts for about 21% of greenhouse-gas emissions, produces half of global landfill waste, and overspends by US$1.6 trillion a year.
Safety failures cost lives
Oped, Editorial, Published on 16/01/2026
» First and foremost, this newspaper extends its condolences to the families of the victims of two deadly crane collapses -- one on Wednesday at a railway construction site in Nakhon Ratchasima province, and another yesterday on a section of Rama II Highway in Samut Sakhon. We join the public in praying for those injured and receiving treatment in hospital, hoping for their full recovery.
It's the economic history, stupid
Oped, Iker Saitua, Published on 14/01/2026
» Every year, I walk into a first-year lecture hall in Bilbao at the University of the Basque Country (EHU) and watch shoulders slump. The title of the course I'm teaching -- "Economic History" -- draws a similarly dejected reaction from my students: "Meh." "Boooring." "What's this even for?" Some call it "the history class", as if it belonged to another century.