Showing 1 - 10 of 42
Rethinking short rentals in Thailand
News, Wichayada Amponkitviwat & Khemmpat Trisadikoon, Published on 21/05/2025
» The global rebound in tourism after Covid-19 has driven a notable surge in short-term rentals (STRs) through online platforms. Offering travellers greater flexibility, STRs have become a popular alternative to traditional hotels, particularly in urban and tourist-heavy areas. In the European Union, their use has expanded rapidly, reflecting forecasts that predict continued growth fuelled by competitive pricing and evolving travel preferences.
South Korea's charter needs fixing
News, Yoon Young-kwan, Published on 30/12/2024
» The events that have unfolded in South Korea this month, beginning with President Yoon Suk-yeol's short-lived declaration of martial law on Dec 3, have underscored both the remarkable resilience and underlying fragility of the country's democracy. The system survived this time, but no democracy is safe if it constantly faces severe stress tests.
Local voting rules outdated
News, Editorial, Published on 27/11/2024
» The Election Commission's (EC) decision to hold the forthcoming local elections on a Saturday instead of a Sunday in at least 47 provinces have sparked concerns about adverse impacts on voter turnout.
Why do some countries prosper while others falter?
News, Jeffrey Frankel, Published on 06/11/2024
» Why have some countries grown rich and others not? The three winners of this year's Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences -- Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A Robinson -- offer a simple answer: institutions. Countries with "inclusive" institutions -- which underpin an open society, accountable government, economic freedom, and the rule of law -- do better than those with "extractive" institutions that reward those in power.
Reimagining human rights and China?
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 23/09/2024
» Should human rights be reimagined, especially in the context of China? From one angle, the answer is obvious. Plenty of norms are already agreed upon globally without the need for reimagination, and China is part of that universality. Yet given the situation on the ground level and the evolving nature of human rights, there might be room for some innovative reimagination, and this deserves balanced reflection.
No happy ending after Sheikh Hasina's downfall
News, Mihir Sharma, Published on 09/08/2024
» It might look like the replacement of Bangladesh's long-serving prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus is a happy ending for a country that seemed to be inexorably sliding towards authoritarianism. After all, Ms Hasina's rule had become so paranoid that she even burned political capital on persecuting Dr Yunus, widely feted for his role in rural development in Bangladesh and beyond. But, although Ms Hasina's exit was overdue, what comes after might wind up being worse.
Our freedoms depend on press freedom too
News, Jodie Ginsberg, Published on 06/05/2024
» In just the first week of this year, at least 18 journalists were assaulted while covering alleged election irregularities and violence in Bangladesh. Then, in early February, journalists in Pakistan were hindered from covering elections by a wave of violence, widespread internet blackouts, and mobile-network suspensions. In March, journalists in Turkey were shot at and banned from observing local elections.
Must media democratisation be bad for us?
News, Carsten Brosda, Published on 29/04/2024
» Sometimes, the fulfilment of a promise feels like punishment. When the radio was invented more than 100 years ago, the German playwright Bertolt Brecht observed that its full potential could be explored only after it had become a communication tool, rather than merely a distribution channel. After all, there is a big difference between the few being able to speak to the many, and everyone being able to speak with everyone else.
Srettha sets off for Berlin, Paris
News, Mongkol Bangprapa, Published on 07/03/2024
» The government will push for a free trade agreement between Thailand and the European Union, visa exemptions for holders of Thai passports and greater cooperation in trade and investments as Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin embarks on an official visit to Germany and France.
Righting the wrongs of development
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 27/03/2023
» A key issue with which the world community has had to grapple since the end of the Second World War is that of "development", especially from the angle of national and international measures to ensure responsiveness to the rights and needs of the peoples of the land, without discrimination and violence, and to overcome historical and other injustices.