Showing 1 - 10 of 216
Border conflict tests big powers' resolve
News, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 23/12/2025
» Few would have imagined that the current Thailand-Cambodia conflict could generate such deep strategic anxiety, if not outright uncertainty, across Southeast Asia and beyond. From a Thai perspective, the tensions have revealed something far more consequential than just another bilateral border dispute. It is no longer a tit-for-tat affair.
Paperwork overload
Oped, Postbag, Published on 04/12/2025
» Re: "Drowning in red tape", (Editorial, Dec 3).
Lifting the weight on our lungs
News, José Luis Castro, Published on 17/11/2025
» Take a deep breath. Most of us do it 20,000 times a day without thinking.
Asean's moment of truth is now
Oped, Mari Elka Pangestu & Tan Sri Rebecca Fatimah Sta Maria, Published on 05/11/2025
» For decades, integration into the global trading system has been vital to economic growth and development. Now, however, integration implies vulnerability, as powerful actors -- beginning with the US -- wield tariffs, export restrictions, and financial sanctions. For Southeast Asia, this turn of events represents both a warning and a call to action: countries must work together to shape their own destiny or others will decide their fate for them.
Gaza: From genocide to real estate scheme
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 05/09/2025
» A motley band of greedy fantasists got together at the White House on Aug 27 and came up with a cunning plan to bring peace to the Middle East while lining their own pockets at the same time. It was "leaked" within days, as it was clearly meant to be, and since then the sound of outraged clucking has been loud in the land.
Agenda for tackling debt crisis
News, Martín Guzmán & Mahmoud Mohieldin & Vera Songwe, Published on 23/08/2025
» Following the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in June, we reached a breakthrough moment. Governments, international financial institutions, and civil-society organisations, recognising the need to tackle today's debt and development crises, are ready for action ahead of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in September.
Trump's tariff threat looms over Japan teamakers
News, Toma Mochizuki, Published on 19/07/2025
» A breeze carries murmurs and quiet laughter between the rows of bright green tea leaves that are growing in dappled shade as workers harvest the plants that are destined to become matcha.
Unite for safer roads in Thailand
News, Jean Todt & Michaela Friberg-Storey, Published on 20/06/2025
» Thailand has recently taken a decisive step to protect lives on the road: since the beginning of June 2025, authorities have stepped up enforcement of the helmet law for both motorcycle riders and passengers, with fines of up to 2,000 baht per person for non-compliance. By enforcing helmet-wearing laws, the Royal Thai Police is sending a clear message: wearing a helmet is not a suggestion -- it is the law, and laws are meant to be followed. This one, in particular, saves lives.
Will Myanmar's military plan succeed?
Oped, Kavi Chongkittavorn, Published on 10/06/2025
» Following the recent devastating earthquake, Myanmar's military junta leaders are facing increasing pressure at home and abroad. Despite this, they are moving forward with their five-step plan, while still implementing the Asean peace plan. The most crucial part of their plan is to hold a general election between late December 2025 and early January 2026. Senior General Min Aung Hlaing has already promised this to leaders from India, China, Russia, Belarus and Asean countries.
Breaking the silence over North Korea
Oped, John J Metzler, Published on 29/05/2025
» Speaking out to break the information barrier inside the North Korean dictatorship is in itself nothing new, and usually quickly forgotten. North Korean exiles, friendly governments, and humanitarian organisations periodically raise the oft-forsaken banner of human rights, only to be confronted by realpolitik through another round of North Korean missile launches or nuclear proliferation.