Showing 1 - 10 of 629
Conflicts of interest worsen crisis
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 06/04/2026
» Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn's resignation as head of the committee handling the oil crisis caused by the war in the Middle East has spared him from public criticism over a potential conflict of interest linked to his family's oil trading business.
City's green spaces losing ground
Oped, Thunpicha Greigarn, Published on 30/03/2026
» Like the body, most of Bangkok's battles happen beneath the surface. By the time you notice, the damage is already done.
News bulletins are going 'off-ramp'
Roger Crutchley, Published on 22/03/2026
» An expression that is being used with increasing frequency in recent news reports, particularly concerning the goings on in the Middle East, is "off-ramp". Switch on the TV and it won't be long before a "talking head" will be authoritatively discussing "off-ramp" opportunities.
A good time to hail Caesar Salad
Roger Crutchley, Published on 15/03/2026
» For anyone planning on doing something important today and who might be just a little superstitious, it may be a good idea to stay at home and play with the dog. It is the 15th day of the month, perhaps better known in Roman times as the "Ides of March" which marks the anniversary of the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 BC.
Poor timing
Oped, Postbag, Published on 12/03/2026
» I was stunned by the airing of American Psycho (unedited version, sic) at 12.15pm on True Visions Channel 228. This movie is only suitable for late-night viewing (parents note) at best, given its horrific and lewd content, although we are assured by film critics that it is a satire of contemporary society. Given ongoing developments, this seems to be true. It's going to get a remake too, God help us.
Carney's speech signals end of Western illusions
Oped, Antara Haldar, Published on 27/02/2026
» When the late playwright Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll first opened 20 years ago, it was deeply personal for me as a student at Cambridge studying film in Prague. A meditation on the clash between communism and capitalism in Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic and Slovakia), it dwelt on the confrontation between high theory and lived reality in a way that moved me profoundly. Two decades later, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech in Davos felt like the sequel.
People's Party needs to sort out its mess
Oped, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 23/02/2026
» Two weeks have passed since the election on Feb 8, and yet no one has come up with proof that the barcodes and QR codes printed on ballot sheets used on the day can be traced back to individual voters, showing for whom and which parties they voted for.
The case of the disappearing senior generals
News, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 10/02/2026
» Armies can be used against both against foreigners abroad and against citizens at home, but the two roles require quite different equipment and tactics. The same applies to their commanders: you need a different kind of general if you think that the primary task of their troops will be controlling dissent at home.
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.
Hedgehoppers in search of good news
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/02/2026
» Being the very first day of February it would have been nice if there was some good news worth celebrating, but unfortunately nothing immediately springs to mind. Cheerful news is an increasingly rare commodity these days. It all seems to be gloom and doom and hardly portends a joyful 2026. It can get a bit wearying grappling with news reports featuring contradictions, cover-ups and cock-ups, often accompanied by half-truths, prevarications and porky pies. But this is the world we now live in.