Showing 1 - 9 of 9
Casino bill latest throw of the dice
Oped, Yuangrat Wedel & Paul Wedel, Published on 29/01/2025
» The Thai government is once again struggling to establish a consistent and enforceable policy on gambling, hoping to win big on tourists, revenue, and jobs. This is the latest twist in more than a century of shifting approaches to games of chance.
Feedback on climate – not in front of the kids
Oped, Gwynne Dyer, Published on 16/01/2025
» 'This does not mean the international +1.5ºC target has been broken because that refers to a long-term average over decades." If those carefully chosen words don't set your alarm bells ringing, you have not travelled much in the land of lawyers.
Uranium's epic rally says lots about the world
News, Liam Denning, Published on 30/11/2023
» Uranium offers a perfect distillation of a world that is heating up and a world order that is breaking down. Plus a market eager to capitalise on both.
Farming sector needs urgent restart
Oped, Nipon Poapongsakorn and Kamphol Pantakua, Published on 01/03/2023
» One major goal of economic development in the farming sector is to raise the rate of farmers' income per capita, to be equal to or higher than the non-farming sector. For decades, this noble goal has not been achieved.
Keep it simple
News, Postbag, Published on 29/08/2021
» For as long as I can remember, Channel 3 has broadcast a short English lesson just after the 6pm news.
Path to economic progress: A tale of two nations
News, Peerasit Kamnuansilpa & Le Anh Khanh Minh, Published on 17/04/2020
» The present pandemic, which has generated concerns over Asean countries' economic sustainability and global food supplies, reminds us that Thailand and Vietnam are primarily agrarian societies, competing with each other as major rice-exporting countries. In the 1960s, both were classified as economically less developed countries before moving a notch higher to "developing countries". Presently, both countries are ranked as middle-income, although Thailand is slightly ahead since its advancement to the category's upper tier in 2011, while Vietnam has remained in the lower tier since 2013. It is expected that Thailand will not be able to progress much over the next 20 years, while Vietnam could achieve high-income status by 2045. Still, this relative decline is not inevitable.
Corruption endemic
News, Postbag, Published on 08/06/2019
» In my 30-plus years in Thailand, it has become quite obvious that corruption in its various forms has had a disastrous effect on the country through the failure of its institutions. Look up the effect of corruption on Google and immediately you will find that politicians, police and the judiciary are the institutions named as most affected. I have watched with disbelief as politicians, wealthy individuals and military leaders have broken laws, engaged in illegal activities and even caused deaths without any repercussions for their actions.
Can the media shed its polarised colours?
News, Grant Tudor, Published on 30/08/2018
» On his flight home to Bangkok in February 2008, Thaksin Shinawatra exhorted, "When the game is over, we must come together and settle our differences." Nearly 10 years later, regime leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha offered a similar plea: "[Thais] must talk to one another and find a way of uniting."
Thai human rights body in state of flux
News, Vitit Muntarbhorn, Published on 13/08/2018
» It was the country's people-based 16th constitution (1997) which established Thailand's National Human Rights Commission. The expectation was that the commission would act as a promoter and protector of human rights, with due regard for universal standards, complementing the constitution and national laws. It would also be a check and balance mechanism, especially where the traditional pillars of the state might not be fulfilling their tasks or impinge on human rights.