Showing 131 - 140 of 1,603
Deals with the devil
News, Postbag, Published on 26/07/2018
» If the junta's soiree to the Northeast is not blatant touting for popularity and eventual votes, I don't know what is.
Stories that got blown out of proportion, thanks to social media
Guru, Pornchai Sereemongkonpol, Published on 27/07/2018
» While I appreciate social media for being a multi-faceted tool for keeping up with friends (and frenemies), indulging in endless cat videos, stalking beautiful strangers and showing off what I ate or where I stayed (I'm only human), it's also an amplifier for some stories that probably don't need the attention of the entire country. Not sure what I'm getting at? Here are a few stories that, IMHO, are of little value, but, thanks to social media, we are drawn to care about.
Playing the ‘racist’ card
News, Postbag, Published on 30/07/2018
» Re: "Refugees enrich the country", (PostBag, July 29).
Government exploits Wild Boars
News, Editorial, Published on 30/07/2018
» The government's actions towards the rescued Chiang Rai football team makes it appear confused and cold, not to mention exploitative. This may seem ironic to some, since the government's stated aim was to protect the 12 Wild Boars and their families, along with coach Ekapol Chanthawong. In fact, almost everything ministers and senior officials have done in the days since the rescue succeeded on July 10 has been poorly planned and executed.
Social media needs bigger clean-up
News, Leonid Bershidsky, Published on 31/07/2018
» The plunge of Facebook and Twitter shares last week shows that both companies are hostages to investors' unrealistic perceptions of how quickly they should grow even as they purge bots and trolls. Moving to eliminate all fake and malicious accounts, as well as making new ones very hard to register, would be scary given these inflated expectations.
Dam calamity a wake-up call for Mekong hazards
News, Apichai Sunchindah, Published on 31/07/2018
» The recent case of the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy dam collapse in Laos is a timely reminder that there are potential hazardous factors associated with the failure of storage dams. These include large mass movements into a reservoir close to the dam such as a sudden influx of water and/or huge falling rocks, design errors, poor construction, faulty operation of reservoirs, sabotage, terrorism, acts of war and seismic risks.
Cybercrime a real threat
News, Published on 04/08/2018
» As the government pushes to transform Thailand into a "cashless society", a series of security breaches of banks' computer systems over the past few years have made many reluctant to fully embrace online and mobile banking services. Last week's hacking of two major banks should be seen as a warning sign to bankers, regulators and lawmakers that they are lagging in the fight to counter cyber attacks and protect consumers.
Death, diamonds, Russia and Africa
News, Leonid Bershidsky, Published on 06/08/2018
» The murder of three Russian journalists last week in a remote area of the Central African Republic, the world's poorest country according to the World Bank, has turned a spotlight on what looks like a big Kremlin play for influence and resources in Africa. Where China has spent decades and billions of dollars trying to entrench itself there, Russia is offering its brute force and strong appetite for risk. It's already making headway.
Damming our way into trouble
Asia focus, Tanyatorn Tongwaranan, Published on 06/08/2018
» Over the past two weeks, volunteers and rescuers have been battling thick mud and floods in Attapeu province of Laos to find survivors of a deadly dam collapse.
Myanmar needs new generation to lead it
News, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 10/08/2018
» Southeast Asia suffers from a crisis of leadership whereby the old guard are unwilling to make way for new and younger leaders to emerge through compromise and accommodation to usher in change and reform while maintaining a measure of continuity.