Showing 181 - 190 of 197
Unnecessary complications
News, Editorial, Published on 09/11/2018
» The working of government and the making of sausages are quite similar, a wise man said more than a century ago. It is often unappealing to watch the process, even if the outcome is often uplifting. Two events sparked by the Thai government last week rather prove the point. The quest for "Taobao Villages" and a sudden demand to protect Thai food from foreigners both came out of the blue, and are more off-putting than attractive.
Students must beat machines
News, Editorial, Published on 14/09/2018
» As he painted a bleak picture on Tuesday about how rising automation would affect Thai graduates in the future job market, Deputy Education Minister Udom Kachinthorn failed to illustrate a clearly mapped out plan to help them not only survive the onslaught but succeed in the age of technological disruption -- if the ministry has formulated one at all.
CCA a threat to the people
News, Editorial, Published on 08/09/2018
» This week's arrest and detention of 12 people who shared the Koh Tao rape claim story on social media shows anyone who is sensible and has a moral conscience exactly how the misuse of the Computer Crime Act (CCA) can harm ordinary citizens.
One belt, but many burdens
News, Editorial, Published on 05/09/2018
» China has suddenly encountered a number of problems with its grandiose scheme to revive, modernise and then massively expand the Silk Road of old. Not only have several countries questioned and even pulled out of vital parts of the project. Some have rudely questioned the motives of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), often and even better known as the One Belt, One Road programme.
Unjustified media pursuit
News, Editorial, Published on 03/09/2018
» Police made poor decisions in suggesting they would charge the Samui Times website over the Koh Tao rape allegations, and in threatening other media as well. There are two reasons they are wrong. The first is that there is no "fake news" or false reporting involved. Secondly, the threat to bring criminal charges in this case will harm the country's image many times more than the reporting of the incident ever could.
Steep fines not enough
News, Editorial, Published on 24/08/2018
» The carnage on Thailand's roads, ranked the second deadliest in the world in 2015, is driven by a wide range of factors. In a bid to lessen the horrific slaughter and improve road safety, the Department of Land Transport (DLT) recently came up with a harsh solution, aimed at keeping unlicensed drivers off the roads.
Courthouse death casts an ugly pall
News, Editorial, Published on 29/07/2018
» When Supachai Kanlahasunthorn learned that the Criminal Court acquitted a defendant whom he believed killed his son two years ago in Bangkok's Din Daeng area for "lack of evidence", the man was devastated.
Suu Kyi must free journos
News, Editorial, Published on 16/07/2018
» No country and leader in modern times has risen to the top and plunged to the bottom of world respect so quickly. In just a year, Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar have gone from respect to disfavour in most of the world. Last August, the country started an ethnic cleansing campaign against its Rohingya minority that even a UN official called genocide. Now, it has sunk lower with the prosecution of two men for a crime that really has to be called "news reporting while Burmese".
No need for new ministry
News, Editorial, Published on 07/07/2018
» The cabinet this week seemed to know where the problems with Thailand's higher education institutes lie. But they have not pressed the right button in approving a proposal to set up a new ministry of higher education, innovation, research and science.
Volunteers and success
News, Editorial, Published on 04/07/2018
» The successful search and the coming rescue of the Wild Boar football team is one of our finest moments. The 12 boys and coach were found and then broadcast on video to the nation by skilled and tenacious divers who refused to take a step or stroke backwards for 10 agonising days. They are heroes. So are the hundreds, Thai and foreigner, who supported them directly, as are the thousands who backed them actively.