Battle is heating up both online and offline as Bangkok governor candidates woo voters of all generations ahead of the May 22 election. In the offline realm, candidates are jostling…
Read More
Battle is heating up both online and offline as Bangkok governor candidates woo voters of all generations ahead of the May 22 election. In the offline realm, candidates are jostling…
Read More
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s worries over his remaining time in office may have evaporated following an important resolution on the Constitutional Court president’s tenure. Worawit Kangsasitiam can stay on in…
Read More
During his three-nation visit to ASEAN member countries over the past five days, Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida demonstrated his country’s middle-of-the-road approach to diplomacy when it comes to special…
Read More
Cambodia, the current chair of ASEAN, is to hold a high-level consultative meeting on May 6th, to discuss ways and means ofproviding humanitarian assistance to Myanmar, according to an informed…
Read More
The victory of incumbent French president Emmanuel Macron offers both him and his country a second chance to do the right things. Macron has already admitted that his next five…
Read More
The 31 candidates vying for the Bangkok governor’s post now have less than 50 days to impress the voters. But after examining their policies and campaigns, political observers believe they…
Read More
Thailand’s banking industry has waded through many economic crises in the last few decades, the latest being the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite their preparedness, new risks and challenges continue to test the…
Read More
This month brings a make-or-break meeting for the Thai Navy’s deal to buy a Chinese-made submarine, with delivery threatened by the fading chance of China getting German top-end engines as stipulated…
Read More
Bangkok’s generation gap is set to play a big role when voters cast their ballots in the first governor election in nine years on May 22. “We are going to…
Read More
The logo commemorating the 75th anniversary of Thai-Indian ties is highly symbolic. On the left is the Thai Pha Khao Ma (the Thai-style sarong or longyi) interwoven with the sari,…
Read More
Ending weeks of speculation, the Bank of Thailand (BOT) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on March 24 put in place new regulations governing the digital assets business, effectively…
Read More
When superpowers confront each other through proxies and microphones, things can easily get out of hand. President Joe Biden knows this well, having created global headlines last week during his…
Read More
Lawmakers amended the Constitution last year to restore the two-ballot system for the next general election — one ballot to vote for constituency MPs and the other to vote for political parties….
Read More
NATO’s emergency summit in Brussels has shown Europe’s willingness to come together and increase their overall defence cooperation. A joint statement, issued on Thursday, says that the NATO leaders have…
Read More
The coalition Democrat Party has seen several high-profile defections over recent weeks, as politicians prepare for the next general election. In fact, the phenomenon dubbed “Democrat bleeding” by the media…
Read More
Most Thai households have been bogged down by high debt even before COVID-19 struck in early 2020. For many years, the average Thai worker has been struggling to make ends…
Read More
Even though Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has not yet said if he will seek another term in office, new political parties have formed with the core purpose of helping him…
Read More
Thamanat Prompow has finally found a new home, but the once most powerful broker in Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s ruling coalition has kept everyone guessing about his new role. Will…
Read More
Thailand is poised to pass a law that allows the chemical castration of sex criminals in a bid to stop them from reoffending. The “Violence-Related Reoffending Prevention Bill” was proposed…
Read More
A political dynasty’s decades-long dominance of politics in Chon Buri province will be threatened by strong challenges at the upcoming Pattaya mayoral election on May 22, analysts say. The Khunpluem…
Read More
This week, the Thai cabinet made a commendable decision to allow legal migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and the Lao PDR, who have been working in Thailand for four years,…
Read More
The reverberations from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the globe. The war itself has severely disrupted the production and export of oil, gas, fertilizers, as well as…
Read More
Thailand’s sliding birth rate, which hit a record low last year, is ringing alarm bells in the corridors of government. The long-term socioeconomic consequences of this phenomenon are being fully…
Read More
Thailand, notably its divided society, must act on principles rather than taking sides or remaining neutral over a Russia-Ukraine conflict that is set to develop into a new cold war…
Read More
The impact on Thailand’s economy from the Russia-Ukraine conflict will depend on how long the hostilities go on and whether they will escalate, economic observers have noted. In response to…
Read More
At first, after weeks of denial, it was hard to believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin had declared war on Ukraine. US President Joe Biden had warned, time and time…
Read More
Ten draft bills to amend election laws will be deliberated by Parliament this Thursday and Friday (Feb 24-25) – but most are expected to hit obstacles. The bills are designed…
Read More
The government’s stumbles in tackling the economic problems that plagued the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic appears to have forced the ruling Palang Pracharath Party to reshuffle its economic team…
Read More
Bangkok governor elections used to be held once every four years until the 2014 coup saw national and local votes suspended. Now, expectations are rising ahead of the first gubernatorial…
Read More
Despite the disruptions COVID-19 has caused in the way healthcare is delivered in many countries, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future We have learned a great deal…
Read More
Anticipating challenging decisions ahead, the four candidates running in the election for governor of Bangkok are strongly opposing the extension of concession for the core Skytrain sections of the Green…
Read More
Three years after accepting Palang Pracharath’s invitation to stand as its candidate for prime minister, Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha faces a stark choice: Remain with the ruling party and risk political…
Read More
It was 80 years ago. On a cold day of 20 January 1942, a group of fifteen representatives of Third Reich authorities and high functionaries of the SS convened for…
Read More
Two recent oil spills off Rayong province are just the latest in a long line of similar disasters in Thai seas. Records reveal that more than 200 oil spills have occurred over…
Read More
Thursday’s siege in Songkhla’s Chana district, which ended in the deaths of three suspected insurgents and the capture of a fourth, could be seen, by some, as an achievement at…
Read More
In this second year of the Myanmar coup, activities by all parties are expected to accelerate. The stakes are high for all stakeholders as Myanmar’s military digs in. Nine prominent…
Read More
While Gen Min Aung Hlaing’s coup against a civilian government one year ago has failed to achieve national unity and peace as promised, the unprecedented uprising of Myanmar’s people is…
Read More
Predictions of defeat for the ruling Palang Pracharath Party were being made several days before last Sunday’s Constituency 9 by-election in Bangkok, but few analysts expected such a devastating loss….
Read More
The Thai government has claimed that the restoration of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia after 30 years will bring great benefits to the economy. Several sectors, such as tourism, labour,…
Read More
Judgement Day is nigh for Thailand as the Singapore-based arbitral tribunal prepares to issue its January 31 verdict on the government’s battle with an international mining company. The stakes are…
Read More
Unresolved cases relating to the murders of Saudi Arabian diplomats, a businessman who went missing, and the theft of a precious blue diamond from a Saudi palace – there was…
Read More
After more than three decades of frozen Thai-Saudi ties, this week’s “historic” visit by Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to Saudi Arabia has had the effect of normalising one of…
Read More
Thailand’s youngsters can breathe sighs of relief after the grueling one-day university entrance examination was canceled, but their future education chances still depend on two national exams. So, the risk…
Read More
Sarng Anacot Thai Party, the new political party launched last week by former economic ministers in the current government, lacks the magnetic pull to win the hearts of people, say…
Read More
Amid the rising cost of living and uncertain economic prospects, more people are starting to talk about the risk of stagflation, a scenario marked by high inflation and high unemployment…
Read More
Palang Pracharath Party’s move to expel secretary-general Thammanat Prompao and 20 other MPs under his control is more of a political soap opera than an actual split, analysts say. It’s…
Read More
Many Thais have developed a habit of checking the air quality index daily so they can take steps to protect themselves against lung-busting PM2.5 dust. However, the quest for clean…
Read More
Last Sunday’s by-elections in the southern provinces of Songkhla and Chumphon saw fierce battles between the ruling Palang Pracharath and Democrat Party coalition partners. Victory went to the Democrats, who…
Read More
The digital assets industry is up in arms over the Revenue Department’s plan to levy tax on capital gains or benefits derived from cryptocurrencies and other digital asset transactions. With…
Read More
The recently released Human Rights Watch (HRW) annual report is an all too familiar assessment of the global rights situation, except in the US itself. Indeed, the report should have…
Read More
For the third year in a row, Thailand’s and the global economic recovery will hinge on progress in fighting the COVID outbreak. Consumers, businesses, and policymakers will face five key…
Read More
The Jan 30 by-election in Bangkok’s Constituency 9 will see a riveting battle between the coalition and opposition camps, but also between uneasy allies within the same bloc. Analysts say…
Read More
Thai politics is notorious for its twists and turns, a rollercoaster of power plays that leaves voters constantly giddy and sometimes sickened. 2022 will be no different, with a host of crucial…
Read More
Thailand and the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), the well-known Malay Muslim separatist group, will begin their long-awaited third round of peace talks on January 11th in Kuala Lumpur. This time…
Read More
Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is seen by most neutral observers as the de-facto leader and patriarch of opposition party Pheu Thai. But the party has always insisted it is…
Read More
A year has elapsed since American democracy was assaulted. Die-hard republican protesters and some extremists invaded the Capitol in Washington DC and forced the world’s most stable democratic symbol into…
Read More
Dana (giving) is recognized as a virtue in Thai culture, meaning almost all citizens are familiar with the idea of charity and donations. But this month a debate on what…
Read More
After the sharp economic contraction triggered by the pandemic in 2020, hopes were high that Thailand’s economy would stage a recovery in 2021. The COVID-19 outbreak in early 2020 had…
Read More
Looking back over the past year, Thailand’s overall relations with all the great powers have been cordial and have moved in the right direction, except, that is, with the US….
Read More
An emergency fund can be a lifeline when we are faced with a worst-case scenario. It can be very helpful for unexpected life events, such as loss of employment or…
Read More
Thailand’s residential market will gradually improve next year due to more balanced supply and demand and the easing of housing loan regulations, but the full recovery to pre-pandemic levels will…
Read More
Trading in digital assets in Thailand saw high growth in 2021, on par with global markets, as large numbers of investors have entered the market. The low-interest rates offered by…
Read More
Vietnam has come a long way since it began its “Doi Moi” (renewal) 35 years ago. Now, fresh from serving as a two-year non-permanent member of United Nations Security Council,…
Read More
More than five years since its governor was appointed after a coup, Bangkok is now looking forward to its first gubernatorial election in almost nine years. Although no date has…
Read More
The new “traffic light” coalition government in Germany will have to perform a major Houdini act, should it decide to take a radical departure from its predecessor’s foreign policy, especially…
Read More
Despite being considered one of the world’s most tolerant societies, Thailand is unlikely to bless same-sex marriages any time soon. Efforts to legalize the status of same-sex couples in Thailand…
Read More
The opposition party and pressure group that were resurrected from the disbanded Future Forward Party are setting their sights on different political targets — in a two-pronged move to win…
Read More
The recent discovery of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus has made global stock markets highly volatile — sharply down in late November and rebounding in early December. Thai stocks…
Read More
The life of construction tycoon Premchai Karnasuta has been turned upside down over the hunting trip he made back in early 2018. For wildlife lovers, the jail term of two years…
Read More
Of the 12,000 or so Thai schools that resumed onsite learning in November, 71 per cent have successfully ensured that students can sit in class and study with their friends at least half of…
Read More
Observers say the broadcast regulator’s recent warning against media reporting demands for monarchy reform could lead to self-censorship by both media outlets and academics. Some media outlets view the move…
Read More
A hot debate has been raging in Thailand since the recent announcement of the plan to merge True Corporation, a subsidiary of conglomerate Charoen Pokphand Group, and Total Access Communication…
Read More
The first nationwide elections of all 5,300 sub-district administrative organizations (SAO) since the 2014 military coup take place this Sunday (Nov 28). This will be the first election in eight…
Read More
Finally, the list of 110 countries invited to attend the two-day “Summit for Democracy” on December 9th and 10th has been released. 21 countries in the East Asia Pacific region are among…
Read More
The proposed merger of telecom giants True Corporation Plc and Total Access Telecommunication Plc (Dtac) has drawn great public interest and sparked a debate on its impact on consumer welfare….
Read More
“Idealism or Realism” – Can diplomacy serve the growing aspirations of young Thai leaders for greater engagement in world affairs while serving national interests, or is there more than meets…
Read More
Democratic reformists in Thailand have hit a brick wall, after two constitutional amendment bills proposed by civic groups were rejected by Parliament in the space of a year. Politicians and…
Read More
Attending the ASEAN-China summit for the first time in the three decades of their relations this morning, China’s President Xi Jinping made a strong impression on the ASEAN leaders in…
Read More
The first meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping recently resulted in good outcomes, even though there were no breakthroughs. From now on, neither side will…
Read More
For many years, South Korea has been projecting its soft power on the global stage, mainly through successful export of its teledramas, the increasingly popular K-pop music, Korean movies, and…
Read More
Just a few days after being sentenced to 11 years in prison, American journalist Danny Fenster was freed to go home. It was the first clear indication that Naypyidaw is…
Read More
Last week’s controversial Constitutional Court verdict is likely to rekindle Thailand’s political conflict and fan the flames among anti-establishment groups already furious over legal action stemming from the lèse-majesté law,…
Read More
Two key education bills have sailed through the first reading in the House of Representatives, despite warnings that both will seriously damage the quality of Thai education. Among those worried…
Read More
Main opposition party Pheu Thai has once again disappointed its reformist supporters, after backtracking on its maiden push to amend the lèse-majesté law. Pheu Thai pulled out of an effort…
Read More
The recent multibillion-baht acquisition of digital exchange Bitkub has stunned Thailand’s finance sector, especially the digital asset market. On November 2, Siam Commercial Bank announced its acquisition of a 51…
Read More
A bitter conflict with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has resulted in Thammanat Prompao’s ouster from the Cabinet and civil war breaking out between rival factions in the ruling Palang Pracharath…
Read More
Banks and big corporations have seen disruption of their business models, but they have adjusted their operations quickly enough to cope with radical changes in financial services. While Thai consumers…
Read More
After four years of inertia, US-ASEAN ties have been rebooted and ASEAN centrality has been strengthened by the presence of President Joe Biden who decided, in the wee hours, to…
Read More