After the dramatic Cabinet shake-up over the past several weeks, Vietnam has been quick to restore confidence in its external relations with allies and friends, near and far. It is…
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After the dramatic Cabinet shake-up over the past several weeks, Vietnam has been quick to restore confidence in its external relations with allies and friends, near and far. It is…
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The latest statement by hardline politician Piyabutr Saengkanokkul provides the clearest evidence that one of Thailand’s newest political parties, which thrives on unorthodoxy and drastic reforms that border on extremism,…
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Museums and cultural institutions bring learning to life, enabling members of the public to get close to history and culture. They are able not just to educate adults, but also…
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Despite the ambitious goal of freeing Thailand from HIV/Aids by 2030, the authorities have suddenly rationed the distribution of so-called before and after pills that keep infection at bay. “If…
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Right behind San Sebastian Basilica, one of Manila’s most revered churches, a high-rise condominium is under construction, triggering a conflict between developers and conservationists. The unsavoury development also threatens to…
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Newly appointed facilitator for the Patani peace talks, Gen. Zulkifli Zainal Abidin, will arrived in Thailand on February 1stfor a two-day visit to introduce himself to Deputy Prime Minister Prawit…
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With a general election just around the corner, political parties are now competing to woo voters via the popular welfare card scheme. Academics, however, warn that this scheme has already…
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At the very beginning, it must be stressed that Thailand and Türkiye share a common national identity – neither has ever been colonised by the Western powers. They are also…
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The Pheu Thai Party has decided to spar with Jatuporn Prompan only, but did it really have the choice of going toe to toe with him in full scale? The…
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The Cabinet recently approved a framework for government spending in fiscal year 2024 with planned expenditure of 3.35 trillion baht, up 5.18 percent from the current fiscal year. The spending is equal…
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It may be that the Thai negotiators sitting across the table from the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) see them as easy pickings, but this low-hanging fruit – the Cessation of…
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Education Minister Treenuch Thienthong has scrapped her ministry’s rule on student hairstyles – a rule that youngsters have long complained about. However, her decision has been panned instead of praised…
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Many were surprised to see master powerbroker Thammanat Prompow kneeling on stage to present a garland to Palang Pracharath leader General Prawit Wongsuwan, in a symbolic apology and show of…
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Along with reducing pressure of raising a child, innovative policies such as allowing freezing of eggs and attracting workers from other countries should be considered if Asian countries want to…
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The recent meeting in Zurich between US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He sent a positive signal that the world’s two superpowers are on the path…
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When a student cheats in an exam, the penalty is usually at least a failing grade. So when the Thai public recently learned that many university professors had likely bought…
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Expressing one’s identity and historical-cultural narrative, regardless if it is different from the state-constructed one, should not be a crime in this day and age. But when you have a…
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Prawit Wongsuwan is seeking to persuade skeptical voters that his ruling Palang Pracharath Party has no connection with Prayut Chan-o-cha’s Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, say political analysts. Palang Pracharath…
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The old “three Ps” were united. The new “three Ps” are anything but, yet there are scenarios where two would join hands and leave the other out cold. After the…
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An astute scholar of ASEAN from Cambodia, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, has now become the 15th Secretary General of ASEAN. Dr. Kao is no stranger to the academic world, as…
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Could fossil fuel companies be forced to remove planet-heating carbon pollution from the atmosphere? Researchers argue in a new paper that would be a cheaper, fairer solution to the climate…
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Thailand’s gross domestic product (GDP) will expand by around 3-4 percent this year, only slightly higher than last year’s 3.2 percent, the National Economic and Social Development Council, a state…
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha might have made headlines by formally joining the United Thai Nation (Ruam Thai Sang Chart) Party on Monday, but he has offered little in terms of…
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The main focus of Thai politics this year will be the general election, bargaining to form a new government, and possible constitutional amendment. Analysts expect the already intense political conflict…
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Thai education is about to enter a new phase as Parliament prepares to vote on the National Education Bill. Yet experts do not expect the bill and its reforms to…
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While several countries have imposed stringent COVID-control measures on travellers from China, Thailand has decided to welcome them with open arms despite concerns about its healthcare sector being overwhelmed. China…
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Thailand’s negotiation with the rebel Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) has reached a critical juncture as both sides continue to struggle to identify a common ground on how to move the…
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“Ai Kwai!!!” literally translated as “you buffalo”, as in “you idiot”, is one of the most common insults in the Thai language. In light of a recent controversy, where the…
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Looking into 2023, the future of Thai politics remains uncertain, considering major reshuffles and internal rifts in various political parties. General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s future as Thailand’s prime minister is also…
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Thailand’s new national rail terminus has run into trouble even before its official unveiling. Bang Sue Grand Station is setting social media alight with news that signboards for its new…
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This week’s virtual pledge of loyalty to allies by the Pheu Thai Party cannot entirely soothe them, because they know all too well that in politics, even cutthroat one like…
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Bruised, defiant but clueless, humans entered 2022. At that time, COVID-19 was the main plot, but, as 2023 approaches, the bruise has largely gone and defiance has probably morphed into…
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Trends change by the year, with some things in and others out and 2023 will be no exception. Remember, when the SMS was “in” some years ago? Here’s what we…
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Talk about peace has intensified since the visit of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to Washington DC last week. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country…
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It must be clear today that the Japan with which Southeast Asia has been familiar throughout the post-war years is no longer the same. The past 70 years of a…
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“This is my first time backing Argentina in a football match,” declared a Thai football fan. Coming from a Brazil supporter, who loves France’s Thierry Henry and Olivier Giroud to…
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It has taken 18 years for Thailand and the EU to sign the Thailand-EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The reason it has taken so long has been the…
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During Wednesday’s press conference, at the end of a historic ASEAN-EU summit, Samdech Decho Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia, stated unequivocally that the EU should treat all ASEAN members…
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It is evident that only mankind can tackle any crisis that is a likely threat. It was only four years ago that a group of young Thai footballers were found…
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Finally, the UK has formulated a foreign policy that is pragmatic and deliverable, rather than rhetorical to please Western liberals. The latest elaboration by UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is…
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I grew up in the Thai education system. Stories from the past, including folk stories, are something I read mostly for entertainment. My curiosity about what has happened in the…
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From the next academic year, schools across Thailand will teach history as a main subject in line with the policy of Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha. The move has prompted…
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The US government has previously acknowledged the part Thailand played in getting arms dealer Viktor Bout before a US court, thus making him available for the latest swap between the…
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Morally, it’s undisputed. Economically, it’s questionable. Politically, it’s a no-no. All of them, of course, come with a big “Unless”. That’s how Thailand should proceed with the Pheu Thai Party’s…
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Thailand has spent more than six months trying to pass a law to control the use of cannabis, but this legal vacuum is likely to continue for some time. Many…
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No political party should see themselves representing a single generation and involving more young politicians is necessary to stay relevant in politics, according to panel discussion on the challenges facing…
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Thai Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and its English website, Thai PBS World, recently gathered journalists and young political leaders from Asia to discuss the challenges they face and the most…
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Building Blue Carbon ecosystems should become an integral part of national mitigation and carbon sink plans, said Assistant Professor Thon Thamrong-Nawasawat of the Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University. Research findings…
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The Thai economy grew 4.5 per cent year on year in the third quarter of 2022, exceeding market expectations. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the third quarter nearly doubled…
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When straightforward replies should have been preferred but are replaced instead with elusiveness, it’s safe to assume that something is amiss. Over the past few days, both Prime Minister Prayut…
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One question that has arisen almost right after opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Malaysia’s prime minister last week is what role he wants Kuala Lumpur to play in helping…
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First, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim must be congratulated for being the 10th leader of Malaysia since independence. His patience and fighting spirit have paid off, after nearly 22 years as…
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With Covid-era travel restrictions now relaxed, Thailand is once again underlining its reputation in the medical field by drawing in visitors wanting to benefit from the country’s natural attractions while…
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APEC is necessary, but it needs to be rethought, made more binding and take more action to make it more relevant, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aat Pisanwanich, Director, Centre…
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Sustainable development has been a feature of most global summits, including APEC. As the host economy this year, Thailand included the bio-circular-green economy on the agenda. What remains a concern…
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Suddenly, the China-US tension eased a little, sending good vibrations across the world. Just three hours of talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and American President Joe Biden miraculously produced…
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President Joe Biden, mistakenly referring to the host “Cambodia” as “Colombia”, should be forgiven, because he performed very well in Phnom Penh last weekend in further strengthening relations with ASEAN….
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Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuân Phúc will become the first APEC leader to arrive in Bangkok and will be paying an official on November 16th, ahead of the Asia Pacific Economic…
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US President Joe Biden has benefitted from good Karma, because the outcome of the midterm elections on 8th November, which are still being counted, show that he has fared better…
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The world’s population will reach 8 billion in the middle of November – a testament to scientific breakthroughs and improvements in nutrition, public health and sanitation. But as our human…
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Although Thai law was changed last year to allow the termination of a pregnancy up to 12 weeks and again this year with some conditions to up to 20 weeks, it remains difficult for…
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US democracy’s biggest irony is that, in order to survive, it must demonise itself. One of the most glaring evidence of that has come just hours ago, when President Joe…
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The visit of Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to Bangkok early this week has boosted bilateral ties with Thailand as never before. It was extremely significant, as the two countries…
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Civic groups are demanding that leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), who will meet in Bangkok in November, address the problems faced by society at the root, rather…
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Judging by the outcome of the special ASEAN foreign ministerial meeting in Jakarta on October 27th, the ASEAN foreign ministers have not done their jobs very well. They were supposed…
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Speculation is rife that property tycoon Srettha Thavisin will be one of three prime ministerial candidates put forward by the Pheu Thai Party at the next general election. Sources from…
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A little-known activist and self-declared red shirt earned media headlines – as well as praise from some government critics – by assaulting Thailand’s “complainer-in-chief”, Srisuwan Janya, last week. The incident…
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“We found that the more you see the less you know and, every time I travel, I see that India is always something new. I thought I had learned and…
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Democracy is easy when everyone is agreeable. How conflicts are dealt with, peacefully and justly, is what truly separates it from authoritarianism or anarchy. Minor conflicts producing the kind of…
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Stand-up comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich is under the spotlight after jokes in his latest show drew criticism and ignited an online clash between supporters and opponents of Prime Minister Prayut…
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Thailand’s decision to abstain from voting on a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that rejected Russia’s annexation of four eastern regions in Ukraine, far from proving its neutrality, is…
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When it happened in 2020, the death of three-year-old Nong Chompoo was one of Thailand’s most tumultuous criminal cases. However, the Criminal Court’s trial, which began a few months ago…
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Thai society’s deep tradition of respect for elders means children are always expected to show gratitude to their parents. The long-held custom means children are also barred from taking legal…
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If he was wrong about Buddhism and detachment before, Prairie Praiwan has to be right this time, getting out of the closet to become someone he always has been wishing…
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One chapter has just been closed. Prayut Chan-o-cha’s nail-biting survival act is in the middle of the book at most, with Thailand’s political turmoil only entering a new phase, where…
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US President Joe Biden’s decision to skip the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Thailand in November is a reflection of the Thai government’s weak international image and the…
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Drug addicts sometimes commit shocking crimes in their quest for a fix, even attacking their own family members. In some cases, parents push for the arrest of their drug-crazed children…
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Attending funerals on behalf of the United States is normally a straightforward assignment for a vice president, but Kamala Harris will confront controversy at nearly every turn as she visits…
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The newly release Global Trade Growth Atlas 2022 has put the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the spotlight because the region is forecast to lead the world in…
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The shooting down of the marijuana bill in Parliament last week sparked concerns on both sides of the debate. The pro-pot camp is worried the legalization of cannabis will be…
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People drawn into a Ponzi scheme disguised as foreign exchange “investment” is ridiculous, but that is possible only because the world had either “normalized” or come to condone the senselessness…
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What had Queen Elizabeth II done in the 1990s that she didn’t over the last two decades? Nobody knows the exact answer. Most likely though, she kept doing what she…
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Beginning today (Wednesday), for the next two weeks at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the leaders of UN member states will be sharing their views on the state…
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With more heavy downpours forecast through the remaining rainy season, there is both good news and bad news for Thailand residents worried about floods. On the bright side, authorities and…
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It’s “that month” again, arguably the most significant period of the year when many in America are concerned. But September has never been the same for a lot of other…
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Most of the 2.1 billion strong workforces in Asia and the Pacific are denied access to decent jobs, health care, and social protection but there is an array of policies…
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Now that Liz Truss has been elected by the Conservative Party to the helm of the United Kingdom, she will have to face myriad challenges, imposed by both domestic and…
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If Jirayut Srupsrisopa is a true blockchain enthusiast, he must be uncorking the champagne when that massively-lucrative deal with the Siam Commercial Bank collapsed a few days ago. In an…
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Things are very different from the days when you first arrived in Thailand. Back then, you questioned those “weird” lifestyle quirks and experienced culture shock at the local myths and…
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The nature of the decision by the constitutional court last Wednesday might have been unexpected for many people, as it ordered Prayut Chan-o-cha to cease performing his duties as prime…
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Now that the court has suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha from duty after agreeing to rule on his eight-year term limit, an important question arises: What next? The Constitutional Court’s…
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As one of over a thousand media covering the 12 boys and their coach trapped inside a northern Thailand cave four years ago, I didn’t expect “Thirteen Lives”, the new…
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As if political pundits these days didn’t have enough to chew on, Prayut government’s top legal expert Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam on Monday opened what might seem to be…
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Thanks to constant mutations, the COVID-19 virus is still several steps ahead of vaccine developers. While researchers have managed to develop vaccines that are effective against the original strain of…
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When the merchant vessel Razoni sailed from Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa earlier this month with more than 26,000 tons of corn for global markets, she was rightly the…
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The answer depends primarily on two factors. The first one is quite ironic considering the Palang Pracharath “conspiracy theory”, which is doing the rounds and not for the first time….
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Three months after Chadchart Sittipunt took over as governor, his Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is still struggling to solve the complicated problems surrounding the BTS Green Line and its extensions….
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August 24 has portents of becoming judgement day as leaders of many youth movements are planning major protests if Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha holds on to power he seized eight…
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In the eyes of critics, Thailand’s Waste Management Master Plan has trashed the country’s waste problem to the point that it risks becoming the world’s dumping ground. Not only is…
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New political parties are being launched to extend the rule of the so-called “3Ps” – generals Prayut, Prawit and “Pock” – after the next election, say political analysts. Ruamthai Sarngchart…
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