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…
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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…
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Pareploy Saeaia has become a testament to the power of female martial arts, after the clip of her tackling a guy who poured water over her head because she spurned his advances went viral. …
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Like many of her male counterparts who regularly endure long and exhausting ocean research expeditions, the braving of challenging environs makes for a typical workday for Aileen Tan Shau Hwai,…
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Investors are worried about their tax liability and the method of calculation after the Revenue Department issued on January 31 tax guidelines for individuals engaging in crypto and digital token…
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Frustration with the Thai University Central Admission System (TCAS) is growing four years after its launch, with students complaining it has failed to offer better or fairer access to higher…
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A long story about the plight of 26 Thai berry pickers in Finland published on BBC Thai was a sad one, but with a just ending, as the Finnish Supreme Court reached…
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It was a peculiar electoral outcome that “winners” may celebrate cautiously and some “losers” can find encouraging. Ballots cast in Bangkok’s Laksi and Chatuchak districts on Sunday show that races…
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The public outrage over the recent death of a doctor, who was simply crossing the road in broad daylight on a zebra crossing, which was caused by a policeman, seems…
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The point is not about Joe Biden’s approval rating has hit a new low. It’s about the eventuality and unavoidability of it. No matter how hard he has possibly tried,…
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For the Asia region, it is better to look ahead to the second year of the Biden administration. A review of the past 12 months is unlikely to bring cheer…
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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…
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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…
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Thailand’s political situation used to be straightforward in the recent past. The Democrats being up against the Shinawatra camp made elections easy to contest and predict. The former were guaranteed…
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At 332.4 billion baht, for yet another year Thailand’s Ministry of Education has received the largest budget of any ministry. In 2021, this major agency received budget just under 358.4…
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“New Normal” was an adapted way of life that prevailed when people thought they could perish if infected by the coronavirus. That adaptation is partly old now because, while the virus…
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Millions of company workers can heave a sigh of relief after Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin applied the brakes on a plan to extend the retirement age from 55 to 60….
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The Omicron variant has now spread across the globe, with new cases surging in countries including Thailand. As of Sunday (Jan 9), Worldometer.com registered 15.28 million new COVID-19 cases in…
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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…
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Happy Thai Children’s Day! Every second week of January, many venues in Thailand, from Government House and Royal Thai Army divisions to and shopping centres organise games and activities for…
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“Can you be more of a listener, rather than a talker?” said pediatric expert in adolescent medicine, Associate Professor Dr. Suriyadeo Tripathi, during an online interview with Thai PBS World…
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The coup in Myanmar on February 1st, 2021 has attracted harsh condemnation from the international community, especially from Western countries. In the past year, the military regime, headed by Senior…
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Religions adapt, as there were no social media or stock markets in the ancient days and the concepts of human rights and humility were different during the times of Jesus…
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As host of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summits and Myanmar crisis resolution, Thailand faces major challenges of superpower rivalry and ASEAN centrality in 2022. However, seasoned diplomats fear this Thai…
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It was clear from the 50-minute conversation between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday that their countries will be able to survive only through future…
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At the latest Thai cabinet meeting, on Dec 28th, the draft bill on so-called Not-for-Profit Organisations was withdrawn at the last minute. The bill will now be considered after the…
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Public anger is growing after five key convicts in high-profile corruption scandals were granted hefty cuts to their jail terms. Four were convicted for their role in the Yingluck government’s…
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It should have been an occasion of soaring national pride as Thai badminton champions enjoyed the crowning success of their career. Instead, Thai viewers watched in embarrassment recently as the…
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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….
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“Mystery boxes” have become a hot trend in recent months, as COVID-19 spurs a switch to online shopping in Thailand. One influencer, Pimrypie, even managed to sell Bt100 million worth…
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In one of the most-watched acquisition deals of 2021, Siam Commercial Bank Pcl (SCBX) on November 2 announced it was taking a 51 percent stake in Bitkub Online Company for…
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Headlines all over the world in 2021 do not give the coronavirus the credit it deserves. Expression of awe and show of panic is seasonal at best, meaning that whenever infection…
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The Finance Ministry is considering levying a financial transaction tax (FTT) on stock trading next year, but a decision will depend on economic conditions, Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith revealed recently….
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Before the birth of the youth-led protest movement in 2020, criticism of the monarchy and calls for changes to the institution were only limited to academia. But after the movement…
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Thai political parties have undergone change, evolution and even transformation in the past year, ahead of a general election expected in the coming year. Parties large and small – as…
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These days, state-owned broadcasters are coming under heavy criticism because of their one-sided remarks and off-the-mark comments. In the past few days, Thailand’s excellent relations with its closest neighbour, the…
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The Thai government has been accused of waging “lawfare” against the anti-establishment movement over the past year, charging its key leaders with serious criminal offenses after they demanded political and…
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Only two possibilities exist when Loong Phol is concerned: Either he is innocent or he is guilty, and both scenarios are scary. That’s what renowned sci-fi writer Arthur C. Clake,…
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For millions of students in Thailand, 2021 has been a year of online classes as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disrupt their schooling. When virus cases began surging earlier this…
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Politicians and activists have attempted to change the Thai Constitution repeatedly over the past year, but only one of the 21 amendment bills managed to clear the obstacle course set…
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Cannabis and kratom completed their long journeys to legalization this year, in what was seen as an uncharacteristically liberal move by conservative Thai authorities. Given that alcohol and cigarettes remain…
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More than 6 weeks of advance, meticulous planning by the US, which saw an advance team of over 80 people descend on Bangkok, following the visit of US Assistant Secretary…
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Thailand took a major step towards legalizing casinos after the House of Representatives voted on December 2 to undertake a feasibility study on allowing gambling dens. Both the government and…
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Delta scares. There is no question about that. Harder to say is what Omicron is doing. Is it frightening, or lulling, or confusing, or performing a mixture of everything? What…
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Anchilee Scott-Kemmis came home empty-handed from the Miss Universe contest but thanks to her, the hearts of many women are today a great deal fuller. As the Miss Universe 2021…
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Anchilee Scott-Kemmis became a huge source of hope for many Thais, by being declared Miss Universe Thailand 2021 back in October, and having a social impact by breaking existing beauty ideals,…
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It used to be a black and white situation, or so it seemed, when the United States and the then Soviet Union boycotted each other’s key events for fun, when…
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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…
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For viewers of foreign media, available through Thai cable TV packages, it has become the norm to see unscheduled messages filling the screen and blocking content for several minutes, a…
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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…
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Many operators in the hospitality sector have gone through the worst of their business lives due to the pandemic but now, with Thailand once again open to visitors, they are…
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Polite words sometimes could not paper over big conflicts in politics, so Pheu Thai and Move Forward speaking nicely to each other or referring to each other amicably regarding the…
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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…
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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…
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This week’s demise of a charter amendment bill sold as “of the people” is not a surprise, but what is bewildering is why people who matter continue to keep away…
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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…
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Thailand needs to have a lèse majesté law for national security. It acts as a defamation law for the royal family. The existing version is, however, too short and needs…
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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…
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Of the many artists and entertainers arrested in the months following the February coup in Myanmar, one of the best-known faces is the rising star Paing Takhon. A model, an…
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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…
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Shreya Singh, a 21 year-old college student in New Delhi, has spoken courageously about being the target of online harassment after someone set up a fake Facebook account in her…
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The news of the demise of eminent economist Virabongsa Ramangkura on November 7 was received with a deep sense of loss across the country. Numerous Facebook pages were filled with condolences. Virabongsa…
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There was a round of applause for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who attended the World Leaders Summit of the Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow last week, for boldly…
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Thailand’s oldest political party had been there before. By that, before the catastrophic last general election, the Democrats had gone through all kinds of lows, be it devastating insurrection, disastrous…
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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…
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The coronavirus pandemic has reflected a broken world defined by inequality, division and a lack of accountability, causing a failure to put an end to the outbreak that so far…
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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…
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The demolition of the Scala theatre has broken hearts all over the city and for many different reasons. The Scala theatre in Bangkok’s Siam Square area was more than just…
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In politics, a man’s good news is another man’s bad one. However, here’s doom and gloom for all: Long-lasting national peace will remain very remote no matter what happens from…
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With an economy almost entirely dependent on the tourist industry, Thailand is today lifting quarantine restrictions and allowing fully vaccinated foreign visitors from 63 countries and territories to enter in…
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Thailand’s powerful travel campaign “Travel is Back” courtesy of Gladiator star Russell Crowe ended this week with the Australian star bidding farewell to Bangkok on Twitter to his 2.7 million…
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Thailand’s main opposition party is undergoing a rebrand as it bids to return to power after seven years – five years under the post-coup junta and two years of this…
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Major political parties are setting their sights on the Northeast as local elections loom, paving the way for a national vote expected next year. Pheu Thai and Move Forward, the…
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Common sense, whether it’s humanitarian or economic, dictates that if the world has found a drug that can make the coronavirus a lot less scary, the treatment should be made…
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Thailand needs to develop its human resources, improve the quality of its education, and get serious about addressing the inequality gap, says economist, Dr. Somjai Phagaphasvivat. He said that dealing…
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Business leaders are expecting an influx of foreign tourists and investors when Thailand reopens its doors to the world on November 1. “Reopening Thailand will open up many opportunities,” said…
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With new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in power, Japan has become a heavy-weight player in shaping China-US relations. In his first major speech he reiterated not just that the…
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You can be a “freedom fighter” storming a “corrupt” Parliament, or you can be a “rioter” invading the place where honorable congressmen work. You can be a “brave journalist” trying…
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Legalized ride-hailing taxi services, which start next month, will offer more choices, but both consumer satisfaction and drivers’ welfare are dependent on many variable factors in the post-COVID-19 scenario. Technology…
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Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s words to supporters in the South last week were interpreted by many as a sign he intends to seek another term in office. “I and my team are…
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Maria Ressa and Dimitry Muratov are very courageous journalists, enduring difficulties concocted by their governments to weaken or rather terminate their ability to do their jobs. President Rodrigo Duterte and President Vladimir…
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If you are hesitant about getting a Sinovac jab to protect yourself against COVID-19, here’s some good news – the government is preparing to offer new free alternatives. The Public…
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Thailand lacks regular flood risk assessments, which should be carried out every one or two years, to see what has changed since the last flood, in terms of land use…
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US President Joe Biden has already reduced the possibility of waging war against China, by recognizing the “One-China” policy. Last week, Biden spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping about Taiwan…
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The trick is that the independent Bangkok gubernatorial candidate must stay away from national politics if he wants to lead all the way to the finish line. However, that is…
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It becomes clearer by the day that Myanmar’s military regime, headed by Senior Gen Min Aung Hlaing, is moving painfully slowly towards the implementation of the five-point consensus agreed in…
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A set of new children’s books with political messages has triggered heated debate over allegations they aim to “brainwash” young readers. However, their main author and publisher have defended the…
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With the overflowing Chao Phraya flooding more provinces, Thais are worried their worst fears could soon be realized – a recurrence of the Great Flood of 2011, which claimed more than 600 lives…
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Very few Thais are aware that it was former Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, who saved Thailand-Japan relations from going down the drain in 2014. Nearly three months after the…
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Finance Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith recently announced that the government needed to increase the public debt ceiling to 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) from 60 percent. The remarks came…
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To varying degrees, all key players in Thai politics can be both optimistic and apprehensive at the same time. While politicians regard themselves as second to none at keeping their…
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It seems unbelievable that England has put in place a discriminatory policy that refuses to accept COVID-19 jabs given in countries in Latin American, Africa and South and Southeast Asia….
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August 24 marked the seventh anniversary of General Prayut Chan-o-cha’s tenure as Thailand’s prime minister. It also spurred questions over whether he has only one year left in the post,…
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The second semester for most Thai students will start on November 1. But whether their classes are held online or onsite will depend on what schools and parents say. “We…
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After the Thai men’s team capped years of poor form by again failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has decided to bring…
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Every September, leaders from around the globe have the opportunity to tell the rest of us how well their countries have been doing. If time permits, they also talk about…
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In a more ideologically straightforward world, Chinese “merchants” and capitalism don’t go anywhere near each other. That, however, is not the case in this world, where the financial troubles of…
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The new military alliance among three Anglo-Saxon countries – the US, the UK and Australia, known as AUKUS – for the sharing of nuclear submarine technology is a bad move….
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Uproar over the recent killing of a drug suspect by police investigators has revived debate on the need for a law banning torture and killings by state officials. And the…
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Virtual learning during lockdown has been a brand new experience for all students and parents, with both doing their best to come up with the best way to create an…
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Thailand needs to play a more “assertive role” in order to make its presence in regional and international diplomacy more meaningful while maintaining a balancing act to avoid being dragged…
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