The Future of Asia

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The Future of Asia

24 May 2013 : The following is the text of an address delivered by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the "Future of Asia" Conference on May 24 in Tokyo:
EDITORIAL Society faces a moral crisis

24 May 2013 : Today, as Buddhists around the country celebrate the Visakha Bucha Day to mark the Buddha's birth, enlightenment and death, it is worth reflecting on his teachings and recalling his advice on how best to continue his spiritual legacy.

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CURRENTS
Curb your enthusiasm
22 May 2013 : If reactions are any indication, the most exciting news of the week was Samsung sending a 1 gigabit signal across 2km. This was apparently based on what 5G technology may look like. If the pundits are anything to go by, Asia has essentially bypassed 4G and is eagerly awaiting 5G to hit the streets. It will have to wait a while as the Samsung exercise was just a demo of proof of concept. As of today, there are no ratified standards for 5G and Samsung appears to be trying to get out a head of the pack.
Wall around failed rice scheme starting to leak
21 May 2013 : Most people still know little or nothing about the rice pledging scheme, with the actual details fiercely guarded by a handful of officials at the Commerce Ministry, including Commerce Minister Boonsong Teriyapriom.
EDITORIAL
Myanmar, US waste a chance
21 May 2013 : President Thein Sein has visited President Barack Obama at the White House in Washington. The visit is being promoted by both Myanmar and the United States for its symbolism. This is a shame.
POLITICS
Time running out for key reformers
21 May 2013 : Voters in the Philippines appear to have delivered a resounding victory to President Benigno Aquino in mid-term elections. The son of former president Corazon Aquino looks set to control both houses of Congress, giving him a mandate to continue his reform policies. His biggest worry now is making them stick.
Postbag
Science focus lacking
21 May 2013 : Re ''The government's bad science'' (BP, May 19).
Local Concerns: Farm chemicals
Green network paving the way for an organic Asia
21 May 2013 : Agricultural produce is one of Thailand's top five exports, making up about 12.37% of GDP. At the same time, Thailand is one of the world's heaviest farm chemical users, with imports of such chemicals more than doubling in less than a decade.
COMMENTARY
One amnesty bill to cure them all?
21 May 2013 : Politically, the reconciliation bill proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung makes the most sense: Absolve all those involved in and prosecuted for political offences since 2006.
THINK BOX
Sympathy for those seeking solace
21 May 2013 : Angelina Jolie is not the only person who recently decided to remove her breasts. The winner of Miss Tiffany Universe 2009, Sorrawee "Jazz" Nattee, photocopied Jolie's breast removal mission.
Cannes Report: The Coens and Dutch gallows humour
20 May 2013 : The hottest ticket in Cannes over the weekend is, surprisingly, a pre-Bob Dylan tale of a struggling folk singer steeped in his own hilarious myth: "Inside Llewyn Davis" is the new film by Joel and Ethan Coen starring Oscar Isaac as the title character, with the supporting act by Carey Mulligan (redeeming herself quite nicely from the nonsense of "The Great Gatsby", which opened Cannes last Wednesday) and Justin Timberlake, among others.
EDITORIAL
Government shows its intractability
20 May 2013 : When Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi referred to criticism of his anti-flood schemes as "garbage", it was - pardon the expression - a watershed. He brought down a curtain between him and citizens seeking honest debate. So the question for today is this _ if the government cannot properly manage the political reality of its plan, can the public trust it to fund, build and run the actual water management project?