Guaranteeing the judiciary’s independence should not preclude scrutinising the performance of judges and making them accountable to the public

JUST A THOUGHT: Corruption, fraud and bribery are a way of life

“What’s so wrong with corruption? It’s like lubricant: if it gets things done, then it’s okay,” a friend finally burst out after a couple others ranted on for almost half an hour about how low corruption in Thailand can get.

Thais find culinary success in West Africa

Mrs Somprid Ballard has a broad smile and she smiles a lot. Well, she has ample reason to smile – her restaurant, Le Jardin de Thailandaise, serves some of the best Thai food in Africa.

Asean Regional Forum needs to hit higher gear

As face-saving and making graceful exits are important elements of Asian diplomacy, it is not easy for nations from the East to emulate the up-front, cut-and-dried approach to problem-solving that characterises Western diplomacy.