Showing 51 - 60 of 356
Rivers need urgent care
Oped, Editorial, Published on 08/11/2022
» Today, Thailand celebrates Loy Krathong, a festival held to honour the mythical goddess Phra Mae Kongkha -- the personification of the kingdom's rivers.
Student loans need fixing
Oped, Editorial, Published on 04/11/2022
» The Upper House is facing a major challenge in deliberating a controversial amendment to the Student Loan Fund Act. That's mostly because the Student Loan Fund (SLF) is complicated.
Trussonomics: No better than 'liberty' lettuce
Oped, Published on 29/10/2022
» Following the brutal market backlash against her plans for unfunded tax cuts and tens of billions of pounds in additional spending, Liz Truss resigned as British prime minister, succeeded by her Tory rival, Rishi Sunak. The international media is now struggling to make sense of it all, but the task may be impossible. I have been working at it for over a decade and remain perplexed.
Probe army graft claims
Oped, Editorial, Published on 20/10/2022
» The Royal Thai Army is facing new graft accusations. This time a senior military officer was accused of swindling some of the system's funds on an army housing project.
Time to fix city's trash
Oped, Editorial, Published on 27/09/2022
» The Bangkok Metropolitan Council on Sept 14 made the right decision to shelve a plan to increase garbage collection fees from 20 baht to 80 baht a month for each city household. Given rising inflation and the high cost of living faced by the public, it's just not the right time.
BMA sorely needs financial advisers
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 22/09/2022
» On Sept 7, 2022, the Central Administrative Court ordered the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) and its wholly owned subsidiary Krungthep Thanakom (KT) to pay Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company (BTS) back overdue Operating and Maintenance (O&M) fees on extensions 1 and 2 of the Green Line (Sky Train) in the amount of 11.75 billion baht within 180 days.
Student loans need overhaul
Oped, Editorial, Published on 21/09/2022
» The Student Loan Fund (SLF), which was supposed to help students pursue higher education, ended up being the most counterproductive financial scheme in the country. The latest law amendment to help fix the fund is a good start but the agency that runs the fund needs major reform.
Rethink tourist levy
Oped, Editorial, Published on 13/09/2022
» After plenty of debate, soul-searching and warnings from the private sector, the Minister of Sports and Tourism has decided to go ahead with its plan to collect "Kha Yeap Pan Din" -- the 300-baht fee to be levied on foreign tourists, except those in the country for a one-day visit.
Could your vacation end up changing the world?
Oped, Published on 31/08/2022
» As the United States sends stockpiles of weapons to Ukraine, another transatlantic mobilisation is underway. Freed from two years of Covid restrictions and testing requirements, Americans are once again travelling in large numbers. Market observers have predicted a six-fold increase in American tourism to Europe compared to summer 2021. If you're wondering what shipments of weapons and planeloads of tourists have in common, the answer is: quite a bit. Tourism has long had a way of getting mixed up in international politics.
Casinos need caution
Oped, Editorial, Published on 17/08/2022
» There is an old adage that says, if you cannot beat them, join them. This catchphrase well describes policymakers' attempts to open casinos in Thailand.