Showing 1 - 10 of 12
Travel scheme farce
Oped, Editorial, Published on 07/07/2025
» The rollout of the "Tiew Thai Khon La Krung" campaign, or Thailand Travel Co-pay scheme, last week has proved to be unmitigated disaster, with no resolution in sight. This embarrassing episode reflects not only gross incompetence, but entrenched political pettiness among policy-makers.
TV push in need of a better script
Editorial, Published on 01/12/2024
» In a striking plot twist, it was recently revealed that Thai television dramas and series, which the government envisions as a key driver of the country's "soft power" on the global stage, are struggling to retain an audience at home.
Monetary policy really needs to tighten in Japan
Oped, Koichi Hamada, Published on 12/11/2024
» Last month, returning to Japan for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, I was struck by how significantly prices had increased. In February 2020, a simple lunch in downtown Tokyo cost about JP¥1,000, then the equivalent of about $10 (324 baht); today, it costs more like JP¥2,000. To some extent, this mirrors the experience in the US, where, even as inflation moderates, prices remain well above their pre-pandemic levels. The difference is that Japan has also experienced a sharp currency depreciation, which benefits foreign visitors: that JP¥2,000 bill translated to just $13.
Time to cast a wider net
Oped, Editorial, Published on 05/11/2024
» Police officers with the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division deserve a pat on the back for arresting three human trafficking suspects believed to be involved in the suffocation deaths of three Rohingya in an overcrowded truck on Oct 17.
No Tak Bai miracles to deliver justice
News, Veera Prateepchaikul, Published on 28/10/2024
» There was no miracle as the clock ticked past midnight of Oct 25 marking the end of the 20-year statute of limitations in the Tak Bai case.
Wrap up iCon scandal
Oped, Editorial, Published on 22/10/2024
» The astonishing speed with which the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) police arrested 18 key players at iCon Group, an online direct marketing company, including its CEO, and locked them up in remand prisons pending further investigation is commendable.
'Amazing Thailand' just won't go away
Roger Crutchley, Published on 13/10/2024
» I must confess to groaning just a little this week upon seeing the headline "Amazing Thailand is back". I am not sure it ever went away. We were informed that next year we are in for "Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year" with the aim to attract more than 40 million visitors to these sunny shores. That's all a bit scary.
High hopes for Kitrat
News, Editorial, Published on 09/10/2024
» The latest appointment of a new national police chief gives the Paetongtarn government a much-needed image boost.
Stimulus packages need paradigm shift
Oped, Chartchai Parasuk, Published on 03/10/2024
» Ever wonder why Thailand's economic growth is consistently lower than its peers? Even with a flood of foreign tourists of 28.1 million (154.4% growth) in 2023, our GDP growth was 1.9% compared to 5.5% in the Philippines, 5% in both Indonesia and Vietnam, and 3.7% in Malaysia. The growth figure for the first half of this year of 1.9% is far worse than many of our Asean friends.
Shield children from online abuse
News, Guillaume Landry, Published on 23/09/2024
» Across Southeast Asia -- from Manila to Bangkok to Phnom Penh -- police are struggling to keep children safe from sexual exploitation and abuse, in particular online. Every day, millions of images and videos of children are shared on the internet, while authorities are increasingly at a loss for what to do.