Showing 1 - 6 of 6
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.
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.
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.
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.
Top cop pick looms large
Oped, Editorial, Published on 18/09/2024
» As national police chief Torsak Sukvimol retires at the end of this month, the media spotlight will focus on the Royal Thai Police (RTP) as the National Police Committee will begin the selection process for the top job by Oct 3.