Showing 1 - 10 of 155
Reinvent Thailand to revive growth
Oped, Boonwara Sumano, Published on 11/02/2026
» In the 1990s, Thailand ranked second in Asean for state performance, behind only Singapore. Today, we trail several neighbours. This decline has unfolded gradually over three decades -- through repeated economic crises, institutional stagnation, and reforms that never quite went far enough. What is different today is that the cost of inaction has become far more dangerous.
Thai baht under watch
News, Editorial, Published on 03/02/2026
» As Thailand heads to the polls this Sunday, the campaign trail has been crowded with promises of wage hikes, subsidies and generous domestic giveaways. Yet last week, a far more sobering message arrived from Washington. The US Treasury has placed Thailand back on its currency monitoring list, a move that carries implications well beyond a routine financial assessment.
EC turns a blind eye
News, Editorial, Published on 10/01/2026
» As the election campaign intensifies ahead of the Feb 8 deadline, some political parties have found themselves the target of organised misinformation and political smearing by their rivals, an act punishable under the election law.
Academic out of line
Oped, Editorial, Published on 02/01/2026
» A Facebook post by a well-known academic who ostracised a maverick politician believed to be Ratchanok Srinok, a firebrand former MP of the progressive People's Party, is causing an uproar.
Grasping the VAT nettle
Oped, Editorial, Published on 24/11/2025
» The proposal to raise value-added tax from 7% to 8.5% in 2028, and to 10% in 2030, by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas is a display of political courage rarely seen in a political landscape where politicians are quick to spend money in the name of "economic stimulus" but stay mum when asked how to finance the schemes.
Rein in online stars
News, Editorial, Published on 22/11/2025
» When citizens resort to legal action against social media influencers for misinformation, dangerous stunts, or inappropriate behaviour, it is time to discuss curbing such behaviour online.
Is Takaichi Sanae the 'Iron Lady' of Japan?
Oped, Koichi Hamada, Published on 10/11/2025
» For the first time in its history, Japan's parliament has selected a woman, Takaichi Sanae of the Liberal Democratic Party, to be prime minister. In this sense, Ms Takaichi has already followed in the footsteps of her political idol, Margaret Thatcher -- the UK's first female PM. But whether she is remembered as Japan's own "Iron Lady" will depend on her ability to manage three key challenges: inflation, low female labour-force participation and a fraught geopolitical environment.
Bribery probe deepens police credibility crisis
Oped, Anucha Charoenpo, Published on 06/11/2025
» The reputation of the Royal Thai Police (RTP) has suffered a significant blow following a decision by the Police Complaints Review Committee (PCRC) to formally accuse former National Police Chief Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol and more than 200 police officers of disciplinary misconduct for allegedly accepting bribes from online gambling networks.
'Scam-gate' deserves full accounting
Oped, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Published on 24/10/2025
» The explosive revelations and allegations of regional cybercrimes and scam networks have hit Thailand head-on and placed the government of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in an awkward and defensive position. As more facts surrounding what looks like a labyrinthine cross-border multibillion-dollar transnational criminal ring come to light, more questions have surfaced with no clear answers. The Anutin government needs to come clean and avoid a "scam-gate" of cover-ups and lies at the expense of countless scammed victims across many countries.
Crime still thriving
News, Editorial, Published on 16/10/2025
» The government's self-congratulation over Thailand retaining its Tier 2 ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report is misplaced. Remaining at Tier 2 -- for the fourth consecutive year -- is not an achievement. It's an alarm bell signalling that the country is standing still while crime spreads beneath its feet.