Prbkk

Maybe the elections will have to be put back a bit, does not bother me, whilst there are no rallies there are is no violence.

Yes, add no planning, no policies, economic contraction, crazy proposals for wasting money on military expansion, general chaos and confusion. Why bother having elections ever again and watch Thailand become third world again in a very short time frame.

They need to get a few Aldi and Lidl stores here, some food stuffs are cheaper in

UK than here,Bread ,Milk,2 examples.

Regards Worgeordie

Yes but the big end of town will never allow it to happen. The profit margins on supermarket items, unlike the rest of the world, is astronomical. Why for example does every brand of mouthwash (all made in Thailand) cost twice as much in supermarkets in Bangkok as they do in Australia? And why is the price the same, within a baht or two, in every store? Some would suggest price fixing, profiteering, gouging and a very closed market. Not only mouthwash but hundreds of items. Aldi wouldn't come in a hundred years under current arrangements.

One may just about wish the previous regime was still in power so we can see the country go down the economic drain, but then one would be a sadist for thinking that and would not be putting the country first.

At least the current govt will be able to guide the economic ship through the stormy waters. Australia is actually in those stormy waters as well. In fact the $aus slide is more pronounced than the baht and most economic indicators in Australia are worse than Thailand. SO in fact Prayut has shielded the country from the full brunt of this global downturn which needs to be acknowledged.

Just think had he not stepped in the economy would have collapsed long ago.

Fact - $aus slide is more pronounced than the bah slide against the usd

Fact - economic indicators in Australia are on a % bases sliding more than Thailand indicators

Just think had he not stepped in the economy would have collapsed long ago.

Facts - All economic indicators showed the country was sliding into economic collapse before May 22nd, 2014.

All facts and all I receive in reply instead of intelligent rebuttals proving me wrong is condescension.

It warms my heart because when the poster is attacked instead of the post I win the argument.

While you are correct about the AUD, the 'slide' in its value is of major economic value to Australia and the devaluation has been a defacto policy of the past 2 govts as well as the gov of the reserve bank. It is now approaching what most people believe to be fair value relative to the USD.

In respect of % decline in other indicators you are COMPLETELY WRONG: growth in Australia has flattened by not in spiral seen in Thailand ( eg manufacturing down 8% year on year....a dramatic contraction).. Thailand is facing a perfect storm and were it not for the tourism sector the pain for communities and families would be intense. Not to worry ....Suthep and the loony beer heiress are coming to the rescue .

I find no humour in the pain and suffering of others, be it the man in question, or the crew.

Some seem to have answers and insight to a situation they most likely did not witness.

Point taken but they are from Switzerland and this is likely the most excitement ever, albeit unpleasant. Now they can go back to the soothing sounds of cuckoo clocks.

Getting drunk on free booze in Thai economy class?...good luck trying.

They would do well to look at today's New York times and its feature story on fishing slavery . No use blaming Yingluck and any others , or the critics themselves.

I have never seen such a savage indictment published in NYT.

I think the drain on USD reserves happens because businesses that do transactions in dollars need more dollars than formerly because the baht is weaker. So, they buy the additional USD from the BOT. The last time I looked some time ago, the BOT's USD reserves were around $200 billion. So, the decline of the baht over the last few years has already caused significant erosion. It's not because the the BOT is trying to support the baht. Just the opposite is the case. Pridyathorn has publicly stated recently that they want to weaken the baht to support exports, although this might just be a case of Pridyathorn putting the best face on a situation that is out of his control.

Thailand's high level of USD reserves is the result of a policy change that arose after the Tom Yum Goong crisis of 1997, when a flight of foreign capital (the famous "hot ball of money") from Thailand caused, among other effects, all of the major Thai banks to be unable to repay their dollar loans, because they didn't have enough dollars. The banks were forced to sell 49% ownership shares to US banks at firesale prices to avoid going bankrupt. Following the crisis, Thailand and other Asian countries in particular, resolved to avoid a similar crunch in the future by maintaining high dollar reserves. China maintains high reserves, but for different reasons. The downside of the high dollar reserve policy of Thailand and the other countries is that a large chunk of wealth is tied up in useless currency and US Treasury bonds that could be invested in developing the country. A side effect of the maintenance of high dollar reserves is to keep the USD at a high level, which, while it may be desirable for us expats, has a harmful effect on the US economy, in particular, on manufacturing for export.

Let's all hope they don't engage in the lunacy of selling USD to buy Baht. That strategy did not end well in 1997 ( other than for George Soros).

The govt should view this weakening as a positive thing ( and in any event the depreciation is not all that great relative to other currencies )

'Kickstart his civil action for loss of reputation'? Feeling lucky is he?

There was a case years ago in which the court found that the plaintiff had been defamed but set damages at $1 ...with the implication that the reputation was worth no more.

One suspects the invitation to the Sydney Gay Mardi Gras is on its way

Fifty years ago, Enoch Powell was mercilessly vilified for raising these issues (even though many in his own part agreed with him...and many more in the following decades).

At the very least it's a discussion worth having, just as it was then

...many words/terms for it: self-centered , arrogant, ignorant, ill-educated, delusional. I don't believe it is born of malice but rather the incredible, but seemingly widely held, belief that in some way Thailand is central to making the world go 'round. The basis for it is mystifying.

Great, the Generals have been re-reading Keynes and Friedman and the solution is in sight.

I feel truly sorry for anyone who has to sit and read my emails all day. I hope they are getting paid a good salary for it. If they are reading this too, I'm sorry for all the emails about the pigeons nesting on my balcony, how my legs are giving me gyp, and all the links to obscure 1980s electropop. I will try to spice up my emails in the future.

Yes, anyone required to follow links to 80s electropop should be paid well.

120 malls!!! Must be a very special Thai trait to copy a business that looks like its profitable (and at the end nobody makes money because of the oversupply) .

Ranks with putting prices up when your business is failing. It doesn't attract more custom or keep the ones you've got.

There is NOTHING available in a Bangkok mall that can't be had 25-50% cheaper in other places or online. This is all hype ...

What about a hose pipe ban? What about asking the public to collect rain water like they do in the country side? What about flushing the toilet only when you poo into it? Brush your teeth with a glass of water not with a tap running. These are advice given by other countries governments during water shortages. A little more research needed PM.

I have never seen a toilet in Thailand, similar to the ones used in Australia. These are all 'FULL' flush or 'HALF'' flush.

It saves a few hundred litres week per person and it all ads up.

It took water shortages to do this, and maybe now Thailand needs to look at this for all future installations.

Many houses in both suburbs and country in Australia have water tanks, some for their entire water supply, others have smaller flat tanks against walls, to supplement domestic water.

Talking of hosepipe bans as Wilsonandson suggests, this is the law in London. Car washing is by bucket only, and garden watering is with a watering can.

Homepro and others sell the half/full flush toilets ( but not so popular) and many hotels have adopted them.

I don't care if he completes 10 PhDs while in prison, so long as his file is marked " never to be released". The prospect of him being out after 21 years, as a relatively young man, is disturbing. This crime was so awful than the punitive must outweigh any thought of rehabilitation leading to release.

Of course it can happen anywhere. Clearly the moto guys did a great job in restraining him but again the police have been caught short for a response, both in respect of the way they have handled the offender in the case ( it seems) AND the victim, who has been left pretty much in the dark.

It goes without saying that it shouldn't be the responsibility of the victim to alert others to the dangers and to make sure the guy is charged...but, alas, it looks like that is what has happened.

When was the photo? 1933 or '34. People viewed Hitler as a mild eccentric rather than a fully-fledged nutter. The royals did their bit during the war even if Edward was a bit dodgy.

It is not in dispute that a significant part of the British establishment viewed Uncle Joe a more serious threat than Hitler ( and effectively sided with the fascists during the Spanish civil war).

She did it the hard way by marrying a wealthy Canadian .

At the lower end of the lunacy scale. Get the arrogant Merc driving bitch who repeatedly drives through pedestrians on the lane between the Hyatt and Amarin Plaza...doing about 80 kmh. No, won't happen but a Yaris is safe for seizure

They want to regulate the sale of alcohol in close proximity to universities; they might well turn their attention to the disgraceful crap being sold near, indeed IN , schools...sugar laden junk of the worst order....aided and abetted by unrelenting advertising aimed at youngsters

The furrowed brow speaks louder than the tatts.

He is right, of course: the economic management has been a disaster ( and mostly unrelated to the issues in China). This will come as no surprise to those who have followed the Thai economy over the years.

Not even the very worst of the soaps could come up with a claim as ludicrous as this one.

Barnaby Joyce proving that there is a flip side to the current drink driving story in Thailand, that status confers certain privilege.

In an effort to demonstrate his willingness to get tough on crime, he's going to hit the Hollywood players and bigwigs for unreasonable prison terms and exorbitant fines for flying pampered pooches into Australia.

The negative impact of this self-serving publicity seeking overzealous prosecution is yet to be seen. HIs common bloke, man of the people, Mr Smith goes to Canberra public persona is ridiculous.

.

Whats the bet that Johnny Depp has more clout in ensuring future movies, including enduring franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean don't get remade in Australia.

Here's the great man himself, mugging for the camera

Barnaby Joyce

That's just his lunch.