Srikcir

1 hour ago, White Christmas13 said:

The reason, in large part, is likely that Greenland is rich in natural resources, including iron ore, lead, zinc, diamonds, gold, rare-earth elements, uranium and oil, according to the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public-policy organization in Washington, D.C.

It is also rich in trapped methane gas in the ice sheet.

• "A key finding is that much of the methane produced beneath the ice likely escapes the Greenland Ice Sheet in large, fast flowing rivers before it can be oxidized to CO2, a typical fate for methane gas which normally reduces its greenhouse warming potency." https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190103110300.htm

Full resource development of Greenland will greatly accelerate methane release, further affecting global climate change (good for Mars, not good for Earth).

Furthermore, unrestricted industrialization of Greenland will also accelerate ice sheet melting that could become a major factor in sea-level rise around the world within two decades. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/21/climate/greenland-ice.html

From a State-owned enterprise

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

“Though there is a slowdown in global and Thai economies, we believe this is the best time to invest on infrastructure and new businesses.

whose financial awareness is completely in line with the State's financial policies that have not worked well for state-owned THAI

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

the net profit at the end of this year will be lower than that of end-2018

Lower profits, best time to invest?

20 hours ago, webfact said:

The proposal includes, among other things, a one-time 1,500 baht travel allowance for about 10 million salaried workers to promote domestic tourism. (my bold)

83.5% of the workforce in Thailand is unskilled (2016 data)!

https://www.thailand-business-news.com/asean/52226-83-5-per-cent-workforce-thailand-unskilled.html

It is unlikely they are salaried.

I guess who cares whether vacation plans are within their reach.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

the budget for the Universal Healthcare System approved by the previous government had been slashed by Bt650 million.

Meanwhile, Prayut wanted in the 2020 budget an additional 12 billion baht ($389.6 million) for the Navy's second Chinese submarine! A total of 6-8 submarine purchases from China had been planned despite their performance, materials, endurance, sonar and weapon systems have not been proven yet and  China has refrained from releasing performance details. https://www.benarnews.org/english/news/thai/new-sub-07302019161912.html

And that takes priority over fully funding UHS?

An irony (or joke depending on one's political perspective) is that the first hospital for the elderly run by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will partially open later this year. But the BMA has yet to recruit personnel to provide comprehensive care of the elderly at the new hospital. 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1111156-bma%E2%80%99s-first-hospital-for-elderly-to-partially-open-this-year/    

I expect the proposed UHS budget cut will impact the mission of that facility.

5 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Among those retiring are the three deputy National Police commissioners, namely Pol General Chalermkiat Srivorakan, Pol General Rungroj Saengkram and Pol General Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, as well as RTP deputy inspector general Pol Lt-General Tawitchai Palasak. 

With PM Prayut now directly supervising the RTP, none of these positions are needed.

And Prayut always has DPM Prawit as his backup.

10 hours ago, webfact said:

"His open talk about 'dialogue' between the North and the South under such a situation raises a question as to whether he has proper thinking faculty," (my bold)

Diplomatic speak for "retarded."

10 hours ago, webfact said:

"In spite of a series of worrying actions taken by North Korea recently, the momentum for dialogue remains unshaken,"

Seems to me that "momentum" ended at the Vietnam summit meeting.

7 hours ago, webfact said:

The Prime Minister has asked the private sector to create new markets such as promoting SMEs to provide low-income earners with access to cheap, quality products

I would ask the private sector to create new markets to provide low-income workers with a sustainable income that would give better access to consumer products that don't have to be CHEAP.

53 minutes ago, kensisaket said:

His patented methodology has been used successfully for years. 

It's not the method that's been an issue but the results.

Statistically rainmaking by cloud seeding has at best a 50% probability of success according to international studies. That means there is a 50% probability of nature making rain without any human intervention.

While the technology itself has many variables to success, there are several environmental variables that must also coincide such as clouds must be present (and not moving from the target area or moving into the target area), the clouds must be the right kind of clouds for artificial rainmaking, air traffic and weather conditions (ie., wind shears, lack of visibility) must be such that it permits the Royal Rainmakers to undertake the operation. For example (27 April 2019):
https://www.thephuketnews.com/royal-rainmakers-on-standby-in-phuket-despite-three-failed-attempts-71243.php#LAGDzWirDQDucUW8.99

21 hours ago, webfact said:

The southern Army chief has ordered the tightening of security along the Thai-Malaysian border

What about Prayut's border wall?

May 2018:

https://asiaviews.net/thai-malaysia-wall-political-matter-security-matter/

The Thai and Malaysian governments have agreed on a plan for a border wall. The proposed plan includes 11km wall in Dan Nok-Dan Sadao, Songkhla province.

• The wall itself is unlikely to have a serious impact on smuggling efforts.
• Much of the Songkhla population holds dual citizenship. These citizens will be able to enter and exit Thailand and Malaysia unhindered.
• The wall will be a political tool. It will be something Prayut can point to as a sign that he is trying to solve Thailand’s difficult issues.

Always going with a military solution from Prayut when a political solution is necessary. A military mind-set is simply incapable of resolving sovereign issues.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

the amount could be split between the plantation owners and rubber tapers at a 60:40 ratio

The operative word is "could" and in Thailand that usually means "won't."

21 hours ago, keith101 said:

Is this any different from what a previous government did wit rice ?

To be precise you might have said '... from what previous governments did with rice?'

Prayut was the previous government following the Yingluck government, both of whom used a subsidized rice pledge program. They only differed in the amount of the subsidy and manner of storing pledged rice.

The Thai government's manipulation of rubber prices only applies to domestic purchase.

It has no effect on the global market prices unless domestic consumption reduces global demand.

With rubber-producing Indonesia and Malaysia competing in the international rubber market and a general global softening demand for rubber, Thailand's domestic rubber subsidy will not meet the challenge of agriculture sustainability. 

This is just another "flashy" populist program of limited economic durability.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

senior positions start from Bt150,000 to Bt500,000.

A four-year SMART "T" Visa requires a minimum Bt200,000/mo.

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Prawit spoke to reporters before chairing a meeting of the National Environment Board at Government House.

Just the man to lead the nation on greenhouse gas.

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

It's going to be a terrible crop

Anyone take the de facto free government rice crop insurance?

Drought is one of the main qualifiers for compensation of loss.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The poll’s forecast for full-year 2019 growth was 3.0%

Obviously, no longer relevant:

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The pace in January-March was 2.8%.

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Sarun Sunansathaporn, economist of Bank of Ayudhya, who predicts second quarter annual growth of 2.1%.

If the 3^rd and 4^th quarters growth rates were equal, both would have to achieve a 3.45% quarterly growth rate when added to the first and second quarter growth rates to provide for an annual average 3.0% growth rate for 2019. But we already know a growth rate greater than 3% for the remaining quarters is not reality.

More likely the annual growth rate for 2019 will be at best no more than 2.5% and at worst 2%.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In return, BEM agreed to drop the demand for 137.5 billion baht from EXAT for breach of contract over expressway fees, drop a dispute over a non-competition clause for the Pakkred-Bang Pa-in expressway and to settle for just 58.8 billion baht in compensation, which will be paid in the form of an extension to the concession contract to operate three expressways.

This should read:

In return to be made whole, ...etc.

BEM negotiated a quid pro quo in compensation. It did not in substance give up any part of its compensation demand. It just accepted partial payment in different forms. That's still a government loss.

This is simply more financial waste by Thai governments but likely to be hailed by the government as a Win for the Thai People. Except for the fact that BEM decides the toll!

If the Thai government wants lower tolls or a toll freeze, it will pay for it in one manner or another. It becomes only an issue how to disguise any toll negotiations as a government success for public consumption.

20 hours ago, webfact said:

The Minister of Industry has held talks with the Bank of Thailand’s Governor over measures to control the fluctuation of Thai Baht currency, minimize impacts faced by SMEs and promote the import of machinery during this time to take advantage of the stronger currency.

Those talks should never have been held!

The BoT is allegedly an independent State organization and such talks are an intrusion on BoT's policy making process. These talks lend public suspicion that BoT is a political advocate of the Prayut government and parliament should take note of the bank's violation of public trust!

Thailand's central bank insists on policy independence (July 2014)

https://www.eiu.com/industry/article/681996652/thailands-central-bank-insists-on-policy-independence/2014-07-08

Statements made apparently in response to policy pressures from the NCPO.

"Prasarn Trairatvorakul, governor of the Bank of Thailand (BOT, the central bank), has issued an unusual warning in defence of the BOT's independence as the country's military rulers decide to pursue many of the previous government's populist spending programmes."

14 hours ago, bristolboy said:

"The agreement does not need congressional approval to take effect.

Yes, any new or amended trade agreement merely requires the approval of both Heads of Government to "take effect." But until an agreement is binding (aka enforceable), it must be ratified by respective governments in the agreement (in U.S. case the Congress).

Otherwise, the agreement is just a gentleman's agreement. It can be canceled by simple Head of Government declaration (ie., POTUS Trump Presidential Order). Conversely, the next U.S. president following Trump can by Presidential Order cancel or alter Trump's unratified trade agreements.

As another consequence, any U.S. international trade agreement that is not ratified by Congress ultimately is a waste of government resources and time. And thus far, that's where the Trump administration is at on its trade agreement negotiations - waste.

20 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If he was able to do the TM30 report at a police station I am not sure Chaeng Wattana immigration will accept the TM30 receipt done by a police station for proof it was done.

No, they won't as of my visit on August 7^th.

My province is Bangkok with IO located in the Chaeng Watthana Government Complex 50km from my residence. My planned report time for IO queue was fixed due to a two-month advanced one-night hotel booking near CWGC. Although I had mailed to CWGC my TM30 for certification in advance, after 5 weeks I had no response prior to my trip.

So when I did report to IO I presented the local (2km from my residence) police certification as a backup. I did show the IO my EMS indicating Immigration receipt of my TM30. I had with me documentation that would prove my residence location even  including mail from CWGC to my residence for my next 90-day report deadline.

The IO rejected the police certification, being very empathetic that Immigration is not the same as Police - "We are separate!" In response to my question as to why I didn't receive IO certification from my mailed in form, she said it was probably because I failed to include proper documentation.

So I had to belatedly queue at the TM30 desk and 2 hours later I had my Immigration certification, albeit IO used my police certification form by deleting the police certification and took all my  residential documentation. Returned to first IO without queue and quickly got my extension. The irony is that the day after I returned home, I got in the mail my originally mailed IO certification approved by CWGC without any documentation submitted with the mailed in certification request - likely because IO matched my address from CWGC my 90-day report receipts. Same could have been done during my visit to the CWGC.

As a matter of consistency, Immigration (ie., through the Minister of Foreign Affairs) must inform the Police Commissioner not to have any police station certify the TM30 if there is an Immigration office in the province. No exceptions.

Might also require police to add a statement otherwise on their certification that there is no Immigration office in their province. If police don't comply or are untrained with Immigration laws and rules, they should be held accountable. 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

proposed 17,283 projects

Clearly not a unified strategic approach to a national water management infrastructure program.

This is just seems a "bits and pieces" approach more driven by political ambitions and not by science.

Speaking of science, what happened to the Thai Ministry of Science & Technology plans to use a digital water management system by Cloud Asset that would allow them "to become the central agency supporting Thailand in its water resilience and water security efforts"? Are these 17,000+ projects integrated with such a system (whose cost I have not see published):

https://www.preventionweb.net/news/view/63873    

• Cloud Asset developed a data management platform to ingest and cleanse data from over 40 disparate data sources, originating across various Thai government departments and authorities, and from over 30,000 sensors deployed across the nation. This was supplemented with satellite data from the Japanese Aerospace Authority (JAXA), The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA US), the Thai Navy, and human data pulled from the Internet and social media sources to create a live Unified Situation Picture of the national water at any given moment.
• Cloud Asset’s solution offers artificial intelligence and machine learning to enable near real-time monitoring with prediction and forecast capabilities. The system can provide short and long-term flood and drought probabilities, impact assessments, and aid in disaster and risk-management at a national scale.