Good afternoon,

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has announced that his country faces the ‘most difficult year’ as a result of the ongoing economic crisis. The crisis is now definitely having an impact on East Asia, including Thailand. The initial problems with banks and the credit crunch allowed people here to talk, a little foolishly, about the ‘hamburger crisis’ but the secondary effects of reduced demand for goods around the world are now seriously affecting export-based economies. The Thai government’s revenue is 16% below what is expected for the first four months of the 2009. The government has refused to make cuts in excise tax for the automobile industry, which is extremely important to the Thai economy overall and which is already on the verge of further, massive job cuts.

Still, it is an ill-wind etc and so forth: the various budget airlines are said to be launching a price war, making cheap tickets available for a number of destinations across Asia and Australia. Not so good for the carbon emissions point of view, of course.

A police officer has been stripped of his rank and position after failing to account for funds under his control and which had been provided by charitable collections overseas in response to the tsunami of 2004. The man involved seems to be unavailable for questioning and has changed his name.

Back tomorrow.