Tag: alternative

August 25, 2014 0

French Government Dissolves in Dispute Between PM Valls and Economy Minister Montebourg

By News Desk

The Financial Times reports Insurrection Forces François Hollande to Act . François Hollande, a politician renowned for his caution, acted with uncharacteristic speed on Monday to shake up his Socialist government after a weekend of provocative insurrection by Arnaud Montebourg, his most voluble leftwing minister. The Elysée Palace denied French media reports that Manuel Valls, the uncompromising prime minister appointed only five months ago, had delivered a “him or me†ultimatum to the president, forcing Mr Hollande’s hand

August 19, 2014 0

US "Pivot" Stumbles in Thailand

By News Desk

Bangkok’s Nation newspaper in an article titled, " Thailand to help launch investment bank for Asia ,"  reported that:  Thailand has been invited by China to become one of the founding fathers of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which is supported by this country’s central bank.  "There was no reason to refuse," Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul said yesterday.  Thailand was offered a primary signing agreement as a member from October to November, according to a report by the Fiscal Policy Office (FPO). The recent moves by the new military-led government of Thailand in relation to China have certainly given it more leverage against the West who regularly seeks to turn uncooperative nations into geopolitical  pariahs. The West so far has nothing to offer Thailand in terms of incentives beyond increasingly ineffective threats and coercion.  Chinese Opportunities, Western Threats  Indeed, while China offers Thailand opportunities to join alternative financial markets and strengthen regional ties, the West has resorted to a series of sociopolitical attacks aimed at undermining the credibility and stability of Thailand’s new government.  The latest attempt comes in the form of baseless allegations made by a notoriously dishonest, confrontational pro-Shinawatra propagandist  Kritsuda Khunasen who claims she was "tortured" by the military while recently detained.