The Nation (Thailand) articles from December 2006

The Nation (Thailand) archives from December 2006

The search for a second Earth.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The recent launch of the Corot spacecraft holds science's best hope yet for finding other planets capable of harbouring life The hunt for a second Earth began in earnest last...

When one tyrant is hanged for human-rights abuses, others should take notice.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. As Saddam Hussein was executed at the break of dawn yesterday, former strongman Thaksin Shinawatra should remind himself that there are lingering questions over where the ultimate...

Thaksin's cronies resort to a smear campaign to save their boss.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Underlings and cronies of deposed Thaksin Shinawatra are having a heyday in their negative campaigns to discredit Prime Minister Surayud and head of the Council for National Security...

A tumultuous year for the civic movement.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. For the so-called people's movement comprising non-government organisations (NGOs), intellectuals and political as well as social activists, 2006 was a tumultuous year in which people...

Taxing tissue the most ethical solution to compensating donors.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Today's biomedical research is a collaborative research enterprise, requiring the contributions of patients, universities and industry. Today's laws, however, allow only...

Murder victim's wife slams scared villagers.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Local people stood by and did nothing as two teachers were shot and burned by suspected militants in Yala The wife of a teacher who was shot dead and set on fire by suspected...

Road toll rises to 109 dead.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Road accidents across the country left 109 people dead and 1,300 injured during the first two days of the dangerous weeklong New Year holiday, the Road Safety Centre reported...

2006: a year in transition.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. 2006 was a year of huge change in the Thai politics. There were several dramatic and unexpected developments - many of them rare and some unprecedented. The year saw massive street...

A year of brunches.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. A look back at some of the fascinating newsmakers who shared their views with us over brunch during this tumultuous year Literary bridges Published on February 26 The...

Justice served with Saddam's death.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Former tyrant's ignominious end should usher in a new era for Iraq and allow it to finally embrace democracy The former tyrant of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, was executed by hanging...

Consumer rights bills ready for NLA.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Justice Ministry is introducing two bills that will better arm consumers and recognise their rights, permanent secretary Charan Phakdithanakul said yesterday. The bills have...

Fire leaves Bo Bae market a danger zone.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Parts of Bo Bae market, arguably the country's largest wholesale garment market, were declared a danger zone yesterday by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) after 95...

Key political developments of 2006.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. January :Protests against Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra led by media firebrand Sondhi Limthongkul continue from the previous year. The protests gain momentum when the...

'More conflict'.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Paisan Promyong, president of the Central Islamic Committee of Thailand, said yesterday it was "severe contempt of the Islamic world" to execute Saddam Hussein at the beginning of the...

Thailand beats Vietnam 3-1.
December 31, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. [SOCCER] Thailand ended the year in spectacular style by defeating arch-rivals Vietnam 3-1 to lift the coveted trophy in the final of the quadrangular 37th King's Cup tournament at the...

Bangkok International Film Festival postpones.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Bangkok International Film Festival 2007, previously scheduled in January next year is postponed to July, according to its organiser Tourism Authority of Thailand. The...

The Princess' diary.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thailand's designing royal surveys Paris Fashion Week ahead of her debut there next year The current issue of Praew magazine has a terrific article by Her Royal Highness Princess...

Saisuda goes hunting.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thailand's most inspired hairdresser returns from overseas with 'Rare Species' Celebrated hairdresser Saisuda Chuaviwat showered more than 300 salon owners from 10 Asian countries...

SocialScene :Viennese evening.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. HRH Princess Srirasmi, The Royal Consort of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, is welcomed by Khunying Rose Boribalburibhand, president of SOS Foundation of Thailand, Khunying...

Long way from home.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. It's okay if the 'koey farang' of Isaan have to tell their wives where the Christmas bunting goes No, no, no, don't hang it there!" Howard Roscoe shouted to his wife and her...

Hooked on science.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The schoolboy and his marvellous flying machine Six years ago, Wongsakorn Limsiri was just an ordinary schoolboy in Surin province. He'd never received any honour certificates and...

Stock focus :BEC World.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Kim Eng Securities has recommended "buy" for BEC World's stock with a fair value of Bt23 per share. To improve utilisation rates, BEC World will revamp its weekend programme again...

Company reports.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. CAL-COMP ELECTRONICS (THAILAND)'s board approved investing in Apex Circuit (Thailand) for the purpose of forming a supplier alliance. The company will purchase 9.06 million shares for...

Regulators face tough task.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Authorities will have to tread fine line between duty and heavy-handedness The year 2007 looks like being another year in which Thai stock market regulators will continue their...

Traffic Corner CEO resigns.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Traffic Corner Holdings' chief executive officer Ruamnakorn Tubtimthongchai resigned last Friday. He also stepped down as chairman of the company's executive committee, but...

The price of an 'unholy' alliance.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. For generations, serving the government has been prestigious, not only for civil servants but also their families. In modern times, these civil servants, who have maintained their...

Property funds to be 'hit badly'.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Call for waiver on foreign investment Property funds worth Bt30 billion planned for the first quarter of 2007 will fall short of their target if the Bank of Thailand (BOT) does...

SCG reels from baht surge.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Export revenues of the Siam Cement Group (SCG) dropped to Bt1.4 billion due to the baht's 15-per-cent appreciation from January till now, Kajohndet Sangsuban, president of SCG's...

Gift baskets more popular this year.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. It's the festive season and the time of year for giving gifts, especially to mark the arrival of the New Year. The basket gift has long proven to be a popular choice, and Bangkok...

Thailand's tourist capacity set for a boost next year.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. New hotels and resorts will increase rooms to nearly 200,000 More than 50 hotels and resorts are scheduled to open in 2007-08, mostly in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, raising the...

Telecom operators given ultimatum.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Ministry is threatening to punish telecom operators who are concessionaires of CAT Telecom if they fail to transfer ownership of...

Software Park aims to get local products into the US market.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. To encourage local software companies to expose themselves to the vast opportunities in the global market, Software Park Thailand has initiated a project called "Go to Global Market"....

Emerging industry seeks assistance.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. It is predicted that the total market of value-added services, including both voice and non-voice services, on mobile networks will hit Bt21 billion this year, a 20 to 30-per-cent...

Strong growth in value-added services.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Advance Info Service (AIS) aims to preserve its position as market leader in mobile value-added services, which are expected to grow by 20 per cent this year. The company predicts that...

Act change 'will not hit confidence'.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Krirk-krai gives investment assurance Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet yesterday pledged the amended Foreign Business Act would not affect foreign investors' confidence or...

Better Vision looks ahead despite lower sales in 2006.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Better Vision Group, an eyeglass importer and distributor, expects to see a drop in its sales-growth rate this year, to 12-13 per cent from last year's 17-18 per cent due to high...

Bonds to help fund deficit.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday met Finance Ministry officials to discuss public-debt management for the 2007 fiscal year. It is...

Energy sources vary according to price.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Finished oil demand is expected to increase slightly next year, due to persistently high prices in the global market causing consumers to further save energy or switch to alternative...

Sangchai to sell home and beauty-care products.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Sangchai Air Quality, which has distributed Honeywell air purifiers in Thailand for almost four years, has expanded into home and beauty care with the introduction of its new Conair...

Commerce Ministry to work on rice demand.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Commerce Ministry will try to create real market demand for rice exports, mainly to push its excess stocks out of the country. Commerce Minister Krirk-krai Jirapaet said over...

New Year's call traffic.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thailand's largest cellular operator, Advanced Info Service (AIS), is well prepared to handle the surge in message traffic over the New Year's holiday. Weerawat Kiattipongthaworn,...

In brief :Suksan Rice banned for three months.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Commerce Ministry yesterday suspended Suksan Rice from trading for three months after the company was found to have breached the Weight and Measurement Act of 1999. The...

Tough year ahead in electrical appliances.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Forecast for consumer confidence still gloomy 2007 is expected to be another tough year for the electrical-appliance and audio-visual (AV) sector, with signs of continued dampened...

Car owners are more and more satisfied with their vehicles: survey.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Customer satisfaction with new vehicles' design and performance has increased for the third consecutive year in Thailand, according to the JD Power Asia-Pacific 2006 Thailand...

Tourism to get boost from bridge.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Travel and tourism in the Greater Mekong Subregion will get a significant boost with the opening of the second Friendship Bridge between Thailand and Laos. The bridge, on which...

Organic-foods mogul gives credit.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. It took Suwanna Jiwattanapaiboon four years to find the right products and innovative machinery to start her own business, but now she seems to have succeeded by selling healthy food...

Stem-cell bank bullish on Thailand.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thai StemLife, the first private stem-cell bank in Thailand, plans to expand 300 per cent next year. The company was founded last year as a joint venture between Superior Biotech...

Another calling rate agreement.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Total Access Communication (DTAC) and Triple T Broadband have signed a deal on interconnection rates. They agreed on a termination rate of Bt1 a minute and a transit rate of 50...

Study finds new salamander species in Chaiyaphum forest.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Researchers working in the Biodiversity Research and Training (BRT) programme have discovered a new species of salamander featuring a short tail with thorn-like scales. The Huai...

A hard rider on bike and business.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Sara Lamsam says his Hewlett Packard pocket PC is indispensable as long as he is in business. "It's the first thing in the morning that I switch on to check important e-mails,...

Give Suvarnabhumi a more auspicious name and make certain that it's worthy of it.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Re: "Spelling of the airport's name causes confusion", Letters, December 23. John de Laurent is right on the mark when he points out the discrepancy between the spelling of the...

Iran should show some responsibility.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Ahmadinejad's defiance of the UNSC's recent resolution will only lead to worsening international ties Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saw it coming long before the United...

This year's true heroes:everyday people in the deep South.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The brutal attack on two female teachers by insurgents in Pattani last week is a tragic reminder that despite its intensifying efforts, the government of Prime Minister Surayud...

2006: a vintage year for ideas that will change the world.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. When words fade, it is the great ideas and arguments that move the world on. John Maynard Keynes couldn't bear the "practical" men and women who forged economies and societies by...

Palestine's necessary civil war.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Regardless of the latest hastily negotiated truce, the battle between nationalist Fatah and Islamist Hamas seems to be gaining intensity. Palestinian politics, always...

Thailand wary of S'pore threat.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. [SOCCER] Thailand's chances of reclaiming the title were dealt a big blow when midfielder Datsakorn Thonglao sustained an injury, leaving him in doubt for their second match against...

Top school burnt down in Si Sa Ket.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Prang Ku high suffers Bt1-million damage; police checking to see if it was deliberately lit A fire at a secondary school in Si Sa Ket yesterday morning caused damage totalling at...

Lack of plan could delay budget for healthcare scheme.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The universal healthcare scheme could face a period of chaos because of a delay in getting the last half of its general funds for 2007. The Budget Bureau warned yesterday...

Prince gives aid to storm-struck South.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn organised the delivery of 800 bags of relief to residents in the South yesterday in areas lashed by high seas and violent storms. Some 500...

Phra Phrome Jariyajarn dies from heart failure.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The abbot of Wat Benchamabopitr, Phra Phrome Jariyajarn, died of heart failure on Sunday night. He was 86. A member of the Sangha Supreme Council, the abbot was known for his...

Chronology of 14 school fires in Northeast.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. September 30 - A fire broke out at Nongkok Sabaeng Samakkhee School in Buri Ram. The construction of this one-storey school was funded by local people's donations. The fire...

Canadian killed in robbery.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. A Canadian man was shot dead and three compatriots injured in a robbery last night in their condominium off Sukhumvit Soi 18. The lone robber climbed into the room on 10th floor of...

Dinosaur footprints found.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. A dinosaur's footprints have been found in Phoo Hin Rong Kla National Park in Phitsanulok. French palaeontologist Jean Re Loeuff, who led a team of two Thai geologists, said he...

Woman charged over St Joseph's stabbings.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Public prosecutors yesterday filed a charge of attempted murder against a woman who attacked four students at Bangkok's St Joseph's Convent School 14 months ago. Jitrada...

Urgent need for blankets in Nan; cold kills 2 more.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The winter cold has claimed two lives - and tormented many members of a primitive tribe in chilly Nan province in the far Northeast. A 64-year-old inmate went into shock at Ubon...

Boom in dog meat sales to neighbouring countries.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The trade in dog meat across the Mekong River is booming as the meat is believed to help keep the body warm, a rumour that apparently started in Vietnam. Exports from Thailand to...

Two more gunned down, school set on fire in deep South.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Suspected militants killed a soldier and a villager in separate drive-by shootings yesterday, while a public school was torched as violence raged on in the deep South. Muslim Army...

Thaksin accused by AEC on deals.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Ousted PM set to face charges over land purchase and bomb scanners Deposed premier Thaksin Shinawa-tra is believed to have been involved in two fraudulent cases involving a...

Waves of remembrance.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thousands mourn harrowing tragedy Survivors, relatives of the victims and mourners will today visit beaches along six Andaman provinces for the second year of commemoration of...

Bhanapot case: Revenue chief axed.
December 26, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Finance Ministry yesterday fired Sirote Swasdipanich, the director-general of the Revenue Department, and four other senior officials for failing to collect tax from the family of...

Black Tuesday: Did the BOT overreact'.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. From his interview with Tarisa Watanagase, the Bank of Thailand governor, and Achana Waikhuamdee, the central bank's chief economist, Thanong Khanthong examines the Bank of Thailand's...

Volunteering her view.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Kritaya Sreesunpagit's key for unlocking the potential in Thai youngsters came to her spontaneously - introduce them to the joys of volunteer activities It's such a natural train...

SocialScene :United Arab Emirates National Day.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. United Arab Emirates ambassador Salim Issa Ali Al Kattam Al Zaabi, centre, recently hosted a cocktail reception celebrating the 35th anniversary and National Day of the United Arab...

Festive pet-a-porter.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Don't leave your pooch or pussycat out of the holiday-buying frenzy - here are some suggestions to make things easier Even if you don't own a pet, you'll find that shops selling...

The not quite so world-famous Kenny G.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. The Oriental Bangkok was a little busier than usual on the morning of December 9, with a bunch of reporters being allowed in - but only long enough to interview jazz artist Kenny G,...

A tale of two festivals.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Bangkok swings to great sounds, but they should have been better spaced. n Kitchana Lersakvanitchakul The Nation Jazz fans have been in for a treat this month with two...

Management is the key, says Preuksa boss.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Low-profile property developer Thongma Vijitpongpan attracted immense attention when he was named by Forbes magazine and several organisations as one of the wealthiest Thai...

Late news :Power Clinic sets out on the franchising trail.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Power Clinic, a mobile-phone repair centre, plans to open up to 40 franchised branches in the next year, generating expected income of Bt20 million in the period. Thanachai...

Concrete progress limited.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Delays to mega-projects and fewer residential projects mean slow growth The cement industry expects growth of only 1 or 2 per cent next year following delays to the new...

Suvarnabhumi is at last making its mark.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. KI Woo looks at how the new Suvarnabhumi Airport has affected key businesses in the area. After a long wait, many businesses are finally benefiting from early wagers that locating...

Tararom sees growth.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Property developer Tararom Enterprise has forecast sales growth of around 20 per cent, or Bt1.4 billion, next year by focusing on single-house projects priced between Bt3 million and...

Thai retailers upbeat as Asian sentiment rises.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Buoyed by economic growth and rising income levels across Asia, retail sentiment for the next 12 months is correspondingly strong and retailers now have more aggressive expansion...

Textiles :Exports up 2.8% in first 10 months.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. Thailand's garment and textile export value grew 2.8 per cent to US$5.69 billion (Bt206.9 billion) during the first 10 months of the year. Apiradi Tantraporn, director-general of...

CPF tips the scales with its newly bred 'morakot' catfish.
December 25, 2006... (From The Nation (Thailand)) Byline: The Nation. To serve rising fish consumption, Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF) has successfully developed a new cross-breed of fish called morakot, which offers a rich source of protein with good...