The Nation (Thailand) articles from November 2009

The Nation (Thailand) archives from November 2009

HM brings light into roral auto painter's life.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The auto painter who has looked after His Majesty the King's cars for about a decade credits the King's advice for him "to know his own standing" with his success in repaying his Bt10-million debts and becoming a wealthy...

Small firsm told to shape up before AFC.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Private sector must act on its own, without waiting for govt initiative, says chamber of commerce Business leaders yesterday called for small business units to be an integral part of each province's development and for...

Surin urges firms to make more use of trade, investment incentives.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Asean Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan yesterday urged more local and regional businesses to take advantage of the grouping's trade and investment privileges after finding out that the major investors were global...

Youth arrested for 11-year-old's rape, murder.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. A 23-year-old neighbour was arrested yesterday for raping and strangling an 11-year-old schoolgirl in a tapioca plantation in Sanam Chai district last week. Some of the 100 onlookers' attempts to attack the suspect,...

Man nabbed over killing of Japanese.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. A man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of killing a 75-year-old Japanese husband in Muang district, reportedly out of rage at the victim for abusing the Thai wife with whom he was involved romantically. Suwit...

How can anyone be stupid enough to support Thaksin'.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. You didn't need the 2006 coup or any later court verdicts, wrong or right, political or not, to judge Thaksin's destiny, as Hun Sen does. Already, before he was forced out of office, he was a shame for Thailand because...

Militaries could heal battered bilateral ties.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The positive tone of the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers hold hopes for normalisation The General Border Committee meeting ended on Friday on a positive note as the Thai and Cambodian defence ministers agreed to...

A matter of love and hate.
November 29, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Over almost two decades I met and interviewed Samak Sundaravej many times. I will remember him as a veteran politician of superstar status who often showed me his goodwill. He never turned down a request for an interview,...

Negligence is cited in chemical spill.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. An ongoing investigation suggests negligence might have caused a major chemical leakage at Laem Chabang Port on Wednesday. The leakage of sodium persulfate affected the health of many people. Dozens, including port...

DUBAI DEBACLE.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Global markets in turmoil after debt bombshell Panic spread around global financial markets yesterday as they took in the implications of Dubai World's request for a debt moratorium, but the Thai financial markets and...

Default no cause for alarm, says Korn.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij yesterday said Dubai World's default would not hit Thai exports to the Middle Eastern market, as other parts of the United Arab Emirates and the region remain economically sound. ...

Burmese video-journalists risk their lives to reveal the truth.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. IT'S UNLIKELY that "T" knows he is being honoured and celebrated around the word these days. "T", along with his colleague "Z", shot video images that were made into "Orphans of Burma's Cyclone", a documentary film that...

Scope for scepticism.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Assistant director of IMF's Asia-Pacific department, Joshua Felman, explains why |he is more wary than optimistic about Asia's current recovery, though he insists |that after the 1997 crisis, his organisation has learned...

Troop surge alone won't win Afghan war.
November 28, 2009... Byline: The Nation. To get rid of the Taleban and al-Qaeda, US must also hold the Karzai government accountable Come Tuesday, US President Barack Obama will be announcing his new strategy on Afghanistan. He is widely expected to send...

Can Anand guarantee his impartiality'.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Former caretaker prime minister Anand Panyarachun, who chairs a committee looking into areas of concern regarding the development of the eastern seaboard, recently presided over PTT's 11th Green Globe Awards ceremony...

Retreat signal ensures a temporary peace.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Whatever the real reason for the red-shirt rally postponement, it will serve Thaksin's purposes for now It's not the first time that Thaksin Shinawatra has called for postponement or cancellation of a red-shirt rally....

The dead live again.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The better incarnations of Mae Nak return, along with another popular show from the other side The three-way battle earlier this year among stage shows based on Thailand's favourite horror folk tale, Mae Nak, saw...

Palacios' camp kick up a row.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. [BOXING] A dispute over the gloves nearly led to the cancellation of the World Boxing Council strawweight title fight between Oleydong Sithsamerchai's and Juan Palacios of Nicaragua today. Before the official weighin at...

Tamarine to take on Date in quarters.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Tamarine Tanasugarn has set up an allveteran clash with Japanese legend Kimiko Date Krumm as they square off today in the quarterfinals of the US$75,000 Dunlop World Challenge Tennis Tournament in Toyota, Japan. ...

Ministry, petroleum group proposing large oil pipeline project.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Energy Business Department is pushing for a Bt15-billion investment in an oil pipeline linking the central part of the country to the North and Northeast. Backers say the pipeline would increase efficiency in...

Guru Speak: Enjoying tax advantages from life insurance.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. How can it already be the end of November' It seems like just a few weeks ago we were gearing up to face the economic reality of 2009. But with the year-end just around the corner, that means that the tax season is also...

Source names winners of TOT's MSAN.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Three consortiums won e-auctions to install Multi Service Access Node ( MSAN) equipment for TOT's project of installing 577,000 broadband Internet and fibre-optic network ports nationwide. While TOT declined to disclose...

Tesco Lotus to accept road tax payments.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Tesco Lotus, in cooperation with the Department of Land Transport (DLT), yesterday launched an annual road-tax payment service at all 600 branches of Tesco Lotus around the country. Piyapong Wechasethanon, head of...

Cement-makers expect rise in demand.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Thailand's cement consumption in 2010 is forecast to pick up slightly from 24 million tonnes this year thanks to the government's construction projects and the economic recovery. This is a good sign for the industry...

Outdoor Innovation focuses on export to offset risks.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Outdoor Innovation, a manufacturer and distributor of camping equipment and outdoor products, has initiated an export strategy to mitigate any risk to its domestic business caused by local political and economic...

Outdoor Innovation export focus to offset risks.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Firm concerned about politics, economy Outdoor Innovation, a manufacturer and distributor of camping equipment and outdoor products, has initiated an export strategy to mitigate any risk to its domestic business caused...

Travel warnings to hurt Chiang Mai.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Tourism business in Chiang Mai is expected to drop following travel warnings for this weekend when an official economic meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday. Prakit Surapol Sritrakul, president of the Thai...

Dong devaluation a blow for Thai rice firms.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. But views differ on overall effect on exporters This week's devaluation of the dong will affect Thai rice exports, particularly to the Philippines, as it strengthens the competitiveness of Vietnamese exporters. ...

World trade ministers to seek conclusion.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Trade ministers from more than 150 countries will gather in Geneva next week in a bid to finally conclude the Doha Round - a marathon talk on global free trade that started in Doha, Qatar, in 2001 - within next year. ...

NBC to pay dividend of Bt0.15 per share.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Nation Broadcasting Corp's board approved an interim dividend payment of Bt0.15 per share, totalling Bt25.5 million, for the firm's operating results from January 1 to September 30. NBC's net profit for the period was...

AIS and Dtac again call for 3G decision.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Advanced Info Service (AIS) might not include the 3G-2.1GHz business-development strategy in next year's business plan, given that it is still uncertain when the 3G spectra licences will be available. AIS chief...

Thai students bag US biotechnology awards.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Thai graduate students have won awards at the Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp in the US. The award winners, Natdanai Dechthiranukul and Pattraporn Senawattanakul, are students at Chulalongkorn...

Guards loved, loathed.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Hardworking private security guards are greatly admired while those who sleep on the job or give better service in return for tips are most loathed, according to an Abac poll released yesterday. A recent survey about...

Srilanka sees gold as forex anchor.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Sri Lanka's central bank yesterday said gold was an "important anchor" for the country's foreign reserves after it bought more of the precious metal this week. Colombo purchased 10 tonnes of gold from the International...

Ten killed in rail crossing tragedies.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Ten people died yesterday in two separate accidents in which trains crashed into vehicles at railway crossings without safety barricades. In Si Sa Ket, seven people including two monks were killed and six others injured...

Royal tribute.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will hold a grand celebration for His Majesty the King's birthday along central Rajdamnoen Avenue from December 37. This year, a special gift will be provided to people who attend...

US blacklists Thailand over child, forced labour.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The US has pushed forward a law allowing tough measures on manufacturers who reportedly use children or forced labour, a senior official said yesterday. Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Amporn Nitisiri...

Witness is credible, DSI says.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The head of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) insisted yesterday the witness who has given evidence against five serving and former police about the disappearance and alleged killing of Saudi Arabian...

AIS won, TOT lost from change.
November 27, 2009... Byline: The Nation. State agency lost a large sum from amended deal, TOT officials tell court Senior officials of state-owned TOT Plc yesterday told judges in the Supreme Court yesterday TOT had suffered a significant revenue loss due to a...

US backs central role for Asean.
November 15, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Obama's 90-minute meeting today with region's leaders expected to upgrade relations to a key partner US President Barack Obama will today endorse the centrality of Asean in new regional community building and an...

New plan readied for school-milk scheme.
November 15, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Agriculture Ministry will soon submit a new management plan for the scandal-ridden school-milk project to the Cabinet for approval, the National News Bureau reported yesterday. Agriculture permanent secretary Yukol...

Tambon chief held over killing, theft.
November 15, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The president of tambon Bang Kaew in Nakhon Pathom's Nakhon Chaisi district was arrested yesterday for allegedly killing a tuk-tuk driver on November 3 and fleeing with the victim's gun and gold ornaments weighing over 21...

Fines for traffic offences 'too weak'.
November 15, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Nearly 80 per cent of motorcyclists run against traffic and only 46 per cent wear a helmet, according to a survey. Dr Thanapong Jinwong, manager of the National Health Foundation's Road Safety Academic Project, cited a...

Public continues to leave messages for King's speedy recovery.
November 15, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Royal Household Bureau allowed the public to leave a message for His Majesty the King's speedy recovery at Siriraj Hospital for the 56th day yesterday. More than 1,050,000 wellwishers have already signed the albums...

Kata Beach Resort gears up for Phuket King's Cup Regatta.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Continuing a tradition that began in 1998, Kata Beach Resort & Spa will again be the host venue of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta, a record that brings immense pride to Kata Group Resorts Thailand chairman, Pamuke...

SET Awards recipients honoured.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. PTT Exploration and Production yesterday was bestowed the Best Performance Awards from the Stock Exchange of Thailand, for the category of stocks with market capitalisation over Bt10 billion. At the ceremony yesterday...

Security boosted at Aranyaprathet checkpoints.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Stricter security measures are being imposed at the main border town in Sa Kaew following intelligence reports that Cambodian soldiers disguised as vendors had infiltrated into Thai soil on intelligencegathering...

Organiser fined over cigarette ads at tobacco exhibition.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. A Thai advertiser who organised an international tobacco exhibition was yesterday fined Bt20,000 for allowing banners carrying images of cigarette brands and logos at the event. The unnamed company was fined Bt20,000...

Bt2bn budget to be managed by Anand pollution panel.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The government will allocate an initial Bt2 billion to resolving environmental and publichealth problems in the Map Ta Phut area, where 76 industrial projects were recently suspended, Deputy Prime Minister Kobsak Sabhavasu...

Use some of Thaksin's funds to rebuild Thailand.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. We can see Thaksin Shinawatra desperately scrabbling to topple this government and the price will no doubt be a heavy one were the national trough ever to be back in his hands for a new feeding frenzy. Indeed the loss...

A cool approach will maintain Thailand's image and credibility.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. PRIME MINISTER Abhisit Vejjajiva will be faced with a delicate situation in Singapore tomorrow when he represents Asean at meeting with US President Barack Obama. The US-Asean dialogue will follow the annual...

Trampling on national dignity for Thaksin.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. As they pose for photos with Hun Sen, some politicians have forgotten what they represent The presence of Thai politicians in Cambodia, where they have been mingling happily with the neighbouring country's political...

Esso rating affirmed.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Fitch Ratings (Thailand) has affirmed the 'F1(tha)' Short-term National rating of ESSO (Thailand) Plc's Bt8 billion bills of exchange (B/E) revolving programme. Under the programme, the maturity of each series of the B/E...

GE Money awarded as best call centre.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. GE Money Thailand receives the 2009 Best Call Centre Award in the category of 'Best In-House Call Center with over 50 Seats' from the Call Centre Industry Association Thailand for two consecutive years. The award...

Warning over lost advantage if maritime MoU scrapped.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Mineral Fuels Department yesterday warned that Thailand could be at a disadvantage if its memorandum of understanding with Cambodia on a maritime pact were terminated. A government source said the 2001 MoU was the...

Border trade not yet affected.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Cross-border trade with Cambodia is holding up despite the diplomatic row between the countries. "There has been no disruption yet in border trade with Cambodia. The conflict is likely to affect new investment projects,...

One-off payment to settle Channel 3 dispute.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Bangkok Entertainment, the TV Channel 3 concession holder, has agreed to pay Bt405 million on a one-off basis to MCOT for an extension to the concession, MCOT chairman Surapon Nitikraipoj said yesterday. The payment...

Supalai lines up 10 new projects for 2010.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Supalai plans to launch at least 10 residential projects worth more than Bt10 billion combined, including two low-cost housing projects, next year. The new projects will boost sales by at least 20 per cent next year...

Samart drives growth with ICT solutions and multimedia.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Samart Corp expects its revenue to grow this year, driven by the ICT solution and mobile multimedia businesses, president Watchai Vilailuck said yesterday. Samart posted consolidated revenue of Bt4.5 billion for the...

Tax-deductible energy products for farmers,SMEs.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Farmers and SMEs will be allowed to deduct part of the cost of some energy-saving electrical products purchased between next May and December from their taxes. Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul yesterday said the...

IATA wants single airport for Bangkok.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The International Air Transport Association is urging the government to operate a single airport for Bangkok and suggests officials build a domestic terminal at Suvarnabhumi. IATA director-general and chief executive...

Thai money abroad.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Board of Investment yesterday announced after a meeting that it had laid out a strategic five-year plan to encourage greater Thai investment abroad. Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng said the plan would...

Oriental Residence half sold.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Thai Contractors Asset, developer of the luxury Oriental Residence on Wireless Road, has sold half of the 44 units and expects to achieve 70-per-cent sales this year. Managing director Valaithip Charanachitta said the...

Delta on worldwide shopping spree.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Delta Electronics (Thailand) is continuing its worldwide efforts to take over companies in order to benefit from the global economic recovery. Director Anusorn Muttaraid yesterday said the company's subsidiaries in...

Higher global demand, Indian shortage to boost rice prices.
November 14, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Rice farmers and the government will soon enjoy better prices due to higher global demand and a shortage in India. The Commerce Ministry yesterday released the new reference prices for rice for November 16-30 trading....

Stream of conscience.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Suthichai Yoon explores the parable of the Mekong in a documentary that's screening tonight Unlike any reporting Suthichai Yoon has ever done, "Echo from the Well: I Can Hear the Mekong Weep" screens tomorrow as part of...

These are mercenaries, not heads of state.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Re: "Abhisit versus Hun Sen: A clash of leadership styles", Opinion, November 12. Reading your op-ed article suggesting that Hun Sen regards himself as far senior to Abhisit, and therefore worthy of more respect,...

Doves and hawks.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. American liberals opposed to the war in Afghanistan are set to go against US President Barack Obama if he proceeds with a troop surge in Afghanistan as requested by his commanding officer there, Lt General Stanley...

Asean and Apec: Complementing each other, not Competing.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. REGIONAL architectures seem to be the flavour of the past couple of months in Asean. The recent 15th Asean Summit and Related Summits in Thailand, would perhaps, on reflection, be known for the twin proposals on new...

Lines crossed in new generation of mobile phone services.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. KORN CHATIKAVANIJ, the finance minister, is taking a hands-on approach in the fresh round of bidding for the 3G mobile phone network. Practically, this is within the domain of the Finance Ministry, since any income from...

All quiet on the eastern front.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. As politicians and diplomats squabble, the Thai and Cambodian armies stay calm on the border Strange as it may seem, the Thai and Cambodian armies are playing it cool. Unlike their political leaders, they are not at...

Cambodia's casino loss is a Laos win.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Many Thai gamblers are reported to be shunning Cambodiabased casinos in the face of deteriorating ties between Bangkok and Phnom Penh. "After Cambodia started quarrelling with Thailand, casino fans are heading to...

Medical purchase list to be reviewed.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Public Health Ministry will revise its list of medical items to be bought under the Thai Khemkaeng stimulus package for district health promotion and prevention centres, deputy permanent secretary Dr Siriwat Tiptaradol...

Further move to help poor debtors.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Satit Rungkasiri, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office, said the Revenue Department, Department of the Special Investigation and Anti-Money Laundering Office will cooperate on debt restructuring for low-income...

ASCO to settle incentive problem on Nov 18.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. The Association of Securities Companies (ASCO) sets to meet with the Stock Exchange of Thailand on incentive problems on Nov 18. Chongrak Rarueysong, president of the association, said the meeting will finalise all...

YLG raises market share.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Leading gold-futures broker YLG Bullion & Futures expects to achieve a 25-per-cent market share, up from a previously targeted 15 per cent. "We've already met the 15-per-cent target for daily gold-futures trading...

Service bus operators urged to think "green".
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Hotels and other businesses in the service sector are being told to provide innovative products and services to survive in this difficult time. "Companies around the world are being forced by the global economic crisis...

LTF/RMF remain focus at SET in the City.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Investors are encouraged to invest in Long Term Equity Funds (LTF) and Retirement Mutual Funds (RMF) by spending via credit cards with cash-back and gifts offered by asset management companies in the biggest mutual-fund...

PACC to crack down on officials' medical scams.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Many civil servants and military officers-both serving and retired- could face charges of fraud for exploiting governmentsponsored healthcare benefits. An investigation revealed they had visited various state hospitals...

Private sector urges focus on high-potential markets.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Despite the economic rebound, the private sector has called on the government to draw up an aggressive plan to penetrate "new" markets with high potential as a means of significantly boosting exports next year. Somkiat...

Sanyo (Thailand) in energy-product push.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Sanyo (Thailand) plans to double its proportion of energy-product sales to 3 per cent next year after launching new items that can help alleviate climate change. Thais have increasingly turned to more...

Oman Air sees more bookings.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Oman Air predicts travel between Thailand and Oman will grow 10-12 per cent next year, thanks to the economy recovery. Country manager Bennet Stephen said Thailand had become a new destination for Omani tourists. ...

Landslides latest threat in deluged deep South.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. An evacuation plan is underway until Monday for villagers in two tambons of Yala's Bannang Sata district because of a landslide threat; while Pattani province has declared Yaring district its ninth flood disaster zone. ...

Ad spending on the rise.
November 13, 2009... Byline: The Nation. Thailand's overall advertising expenditures posted year-on-year growth of 7 per cent last month, according to a Nielsen survey. The survey shows that overall advertising expenditures grew from Bt7.7 billion in October...