The Nation (Thailand) articles from October 2008, page 2

The Nation (Thailand) archives from October 2008

AIT, SIPA ink computer software cooperation MOU.
October 29, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) have agreed to a five-year partnership agreement designed to strengthen Thailand's computer software industry and enhance its...

Microsoft takes to the computing "cloud".
October 29, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Packaged-software king Microsoft took to the computing "cloud" with a platform for offering programs as hosted services on the Internet. Microsoft chief software architect Ray Ozzie unveiled Azure at a...

A traitor who wants to drag everyone down with him.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. THE love letter from Thaksin Shinawatra to the Western media represents the true character of the billionaire who has been given the new status of a common criminal who jumped bail, evaded seven arrest warrants, and...

Bonanza for subscribers as The Nation ties up with Newsweek.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. "Think Globally - Act Locally" is a partnership that The Nation and Newsweek magazine are delighted to present to our readers. The unrivalled content from these two partners comes with an irresistible combined...

Small Enterpries making more than Bt1.8m to pay tax.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Small shops and traders with revenue of more than Bt1.8 million a year will have to pay tax next year, says the Revenue Department. The move is a bid to ensure that tax collection grows 3 per cent. ...

Guru Speak.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Gold futures soon to become part of investment environmentIn the present market situation, gold has become an alternative investment for some people, and next year the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) will launch gold...

Gold market a wild ride for bullion.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Fears of a global financial collapse have driven up domestic demand for gold, but gold shops have trouble restocking their merchandise and their prices are falling as well. "However we trade everyday, as much as...

Protesters add to traffic chaos.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The beginning of the new school semester, and the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD)'s continuing demonstration around Government House, paralysed traffic in the area yesterday morning. PAD protesters have...

Police net five suspected drug traffickers.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Five suspected members of the drug-trafficking ring led by jailed kingpin Jeerasak "Aa San" Chatworaniti were arrested with 5.5 kilograms of heroin, police said yesterday. Police Narcotics Suppression Bureau chief...

Palace denies installation of 80-kg royal coin.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Royal Household Bureau has denied permission for the installation of an 80-kilogram Benja Mahamongkol commemorative coin in Chiang Mai's Chalermprakiet Ratchapruek Park, a senior official said yesterday. ...

DSI to conclude BRT probe by year-end.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) is set to conclude its investigation into the multimillion-baht plan to procure 45 Bus Rapid Transit vehicles before the end of the year. An informed source said the...

Why the Wall Street Collapse is like a stroll on Soi Cowboy.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. IT'S easy to understand why the world economy is collapsing, if you think of Wall Street as Soi Cowboy: bar girls are the banks; their customers/boyfriends are their investors/shareholders; a Cabinet minister swindles...

Unemployment crisis looms in key sectors.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Widespread job cuts are expected next year and political fallout will hinder remedial efforts Fasten your seatbelt and prepare for the worst, because one hell of a storm is coming to Thailand. No, this is not...

WHO grants funding for tuberculosis research.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The World Health Organisation (WHO) plans to give the Public Health Ministry Bt35.5 million to find the best way of controlling the spread of tuberculosis, the ministry's permanent secretary Dr Prat Boonyawongvirot...

Red danger, yellow peril.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Everything is political in these divided times - even the colours you wear can get you in trouble The effects of the political conflict are spreading, and this time around it is even creeping into people's...

Dhamma's just a tap away.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Cellphone users will soon be able to access Buddha's teachings through free sermons and religious ideas sent in the form of short messages. Interested parties can also press *272 to listen to taped sermons via...

Electrolux designs specifically for Asian consumers.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Sweden-based Electrolux yesterday launched washing machines and cooking ranges specially designed for Asian consumers. "We are trying to understand individual consumer needs and keep launching new products to the...

Incentive travel stands to gain from crises.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Leading tourism operators feel the country will gain more incentive travellers with the expected decline in numbers of huge international conferences, due to the financial and political turmoil. Pornthip...

Protesters oppose listing for ThaiBev.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. More than 100 activists yesterday held a rally at the Stock Exchange of Thailand to protest the dual listing of Thai Beverage's shares. ThaiBev, producer of Chang beer and a range of spirits, hopes to complete...

strong Honda export growth falters.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Asian Honda Motor, the Japanese carmaker's Bangkok headquarters for Asia and Oceania, yesterday reported its exports from Thailand grew 11 per cent to Bt80.98 billion in the first nine months. Exports from...

Cheaper vn rice delays stockpile bidding plan.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Commerce Ministry The Commerce Ministry has delayed the plan to open bidding for 2 million tonnes of stockpiled rice, due to Vietnam recently having dumped stock onto the market at a cheap price. At the...

BoI upbeat on incentive goal.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Board of Investment The Board of Investment (BoI) is confident of granting tax incentives to most of the remaining 433 submitted applications worth a combined investment of Bt270 billion this year. BoI...

Most retail feed-meal prices to drop by 5 per cent.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Most feed-meal manufacturers have agreed to reduce retail prices by 5 per cent, in line with a drop in global commodity prices. However, feed-meal price for aquaculture will be cut less than the others, due to...

Thailand rejects Cambodian claims of damage to Preah Vihear.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Thailand yesterday dismissed Cambodian claims of damage to the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear Temple during the recent shoot-out, saying it was the other side that had dispatched troops with heavy weaponry at the...

Million jobs are at risk.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. FTI warns of recession effects on exports One million industrial jobs here could be lost to the global economic recession over the next several quarters, the Federation of Thai Industries warned yesterday. ...

Transport ministry expedites spending of mega projects.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Transport Minister Santi Prompat has accelerated spending of the Bt150-billion mega-project budget for fiscal 2009, to shore up the economy. After a meeting with high-ranking officials yesterday, he said he had...

TOT users drop service over govt.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. About 30,000 households have reportedly dropped their TOT telephone service in response to the anti-government protest against Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat during his visit to the Information and Communications...

Dtac profit up 35 per cent.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Total Access Communication (DTAC), the second-largest cellular operator, has reported a net profit of Bt1.8 billion for the third quarter, up 35 per cent over the same period last year. According to its filing to...

Lack of confidence hurting industry.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Thai firms halt investment, rethink strategies on how they will cope with uncertain markets and unclear demand Although the US financial crisis is expected to have a varied impact on Thailand's manufacturing...

IBM hits the road in new hi-tech bus.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Campaign hunts SME business in economic downturn IBM has rolled out its first mobile unit - a bus equipped with the latest computer hardware, software and communications systems - and is setting out to knock on...

Treasury Outlook.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. One of the questions I have been asked the most often this past month is, why does the US dollar keep getting stronger' It is a very intuitive question that I am sure will be asked even more in the near future....

Chiang Mai to become tech hub.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Chiang Mai Business Centre, a private company under the real-estate company, V Group, plans to establish a Chiang Mai Software Technology and Out-sourcing Centre and transform Chiang Mai into a technology development...

Microsoft ups Thai investment.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Microsoft has committed to invest more in Thailand by doubling its human capital at the Bangkok office, helping Thai software companies get CMMI certification, expanding Microsoft Innovation Centres in nearby...

White house race draws voters to Web.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. More liberal Democrats than conservative Republicans are using the Internet to get information about the presidential campaign but use of the Web is growing among all voters. Fifty-nine per cent of the 2,599...

Finding the right fit for your organisation.
October 28, 2008... Byline: The Nation. With global drivers, such as rising IT-operating costs, exponential data growth, regulatory compliance, strict service-level agreements (SLAs), and shrinking back-up windows, enterprises across the world are forced to...

Philippines undoing years of hard word.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The court rejection of a deal with the MILF, and the govt upping the stakes now could extinguish peace hopes Early last week, the Supreme Court of the Philippines declared the draft agreement between the...

An autopsy of the Thai-Cambodian information war.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. THE FIRST CASUALTY in the Thai-Cambodian conflict is truth. Until today, both countries have continued to insist that the first shot was fired by the other side on October 15 at 2.30pm. In addition, the Cambodian side...

Sensible movs on pledging by new rice policy panel.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. ON OCTOBER 20, 2008, the National Rice Policy Committee (NRP Committee) approved the rice pledging programme for the upcoming main crop with the pledging price of Bt12,000 per tonne for rice paddy, Bt15,000 per tonne...

The election prospects of the Democrat Party.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. To its credit, the Democrat Party is pushing for a dissolution of Parliament and new election as a way forward from the current deadlock. What do the 2007 election results tell us about their prospects' At the...

firms turn attention to domestic markets as exports drop amid global crisis.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation Thai exporters battling for survival are facing the twin crises of a drop in purchasing power and pressure to reduce prices. Exporters have not only been hit by the US financial crisis but also by...

thaibev's listing hinges on extent of opposition.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation Thai Beverages, the country's largest alcoholic drinks company, is likely to face a weaker opposition to its new stock listing plan on the local bourse, given that its most powerful opponent, Maj...

SECurities companies URGE sec TO REVIEW.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Intense competition will hit smaller brokerages The association of securities companies has urged the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to review the liberalisation plan for securities licence and brokerage...

Thai students wins astronomy medals.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Two Thai students have won medals in the recent international astronomy Olympiad in Italy. Patthaya Phermnamthip, of the allgirl Satree Witthaya School won a silver medal while Nopphadol Pansuebsai of the...

Surat Thani at risk of landslides.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Meteorological Department yesterday warned that some 149 areas in Surat Thani province are at risk of landslides and flash floods. Residents of the province have been urged to be ready to evacuate in case of...

Thailand accused of damaging temple.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Parliament nod likely this week to begin talks over border The Thai government would prepare for border talks when Parliament gives it the mandate, most likely this week, even as Cambodia opened a new flank in the...

Pilot project to prevent flooding is underway.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. To save millions of people living in Bangkok and many provinces along Chao Phya River from being flooded every wet season, a pilot water catchment project is underway in Ayutthaya province, amidst initial hostility of...

Three sites win UNESCO heritage awards.
October 27, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Wat Pongsanuk, the Amphawa Canal and the Crown Property Bureau Building have won the 2008 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Awards for Culture Heritage Conservation. Wat Pongsanuk in Lampang received the Award of Merit...

Thailand wins tourism award.
October 26, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Thailand has been voted the world's "Best Tourist Country 2008" for the second consecutive year in an annual tourism award ceremony in Copenhagen, a senior official said yesterday. Stockholm director of the...

Two held for fake passport, credit-card scams.
October 26, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Police yesterday paraded before the media two suspects allegedly behind a fake passport and major credit-card scam. The police have been cracking down on international financial fraud rings operating out of...

Chalerm targets websites selling abortion drugs.
October 26, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Public Health Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung yesterday said he would urge the Information Technology and Computer (ICT) Ministry to shut down websites selling abortion drugs because these medicines are harmful to users....

Farewell - with a smile.
October 26, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Major entertainment shows are planned for the late Princess's cremation In Thai culture, a mourning period is traditionally followed by entertainment. HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana remains in the hearts of all...

Asem leaders reach.
October 26, 2008... Byline: The Nation. New rules, leading role for IMF sought in tackling meltdown Asian and European leaders said yesterday they have reached a broad consensus on ways to deal with the global financial meltdown and will present their...

Compensation day nears for Oct 7 victims.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. A government=appointed committee is planning to pay compensation of between Bt100,000 and Bt500,000 to the families of victims killed in recent political violence. The plan will be tabled before Cabinet next...

all is now unclear.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation The agreement by members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to reduce their production target could lead the global oil price to fall to US$50 (Bt1,734) per barrel or bounce back...

DEP opens its purse to boost trade.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Thousand projects are on the stocks Amid fears of a domino effect from the global financial crunch, the Department of Export Promotion (DEP) will spend Bt2.8 billion to set up almost 1,000 trade-promotion...

Govt needs to take quick, decisive action.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. This is why the latest government measures to prop up the ailing construction industry and resuscitate the moribund realestate market, which would be objectionable...

New regional hub and centralised call centre.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation Thai AirAsia plans to make Chiang Mai and Phuket a combined regional hub next year, to boost domestic and international tourism. It will also centralise its regional call operations in Kuala...

Govt to lose bt8 billion on rice bidding.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation The government will lose about Bt8 billion in next week's round of rice bidding, as the market price of white paddy rice has fallen to only Bt10,500 a tonne. The projected loss is being blamed on...

European leaders raise human-rights issue.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation Beijing The hosts of the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) and Asian and European leaders speaking at yesterday's opening of the biennial summit all agreed on the importance and urgency of...

Alarming drop in September traffic.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Fall in passenger numbers, cargoes, load factor Global international passenger traffic declined 2.9 per cent and cargo traffic 7.7 per cent year on year last month, reports the International Air Transport...

No bullion on weekends.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Merchants cite lack of foreign-market references Most gold shops will cease selling bullion on weekends from next month, due to increased global market volatility, the Gold Traders Association said yesterday. ...

Asian nations mull support fund at Asem.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Asian countries may Asian countries may finalise a plan for a joint US$80-billion (Bt2.77 trillion) currency-support fund in December, signalling improved regional coordination, Asean secretary-general Surin...

Asian leaders agree on bailout fund.
October 25, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Beijing - Leaders from Southeast Asia and their dialogue partners have agreed to work together to mitigate the effects of the global financial crisis by first putting up a stand-by facility to help economies that may...

BMA aims for law change to tax petrol, smokes, hotel rooms.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is planning to collect taxes from petrol and cigarettes and fees from the use of hotel rooms starting next year. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said he has assigned...

Compensation for Oct 7 victims.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. A committee overseeing compensation for victims of the October 7 street violence said it will reveal the amounts to be paid out today. Deputy Prime Minister Chavarat Charnvirakul, who chaired the committee, said...

No Thais wish to work in a lab : survey.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. In the movies, scientists may look great. But more than 99 per cent of Thais are speaking from their heart when they say they'd never be interested in working in a lab. Just 0.9 per cent of those surveyed by the...

Financial aid sought for student hazing victim.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Office of the Private Education Commission is looking into the latest hazing ritual, which has left a 16yearold student in a coma and his family with heavy medical bills. A group of students took part in the...

Price of corn to be guaranteed.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Cabinet will consider guaranteeing the price of corn at no less than Bt8.2 per kilogram at its meeting on Tuesday. "Our plan is to buy corn from farmers at between Bt8.2 and Bt8.5 per kilogram," Chiang Mai MP...

Network revives challenge to thaibev's set listing.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Alcohol Watch Network has vowed to thwart the bid of Thai Beverage Public Company (ThaiBev) to list its shares on the Thai stock exchange. "We will submit a letter of protest to the Stock Exchange of Thailand...

Somchai heads to Beijing for Asem meeting.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat departed yesterday for the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in Beijing. He is tasked with hammering out differences with his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen,...

Long battle for Suu Kyi.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Today, Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi will have been incarcerated for 13 years. The more the appeals for her release - from the United Nations, Asean and numerous world leaders - the more the Rangoon junta...

Lame-duck Somchai unlike to reach settlement with Hun Sen.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), which kicks off in Beijing today, is a good opportunity for leaders from Europe and Asia to demonstrate their resolve in dealing with the global financial crisis as well as hordes of...

Asem has gained in size and importance.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation Beijing Leaders from 43 Asian and European countries and two important groupings from both continents gather for the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem), which kicks off in the Chinese capital...

3-4% inflation in 2009 projected.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation The Commerce Ministry predicts Thailand's inflation will run at only 3-4 per cent next year, due to expected declines in prices for price fuel, raw materials and farm goods. That projection is...

Fall in Demand,.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Second project suspension; vast investments call for market analysis IRPC has decided to put on hold its US$1.5-billion (Bt52 billion) oil-refinery improvement projects as a result of the global financial crisis...

chiang mai may host meet.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Government considers alternate venue because of ongoing protests in Bangkok Thailand is ready to host the 14th Asean Summit in December but it may move the venue from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in view of the ongoing...

Indonesian president calls for buffer fund.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Southeast Asian countries, Southeast Asian countries, together with Japan, South Korea and China, should speed up the creation of a buffer fund to help economies in the region hit hard by the global financial...

Dear readers.
October 24, 2008... Byline: The Nation. The Nation is revamping The Nation is revamping the Sunday edition to improve its quality and content even further. We are launching our new weekly magazine Ace on Sunday. The glossy 36-page A4-sized section...

Belligerent individuals incite further division.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Pro- and anti-government groups have to respect the rule of law, otherwise we are doomed Any hope of a more stable Thailand after the Supreme Court's verdict against former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra is...

It's time to take a good look at ourselves and feel the shame.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. CALL me "elite," call me "royalist," call me "neanderthal," call me "old hat," call me any name, I don't really mind. It doesn't matter. As the country continues to spiral down the slippery slope, labelling is no...

Our prime minister is a post turtle.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. When I look at the current political leadership in Thailand and the prime minister in particular, I am reminded of a story told by a friend: While suturing a cut on the hand of a 75-year-old rancher, whose hand...

Legitimacy will mitigate the risk of tyrrany in Thailand.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. THE risk of tyranny by a majority and/or minority in the current Thai political context is a real and present danger. Last month in the Bangkok Post, Dr Thitinan Pongsudhirak, director of the Institute of Security &...

Pantip targets Bt3 billion from 9day sale.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Pantip Plaza, Thailand's largest informationtechnology (IT) shopping mall, has announced a major sales event next month called "Pantip Hot Sales 2008", aimed at achieving Bt3 billion in sales from its two Bangkok...

Freshman suffers serious injury in haze party.
October 23, 2008... Byline: The Nation. Phetchaburi - A freshman of the Polytechnic Krungthep Commercial School sustained serious head injury after senior students subjected him and nine others to a haze ceremony at a bungalow in Chao Samran Beach in Muang...