Thai Press Reports articles from January 2009

Thai Press Reports archives from January 2009

Thailand: Medical Council to review sex change operation standards.
January 30, 2009... Section: Law - The Medical Council of Thailand will tomorrow consider a change of standard for sex change operations, requiring persons be aged 21 years or above to have the procedure done, according to media sources. If approved, the...

Thailand: Public Health Minister to hasten medical malpractice victims' fund bill.
January 30, 2009... Section: Law - The new Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai stated that he would hasten the passage into law of the Medical Malpractice Victims' bill after its review by the Office of Council of State this year. The bill attempts to...

Thailand: Government to grant 2,000 Baht to low-income employees.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The government intends to pay a one-time special allowance of 2,000 baht to assist low-income employees in April 2009 according to media sources. Cabinet has already approved a budget of 18.9 billion baht for this...

Thailand: New security measures to be implemented at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - New security measures will be implemented at Suvarnabhumi International Airport before being applied to all airports nationwide in order to ensure security for incoming foreign investors. Spokesman to the Prime...

Thailand: King confers Prince Mahidol Award 2008 to 3 persons.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - His Majesty the King conferred the Prince Mahidol Award 2008 to three distinguished persons on Wednesday, January 28. His Majesty the King conferred the award in the field of medicine to Professor Dr. Sergio...

Thailand: Mr. Chuan says PM has authority to reshuffle embattled ministers.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai says that the prime minister has full authority to replace controversial Cabinet members and emphasized the government's duty to preserve justice and righteousness. ...

Thailand: Deputy PM believes in police ability to handle UDD rally.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Deputy Prime Minister is confident that the police will be able to handle with the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship rally. Deputy Prime Minister Major General Sanan Kajornprasart stated that...

Thailand: Interior Minister to plead people not to join UDD rally.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - The Interior Minister has announced this afternoon (January 29th) to cooperate with all provincial governors to create an understanding with the United Front of Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) supporters...

Thailand: PM affirms no conflict of interest in populist policies.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva says the government pushes for populist policies as they benefit people and denies the allegation that the policies were endorsed for personal gain of some groups of people....

Thailand: PM insists Govt prepared to be probed for irregularities.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - The Prime Minister insisted the government was willing to be probed after the opposition Phuea Thai party accused its ministers of involving in corruption cases, adding he planned to gather information and...

Thailand: SDHS minister clarifies controversial canned fish to PM.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Minister of Social Development and Human Security (SDHS) Witoon Namboot made a phone call to explain the rotten canned fish case to the premier. The minister said that he was ready to clarify the...

Thailand: Cabinet approves 607 million baht budget to relieve farmers' debts.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Cabinet endorsed 607 million baht budget to buy 1,187 farmers' debts, while around 90 per cent of the debts were bad debts in local banking system and farming lands seized by the banks. Mr. Sangsit...

Thailand: Finance Minister says Govt's plan to rescue farmers urgent matter.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said in the parliament meeting today (January 29) that the government's plan to help solve farmers' debt problems would be urgent and necessary. The Cabinet yesterday approved a...

Thailand: Thailand grants UN access to Rohingya migrants.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya assured a United Nations refugee official on Thursday (January 29, 2009) that the Thai government would grant the UN access to Rohingya migrants in the country. Mr. Kasit gave...

Thailand's southern unrest: Four wounded; One soldier loses legs in Yala bombing.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - A bomb exploded at a roadside food shop in the insurgency-torn southern Thailand province of Yala Thursday morning ,wounding four soldiers, one losing both legs. Responding to the emergency, a bomb squad...

Thailand: 'Red Shirts' to protest at Government House on Saturday.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Anti-government United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) protesters, the 'Red Shirts', on Thursday reminded the public that they intend to surround Government House Saturday (January 29, 2009) to...

Thailand: Thai PM confident extra budget will boost economy.
January 30, 2009... Section: Business News - Thailand's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on Thursday (January 29, 2009) he was confident that a Bt116.7 billion (US$3.35 billion) supplementary budget would help cushion impacts of the economic slump, and that...

Thailand: Bank of Thailand chief defends policy, downplays criticism over wide interest spread.
January 30, 2009... Section: Economy - Bank of Thailand (BoT) Governor Tarisa Watanagase on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) shrugged off mounting criticism over the wide spread between deposit rates and lending rates, saying the net interest-based incomes earned by...

Thailand: MPI shrinks for 3rd consecutive month in December.
January 30, 2009... Section: Economy - Thailand's manufacturing production index (MPI) in December shrank for the third consecutive month by 19.65 per cent, the highest in six years and 10 months, according to the Industrial Economics Office (IEO). However,...

Japan/Thailand: Japanese investors see dim prospects for Thai economy, says JCC.
January 30, 2009... Section: Business News - Some Japanese companies operating in Thailand viewed the Thai economy was on a downward trend and that the Japanese firms may cut their production in Thailand and relocate their Japanese staff if the situation...

Vietnam: Vietnam supports peace in Gaza Strip.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Vietnam continues to support every effort by the United Nations, regional countries and the international community to ensure peace in Gaza Strip, said a Vietnamese diplomat. Ambassador Bui The Giang, Vietnamese...

Vietnam: Website launched for Lam Dong coffee farmers.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - A new website launched by a Vietnamese farmer has become a useful business tool for coffee growers in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. Nguyen Cong Thinh said he had the idea for the website,...

Vietnam: Da Nang welcomes 1,600 sea visitors.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - More than 1,600 foreign visitors aboard Azamara Quets, Costa Allegra and Sea Bonr Spirit cruise liners visited to central city of Da Nang on Jan. 26-27, the first two days of the traditional New Year (Tet). This...

Vietnam: Hanoi - a real blast from the past.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Sitting in his house on a bustling street, Nguyen Vinh Phuc, an expert in Hanoi studies, searched through his encyclopaedic memory, remembering the people, places, and buildings in Hanoi and the changes that have taken...

Vietnam: Vietnam develops health tourism sector.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Although health tours are still new to Vietnam, the health tourism industry adds another dimension to Vietnam's wide range of attractions, promising more profits for the tourist sector. Vietnam, with its temperate...

Vietnam: Indonesian woman dies of suspected bird flu.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - A 21-year-old Indonesian woman has died of suspected bird flu, reported the AFP on Jan. 28. The woman died on Jan. 24 in Doctor Soetomo Hospital in Surabaya, East Java, after showing bird flu symptoms, said...

Thailand/ASEAN: Thai parliament endorses crucial ASEAN agreements.
January 30, 2009... Section: Government & Politics - Thai lawmakers has approved a total of 41 crucial and related agreements which are expected to be signed at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) summit next month, local media reported on Jan....

World/Switzerland: Davos forum seeks to address world crisis.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The World Economic Forum (WEF) opened on Jan. 28 in Davos, Switzerland with an aim to address the current economic crisis and other global challenges. The five-day annual meeting attracted more than 2,500...

Cuba/Russia: Cuban President visits Russia to revive ties.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Cuban President Raul Castro arrived in Moscow on Jan. 28 on the first visit by a Cuban leader to Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Itar-Tass reported. Castro's official visit at the invitation of...

Philippines: 7-km farm-to-market road brings good life to Misamis folks.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Seventeen-year-old student Dyling Cadano does not have to walk for eight hours just to get home, while 70-year-old Timuay Jordiny Etol does not have to labor for three hours to get his vegetables and root crops to the...

Philippines: Mabalacat gets brand new P70-M, 2-storey municipal hall.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will inaugurate the P70-million Mabalacat Municipal Hall tomorrow, January 29 to dramatize the continuous economic growth of this first class municipality. The President, to be...

Philippines: President Arroyo to inaugurate new bridge in Pampanga on Thursday.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will formally inaugurate tomorrow (January 29), the San Miguel Bridge that would pave the way for the socio-economic development in this municipality and the neighboring areas in the...

Philippines: President Arroyo to lead groundbreaking rites for two top priority road projects in Pampanga on Thursday.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will visit Lubao, her hometown in this province on Thursday (Jan. 28) to lead the groundbreaking ceremonies for her two top priority road projects to reduce traffic congestion and cut...

Philippines: Stakeholders pledge action to save Manila Bay.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Public agencies concerned signed Wednesday (January 28, 2009) a covenant on saving Manila Bay, a major Philippine economic resource and one of the world's best natural harbors. This signing highlighted the first...

Philippines: FFCCCI vows assistance to Filipino workers displaced by global crisis.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII) has vowed to help the government find new jobs for Filipino workers displaced by the current global economic crisis. This was...

Philippines: US travel advisory could be a blessing in disguise, says AFP.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) said the travel advisory issued by the United States on its citizens traveling in some parts in Mindanao, specifically in Central and Western...

Philippines: President Arroyo releases P10M for repair of damaged Baobo irrigation project.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today (January 28, 2009) handed over a check for P10-million to Agusan del Sur Gov. Ma. Valentina Plaza for the repair of the damaged Baobo National Irrigation Project in the...

Philippines: Lakas poised to select bets for 2010 polls.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri said on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) that the Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats will hold its expanded executive meeting on Thursday at Holiday Inn in Clark Economic Zone, Pampanga to come-up...

Philippines: President Arroyo leads delivery of basic services to the poor of Koronadal City.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo motored here today (January 28, 2009) to deliver basic social services to the poor residents of this city as part of the government efforts to provide quality health and medical...

Philippines: Zubiri asks House to prioritize rent control law.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) called on the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of a new law on rent control to protect 1.56 million families nationwide. "We are looking...

Philippines: President Arroyo orders probe into Sultan Kudarat agrarian conflict.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) ordered the creation of a special task force that will look into the land conflict that triggered the escalation of violence in two villages of the...

Philippines: President Arroyo orders GRP peace panel to start consultations.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) directed members of the government panel tasked to negotiate peace with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to launch more consultations on the...

Philippines: DOLE gets cooperation of Fil-Chinese group for re-employment of displaced workers.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) has moved to get the cooperation of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCII) in the re-employment of workers who would be displaced by...

Philippines: Senate approves on 3rd and final reading 2009 Baselines bill.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Senate on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) approved on third and final reading the 2009 Baselines bill delineating the country's archipelagic baselines. Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. withdrew his...

Philippines: Hatton inks contract fight against Pacquiao.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - There is no stopping now for the highly-anticipated encounter between Filipino ring icon Manny 'The Pacman' Pacquiao and Ricky 'The Hitman' Hatton on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Golden Boy Promotions...

Philippines: Worst is over for 2 flood-stricken Mindanao provinces, says PAGASA.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Good weather will prevail in flood and landslide-stricken North Cotabato and Davao del Sur and no heavy downpour is expected to trickle down in these provinces until the weekend. "Generally good weather will reign...

Philippines: President Arroyo, DOH receive thumbs up rating from SWS.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that a good number of Filipinos expressed satisfaction with the way President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Department of Health (DOH) handled health issues...

Philippines: Basque officials visit RP on possible joint fisheries project.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - A team led by a ranking official of the Basque regional government of Spain is now in the country to explore possible coastal resources management projects and other joint fisheries initiatives with the Department of...

Philippines: Razon takes over OPAPP post.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Newly-named Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino "Sonny" Razon Jr. will assume his new post on Thursday (January 29, 2009). He replaces outgoing Secretary Hermogenes C. Esperon Jr. who was appointed...

Philippines: CHED junks memo on raising number of Nursing units.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) said it decided to junk the controversial Memorandum Order No. 5 that virtually raises the number of units required for a Bachelor of Science in...

Philippines: 2 MIAA cops held for extorting money from passenger.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Intelligence and Investigation Department (IID) of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) held in its custody two airport police personnel for allegedly extorting money...

Philippines: CHEd chairman presents curricular reforms in tertiary level.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The chairman of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) formally presented Wednesday (January 28, 2009) the proposed curricular reforms for the country's education system that conforms to global standards to be...

Philippines: Lawmakers ask PNP, NBI to run after LPG hoarders.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Party-list lawmakers on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) called on the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to run after businessmen hoarding liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). ...

Philippines: Gov't anti-hunger drive creates 1.4-M new jobs for the poor.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The government's anti-hunger program has yielded new job opportunities for nearly 1.4 million unemployed or underemployed poor folk. National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Domingo Panganiban on...

Philippines: Thumbs up on DOH and BFAD performance.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Filipinos are satisfied with how President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the Department of Health (DOH) handled health issues in 2008. Independent pollster Social Weather Station's December 2008 survey show that the...

Philippines: Yano briefs AFP's UN peacekeeping contingent bound for Haiti, Liberia.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Armed Forces chief Gen. Alexander Yano on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) sent off over a hundred fresh Filipino troopers to join the United Nation's peacekeeping force to the troubled countries of Haiti and Liberia. ...

Philippines: Gordon readies measures to amend four laws.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Sen. Richard Gordon said on Wednesday (January 28, 2009) he is readying remedial measures aimed at plugging gaps and loopholes in at least four national laws as a result of the Senate investigation into the alleged...

Vietnam: Vietnam supports mediation efforts in Congo and Darfur.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Vietnam supports mediation efforts of the United Nations and regional countries, and hails cooperation between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda in restoring peace and stability in the Great Lakes...

India/Vietnam: State president extends condolences to Indian counterpart.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - State President Nguyen Minh Triet sent a message of condolences to Indian president Pratibha Patil on Jan. 29 over the death of former president Ramaswamy Venkataraman. The Indian former leader, who served as...

Russia/Vietnam: Russian president extends condolences over boat accident.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Russian President D. Metvedev sent a message of condolences to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet on January 28 over a recent boat accident that killed 42 people in central Quang Binh province. The...

Vietnam: Lam Dong pours big sum into strategic routes.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Central Highlands province of Lam Dong plans to invest nearly 1.5 trillion VND (85 million USD) in five strategic routes in 2009. Of those, a 31km route linking remote Loc Bac commune in Bao Lam district and...

Vietnam: Over 4,000 Chinese tourists flock to Vietnam during Tet.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - More than 4,000 Chinese tourists visited Vietnam through the Lao Cai international border gate during the four-day Lunar New Year festival. Of those, 3,000 people continued their tours to Vietnam's famous...

Vietnam: Vietnam's cosmetics industry prospers.
January 30, 2009... Section: Business News - With 63 percent of its population under the age of 35, its high economic growth rate and fast increasing standard of living, Vietnam is a popular destination for the cosmetics industry. A majority of the...

Philippines: Firework factory blast kills five in Philippines.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - At least five people were killed and 32 others were wounded due to a powerful explosion in a firecracker factory south of the Philippine capital of Manila on Jan. 29. The explosion also triggered a fire that...

Thailand: Thailand agrees on airport security draft law.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Thailand's government on Jan. 28 approved a draft law on Suvarnabhumi Airport security, local media reported. The draft law aims to empower security officials of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) to block and...

South Korea/Japan: S Korea, Japan discuss ways to advance six-party talks.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Top negotiators from the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan on Jan. 29 discussed ways to advance the stalled six-way talks on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s nuclear programme. The RoK's envoy to...

Vietnam: WEF opens, Vietnam starts talks to world-class CEOs.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting opened at 6.30 PM (local time) yesterday (January 28, 2009) in Davos, Switzerland, attracting the participation of leaders from G8, G20, developing countries, international...

Vietnam: Vietnam vows to play an active role at WEF 2009.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Together with developing countries to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) scheduled on January 28-31 in Davos (Switzerland), Vietnam vows to make every effort to work with the international community to lift the...

Vietnam: PM okays draft AANZFTA.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The PM just gave nod to the contents of the draft agreement on establishing the ASEAN - Australia + New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), the memorandum of understanding on Article 1, Chapter 2 of AANZFTA, the...

Philippines: Charity groups form united front vs. joblessness.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Alarmed with the burgeoning number of Filipinos who are losing their jobs due to the global economic meltdown, civic organizations and health organizations engaged in charity work gathered for the first time on...

Philippines: President Arroyo breaks ground for Gapan-San Fernando-Olongapo road widening, Lubao bridge projects.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo broke ground today (January 29, 2009) for two of her top priority road projects in Central Luzon to reduce traffic congestion and cut travel time within Pampanga and nearby areas. ...

Philippines: NPA rebs burn another Globe Telecoms' cell site.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - A group of New People's Army rebels being pursued by government troops burned another cell site of Globe Telecoms at the village of Nalunao in Lucban town in Quezon on Wednesday, a military spokesman reported Thursday...

Philippines: House panel summons prosecutor's wife, kin.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The committee on dangerous drugs of the House of Representatives on Thursday (January 29, 2009) said it will summon state prosecutor John Resado's wife and sister-in-law to shed light on the P800,000 deposited to...

Philippines: Biazon appeals for concerted efforts to address effect of global economic crisis.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Senator Rodolfo Biazon appealed on Thursday (January 29, 2009) to all government leaders, including politicians, to put their talents, efforts and resources together to address the effect of the global economic crisis....

Philippines: President Arroyo to lead church-state pro-poor activity in Nueva Ecija.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will take here tomorrow (Friday, Jan. 30), the church-state assistance program designed to ease the impact of the global economic crisis on the poorest of the poor Filipino families....

Philippines: Razon optimistic on resumption of GRP-MILF peace talks.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Newly-installed Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Avelino I. Razon Jr. today expressed optimism on the resumption of the stalled peace talks between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)...

Philippines: President Arroyo moves to merge administration political parties Lakas, Kampi.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo directed today leaders of Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD) and Kabalikat ng Malayang Pilipino (Kampi) to take immediate steps to merge the two major administration parties,...

Philippines: President Arroyo visits booming Mabalacat in Pampanga.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo today expressed admiration for the steps taken by this municipality to transform itself into what could possibly be the next central business district and tourist destination in...

Philippines: CAMPI lauds LTO high marks on itegrity.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (CAMPI) has lauded the Land Transportation Office (LTO) under the leadership of Assistant Secretary Alberto H. Suansing for obtaining a high compliance...

Philippines: Senate approves on second reading Magna Carta for Women bill.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Senate approved Wednesday (January 28, 2009) night on second reading Senate Bill No. 1701, also known as the Magna Carta for Women, which aims to protect Filipino women from all forms of gender discrimination and...

Philippines: President Arroyo orders operationalization of Shariah courts to solve Muslim conflicts.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has ordered the government peace panel to operationalize the Shariah courts in the country to solve conflicts among Muslims. During her consultative dialogue on Wednesday with...

Philippines: Silahis asks court to clear it of its obligations to pave way for the hotel's rehab.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - In its bid to rehabilitate the Grand Boulevard Hotel on Roxas Boulevard in Manila, the Silahis International Hotel Inc. (SIHI) filed a civil case, asking the Manila court to issue an order that hotel firm be declared...

Brunei/Philippines: Sultan of Brunei arrives for a three-day state visit.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah arrived Thursday (January 29, 2009) afternoon at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for a three-day state visit which aims to further strengthen the...

Philippines: World Bank sees improved procurement process, internal audit at DPWH.
January 30, 2009... Section: General News - The Philippine Representative of the World Bank (WB) has said that a positive outcome of an investigation into suspected collusion for bid-rigging among Philippine and Chinese companies with the Department of Public...