http://www.biz-day.com/general_news/ Business Day General News Headlines en-us The January edition of UK-based international current affairs magazine the Economist has been banned in Thailand, amids local indignation over its reporting of the royal Thai family. 'The Economist's Thai distributor stopped Friday's issue of The Economist - which carries an article concerning an Australian writer who was... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/27_jan_09/ck6tm-e/economist_magazine_banned_kingdom_of_thailand.htm BANGKOK, Sept 30 - Residents near Suvarnabhumi international airport and affected by the noise problem caused by aircraft landings and take-offs are monitoring closely on the progress of resolving the problem under the leadership by a tripartite committee formed earlier in September. 'Aid residents' leader Wanchart... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/30_sep_07/znen4-k/airport_residents_boost_pressure_if_noise_problem.htm NEW YORK, Sept 29 - Stressing that Thailand will hold a general election December 23, Prime Minister Gen. Surayud Chulanont said that many national leaders, including the countries of the European Union (EU), now better understand that Thailand is moving toward the democratic system through the process of democratic... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/30_sep_07/zfz6z-y/pm_international_community_understands_thailand_moving.htm BANGKOK, Feb 9 - City residents are expected to spend some Bt1 billion in this year's Valentine's Day with a range of businesses set to benefit from the celebration of love, according to the Kasikorn'Research Centre.'The leading think tank surveyed anticipated spending behaviour for this year's Valentine's Day, from... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/09_feb_07/jfghj-e/bt1bn_spending_expected_valentines_day_krc.htm Bangkok, Feb 8: Malaysian Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said Thursday that the troubled region of southern Thailand could become a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists and other extremists. 'Syed Hamid Albar said terrorist groups could seek to build bases in Thailand's restive south, where more than 2,000 people have... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/08_feb_07/gsrs2-6/malaysia_says_troubled_southern_thailand_could_breed.htm Hongkong Feb 6: More than one third of sexual harassment victims in Hong Kong offices are men but most are too embarrassed to report their ordeals. 'A survey by the territory's Civic Party and Equal Opportunities Commission today found that 45% of office workers interviewed believed that sexual harassment took place in their... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_feb_07/gyb7j-2/one_third_of_sexual_harassment_victims_hong_kong.htm Bangkok Feb 6: A 76-year-old Malay Muslim woman from southern Thailand who got on the wrong bus 25 years ago and ended up living at the other end of the country has been reunited with her family. 'Jaeyaena Beuraheng, a resident of Narathiwat province in Thailand's deep-South, after visiting her husband across the border in... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_feb_07/i5d29-w/woman_reunited_with_family_after_25_year_detour.htm Bangkok, February 6: Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has fired the Thai police chief after he failed to make progress in the investigation of bomb attacks in the capital Bangkok. 'The dismissal of Thai Police Chief General Kowit Wattana follows heavy criticism of investigations into the bombings in Bangkok on New... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_feb_07/fxx4c-5/thailand_police_chief_sacked.htm Bangkok, Feb 4: Cold spell caused by a powerful high pressure ridge still hit all regions on Sunday, the Meteorological Department announced. 'Bangkok on Sunday saw its lowest temperature at 19 Celsius degree. 'The lowest temperature on the low land in the North was 12 Celsius degree and on mountain tops at 2 Celsius... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/04_feb_07/gz4p7-a/thailand_remains_under_cold_spell.htm Bangkok, Feb 2: The H5N1 bird flu virus has re-appeared in a third Thai province, the country's third outbreak this year after a six-month lull. 'All fowl in the immediate area around the outbreak in Ang Thong province, 105 km north of Bangkok were being slaughtered after 16 fighting cocks were confirmed to have died of... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/03_feb_07/fhdx6-z/bird_flu_detected_ang_thong.htm BANGKOK, Jan 5 - The Ministry of Justice on Friday held a ceremony to condemn the ill-intentioned people behind the coordinated bomb attacks in Bangkok which left three innocent people dead on December 31.'In a ceremony attended by Justice Minister Charnchai Likhitjitta, ministry administrators, and representatives from the... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/05_jan_07/zvfuk-t/justice_network_condemns_bangkok_bombings.htm Immigration police have arrested a 30-year-old Danish man who will be deported to his home country to face fraud charges, police said Thursday.'Martin Damslund Jensen was arrested in downtown Bangkok Wednesday, after a request from the Danish embassy. Police said he was wanted on an arrest warrant issued by court in Herlev,... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/04_jan_07/eddq8-k/danish_fugitive_arrested_thailand.htm BANGKOK, Jan 3 - An emergency centre will be shortly set up to receive and compile tip-offs and warnings pertaining to possible bombing plots and other incidents contributing to public disorder in Bangkok and its outlying areas, while the public will be asked to cooperate fully with the authorities, following the New Year's Eve... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/03_jan_07/zkebm-q/government_seeks_security_tip_offs_promises_justice.htm BANGKOK, Jan 3 - Anti-government insurgents in Thailand's Deep South remain on the list of suspects in the bombings of public places throughout the capital on the New Year's Eve, even though the political conflict involving the previous Thaksin administration seemed more likely, Council for National Security secretary general... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/03_jan_07/hrjb5-v/identity_motives_of_bombers_still_unknown.htm BANGKOK, Jan 3 - More than 4,000 accidents across the country killed 407 and injured 4,546 persons in the dangerous six-day New Year travel period from December 28 through January 2.' 'In his capacity as director of the nation's Road Safety Centre, Interior Ministry permanent secretary Pongpayom Wasaputi said that on Tuesday... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/03_jan_07/i5gdj-8/holiday_highway_accidents_kill_407_nationwide.htm Bangkok, Jan 2: At least 351 people were killed in road accidents and 3,970 injured over a five-day New Year period in Thailand. 'Most of the accidents were caused by drunken motorcycle riders, officials said. 'More than 3,500 road accidents occurred between December 28 and January 1, as Thais traveled from cities to... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/02_jan_07/h4jan-6/road_accidents_kill_more_than_350_thailand_over_holiday.htm BANGKOK, Jan 1 - Three major private associations will meet Wednesday to confer regarding their responses to the expected negative effects on business and the economy following Bangkok's New Year's Eve bombings, according to Pramon Suthiwong, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC).' 'Committee members of Thai Bankers... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/01_jan_07/zcgmy-4/major_business_associations_confer_bombings.htm BANGKOK, Dec 31 - Nearly 200 deaths and more than 2,000 injured heralds a grim beginning to the New Year's holiday high season for highway carnage. 'Despite lower reported deaths and injuries than in the comparable period one year ago, accidents throughout Thailand during the first three of the kingdom's seven day "most... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/31_dec_06/iuhy3-j/new_years_road_toll_rises_179_dead_3_days.htm BANGKOK, Dec 31 - National Legislative Assembly (NLA) Speaker Meechai Ruchuphan has pledged to try to push all pending draft laws for consideration by NLA members within 2007. 'However, Mr. Meechai did not commit to NLA approval of all pending legislation, either regarding content or timeline, because the legislature has... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/31_dec_06/in62j-c/assembly_speaker_pledges_push_all_pending_laws.htm Bangkok, Dec 28: Thailand bought 1.3 tonnes of gold from North Korea a few months before the United Nations slapped international sanctions on Pyongyang in October.'The United States last year blacklisted a Pyongyang-linked bank in Macau, infuriating the communist regime which walked out of disarmament talks for 13 months... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/28_dec_06/e5u2t-q/n_korea_sold_off_gold_reserves_thailand_just_before.htm Bangkok, Dec 28: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) board has selected Pornsiri Manoharn, the deputy governor for domestic markets, as its new governor. 'Pornsiri, 58, has been working for the TAT for 36 years and currently oversees domestic markets. She was one of three short listed final candidates and the only... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/28_dec_06/di3i8-a/new_tourism_authority_of_thailand_governor_announced.htm Bangkok, Dec 28: Scantily clad dancers are nothing new in Bangkok, but a recent performance by a troupe known as the Coyote Girls near a Buddhist temple has prompted a crackdown by Thailand's royal family. 'Queen Sirikit was upset toward the end of Buddhist Lent when she watched news reports show footage of scantily-cladded... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/28_dec_06/fxcjr-t/queen_prompts_thailand_restrict_coyote_ugly_dance.htm Bangkok, Dec 28: The cabinet on Tuesday approved a 556-million-baht budget to strengthen security forces in the deep South, said government spokesman Yongyuth Mayalarp. 'The budget is to fund the so-called "rapid deployment force," which operates the recruitment of almost 14,000 security force to maintain law and order in... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/28_dec_06/enctv-k/cabinet_funds_military_buildup_south.htm Bangkok, Dec 27: An armed thief opened fire at a Christmas party in Thailand, killing a Canadian businessman and wounding three others, police said Tuesday. 'Mark Jay Keffer, 42, was celebrating Christmas with his wife and six others Monday night at a relatives' condominium in the capital Bangkok when a man entered from a... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/27_dec_06/f74a7-j/calgarian_killed_thailand.htm NARATHIWAT, Dec 27 - One more suspect thought to be linked to the death of a female teacher'in Narathiwat turned herself in on Tuesday while 32 other suspects are still at large.'Former ruling Thai Rak Thai MP Nujmuddin Umar accompanied Cheroyhima Mayokasae, a suspect in the attack against teacher Juling Pongkunmul, who... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/27_dec_06/ebpgs-3/southern_teacher_attack_suspect_surrenders_police.htm NONTHABURI, Dec 26 - The National Disaster Warning Centre is now almost fully operational in running the disaster warning system, the chief of the centre announced on the 2nd anniversary of the Boxing Day 2004 regional tsunami disaster. 'The centre held a Buddhist ceremony Tuesday to make merit for the tsunami victims on... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/26_dec_06/eae73-8/national_warning_centre_almost_functional.htm Bangkok, Dec 25: Seven Western countries have submitted a joint complaint to Thailand's police department regarding the disappearance of an estimated $1 million in donations intended for victims of the Dec 26, 2004, tsunami, a report said Monday. 'The complaint - dated Nov 22 and signed by the ambassadors to the... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/25_dec_06/h56gv-i/foreign_donors_call_investigation_of_tsunami_money.htm BANGKOK, Dec 25 - Thailand's Finance Ministry resolved to dismiss Revenue Department director-general Sirote Sawasdipanich and four other senior officials for failing to tax a relative of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra over a share deal.'The resolution was seen as upholding the National Counter Corruption... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/25_dec_06/hauxh-s/thai_revenue_chief_4_aides_fired_over_thaksin_family.htm Bangkok, Dec 24: As the second anniversary of the Asian tsunami approaches, strong waves as high as four meters continued to hit southern coastal provinces along the Gulf of Thailand Saturday, scattering and sinking small fishing craft and leaving many villagers homeless. 'The El Nino weather phenomenon has been blamed for... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/24_dec_06/e85zq-5/high_waves_hit_thailand_coast_again.htm BANGKOK, Dec 19 - Thailand's military Council for National Security (CNS) on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with its performance in the three months following its bloodless coup to overthrow former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra on September 19, and emphasised that the military leaders do not want to hold on to... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/19_dec_06/ckg2b-5/cns_satisfied_with_3_month_performance.htm CHIANG MAI, Dec 19 - Thailand plans to boost tourism in its northern provinces intending to attract 16 million tourists and generate Bt66 billion (about US$1.8 billion) in revenue next year.'Tourism and Sports Minister Suwit Yodmanee held a meeting with governors, local officials, and tourism business operators in 17... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/19_dec_06/iyxyq-i/thailand_boosts_northern_tourism_expects_16_million.htm BANGKOK, Dec 18 - On the occasion of the International Migrant's Day on Monday, Thailand's Permanent Secretary for Labour Chuthatawat Indrasuksri reaffirmed Thailand's commitment that every migrant worker is entitled to equal protection and benefits if they enter the Kingdom legally.'Based on the principle of human rights... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/18_dec_06/cds27-a/thailand_pledges_equal_protection_migrant_workers.htm Bangkok, Dec 15: A group of 20 Muslims from southern Thailand entered Malaysia to seek political asylum after claiming their lives were in danger from "military pressure," the official Bernama news agency said Friday. 'The group, comprising nine men and 11 women, aged between two and 55, entered Malaysia late Thursday... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/15_dec_06/efkbk-h/more_muslim_thais_flee_malaysia.htm Washington, Dec 15: A former Chinese national is facing U.S. federal charges of stealing trade secrets from a Silicon Valley company and selling them to foreign governments. 'The U.S. Attorney's Office in San Francisco Thursday filed a 36-count indictment in U.S. District Court for Northern California against Xiaodong... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/15_dec_06/jczq9-n/technology_spy_tried_failed_sell_secrets_thailand.htm Thonglor, BKK - A Swedish tourist ordered a trip to Burma at a Thai travel-agency in Bangkok. The agent also offered to arrange visa formalities on behalf of the tourist, a procedure which is common and legal. The tourist handed over his passport to the agency.'At a routine check for identification the tourist was arrested... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/12_dec_06/gm382-z/tourist_applies_visa_arrested_not_carrying_passport.htm BANGKOK, Dec 9 - Asia's latest tropical storm, Utor has forced its will on international politics, forcing the postponement of next week's ASEAN leaders conference in the Philippines and aimed to visit Vietnam and Thailand with bad weather. 'Thailand's Meteorological Department forecast thunderstorms and a drop in... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/09_dec_06/gbjtq-u/tropical_storm_utor_closes_asian_leaders_summit_thai.htm Bangkok, Dec 9: A police informant who survived two attacks by suspected Muslim insurgents was killed Saturday in a drive-by shooting in Thailand 's restive south, police said. 'Two gunmen on motorcycles shot the man three times as he was walking near his home in the Joh Airong district of Narathiwat province, said Lt. Chart... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/09_dec_06/enme8-w/thai_police_informant_shot_dead.htm Bangkok, Dec 9: It's finally payday for four dozen Thai workers brought to the US by a suspected labor trafficker who paid them next to nothing, and used threats to control them.'California-based Trans Bay Steel, under an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, will provide the group about one million... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/09_dec_06/i6k5u-v/exploited_thai_workers_compensated.htm PATTAYA, Dec 7 - Thai police in the seaside resort southeast of Bangkok have recovered the body of a Turkish tourist from coastal water near an island where a boat carrying nearly 20 Turkish tourists capsized Tuesday.' 'Three passengers were injured in the accident and the victim, Ichami Ozturic, went missing. Mr Ozturic's ... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/07_dec_06/gsiay-5/foreign_tourist_drowns_pattaya_boat_capsizes.htm BANGKOK, Dec 6 - Former US President George Bush, senior and his wife Barbara will visit Thailand later this month as guests of the Thai government, according to Thai Foreign Ministry Spokeman, Kitti Wasinondh. ' 'Mr Kitti said in a statement released on Wednesday that Mr and Mrs Bush would visit Thailand as a special envoy... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_dec_06/ibvzz-m/former_us_president_bush_visit_thailand.htm BANGKOK, Dec 6 - Thailand will give US$100,000 in aid to Philippines struck by Typhoon Durian last Thursday.' 'About 1,000 people are feared to be killed in landslides and floods triggered by the latest tropical storm.' 'Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kitti Wasinondh said that the death toll of typhoon victims had reached 530,... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_dec_06/gj4wz-w/thailand_donates_us_100_000_help_typhoon_hit.htm Bangkok, Dec 6: The last 125 unidentified victims of the tsunami that struck Thailand two years ago have been buried. 'About 5,400 people died in Thailand, half of them foreign tourists, on Boxing Day 2004. Another 3,000 are still reported missing. 'The efforts to identify the remains of victims, often badly decomposed,... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/06_dec_06/c6xp9-r/thailand_buries_last_unidentified_tsunami_victims.htm Bangkok, Dec 4: Schools in seven districts of Thailand's Pattani province reopened Dec. 4 and are allowing teachers to carry guns after a week-long closure prompted by attacks on teachers. Although 100 schools in remote areas of the province remain closed, the teachers' confederation said that all schools in Pattani's 12... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/04_dec_06/h5qep-y/some_pattani_schools_reopen.htm Bangkok, Dec 02: Four Buddhists were shot dead on Saturday in Buddhist-majority Thailand's restive, Muslim-dominated south, as the government warned it may have to change its strategy to counter the rising violence.'A gunman posing as a customer whipped out a gun and shot a 59-yar-old food vendor in Pattani province in front... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/02_dec_06/e82qe-s/4_buddhists_shot_dead_thailand_s_restive_south.htm Thailand launched on Friday the first of 22 U.S.-made tsunami-detection buoys to be positioned around the Indian Ocean as part of a regional warning system against giant waves caused by earthquakes under the sea. 'The satellite-linked deep-sea buoy, unveiled at a ceremony on the tsunami-hit island of Phuket, will float 1,000... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/01_dec_06/bensw-8/us_hands_over_first_tsunami_early_warning_system_buoy.htm PHUKET, Nov 29 - Former US President Bill Clinton will visit Thailand's southern resort province of Phuket early next month for his final mission as the top United Nations envoy for the Indian Ocean tsunami recovery effort, Deputy Phuket Governor Warapoj Ratasima said here Wednesday. ' 'Gov Warapoj said he was informed by... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/29_nov_06/czqij-y/former_us_president_clinton_visit_phuket_tsunami.htm BANGKOK, Nov 29 - The Cabinet gave a green light to allocate a Bt6 billion budget to assist flood victims, and the government pledged to follow through with compensation payments within three months.' 'Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives plan to... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/29_nov_06/e28xm-q/cabinet_approves_bt6_billion_flood_victim_budget.htm Bangkok, Nov 29: Former American President Bill Clinton will pay a final visit to tsunami devastated areas in Tamil Nadu (India), Thailand and Indonesia next month as Secretary General Kofi Annan's special envoy for tsunami recovery. 'Clinton ends his two-year term on December 31 next, coinciding with the laying down of... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/29_nov_06/cy2if-w/bill_clinton_make_final_visit_tsunami_affected.htm BANGKOK, Nov 28 - Interior Minister Aree Wong-araya told reporters that he sympathised with teachers in the three southern border provinces who voted Monday to suspend all their classes indefinitely in fear for their safety, but affirmed that security agencies have done their best to provide protection. ' 'Mr Aree said that... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/28_nov_06/eke2z-a/interior_review_security_deep_south_teachers.htm BANGKOK, Nov 27 - Representatives of ASEAN member countries and local, regional and international NGOs are meeting now in Bangkok to seek concrete solutions to the drug problem in the region, with a goal of making ASEAN a drug-free region in 2015, or just nine years from now.' 'Thai Social Development and Human Security... http://www.biz-day.com/read/gen_-_general_news/27_nov_06/g3k8j-j/asean_become_drug_free_zone_2015.htm