http://www.biz-day.com/general_news/ Business Day General News Headlines en-us 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 Manathammasombat said residents living near the airport, located in Bangkok's neighboring province of Samut Prakan, would watch the outcomes of the next few meetings between the... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 participation in elections.'Speaking during his recorded weekly television programme while attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York and broadcast in Thailand... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 February 1-5 with a random sample of youth, students, and young adults who just have started their life'careers from age 13 to 25 years.'Kasikorn projected that the amount... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 died since the insurgency flared up in January 2004. 'He did not name the groups but analysts have said that operatives of the al-Qaida-linked Jemaah Islamiyah could... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 office at least occasionally. 'In a study of 423 workers, nearly one in four employees said they had suffered sexual harassment themselves and of those, more than one... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Malaysia 25 years ago got on a bus that took her to Bangkok instead of back home. 'Jaeyaena, who can neither read nor speak Thai, boarded another wrong bus in Bangkok... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Year's Eve that left three people dead and dozens wounded. 'Last month, police arrested 19 people, but they were all later released without charge. A grenade attack then... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 degree. 'The Northeast saw the lowest temperature at 10 Celsius degree on the low land and at 4 Celsius degree on mountain tops. 'The department said the lowest... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/03_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 bird flu, the agriculture ministry told Reuters. '"The lab tast has confirmed that the virus found in the province was the deadly H5N1," senior ministry official Pirom... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/02_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 probation, juvenile observation and protection departments, the group dubbed itself the "Justice Network" and released an open letter to denounce the Bangkok bombings on... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/04_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, northwest of Copenhagen, reports Bangkokpost.com'Jensen fled to Thailand in November last year, after he was accused of fraud and falsifying documents in... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/03_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 bombings in the capital. ' 'Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont said the public should help alert the authorities to suspicious activities or persons and to give... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Gen. Vinai Phatthiyakul commented Wednesday. ' 'The CNS secretary general, who is concurrently permanent secretary for the Defense Ministry, said neither the military... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 January 2, the curtain fell of the holiday casualty toll with 509 road accidents, resulting in 56 fatalities, and 576 injured persons.' 'Most accidents--36 per... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 beaches and mountains in large numbers, said Anucha Mokkawej, chief of the Interior Ministry's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre. 'Thailand dispatched tens of... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/01_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 Association, the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Industries had earlier planned a special joint meeting -- their first in 2007 -- on January 8, but... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/31_dec_06/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 dangerous week" of the New Year holiday, beginning December 28, already has left 179 people dead and 2,131 injured, a senior Interior Ministry official said Sunday.'... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 only one year to work and "everything depends on the government".' 'Emphasising that he would not try to defend himself against criticism that he acts in a dictatorial... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 during which it tested an atom bomb. 'Reuters now reports that Thailand paid the reclusive communist state a total of 1.03 billion baht for 500 kg of gold in April and... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_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 internal one. She is a specialist in both international and domestic marketing. Her term as governor will be two years and nine months. 'Pornsiri will receive a salary of... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_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 dancers, named after the film "Coyote Ugly," promoting a motorcycle shop. The queen thought the performances on holy days, in a majority Buddhist country like Thailand,... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_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 the southernmost provinces, reports Bangkokpost.com 'The 13,625 recruits come from the army, navy, air force and police, and are already stationed at secret locations... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_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 balcony, Police Lt. Col. Sarawuth Dejsri said. 'Keffer's wife hit the robber over the head with her handbag as he was collecting 15,000 baht (US$400; euro300) and a... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 remains comatose after being severely beaten in an apparent insurgency-related kidnapping in Narathiwat in May. 'The suspect turned herself in to Narathiwat governor... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 the 2nd anniversary of the disaster.'National Committee on Disaster Warning Centre chairman Smith Tumsaroch and National Disaster Warning Centre director Plodprasop... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Bangkok-based embassies of Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Britain and the US - alleged that more than 60 percent of about 60 million baht ($1.7 million) in funds... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/24_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 Commission's decision to indict Mr. Sirote and four others over tax exemptions for Bannapot Damapong, adoptive elder brother of Mr. Thaksin's wife Pojaman, who acquired 4.5 million... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/24_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 the unusually high waves that are ravaging the coastlines of six southern provinces along the Gulf of Thailand, according to marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat. El... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/23_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 power.'CNS chief Gen. Sonthi Boonyaratkalin made the statements in a press conference marking the three-month anniversary of the coup d'etat.'Flanked by several top brass, Army... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 northern provinces on Monday. During the meeting, he gave tourism development policies to promote tourism in communities to generate income for local villagers.'Natural... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 protection, the Labour Ministry places emphasis on treating all workers equally regardless of their origins or race.'Mr. Chuthatawat emphasised that some skilled... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 through several illegal jetties in the north-eastern state of Kelantan. 'A spokesman from the group, who claim to be from the troubled Narathiwat province, alleged that they... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/14_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 Sheldon Meng accusing him of stealing military application trade secrets from Quantum3D, of San Jose, California, and using them to try to sell the technology to the People's... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/14_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 while walking with two Thai friends near Thonglor BTS sky-train station, Sukhhumvit road. Not having a passport he was arrested, despite carrying a original Swedish driver's... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 temperatures in the country's upper tier of provinces while scattered thundershowers are expected in the South.' 'The department said a high pressure system from China will cover... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Nopchamnan. The victim, identified as 37-year-old Bahareng Uma, died at the scene. 'Bahareng had survived two previous attacks in October, when gunmen opened fire on... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/08_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 dollars in cash, training, jobs on the Bay Bridge retrofit project, housing and relocation, reports AP. 'The government says Trans Bay hired Yoo Taik Kim four years ago... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/08_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 body was discovered on Thursday morning. 'The boatman was charged with reckless operation of his motorboat following the accident, which occurred when the craft was... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/06_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 of the US President and as guests of the Thai government December 10-12. ' 'During the visit, Mr and Mrs Bush will be granted an audience by His Majesty King Bhumibol... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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, with 740 persons still missing, according to the Thai embassy in Manila.' 'Seven Thai students are in the Bicol region, which was hit by typhoon, he said, but no Thai... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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, has been described as the largest forensic operation in history. 'The final bodies are those that the authorities were unable to identify through DNA testing or dental... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/05_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 districts will reopen Dec. 6. The Education Ministry said that few teachers have applied for relocation and that it is promoting temporary teachers to civil servants. http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 of dozens of horrified bystanders, police Lt Wichathon Timkrom said.'In nearby Yala Provine, gunmen killed a 34-year-old truck driver as he rode his motorcycle with... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/01_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 km offshore, roughly midway between Thailand and Sri Lanka. '"This will give us the capability to provide one hour warning to most of the countries in the northern... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Mr Clinton will visit Phuket, one of Andaman coastal provinces that were badly hit by the Dec. 26, 2004 tsumami, Saturday (December 2) to... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 compensate flood victims. The government will disburse the funds following approval by the National Legislative Assembly in January next year.' 'The government pledged... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 office by Kofi Annan. 'Annan had appointed him envoy to give high profile to the efforts after tsunami on December 24, 2004 killed an estimated 200,000 people and did... http://www.biz-day.com/read/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 he will travel South this week to meet the governors of the five border provinces and the recently-restored Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) on... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_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 Minister Paibool Watanasiritham on Monday presided over the 16th International Federation of Non-Government Organisations (IFNGO) ASEAN NGOs Workshop "Youth and Family... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/27_nov_06/g3k8j-j/asean_become_drug_free_zone_2015.htm Bangkok, Nov 27: A special-service train ferrying passengers from Bangkok to the flora expo in Chiang Mai was hit by another train leaving over 130 passengers injured early Monday morning. 'The State Railways of Thailand said five of the seriously injured people are foreigners, apparently tourists headed for the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 in Chiang Mai. 'Two passenger cars derailed during the collision. The crash occurred three kilometres outside Pichit province capital, near the... http://www.biz-day.com/read/general_news/26_nov_06/drzqr-u/train_crash_pichit_over_100_passengers_injured.htm