Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Sarkozy and Hu bury hatchet in Beijing talks

France and China Wednesday pledged to draw a line under past tensions over Tibet and breathe new life into their relationship by working together on issues from global monetary policy to Iran.

Europe debt crisis deepens

Europe's debt crisis deepened on Wednesday after Spain was slapped with a credit downgrade and pressure mounted for urgent approval of a giant bailout for Greece that could run to 120 billion euros.

Greece reaches for bailout after 'junk' credit downgrade

Greece raced Wednesday to secure desperately-needed emergency loans to avoid a debt default after its credit rating was condemned to "junk" status causing European financial markets to reel.

Gold prices for Wednesday announced

The Gold Traders Association today announced the buying price at 17,388.52 baht per baht-weight for gold ornaments and 17,650 baht per baht-weight for gold bar.

New rights firm offers TV cartoon

Bangkok Lickasic Co, a new copyright management company, has entered the market with the launch of an animated TV series Si-Ew: The Monkey.

Red-shirts' demonstration of defiance fails

Red-shirt leaders may have wanted to fire up the fighting spirit of their followers by showing that they have the capability to defy the government, in the face of a possible crackdown on their fortress at Ratchaprasong.

Chavalit asked to testify on anti-monarchy allegation

Puea Thai Party chairman Chavalit Yongchaiyudh will summoned only twice to testify about his alleged involvement in a plot to topple the monarchy, and if he failed to show up a warrant would be issued for his arrest, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban said on Wednesday.

Court to consider Democrat case

The Constitution Court on Wednesday resolved to accept for consideration an Election Commission's petition seeking dissolution of the ruling Democrat Party for alleged misuse of the 29 million baht political party development fund, court secretary-general Chaowana Traimas said.

B400bn loan bill to be withdrawn

The cabinet on Tuesday resolved to withdraw a bill enabling the Finance Ministry to raise 400 billion baht on loans to fund economic stimulus projects, deputy government spokesman Supachai Jaisamut said.

Govt to sue reds over skytrain closure

The government will take legal action against guards of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship (UDD) for disrupting BTS skytrain services on Tuesday morning, Transport Minister Sohpon Zarum said.

UTCC: B90bn in lost revenue from protests

Ongoing political strife has yet to significantly affect employment, but it is stunting growth, according to a survey by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC).

Anupong must act

As a measure of the growing despair among ordinary Thai citizens, the question echoing around is not whether the security forces led by army chief Anupong Paojinda will do something about the deteriorating state of lawlessness in Bangkok and beyond before April ends, but whether Gen Anupong will do something before he retires from military service in September, five months from now.

PAD to visit military camps tomorrow

Members of the People's Alliance for Demcracy will on Thursday rally at about 40 military camps throughout the country on Thursday to submit a letter urging soldiers to maintain law and order in the country, PAD secretary-general Suriyasai Katasila said.

Mr Suriyasai said there had been attempts to establish unlawful state power in many areas, causing the state of lawlessness and division among the people in the country.

Since the state mechanisms did not seem to have properly performed their duties, the PAD wanted to urge them to sacrifice to fight against the ongoing threat to national security, he said.

In Bangkok, PAD leaders Maj-Gen Chamlong Srimuang and Pibhop Dhongchai will lead the yellow shirts to the 11th Infantry Regiment headquarters on Phahon Yothin road and submit the letter to the government and the armed forces.

Mr Suriyasai said the PAD also planned to produced CDs exposing a movement to overthrow the monarchy for distribution to the public.