The Transport Ministry's 110-billion-baht plan to lease new buses for the city ran into a major hurdle yesterday when Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej decided to put it on the backburner to avoid criticism of possible graft.
POLITICS
The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has set Friday as D-Day to hold a major rally at Government House in what it calls a make-or-break attempt to oust Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet.
SOUTHERN VIOLENCE
NARATHIWAT : More than 1,000 family members of victims killed in the southern insurgency say they are haunted by what they have seen, according to a Mental Health Department report.
WEATHER
Thailand needs to construct long dykes in coastal areas to protect Bangkok and neighbouring provinces against rising sea levels, which could lead to severe flooding in the capital, said Smith Dharmasarojana, chairman of the national disaster warning committee. The dykes would be erected between Phetchaburi's Cha-am district and Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district, which face the Gulf of Thailand.
The cabinet yesterday approved the new map of Prasart Preah Vihear, clearing the way for Cambodia to propose the temple to Unesco as a World Heritage site.
HEALTH
Listening to an iPod or other MP3 digital music player through earbuds for too long could lead to serious hearing problems, doctors warn. A recent study on the listening behaviour of Thai youngsters found they tended to stay tuned to loud music from these players for too long at one time.
CONSERVATION
Villagers living near Huay Kha Khaeng wildlife sanctuary in Uthai Thani province have called on the Ministry of Industry to reject an application for mining activity near the World Heritage Site. The ministry's provincial basic industries and mines office revealed that a private firm had applied for a mining concession licence to conduct lead, iron and quartz mining in a 600-rai land plot in Ban Rai district a few months ago.
The Assets Scrutiny Committee's (ASC) sub-panel is likely to spare Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin from indictment in City Hall's fire trucks and boats deal, according to a source at the committee.
HEALTH
The managing-director of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation, Witit Artavatkun, is seen as the next target of Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab, who has already given GPO board chairman Vichai Chokewiwat his marching orders.
SOCIAL CRITIC SPEAKS
Social critic Prawase Wasi has called on former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to make serious attempts to distance himself from politics. Mr Thaksin is the only person who can defuse the ongoing political conflict by washing his hands of politics and clearly demonstrating that he has done so, Dr Prawase wrote in his article released yesterday.
PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
Phachern Khampo, deputy director-general of the Public Relations Department (PRD), was yesterday appointed department chief by the cabinet to replace the embattled Pramote Ratthavinij. Mr Phachern was appointed acting PRD chief after the then PM's Office Minister Jakrapob Penkair transferred Mr Pramote to an inactive post at the PM's Office.
POLITICS
The cabinet decided yesterday to end the parliamentary special session on June 28 and rejected attempts by a group of senators to open a general debate on the government's performance. Deputy government spokesman Natthawut Saikua said the cabinet approved the royal decree to close the session.
EDITORIAL
The absence of an update so far this week from the country's highest court on what has been called the "snack box saga" is beginning to get a little uncomfortable. The Supreme Court appointed on Friday morning three of its membership - vice president Mongkol Taptiang and judges Weerapol Tangsuwan and Issares Chairat - to look into what appears on the surface to be a blatant attempt at bribing the court.
In Media
Recent news reports about school and university students committing suicide are proof of the growing economic hardships faced by low-income people.
COMMENTARY
With the potential for crude oil prices to hit $150 a barrel next month and possibly $200 next year, it is imperative that the Samak Sundaravej administration set its priorities right.
THE UNITED STATES
On June 9, 2008, Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich stood up on the floor of US Congress to read 35 Articles of Impeachment against US President George Walker Bush.
SPOTLIGHT
For nearly eight decsades, people have believed the Solar System has consisted of one star and nine planets. That's no longer true, says the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
PostBag
The military should consider working "with" government agencies for the benefit of the farmers. They are a very important Thai asset, probably the most important. When everything is said and done, life comes back to the basic necessities that are important to rich and poor alike. Those necessities are: food, shelter and clothing. Anything else is extra.
IN Brief
MEDIA :Journalists and media advocates will today petition House Speaker Chai Chidchob to withdraw the controversial frequency allocation bill.
