AIT operations back to normal following return to old charter

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) said Thursday that the difficulties surrounding its legal status had ended following a decision in December to bring back its old charter. The announcement meant 499 students from more than 30 countries will be able to attend their graduation ceremonies, without worrying about the validity of their degrees. "We have now returned to normalcy after ...

Yingluck drums up Japanese investment for Dawei rail projects

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has invited Japanese investors to join the Dawei Deep Sea Port project in Myanmar, while Japanese businesses have expressed an interest in bidding for satellite and high-speed rail projects in Thailand, the PM's secretary-general said Thursday. Suranand Vejjajiva said Yingluck met her Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, on Wednesday and discussed bilateral ...

SET index opens down 8.71 pts 0.53 pct

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Thai composite stocks index (SET) opened on Thursday at 1,622.56, down 8.71 points, or 0.53 per cent in line with most regional shares. Blue chip SET-50 index was at 1,074.25, down 7.44 points, or 0.69 per cent. Top five active (value) stocks: BAY, ADVANC, MFEC, TRUE, KBANK. The ...

SE Asia Stocks-Fall on Fed China data jitters Spore Thailand hit 2-wk low

Reuters - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

BANGKOK, May 23 (Reuters) - Southeast Asian stocks fell on Thursday, with Singapore marking its worst week since November 2012 and Thai stocks at their lowest close in more than two weeks, as worries over the future of U.S. monetary stimulus and weak Chinese data dented global sentiment. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia saw weakness in large caps such as Singapore Telecommunications Ltd, Siam ...

SET to take part in Opportunity Day

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) will join Maybank Kim Eng Securities (Thailand) at the first Opportunity Day, in Chiang Mai, when the top management of listed companies will meet directly with regional investors on May 31 at Centara Duangtawan Hotel from 9am to 4pm. The companies joining this event include Sahacogen (Chon Buri), Ratchthani Leasing and Universal Adsorbents & Chemicals. ...

Ital-Thai dam project halted

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Yangon -- The government has reportedly halted a hydropower dam project with Italian-Thai Development Plc in Taninthayi region of lower Myanmar, citing its possible environmental and social impacts. Ital-Thai's dam project located near Myeik township was expected to generate at least 800 megawatts of electricity upon completion, but is believed to pose flood risks to the thousands of ...

Phuket illegal taxi driver charged with sexual assault

Phuket Gazette - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Paitoon Kruain, 32, who operated an illegal taxi picking up tourists at Phuket International Airport, has been charged with sexual assault and is now being held at Phuket Prison. Photo: Kritsada ...

Chalerms reconciliation bill tabled in Parliament

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Pheu Thai MPs Thursday tabled a national reconciliation bill drafted by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung for Parliament's deliberation, say the bill seeks amnesty for all political groups so that the country can move forward. A group of 15 ...

P-Move ends rally after govt promises to protect villagers

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

The anti-government People's Movement for a Just Society (P-Move) has ended its rally after 18 days of protest, saying it had reached an agreement on a number of issues with the government. However, it vowed to return if the government failed to keep its promises. "According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the protesters, the government has agreed to solve two problems ...

Thai stocks extend losses on day after Fed China data

Reuters - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

BANGKOK, May 23 (Reuters) - Thailand's benchmark SET index fell as much as 3 percent in afternoon session, joining Asian and global shares on concerns over the future of the U.S. Federal Reserve's monetary stimulus and weak Chinese factory data. Index heavyweight energy and banking shares came under heavy selling pressure, with Siam Commercial Bank Pcl and PTT Exploration and ...

Italian on the run nabbed in Thailand

The Standard - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

An Italian who is suspcted to have defrauded millions of dollars from Italian financial institutions and other crimes, has been arrested by police in Thailand. Media reports said today Stefano Raccaqni, 38, (pictured) was arrested on Tuesday in Chiang Mai, 600 kilometres north of Bangkok, on a request from Italy via Interpol. He faces charges of defrauding Italian banks and finance companies ...

Japan stocks plummet 7 per cent

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Tokyo -- Japanese stocks fell 7 per cent Thursday on an unexpected drop in a Chinese business confidence index, and a strengthening of the yen. The benchmark Nikkei 225 Stock Average lost 1,143.28 points, or 7.32 per cent, to end at 14,483.98, while the broader-based Topix index was down 87.69 points, or 6.87 per cent, at 1,188.34. An unexpectedly weak index of purchasing managers' ...

Thai police arrest suspected Italian fraudster on Interpol request

The Nation - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

Thai police have arrested an Italian national on suspicion of defrauding millions of dollars from Italian financial institutions and other crimes, police said Thursday. Stefano Raccaqni, 38, was arrested on Tuesday in Chiang Mai, 600 kilometres north of Bangkok, on a request from Italy via Interpol. He faces charges of defrauding Italian banks and finance companies of more than 8.6 million ...

Thai stocks fall to two-week low before long weekend

Reuters - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

BANGKOK, May 23 (Reuters) - Thailand's main SET index was down 1.6 percent at midday, underperforming others in Southeast Asia, as investors cashed in on recently rallying shares ahead of a three-day weekend and the central bank's policy rate review next week. Sentiment was broadly weak on worries in Asia about a reduction in U.S. monetary stimulus. Local brokers said the Thai stock ...

Phuket house construction workers dies in fall

Phuket Gazette - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

PHUKET: A Phuket construction worker died yesterday after falling from scaffolding at a house being built in Thalang.Thalang Police were called to the site, in Soi Lak Maung in Baan Muang Mai, at about 10:30am.At the scene they found Manit Mongkhon, 42, from Nan Province in Northern Thailand, dead from a fatal head injury.Coworkers Sataphon Phaojumroon, 49, and Manoo Kumsorn, 65, told police Mr ...

Thai Bank of Ayudhya denies report of MUFG offer for stake

Reuters - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

BANGKOK | Thu May 23, 2013 1:43am EDT BANGKOK May 23 (Reuters) - Bank of Ayudhya Pcl, Thailand's fifth-largest lender, denied a newspaper report that Japan's Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) had offered to buy General Electric's stake in it for 40 baht per share. "The news is groundless," President Philip Tan told reporters on Thursday. Thai-language Khao Hoon ...

Phuket shop owners urge mayor to reverse parking ban

Phuket Gazette - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

The shop owners say the no parking zone in front of their shops, located opposite Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town, is hurting their livelihoods. Photo: Kritsada ...

South Thailands blackout not a reason to build plants

Asia News Network - Thursday 23rd May, 2013

An academic yesterday warned the government against trying to use the recent power blackout in the South as an excuse to push ahead with the construction of more power plants. Several current power-plant projects face opposition from locals. "Various agencies have now given conflicting information, especially in regard to power demand in the South," assistant professor Prasart Meetam ...

Chinese arrested for illegally selling souvenirs at Phuket temple

Phuket Gazette - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

PHUKET: Nine Chinese were arrested on Tuesday for illegally selling amulets and souvenirs at Wat Kathu, one of the oldest temples on the island.Phuket Immigration Office Superintendent Pol Col Sanchai Chokhayaikij led officers to the revered site at about 4:30pm, where they found the Chinese nationals actively selling amulets and souvenirs to visitors at the temple ...

Ranger volunteer suspected insurgent killed in Narathiwat clash

The Nation - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Narathiwat - One suspected insurgent was killed and two others were arrested in a clash with rangers and volunteers late Wednesday night. A ranger volunteer, Yothin Promchuay, 23, was also killed during the clash at 11:30 pm in Ipayaet village in Tambon Juap in Joh I Rong district. The clash happened after 50 rangers and ranger volunteers were dispatched to check a house in the village after ...

Phuket Governor faces taxi doubleheader at Phuket International airport

Phuket Gazette - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut was met en masse late yesterday by the drivers of a second taxi company after having already been dragged to Phuket International Airport due to an all-night vigil held by the illegal taxi drivers of Mook Andaman co-operative outside his official residence Tuesday night ...

Lion Air plans Thai subsidiary

Travel Blackboard - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Indonesia’s low-cost airline, Lion Air, has made a move into Thailand’s aviation market, with plans to launch a new Thai subsidiary. Although plans for Thai Lion Air first came into light six years ago, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Department confirmed the plans this week, but stressed the airline is yet to submit an application for an air operator’s certificate. ...