Weedkiller victim
Staff of the Asian Elephant Foundation try to save Boon Yuen, a 14-month-pregnant elephant who is sick after eating grass in a field local farmers had sprayed with weedkiller in Chumphon province. The elephant belongs to a woman fruit farmer in Lang Suan district. — Aminat Thongdee

Trying to help

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon says the Burmese government has still not done enough to let in foreign aid, and on the 13th day of the disaster called on world leaders to unite in a push for "radical change" to speed up critical help. Burmese junta leaders refuse to even speak to the UN chief.

ASC legality questioned

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to rule on the lottery case against the former Thai Rak Thai cabinet. Instead, it asked the Constitution Court to rule on whether the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), set up to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption by the Thaksin Shinawatra government, is a legal body.

Thai help accepted

On the 12th day of the Burmese cyclone disaster, the military junta has agreed to welcome an all-Thai medical relief team sent by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn to help the victims.

Charter judges to rule on ASC's fate

The Supreme Court yesterday sought help from the Constitution Court to decide the fate of the Assets Scrutiny Committee (ASC), which was set up to investigate and prosecute alleged corruption by the Thaksin Shinawatra government when it was in power.

Burma to allow in Thai medical team

The Burmese government will allow a Thai medical team to help victims of Cyclone Nargis, although Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej yesterday failed to persuade the junta to allow other foreign aid workers into the country.

Thaksin 'wants to open Koh Kong casino'

Thaksin Shinawatra is interested in developing another casino and entertainment complex in the Cambodian province of Koh Kong, Cambodian Defence Minister Teah Banh said yesterday.

Government considers longer leasehold terms

The government is considering allowing greater foreign ownership in property firms and extending leasehold periods beyond 30 years to stimulate the business, according to Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee.

Thailand climbs competitiveness table

Thailand has moved up six places, to 27th from 33rd, in the annual competitiveness rankings compiled by the Swiss-based Institute of Management Development (IMD).

Private sector wants free market

Government rice policies are misguided and have distorted market forces, according to local experts. Ammar Siamwalla, honorary economist for the Thailand Development Research Institute, said state policies were sending false signals to farmers.

Witter's loss closes door on Hatton

Junior Witter is probably going to find life a lot tougher after losing his WBC light-welterweight title to American Timothy Bradley in Nottingham, England last weekend.

Eriksson tight-lipped over future as Man City arrive in Bangkok

Sven-Goran Eriksson declined to comment on his future at Manchester City or his next meeting with club owner Thaksin Shinawatra after arriving in Bangkok yesterday.

Atthasit, Buoban gain top votes from sport writers

Snooker star Atthasit Mahitthi and javelin queen Buoban Pamang were named the best male and female amateur athletes of 2007 by the Sport Writers Association of Thailand yesterday.

Red Cross estimates up to 128,000 died in Myanmar cyclone as heavy rains hit devastated delta

International aid agencies were preparing everything from anti-snake venom kits to plastic roofing as they warned that a second wave of deaths will follow the Myanmar cyclone disaster unless the military regime lets in more aid quickly.

Australian army officer jailed for selling rocket launchers to terror-linked dealer

A former Australian army captain was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Thursday for stealing rocket launchers from the military and selling them to a man with alleged terrorist links.

China plans more helicopters, aid drops for hard-hit areas near quake epicenter

China on Thursday ordered 101 more helicopters into the air and planned aid drops into remote areas of Sichuan province as it struggled to cope with this week's powerful earthquake, which has directly affected 10 million people.