Suranand says all 62 will be in place by March next year.

Teenager commits suicide because of poor school grades

A 17-year-old schoolboy committed suicide early yesterday, apparently because he was distraught over his grades falling short of his mother’s expectations. On returning home from school on Tuesday afternoon with a grade-point average of 2.75 for the past semester, Sathit Raksasat, a grade-12 student at Wiset Chai Chan Tantiwittayaphum School, locked himself in his bedroom, where he later shot himself, Pramuan, his mother, said.

STATE SECTOR: Axe poised to fall on bureaucrats

Teachers, police to suffer the most as old workers retire

SOUTHERN INITIATIVES: Stoking the line of fire

Pushy approach may provoke unrest

Thanong, bankers to meet over debt plan

Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya will today meet representatives of the Thai Bankers Association to consider a draft plan for the government’s personal-debt-relief scheme.

Govt MP targeted in police probe

Police have targeted government MP Sitthichai Kittithanesuan and 15 accomplices for graft proceedings stemming from a sand-dredging scandal in Nakhon Nayok province, police inspector General Seripisut Temiyavej said yesterday.

Loan brings plan to life

While working full time at the coffin shop five years ago, he noticed a demand for more convenient and affordable refrigerated coffins.

IN BRIEF

Libel season

BURNING ISSUE: Show is a lesson in democracy

Voting system on TV hit ‘Academy Fantasia’ demonstrates the dark power of money

Court rejects CPD suit

The Administrative Court yesterday rejected a lawsuit filed by the Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD), which alleged that the selection process for members of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) was not transparent.

Keep neutral, EC urges

The Election Commission will send a written request to Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra urging him to ensure his Cabinet members and the top permanent officials of state agencies remain neutral in the upcoming by-elections in four provinces, EC secretary-general Ekachai Warunprapha said yesterday.

Three agencies join forces to enter stem-cell research race

As part of the country’s plan to become the medical hub of Asia, three major medical science agencies have signed an agreement to collaborate on therapeutic stem-cell research and development.

Library overhaul

The Fine Arts Department will request Bt500 million from the government for the renovation of the National Library to celebrate the institution’s 101st anniversary next year, a senior official said yesterday.

BMA scales down plan for address changes

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has decided to scale down its plans to change the addresses of homes and offices in 35 of its 50 districts.

Baby boy left in bag

A baby boy was found abandoned in a plastic bag at the entrance to a small lane in Bangkok’s Nong Khaem district yesterday. The bag was loosely tied, apparently to allow in some air for the baby to breathe, police said.

Dog plan on tight leash

A long-awaited regulation on the care of dogs in Bangkok was delayed again yesterday after the city council failed to get assurances that mandatory microchip implants would be implemented in time.

METRO BRIEFS: Healthcare

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a home healthcare service for its retired officials.