Thaksin Shinawatra and Sondhi Limthongkul were once considered the best of pals. The second part of our special series touches on the time before things started to turn sour.

SIAM PARAGON: Bt15-billion mall set for grand debut

Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, thousands of VIPs will be on hand for Dec 9 launch. Siam Paragon, the ultra-modern designer shopping complex in downtown Bangkok, will open with an unprecedented publicity bash on December 9. RH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will preside over the opening ceremony at 9.39am. Some 10,000 VIP guests will be invited to attend, including ambassadors, politicians, military top brass, Cabinet members, movie and television celebrities, and pop stars.

Teachers told their views to be considered

The education minister told some 30,000 teachers who gathered in Bangkok yesterday to protest against the plan to transfer schools to local administrative organisations that he could only promise that their views would be considered by Parliament. Whether schools nationwide remain under the Education Ministry or are transferred to local authorities will depend on Parliament, Education Minister Chaturon Chaisang told the teachers.