No pacts yet on trade equality, liberalisation. World Trade Organisation (WTO) ministers yesterday groped for an agreement, just one day before their conference winds up, but faced the prospect of the meeting ending with scant progress towards a global trade-liberalisation pact. The contentious issue is still agriculture as the European Union has not yet fixed a date to cut its export subsidy before 2013. The farm disagreement may cause the WTO ministerial conference to achieve only modest goals.

BUDDHISM: WORSHIP WHEN YOU WANT

One city temple’s flexi-hours have proved a big draw to the time-challenged, and authorities hope to see others follow suit. Bangkok’s Wat Suthat Thepwararam is one of the few city temples that is crowded most evenings, thanks to its flexi-hours that cater to residents who are pressed for time. From 7am to 9pm, it has become an increasingly popular place for those who come to pray, hear sermons and meditate after a stressful day at work.

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Bangkok Jazz Festival 2005 ends its three-day event tonight at Sanam Sua Pa, Dusit Royal Plaza.

Exhibition honours long-lived queen

Not only are the latest fashions and luxury goods flaunted at the recently opened Siam Paragon shopping centre, but a glorious part of the Kingdom’s heritage can also be shared at the venue over the Christmas festivities. The tone there was heightened yesterday when HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the opening of an exhibition commemorating the 50th anniversary of Queen Savang Vadhana’s passing away. The late queen was the Princess’s great-grandmother.

TEACHERS: protest in Chiang Mai

About 10,000 teachers in 16 northern provinces gathered in front of Chiang Mai City Hall yesterday morning to express opposition to the transfer of schools to local administrations.

Ministry bomb ‘was a prank’

Yesterday’s minor bombing of the Interior Ministry was a “hand on the throat of a cobra”, said Chidchai Vanasatidya, the deputy prime minister in charge of security.