City Clerk is said to have rushed projects despite complaints of irregularities. A probe by the Democrat Party into the corruption scandal surrounding a number of large Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) projects has implicated City Clerk Nathanon Thavisin. Meanwhile, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) said it would soon summon “a politician of a higher rank than Deputy Governor Samart Ratchapolsitte”

BURNING ISSUE: screws tighten ahead of ‘D-Day’

Authorities move to take steam out of Sondhi’s campaign. Whether February 4 turns out to be Sondhi Limthongkul’s long-awaited D-Day depends a lot on the outcome of a battle of wills between him and the target of his unrelenting ire, Thaksin Shinawatra. Can Sondhi mobilise a People Power-style civil disobedience movement, or will Thaksin manage to neutralise his nemesis by choking off Sondhi’s access to publicity?

Hearing to open on alleged bid rigging

The House Committee on anti-corruption will next week open a hearing on alleged bidding irregularities in the Agriculture and Transport Ministries, Democrat MP and committee deputy chairman Alongkorn Pollabutr said yesterday.

Dam warning scares tourists

Many tourists cancelled trips to Kanchanaburi yesterday because of fears about the risk of a large dam bursting near the resort town. The cancellations followed news reports yesterday after experts told a seminar on Tuesday the Srinakarin Dam was located on an active fault. They said a powerful earthquake could burst the dam and flood 13 provinces.

Govt to set up care system for 1.4 million mentally ill

There are almost 1.4 million Thais suffering mental health problems but only about 400,000 of them need clinical treatment, Deputy Public Health Minister Anutin Charnveerakul said yesterday.

Cervical cancer vaccine likely to be ready this year

The world’s first cervical cancer vaccine is expected to be available this year – but it could prove to be expensive. That’s the advice from Professor Haral zur Hausen, the German doctor whose discovery of certain viruses as a major cause of the disease led to the development of the vaccine, which is nearly complete.

Pagoda hit by earthquake

An ancient pagoda was damaged after an earthquake, which had its epicentre in Burma, sent tremors through the northern province on Tuesday night.

Fares to rise on private buses

Operators of private concession buses and transport vans will meet Deputy Transport Minister General Chaiyanan Charoensiri to discuss their renewed demand for a fare increase after the price of diesel rose above Bt24.50 per litre.

Government admits blocking broadcast

The government has admitted it pressured satellite operators about broadcasting laws to block live coverage of a rally in Hat Yai yesterday led by

CPD loses appeal against NBC ruling

The Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) yesterday lost its appeal to the Supreme Administrative Court in a lawsuit against the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)’s selection committee over an allegedly unfair selection process.

No need to reshuffle Cabinet just yet, says Thaksin

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday dismissed press reports that he would reshuffle the Cabinet next month.

BUDGET REQUEST: Bt567 bn eyed for military purchases

PM-initiated plan likely to be trimmed; Navy seeks largest share for new vessels. Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and senior defence planners will today consider budget requests from the military totalling Bt567 billion to modernise the country’s arsenal over the next nine years, a source said. Of the three branches of the armed forces, the Navy is hoping to get the largest chunk of money with a request for Bt215 billion. The Army is seeking Bt206 billion and the Air Force wants Bt120 billion.

Mega-project ‘expo’ at Govt House

Today the prime minister will open up Government House to nearly 1,000 foreign investors and their local partners as well as diplomats to welcome their visions for his administration’s Bt1.7-trillion mega-project scheme.

Police may be involved in van bombing

Police say they have information about influential figures behind Monday’s bombing of a passenger van in Rangsit – and the Region

Thaksin rules out Pulo talks

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said yesterday that the government would not negotiate with the Patani United Liberation Organisation (Pulo) even though the group is willing to drop demands for independence in the Muslim-dominated provinces of Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala in return for peace talks.

Medics on border ready for bird flu

Health workers from refugee camps and migrant communities on the Thai-Burmese border will meet with local officials and donors in Tak tomorrow to review contingency plans to cope with a possible outbreak of bird flu.

China blocking flw of Mekong: experts

China, which operates two major dams on the Mekong, was accused yesterday of obstructing the river’s flow – and having a major impact on millions of people and the ecosystem downstream.

Suspected militant shot dead

Police yesterday shot dead a suspected militant after a gunfight near a temporary checkpoint that was set up to nab him, a source said.