Thai Same-Sex Marriage Bill Not Without Controversy

VOA - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

BANGKOK, THAILAND -- As the debate on same-sex marriage continues in Western nations, including the United States, Thailand could become the first country in Asia to legalize gay marriage. Thailand is known for its liberal acceptance of sexuality, but the draft same-sex marriage law is not without controversy. This is a traditional Thai wedding, except there is no groom. There are two ...

Talisman Begins Oil Production at HSTHSD Offshore Vietnam

Rigzone - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Talisman Energy reported Wednesday that first oil production has been achieved at its Hai Su Trang and Hai Su Den (HST/HSD) development, offshore Vietnam. Gross production is expected to reach 15,000 barrels per day once the facilities are fully commissioned. The HST/HSD development comprises two offshore oil fields in Block 15-2/01 on the western edge of Vietnam's prolific Cuu Long Basin. ...

PMs visit to Thailand to accelerate ties Indian envoy

Times of India - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

BANGKOK: India's accelerating ties with Thailand will get a further boost with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's brief but comprehensive visit here next week, but the long awaited FTA will not be initialled during the trip, Indian envoy to the country has said. "Thailand is keenly looking forward to this visit," Indian Ambassador to Thailand Anil Wadhwa said, adding ...

Fitch Upgrades Thailands SME Bank Affirms IBANK

Fitch Ratings - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

U.S. Money Funds Return to Eurozone Banks U.S. prime money market funds (MMFs) increased their exposure to eurozone banks in April, although asset allocations to these institutions remain well below 2011 levels, according to Fitch Ratings. As of end-April 2013, MMF allocations to eurozone banks represented 15.1% of assets under management within Fitch Ratings'sample of the 10 largest U.S. ...

Manmohan to visit Thailand

New Kerala - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Bangkok, May 22 : Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will pay an official visit to Thailand from May 30 to 31, the Thai foreign ministry announced here ...

India Thailand to ratify treaty to swap prisoners

Times of India - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Thailand are on the verge of ratifying a treaty, seen as extremely significant by both the countries, that would enable them to swap prisoners. There are currently 60 Indians serving terms in Thai prisons mostly on charges of drug trafficking and a few attempted murder and theft. When ratified, the 'treaty on transfer of sentenced persons' will enable the swap of prisoners which will ...

Vietnam name to go on Roll of Honour

The Courier Mail - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

MORE than 40 years after he died in Vietnam, the name of Private Dal Abbott is to be finally listed on the Australian War Memorial's Roll of Honour. Although there's long been a place for his name, the 21-year-old national serviceman, killed in the Battle of Fire Support Base Coral in 1968, has never been included with the 102,000 other Australians on the roll of honour. Veterans from ...

S Korea beats Thailand at Sudirman Cup badminton championships

Global Times - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

South Korea's Lee Yong Dae (front) and Ko Sung Hyun compete during men's doubles at the the 2013 Sudirman Cup world mixed team badminton championships against Jongjit Maneepong and Puanguapech Nipitphon of Thailand in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 21, 2013. Lee Yong Dae and Ko Sung Hyun won 2-0. (Xinhua/Zhang ...

Cartoonist draws wrath of Thai prime minister

Middle East Times - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Police want to question a political cartoonist in a defamation case brought by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra over comments he reportedly made about her on ...

STOCKS NEWS THAILAND-Shin Corp retreats after MSCI deletion announcement

Reuters - Wednesday 22nd May, 2013

Wed May 22, 2013 12:30am EDT Shares in telecoms group Shin Corporation Pcl fell 2.6 percent to 94.25 baht after brokers said the stock would be removed from index provider MSCI's addition list as part of its semi-annual index review. MSCI announced on its website that Shin Corporation would not be added to the MSCI Thailand index because its free-float adjusted market capitalisation was less ...

Vietnam to co-operate with Asia-Pacific countries in managing scarce water

Asia News Network - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Vietnam is willing to co-operate with countries and exchange experiences in managing water resources and coping with natural disasters.Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said this at the plenary session of the second Asia-Pacific Water Summit (APWS) in Chiang Mai, Thailand, yesterday.Nhan said Viet Nam, like other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, was facing great challenges in water ...

Vietnam airport customs officers seized over 5kg rhino horns

Asia News Network - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

More than 5kg of rhino horns were seized by customs officers at the Tan Son Nhat Airport in Vietnam yesterday.Vietnamese customs officers and policemen found six rhino horns weighing over 5kg hidden in the baggage of a passenger on a flight operated by Vietnam Airlines from Paris to Ho Chi Minh City.In his declaration, the owner of the rhino horns said he was not aware of the value of the rhino ...

Lao to organise biggest rocket festival

General Sources - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

The Nonhinhae village in Vientiane, Laos will organise what has been called 'the biggest rocket festival ever' on May 25.The biggest rocket set to be fired into the sky at the weekend festival has been described as the biggest ever fired in Laos. It is less than three hours drive from Vientiane to the district.News about the festival, locally known as boun bang fai teu has spread to ...

Laos Australia work to combat transnational crime

General Sources - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Law enforcement officers from Laos and Australia will work in closer cooperation to combat transnational crime, with a specific focus on the suppression of trafficking in narcotics and other illicit substances.Australia Federal Police (AFP) officers based in Vietnam are currently passing on their knowledge and experience regarding counter trafficking efforts and drug law enforcement to Lao ...

STOCKS NEWS THAILAND-BEC World drops after block trades

Reuters - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Tue May 21, 2013 11:34pm EDT Shares in broadcaster BEC World Pcl dropped 6 percent to 67 baht after block trades at a lower-than-market price of 66 baht on average, according to Thai stock exchange data. BEC's shareholders planned to sell 80 million shares in block trades at 66 baht each in the morning session, broker Maybank Kim Eng Securities said in a report. The broader SET index was ...

Laos considers requirements to adopt timber trade regulations

Asia News Network - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Laos is examining the conditions necessary to enforce international rules on the timber trade and the sourcing of wood products, which will ensure effective and sustainable forest management.Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Phuangparisak Pravongviengkham, revealed the progress made at a workshop held yesterday in Vientiane to enhance and understand the Forest Law Enforcement, ...

Laos mapping out future leaders

General Sources - Tuesday 21st May, 2013

Core officials from Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the Lao government are currently in the process of identifying prospective future leaders at the central and local levels, with a view to generational renewal.The move is aimed to ensure that Laos has the right people in the right places and therefore the capacity to respond to the needs of national development during this period of ...