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) EC officials urged to remain neutral during election
BANGKOK, Oct 21 (TNA) - Thailand's general election will be held two months from now, and Election Commission (EC) officials are urged to stay neutral, and to not identify with the activities or positions of any political party, EC chairman Apichart Sukhagganond said Sunday.Mr. Apichart's remarks were made as EC officials throughout the country met at a Bangkok hotel for the second day.
The EC chief told the convened election civil servants that every concerned official should work twice as hard after His Majesty the King's endorsement of the Royal Decree setting the next general election for December 23.
Urging EC officials to remain non-partisan in regard to the upcoming general election, Mr. Apichart said he had received complaints that some election officials had not acted impartially, and called upon them to refrain from taking bribes. More>>
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) Accolades For The Empire Hotel In Travel Poll
Bandar Seri Begawan - The Empire Hotel & Country Club has collected three accolades in Smart Travel Asia's 'The Best in Travel 2007' awards - an annual travel poll, a press release stated.The Empire Hotel & Country Club was voted in the Top 25 of three categories in a poll of readers. Readers ranked the resort 19th among Asia's Best Business Hotels, 18th among Asia's Best Conference Hotels and 12th of Asia's Best Leisure Hotels & Resorts. Other hotels and resorts featured in this reputable poll include The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, The Datai Langkawi. JW Marriot Phuket Resort and Spa, Banyan Tree Phuket, One & Only Royal Mirage Dubai, Ritz Carlton Bali, The Oriental Bangkok and Pangkor Laut Resort. More>>
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) Most Asian markets fall as oil hits new records
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP): Most Asian markets lost ground Friday, as record oil prices raised worries about rising transport costs and a weak dollar raised concerns about overseas earnings.Shares fell in Australia, China, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.
Japanese stocks dropped as the yen's rise against the dollar sent exporters such as Canon and Sony sharply lower and record oil prices drove selling in shipping stocks.
The Nikkei 225 average fell 1.71 percent to finish at 16,814.37 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Exporters ended mostly lower as the dollar fell below the 115-yen level for the first time in three weeks. Canon Inc. lost 2.8 percent. Honda Motor Co. shed 1.3 percent. Sony Corp. dropped 2 percent.
A stronger yen versus the dollar often prompts traders in Tokyo to sell exporters, whose overseas earnings in the U.S. More>>
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) Thai court orders Canadian pedophile suspect to be held for 12 days
BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) - A court has ordered that a Canadian schoolteacher suspected of having sex with dozens of young boys be held in a Thai jail for at least 12 days pending trial.Christopher Neil denied he did anything wrong following his arrest yesterday in Thailand. He was found at a house he rented with a Thai transvestite friend whose phone calls police had traced.
A judge signed a police order to extend his detention to 12 days, and could move later to keep him behind bars up to 84 days.
Neil arrived in court wearing a red-striped T-shirt, baseball cap and sunglasses. Looking tired, he said "no comment" when reporters asked if he had anything to say to his family.
Neil's arrest ended a global manhunt that started three years ago when German police discovered hundreds of photos online showing a man -- his face obscured in a swirl -- having sex with Asian boys. More>>