Saeng Sa-ngawong, 73, puts all her energy in a lesson in the Thai language class she attends with her little friends at Wat Dong Pa Miang school in Chiang Rai’s Muang district.

Coup lovers?

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has defended its much criticised "New Politics" platform, saying that it was not an invitation for a military coup d'etat but a way out of dirty politics.

All eyes on Quebec

NewsThink by Thanida Tansubhapol
Thailand and Cambodia now turn to the World Heritage Committee meeting in Quebec on Sunday, when the Preah Vihear issue goes on the table for 21 committee members to decide.

'I did not sell the country'

Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama told the Constitution Court on Friday that the push to support Cambodia's registration of the Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site came last year from the administration of Surayud Chulanont installed by the coup-makers.

NEVER TOO OLD TO LEARN

`She's so old, but still studies. Why? " Villagers typically ask Saeng Sa-ngawong that question, when they see her walking with children to Wat Dong Pa Miang school in Muang district. Mrs Saeng, who has gone back to school, is one of their classmates. They also ask how Mrs Saeng, from tambon Huay Sak, will get a job when she leaves school. She is 73. She ignores their comments, as she is determined to learn how to read and write. "I just want to follow my life-long dream," she said.

PAD denies encouraging military coup

The People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) has defended its much-criticised ''New Politics'' platform, saying that it was not an invitation for a military coup d'etat but a way out of dirty politics. ''It's untrue that we're proposing the New Politics to invite military coups. The PAD has made it clear that we don't support a coup, and a coup is not a solution to our problems,'' Pibhop Dhongchai, one of PAD's core leaders, said yesterday.

Noppawan loses final at Wimbledon

Thai junior tennis player Noppawan Lertcheewakarn failed to win the final of the girls' singles at Wimbledon in England late last night. Noppawan, 16, lost to Briton Laura Robson, 14, 3-6, 6-3, 1-6. It was a fine showing for the Chiang Mai girl who is known as ''Nok''. In the first set Robson needed just one break of serve to take the set. Despite having a much slower serve, Noppawan held serve throughout the second set, breaking Robson at 2-all and again at 5-2 to send the match into a final deciding set.

Fleet and salaries to be cut, says Nok

Nok Airlines yesterday won a major reprieve from shareholders to continue to fly after the management committed to a rehabilitation package including downsizing its operations, halving the fleet, and cutting salaries of senior staff. But the ultimate fate of the budget carrier remains at the mercy of the oil market as Nok board members and shareholders believe it is better off being grounded if crude oil prices soar above US$160 a barrel from around $145 currently.

Oil seen as main factor moving local shares

Oil prices rather than local politics will remain the main driver of the Stock Exchange of Thailand over the next several months, analysts said yesterday.

DTAC chief resigns

DTAC, the country's second largest mobile operator, yesterday announced the resignation of CEO Sigve Brekke and the appointment of Tore Johnsen as the new CEO, effective from Sept 1.

Winning start

Badminton star Salakjit Ponsana faces a mountain to climb in Beijing plus other Olympic news. Pages 6-7 All Blacks overpower world champions South Africa to start off their Tri-Nations campaign. Page 13

Keep an eye on the ball

My husband's balls are not straight, was a comment thrown at me even before a coffee.

Uphill task

Salakjit Ponsana, Thailand's top female badminton player, knows too well that she will face an uphill task to win a medal in Beijing. But she believes she has a chance to claim a podium finish if she receives a favourable draw in the women's singles.

After DC gun ban overturned, city seeks new rules

Dale Metta, who manages a gun shop just outside the District of Columbia limits in Maryland, has had to turn away dozens of city residents wanting to buy handguns in recent days. Never mind that the U.S. Supreme Court just struck down Washington's 32-year-old ban on possessing handguns.

Patriarch of banned Vietnamese Buddhist church dies after years under house arrest

Thich Huyen Quang, the patriarch of an outlawed Buddhist church in Vietnam who spent more than two decades in and out of house arrest, died after months of ailing health. He was 87.

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry: Khan case 'closed' despite claims implicating Musharraf

Pakistan's Foreign Ministry insisted its nuclear proliferation case was closed after the disgraced architect of its atomic program claimed the army under President Pervez Musharraf helped spread the technology.