China growth falls to 6.9 per cent. Photo: Zhong Min / EPA
BEIJING — China's economy grew 6.9 percent in 2015, according to official figures released Tuesday, marking the slowest growth in more than a quarter of a century.
The growth missed the 7 percent target that the government had set for the year and is the weakest since 1990. It matched predictions of 6.9 per cent by economists.
The economy expanded by 6.8 percent in the fourth quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
China's services sector made up 50.5 per cent of the country's GDP in 2015, up from 48.1 per cent in 2014, while investment in fixed assets and property cooled compared to the previous year.
Analysts said official figures provided a more optimistic view than the actual situation in China.
"There is no big difference between 6.9 and 7 per cent because those figures were reported from lower levels and had been inflated," said Hu Xingdou, professor of economics at the Beijing Institute of Technology.
"It is an estimation and the samples they collected for the statistics almost all came from state-owned enterprises. Therefore, the result will be higher than the real situation," Hu said.
British rights activist Andy Hall speaks to the media outside a Bangkok court on Sept. 2, 2014. Photo: Athit Perawongmetha / Reuters
By Aukkarapon Niyomyat and Patpicha Tanakasempipat
Reuters
BANGKOK — A court Monday charged British human rights activist Andy Hall with defaming a Thai fruit company, a case which could see him jailed for up to seven years if found guilty.
Natural Fruit, Thailand's biggest producer of canned pineapples, accused Andy Hall of defamation and computer crimes over a report published in 2013 that he helped author for Finnwatch, a Finland-based watchdog group.
The report, "Cheap Has a High Price," alleged ill-treatment of migrant workers at a factory owned by the firm. Natural Fruit denied the allegations.
The indictment means Hall will face a second trial over the report after a previous lawsuit was thrown out by a court on a technicality in 2014. Natural Fruit filed four lawsuits against him, and is appealing the dismissal of the first.
Rights activists have criticized Thailand's defamation and computer crimes legislation, which they say politicians and corporations have used to muzzle critics.
Hall on Wednesday denied the charges against him.
"I only collected raw data and took no part in analyzing the data. Finnwatch officials were responsible for that," said Hall after the indictment. "They also put the report on the website, not me."
The case will begin in mid-May and is expected to conclude in late July.
Hall is on bail and has had his passport confiscated. He said on Monday he had been given permission to leave Thailand at the end of January for a week.
In the two other pending cases, Natural Fruit has demanded 400 million baht (USD$11 million) in compensation for damages.
NEW YORK — Glenn Frey, 67, a founding member of the Eagles, one of the most successful American rock bands of all time, died Monday in New York after recent illnesses, the group announced.
"It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade," the band said in a statement on its website.
The band said Frey had "fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks" but died of complications from pneumonia and other ailments.
"Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community and millions of fans worldwide," the statement said.
The band cited Frey's poor health in November in withdrawing from the annual Kennedy Centre Honours, a show in Washington recognizing great entertainers. At the time, the Eagles hoped to participate with Frey in the next show in December 2016.
Formed as an opening band for Linda Ronstadt, the Eagles had a long string of hits in the 1970s with their harmonious blend of rock, folk, country and pop influences.
Frey, who played guitar and piano, was the lead singer on some of the band's most memorable classics, including "Take It Easy," "Already Gone," "Lyin' Eyes" and "Heartache Tonight."
In the 1980s, Frey had solo hits including "Smuggler's Blues" and "The Heat Is On."
His last performance was in July in Los Angeles, as the Eagles concluded their two-year "History of the Eagles Tour."
Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B Schmit are the band's surviving members.
In a statement, Henley said Frey was "like a brother to me." They met in 1970, after Frey had moved from his native Michigan to Los Angeles, and Henley described "shock, disbelief and profound sorrow" at the passing of his bandmate.
"Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan. He had an encyclopaedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven," Henley said.
One of the biggest selling music groups ever, the Eagles were named to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
The band's statement included the lyrics of a song, It's Your World Now, co-written by Frey: "The time we shared went by so fast, Just like a dream, we knew it couldn't last, But I'd do it all again, If I could, somehow, But I must be leavin' soon, It's your world now."
Huai Khwang market vendors wear yellow shirts at a Monday protest against City Hall’s decision to evict them from the sidewalks where some have operated for three decades.
BANGKOK — It’s a routine that’s become predictably familiar: City moves in to clear sidewalks, vendors cry foul, vendors leave.
On Monday morning it played out on streets near Huai Khwang intersection, an area that for 30 decades has been a lively area famous for cheap street food and fashion, with vendors protesting a City Hall announcement this morning that from this day forth, all stalls on the sidewalks of the night market have to go.
At least 100 vendors in yellow shirts gathered to protest this morning, saying they were not happy with a nearby, indoor location the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, encouraged them to relocate to.
The BMA said it notified vendors in May 2015 it had revoked their permission to operate on the sidewalk, saying it had received many complaints about the market.
BMA officials this morning launched their effort to clear both sides along Pracha Uthit and Pracha Songkhro roads as part of its ongoing campaign to reclaim public space.
Similar efforts have been carried out since the 2014 military coup in places such as Silom Road and several historic markets in Chinatown and near the Grand Palace.
The BMA said vendors have been notified of the redevelopment effort and can move into the second floor of the Huai Khwang market building’s second floor, which has space for 390 stalls.
Vendors said they were concerned it would be difficult to attract customers since they would be inside up on the building’s second floor instead of visible on the street. There is apparently not enough space for everyone in the building, which has neither an elevator nor restrooms.
BMA authorities said they would seek another location to accommodate the more than the estimated 500 vendors.
Beginning at 6pm today, barriers would be set up on the walkways to prevent the stalls from returning, though some vendors vowed to continue selling at their usual locations.
City workers cleaned the sidewalks Monday morning near the Huai Khwang market. Photo: @Pr_bangkok / Twitter
Promotional art for the Bukruk Urban Arts Festival. Image: Courtesy Bukruk
BANGKOK — When the Bukruk Festival returns Saturday with a big party on the river, it won't go down exactly as expected.
The opening-day music festival to kick off the nine-day Bukruk Urban Arts Festival is moving further upriver to The Jam Factory due to a last-minute problem with the original venue, the Bangkok Docklands.
“We’re concerned mainly about alcohol use and our image, since our job is building ships,” a Bangkok Dock Co. rep who would only identify himself as Supheeruth said Monday morning of the cultural event which is sponsored by the likes of the European Union and Tourism Authority of Thailand.
Bukruk organizers did not return calls seeking comment. A Jam Factory representative confirmed this afternoon it will host Saturday’s daylong music festival which will feature music by bands and DJs from Thailand and around the world.
The Docklands venue was announced with fanfare back in November, and just last month it hosted the Great Outdoor Market for four days.
Although the venue for the music fest must change, the festival will otherwise be unchanged, sticking to its planned schedule of events. Tickets to Saturday’s festival are available online for 800 baht.
BANGKOK — When British economist William Forster Lloyd coined the term “tragedy of the commons” two centuries ago to refer to the spoiling of shared resources by individuals, it must have been after seeing the sidewalks of Bangkok.
Extend that to the capital city’s vast and numerous shopping malls which – apart from taking space which could have been a park or library – tend to offer an awful selection of stores, tasteless kitschy decor and misery-inducing parking. Thus the degraded public utility of malls many don’t want to visit because, too often, they really suck.
The Commons, a new Thonglor “community mall,” was designed to be free of tragedy. Partly because its commercial tenants won’t be the usual nepotism-preferred cronies, but a curated selection of vendors meant to go well together.
“I put my money down two years ago. I trusted the concept because here, unlike other malls, you know who will be next to you,” said Chris Foo of The Beer Cap, a craft beer bar opening to lubricate Commons patrons. “It’s just a bunch of people who really believe in each other’s products.”
To minimize the mall misery, The Commons will also include 15-minute parking from the street, a daycare center and good ventilation.
The mall’s main draw is called The Market. Its intent is writ large on a sign: “Food and Drink from Specialized Purveyors.”
Inside you’ll find a new Mexican joint called Barrio Bonito, a restaurant from Koh Chang run by a Frenchman and his Mexican wife, the former of which promises “Mexican food that’s anything but Tex-Mex.”
Peppina, the popular pizzeria by Paolo Vitaletti and Jarrett Wrisley is neatly tucked into a corner and keeps the same open-kitchen plan so guests can enjoy the view and equally important aroma of the Neapolitan pizza.
Egg My God is a newcomer to the scene. When I asked the man behind the operation to give us the scoop, he enthusiastically cracked, ““We have curry, soup, steak, but they all have eggs! Everything about eggs. I love the concept, I love eggs!”
A grocery store involving sausage king Joe Sloane is planned and should be fully operational by the official February opening.
The Beer Cap supplies the entire complex with brew, with a sharp focus on keeping it craft-only.
“We kept the beer cap theme from RCA, but we’re only putting true craft beer on tap here. Expect Punk IPA, Holgate Pilsner, Chainbreaker White IPA,” Foo said. A crane hoists kegs up to a cold room above the bar and keeps 10 taps pouring a rotating selection of the good stuff. Foo promises the brew is never more than four days old.
The seating area outside is situated under a massive industrial fan imported from San Francisco that keeps the area cool enough to comfortably enjoy being away from air conditioning. There’s a small parking lot just out front with 15-minute parking for folks who just want to run in and grab something.
'Por' Thrisadee Sahawong and actress Worakarn 'Punch' Rojanawat in a promotional image for a 2015 remake of rom-com lakorn Tat Dao Bussaya.
BANGKOK — Beloved television actor “Por Thrisadee” Sahawong, 35, whose illness gripped the nation for more than two months, died this morning at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok.
A statement issued Monday afternoon by the hospital, where he was admitted 71 days ago for treatment of severe complications stemming from dengue fever, said Thrisadee died at 11:50am.
"Since early January 2016, his lung infection escalated, causing his condition to progressively deteriorate," it read. "He eventually stopped responding to treatment and passed away peacefully."
The statement said Trisadee had been suffering from various health complications such as kidney failure, liver failure, hemorrhaging and loss of white blood cells. His left foot was amputated due to a blood clot in his leg, and doctors later removed one of his lungs.
Sornmontra Pichaisornplaeng, Por’s personal manager, confirmed his death this afternoon and said his funeral will take place in his hometown of Buriram.
His family has yet to make a statement on the actor's death. The actor is survived by his wife Vanda Sahawong and daughter Pakwan "Mali" Sahawong.
Photo: Buriram United / Facebook
Among the first to publicly mourn his death was Thrisadee’s favorite football club, Buriram United; the actor originally hailed from Buriram province.
“Por’s departure today is the greatest loss for the Sahawong family and also the Buriram United family, because we have lost the person who loves us with a pure heart, who loves us with an unconditional love,” read a statement from the club posted to Facebook and accompanied by a photo of Thrisadee wearing a Buriram United jersey.
Thrisadee’s illness had become an obsession of the national media ever since he was first admitted to the hospital on Nov. 9 in a comatose state due to complications from dengue fever, with daily reports filed from the hospital waiting room.
Thrisadee was an A-list celebrity known for acting in the immensely popular television dramas known as lakorn.
While hospitalized, the story of his illness provided its own plot twist. Several days after being admitted to the hospital came the revelation Thrisadee had a 2-year-old daughter with Vanda kept out of the public eye.
Thrisadee rose to fame after he was named Cleo Thailand's 2004 Bachelor of the Year. In 2009 he was propelled into superstardom by his lead performance in classic lakorn remake Pu Yai Lee Kab Nang Ma, or Village Head Lee and Miss Ma. He has played more than 30 roles in other series.
Correction: An earlier version of this story misidentified Por's age at death. He was 35, not 37.
Suspected gunman Sihanath Chaipinit participates in a police 're-enactment' Saturday in front of the Palita Lodge on Koh Phangan.
SURAT THANI — Police have been ordered from the highest level to crack down on foreign mafia operating on Koh Phangan after a local official and Russian bar owner were arrested in connection with intimidation backed by gunfire on the island famous for its full moon parties.
Following arrests of two suspects in the shooting, Deputy Prime Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan announced Sunday measures would be taken against foreigners business operators behaving like mafia on the famous resort islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
“Gen. Prawit is extremely concerned about the influence of foreigners,” said Maj. Gen. Apichart Boonsriroj of the Surat Thani police station. “He stressed officials must not be involved or giving any support to their illegal actions.”
Five gunshots were fired in the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday into rooms occupied by tourists at Haad Rin Nok, the site of the monthly full moon bacchanals. No one was injured. The gunshots were believed meant to intimidate the bungalow’s owner after he filed a complaint with police about noisy overnight parties at a nearby bar owned by the Russian.
Over the weekend, police arrested 31-year-old Russian national Sergei Milentie, who operated the Similan bar where the parties were held, and Chanin Phetsri, the 54-year-old mayor of a community on the mainland. Chanin was said to have rented the bar to Milentie.
Police said their arrests came from information provided by the alleged gunman, 62-year-old Sihanath Chaipinit, and bar manager Jaturong Hongthong, 36. Both men were arrested Friday.
Mayor Chanin has denied being involved. A fifth suspect, 38-year-old Jirat Kuadkaew, fled.
Milentie denied renting the bar from the mayor. He has been charged with working illegally in the kingdom, as well as operating a bar and selling alcohol without permits. He was scheduled to appear Monday in court on Koh Samui.
The owner of the bungalows who made the original complaint, Pairot Charoenwan, said the trouble stemmed from a Jan. 10 meeting of the local business association held at his Palita Lodge. Local business owners agreed no parties would be allowed in the beach community except for the monthly Full Moon Party.
“Police then called the foreign bar owner to inform him of the agreement,” he said. “He was displeased.”
Surat Thani Gov. Wongsiri Phromchana said he expects more foreign mafia will be taken into custody, saying there are a number of expats operating businesses which serve tourists from their countries. He said many of them were involved in organized crime.
As part of the crackdown, police will review the investors and registration of businesses belonging to foreigners.
SpaceX launches satellite in an undated picture. Photo: Bill Ingalls / Nasa / EPA
WASHINGTON — Private space-launch company SpaceX carried a scientific satellite into orbit Sunday but failed again in an attempt to land the rocket undamaged for reuse on future missions.
The Jason-3, a U.S. -European oceanography satellite, was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California atop SpaceX's unmanned Falcon 9 rocket.
The satellite is designed to gather data on oceans, including tracking global sea level rise. The mission is meant to improve weather, climate and ocean forecasts, U.S. space agency NASA said.
NASA hailed the "successful launch" on Twitter.
As the Falcon 9 returned to Earth after deploying the satellite into low orbit, SpaceX attempted to land the spacecraft on an unmanned floating platform in the Pacific Ocean.
The company later tweeted that the rocket landed softly on the vessel, a so-called droneship, within 1.3 meters of the centre of the platform, but one of the legs failed to fully lock and collapse on impact.
SpaceX chief Elon Musk, an investor whose ventures include electric car company Tesla Motors, said on Twitter: "Touchdown speed was ok, but a leg lockout didn't latch, so it tipped over after landing."
A month ago, SpaceX was able to successfully land one of its rockets, proving the principle of reusing the up to USD$ 90million ( 327.6 million baht) spacecraft, after previous failures.
Later Sunday, Must tweeted a photo of wreckage on the platform with the comment: "At least the pieces were bigger this time."
RATCHABURI — A local celebrity fish in Ratchaburi province died over the weekend after living without its back half for seven months.
Months after its rear half literally rotted away, the fish died Saturday, said its owner, Watcharapan Chotipradith, who plans to preserve its body and put it on display at his pet fish shop so that the public can admire its determination to survive.
“I want tourists and members of the public to see it,” Watcharapan told reporters Sunday. “It symbolizes a fish’s will to fight for its life, even though its body is imperfect.”
According to Watcharapan, the fish, named Chao Boon Krueng (The Blessed Halfling), lost half of its body after suffering an accident in a fish pond about seven months ago.
Watcharapan said Chao Boon Krueng smacked its spine when it jumped out of the pond and landed bodily on cement. With its spine broken, necrosis set in and the back half of its body rotted away because of the severe injury, Watcharapan said.
In spite of its condition, Watcharapan decided to keep the fish alive and display it in front of his shop in Ratchaburi’s Fish Village Market. The fish soon caught attention from locals and the press, becoming a sort of local celebrity. Chao Boon Krueng made national news in December.
Speaking to reporters yesterday, Watcharapan said he has contacted Veterinary Medicine Faculty of Mahidol University to help him preserve Chao Boon Krueng’s body for posthumous public display at his shop.
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