Amid wild rumours about possible attempts on the lives of key political and military figures, grenade attacks on vital installations and government offices, and another round of red-shirt activities, suddenly there is talk about reconciliation among the parties to the political conflict.

Political will is needed from all sides to make the upcoming US-Asean summit in New York a success worth repeating every year

In the AP article in the Sunday Nation, Seth Borestein blames global warming for the recent worldwide heat waves, forest fires, droughts, floods etc. Any natural disaster is now blamed on global warming.

Regarding Guy Baker's letter on September 2 about Preah Vihear, I think the 1962 International Court of Justice decision is neither as ambiguous as Songdej Praditsmanont would have it, nor as cut and dried as Mr Baker suggests. Rather, it is limited in scope and, as such, not fully satisfactory to either side.

Should talks collapse, as is likely, US must have an interim solution ready

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd's departure three months ago left a diplomatic black hole in one of the world's most dynamic countries. For the past three years, Rudd made Australia a household name - a key reference in coffee-table political discussions throughout the region.

Newin Chidchob holds no political office. Under the ruling which dissolved the Thai Rak Thai Party in 2007, he is under a five-year ban from political activity which extends until May 2012. Four years ago, he was targeted by the coup makers as public enemy number two, and many believed he would be forced to flee into exile, just like public enemy number one.

MANY indicators seem to be telling us that Thailand is heading towards prosperity unseen in many years.

She's facing tough opposition but Saree Ongsomwang is determined to push through the Medical Malpractice Victim Protection Bill

Whatever its motive, the opposition's offer warrants a serious response

Dear Sir,

Rebuilding can only be successful if the bitterly divided factions can reconcile, which requires further American funding and support

I've heard the name and praise for Thai music wizard Trisdee Na Patalung, and like many others, I became an admirer and finally went to see him in concert. But not until I learned more about him and his music did I discover that without the right direction and support, a talent like his could have been buried in the formal Thai education system.

For Asean, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) - signed by all Asean foreign ministers and Chinese Special Envoy Wang Yi in Phnom Penh on November 4, 2002, on the sidelines of the 6th Asean-China Summit - has always been a regional framework for cooperation between Asean and China on issues of contention and confidence-building in the South China Sea.

On Thursday The Nation reported on peace walkers who walked all the way from Bangkok to the Central Mosque in Pattani.

Last Thursday's verdict by the Administrative Court, which allowed most of the 76 suspended industrial projects in Rayong province to go ahead, will provide a boost to the country's investment atmosphere. The ruling comes at a time when the export sector, the Thai economy's main engine of growth, accounts for more than 60 per cent of GDP, but is about to slow down.

The low voter turnout of less than 42 per cent in the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration district council election last weekend was a cause for concern. Voter fatigue is not conducive to developing a genuine representational governing body. The most common response to the question of why those absentees did not go to the polling booths was: "These politicians, they all turn out bad, just the same as always."

Political turmoil, unskilled labour, Map Ta Phut chaos may be reasons why investors are looking elsewhere

The result from last Sunday's Bangkok city and district council elections should please those who believe in Thailand's democracy.

The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have declared states of emergency as Hurricane Earl whirled into a powerful Category 4 storm and barrelled towards the east coast of the United States, packing winds of around 225 kilometres per hour. The highest storm category is 5, with winds of 250 km per hour and higher.