Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has renewed her confidence in handling anticipated floods in Bangkok, saying it should be under control, Thai News Agency (TNA) reported Monday.

Yingluck told reporters she will be holding another video conference with the Bangkok governor on Tuesday following her session with the governors of Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi on Monday.

Yingluck said she has told governors to start coordinating with Irrigation Department officials in assessing whether each section of flood barriers will suffice further rises in water.

Seeds Ivan Dodig and Fabio Fognini lost on the opening day of the Thailand Open in Bangkok on Monday. More >

Thailand needs networking of leadership to seriously embark on sustainable development as natural resources were limited domestically, regionally and internationally, the Thailand Sustainable Development Symposium 2011 organised by the Siam Cement Group (SCG) heard on Monday. More >

Bangkok’s police force was ordered Monday to close all casinos in the capital within three days after revelations of widespread involvement by officers in the illicit operations.

Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung threatened to give the job to other agencies if the Metropolitan Police failed to close all casinos in three days.

‘I need to see improvements,’ Chalerm said. ‘If necessary, I will appoint the right man for the right job.’

Thai AirAsia (TAA) is taking advantage of Thais’ love affair with football to raise its brand awareness through a major sponsorship for nine teams in the Thai Premier and Division 1 leagues.

TAA’s football sponsorship now overshadows its music sponsorship, including the rock band Carabao, which costs 40 million baht this year.

“We have seen the increasing importance of sports marketing, which enables us to reach a wider audience,” said chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld.

A 77-storey skyscraper is set to become the latest, and tallest, addition to Bangkok’s ever-changing skyline, already transformed by a construction boom that has raised fears of a property bubble.

Variously described on Internet forums as looking “like it has been eaten by giant termites” and reflecting “the chaos of Bangkok”, the MahaNakorn — Great Metropolis — will tower over the Thai capital when it is finished in 2014.

At 314 metres (1,036 feet) it will be the city’s tallest building, but size was not what mattered, said Sorapoj Techakraisri, head of PACE Development, which began building the skyscraper in June.

Pheu Thai prime ministerial candidate Yingluck Shinawatra reminded critics yesterday not to judge her leadership before the inauguration of her government.

“Instead of making colourful comments, just you wait and see my Cabinet first,” she said, dismissing criticism that she was about to lead a “family” Cabinet.

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As property prices in the Chinese territory soar to record highs, Thai property developer Pace Development launched sales of its luxury Bangkok project MahaNakhon to Hong Kong buyers. Sales worth 350 million baht were recorded over three days.

Rebecca Shum, executive director for investment and project marketing of property consultant CB Richard Ellis, said it was the best time to sell property to Hong Kong buyers as prices there were very high.

“Hong Kong property prices are now at a peak. They have risen about 20% a year and have never dropped. Investors both in Hong Kong and mainland China are looking for properties elsewhere,” she said.

Hinge Inquirer Publications (HIP), the magazine arm of the Inquirer Group, has won an award of excellence for innovative business models at the Asian Publishing Awards.

The award, given at a gala dinner on Friday in Bangkok during the Asian Publishing Convention, was for HIP’s targeted multimedia platform (TMP) model.

“HIP’s targeted multimedia platform has shown the international print publishing industry how one can effectively merge print and digital media to deliver new, unparalleled value to a diverse community of readers and advertisers,” Poch Bermudez, president and publisher of Hinge Inquirer, said in a statement.