Almost half of the economists surveyed see the Yingluck government as less active in pushing a creative economy while almost one-third of them said the present and previous governments were both similar on the issue.

The government came out victorious yesterday after the Constitution Court approved its two executive decrees designed to prevent a repeat of last year's flood crisis.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday promised to cooperate with the Ombudsman's Office as it looks into a complaint of misconduct in connection with her choosing to attend a private meeting at a Bangkok hotel instead of being present at a parliamentary meeting.

Constitutional amendment seems likely to bring the political conflict back to the boil, with supporters and detractors of the move expected to gather today when Parliament begins its deliberation of the bills seeking changes to a charter clause to allow the formation of a Constitution Drafting Assembly (CDA).

They are not shouting "Death to America!" yet, unlike some people in Afghanistan and Iran, but more Thai ultra-royalists have over the past few weeks become rather convinced that Imperial America is behind an alleged attempt to abolish the Thai monarchy.

The Cabinet yesterday approved a package of 29 development projects for 12 upper northeastern provinces worth Bt1.65 billion, including a Bt30-million university in Udon Thani.

Verdict restores confidence but experts warn that it is the quality of the projects that will determine success in flood-prevention

The Constitution Court on Wednesday ruled in favour of two executive decrees allowing the government to borrow Bt350 billion in loans and to transfer the debt of the Financial Institution Development Fund (FDIF).

Several politicians from the ruling Pheu Thai Party, the now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party and members of the Shinawatra family reportedly visited their boss, Thaksin Shinawatra, in Beijing last week.

If Pheu Thai MP Pracha Prasobdee thought that by inviting the press to the 7th floor of the Four Seasons Hotel he would clear up questions about Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's "secret" meeting with Srettha Thavisin, an executive of property development firm Sansiri, then he was sadly mistaken.