With their dark skin, glossy hair and perfect bone structure, the beauty queens from Africa and the Caribbean have been courting plenty of attention from the local crowds as they visit Thailand’s temples and markets this week.

DEMOCRATS AT A CROSSROADS: Party mulls membership fees

Organisation rumoured to be facing financial problems after businesses withdraw support

Five dogs slaughtered at animal-welfare temple

In a cruel twist of fate, five dogs were killed over the weekend at a Chiang Mai temple where an animal-welfare project has been operating for almost a year.

Motorists ask traffic gods for smooth first day of school

Most Bangkok residents are praying for clear skies and deliverance from traffic gridlock on Monday when children return to school, according to a survey released yesterday.

Officials ignored duped homeowner: NHRC

The National Human Rights Commission yesterday accused the government of ignoring the plight of Rattana Sajjathep, a homeowner who had allegedly been misled by an estate agent into buying a townhouse doomed for demolition.

Bhokin land row

House Speaker Bhokin Bhalakula was slammed yesterday for taking it upon himself to decide where the new Parliament building should be without waiting for the committee responsible to reach its conclusions.

Not enough money left to pay for CTX scanners: Alongkorn

ITO Joint Venture Co Ltd has apparently been overpaid for the work it has done on the baggage-handling system at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and there is not enough money left to cover the cost of the 26 CTX scanners it is supposed to install, the opposition said yesterday.

‘I’m still in charge’

Though the Senate voted on Tuesday to endorse Visut Montriwat as the new auditor-general, Khunying Jaruvan Maintaka continues to insist she still holds the post.

Police investigate abduction of seven

Police are investigating the abduction two weeks ago of seven people who were taken from their rented mansion in Nakhon Pathom province and bundled into a van, never to be heard from since.

DENGUE FEVER: War declared on mosquitoes

Health Ministry names May 23-27 as ‘Anti-Dengue Fever Week’; insect-eradication, information activities planned

Alert issued after malaria death

A recent death caused by a rare strain of malaria in the South has triggered an official alert regarding the possibility of infection, particularly around the Thai-Burmese border areas.

Institute opens with mission to boost IQs

Prime Minister Thaksin Shina-watra launched the National Insti-tute for Brain-based Learning yesterday as part of efforts to raise Thai children’s IQ levels.

Big party planned for Chavalit

Nakhon Phanom will celebrate former prime minister General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh’s 73rd birthday today.