Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon Wednesday said he would “suspend” any contact with Malaysia if it did not show sincerity in dealing with an escalating war of words sparked by 131 Thai Muslims seeking refuge across the border to Malaysia.

House set to consider changes to statistics act

The House is today scheduled to debate draft amendments to the 1965 National Statistical Act amid concerns that certain provisions might stifle academic freedom to gauge public opinion. “The draft is seen as containing provisions designed to interfere with the conduct of opinion surveys,” Abac Poll director Noppadon Kannika said yesterday.

SOUTHERN STRIFE: Emergency decree gets extended

Controversial law making things worse, critics claim. The Cabinet yesterday extended the controversial state of emergency for the deep South despite mounting insistence from lawmakers and civic leaders that the sweeping powers granted to security authorities by the law have done little to pacify the troubled region.

LIGHTING DEFECT: Toyota recalls 1m cars

Toyota Motor Corp, Japan’s biggest carmaker, said yesterday it would recall about 1.41 million cars globally - its biggest recall ever - including the Corolla and 15 other models owing to trouble with their headlight switching systems.