Man thought to be infected dies at provincial hospital. Chickens infected with avian flu have been found in three new districts of Kamphang-phet province, where mass poultry deaths are being reported, Vice Minister for Agriculture Jaral Tarinwutthiphong said yesterday.

Buddhist Lent ends with celebrations

Buddhists throughout Thailand yesterday cerebrated Ork Phansa Day – the end of the Buddhist Lent – by beginning the day with the religious offering of food to monks, followed by a variety of activities.

CORRUPTION CASE: Opposition queries Narathiwat arrests

Chief whip says the arrest of the father of a Chat Thai MP is politically motivated

United stand on southern peace urged

The deputy chief of the National Security Council yesterday expressed concern over a growing intolerance for a peaceful approach to the restive South amid calls from the public for the government to bring an end to the violence.

Mother ‘forced’ daughter into sex

Metropolitan police yesterday arrested a mother who allegedly forced her 14-year-old daughter into prostitution.

Court acquits trio accused of murder

Three Muslims charged with murdering a Buddhist student a year ago were acquitted yesterday by the Pattani Provincial Court.

Regulator urges TV service delay

The National Broadcasting Commission has urged the Public Relations Department to delay the launch of its new cable television service until the newly-formed broadcasting regulator takes office.

Cash-strapped school sends students out to work

A lack of cash has forced a school in Chiang Mai to turn its students out into the fields to work as labourers for the duration of the strawberry-harvesting season.

Widow’s web of deceit

A 40-year-old widow who claimed she lost her husband in the tsunami and subsequently accused officials of ignoring her and her young daughter’s plight admitted yesterday she had lied.

Phuket outlines plan for casino complex

A Bt130 billion development plan for Phuket Bay – which reportedly includes a casino – is in the pipeline, and a number of overseas companies have already shown interest in investing in the project, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura said yesterday.

Ancient bones unearthed in two provinces

Local residents have accidentally uncovered ancient artefacts and human bones, which could be several thousand years old in two separate provinces.

METRO BRIEFS: New subway shops

Around 40 underground shops will open at Phaholyothin subway station late next month, the managing director of Metro Mall said yesterday.

Police raid turns up nothing

Police raided the home of an alleged associate of drug kingpin Wei Hsueh Kang yesterday morning and seized financial documents, but found nothing suspicious.

BURNING ISSUE: pipe-dream city?

Ambition plan for Nakhon Suvarnabhumi raises a huge number of questions

Thaksin lends weight to election campaign

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra will spend tomorrow night in Phichit as part of his Thai Rak Thai Party’s campaign for the upcoming by-election.

New ruling on Jaruvan

The State Audit Commission (SAC) plans next week to petition for an additional ruling from the Constitution Court to resolve the Jaruvan Maintaka case.

Korat needs flights

Nakhon Ratchasima airport employees and local business groups are calling for the reinstatement of Bangkok-Korat Thai International Airways flights to revitalise the now deserted airport, which serves only privately owned planes and government aircraft.

New Year wage rise

The Central Wage Committee is to raise the daily minimum wage for workers throughout Thailand, with pay raises scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2006.