Visitors offered daily buffet of lion, tiger, elephant and giraffe meat; conservation groups outraged. Lovers of “wild” cuisine are in for a treat when Chiang Mai’s Night Safari opens next year, project director Plodprasop Suraswadi said yesterday. Visitors to the park’s Vareekunchorn restaurant will have the option of tucking in to an “Exotic Buffet” of tiger, lion, elephant and giraffe, for just Bt4,500 a head.

Russian flagship sails into port

Reminiscent of the first Russian naval visit to Thailand during the reign of King Rama IV, a battle group led by missile-cruiser Varyag from the Russian Pacific Fleet berthed yesterday at Sattahip Naval Base. The group, including the anti-submarine ships Admiral Tributz and Admiral Panteleyev, left Vladivostok in September to participate in Indra 2005 – joint Russian-Indian naval manoeuvres conducted in the Indian Ocean in October.

Bus services set for overhaul: BMTA

The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) plans to overhaul its bus routes, introduce minivans and change its minibuses and other services.

Displays get a new look

CP Seven Eleven Plc yesterday unveiled a new cigarette-display case for its store chain to show the public that it had no intention of fostering smoking.

Teachers differ over rally ultimatum

Two leading members of an umbrella network of teachers’ groups fighting the transfer of government schools to the jurisdiction of local administrative bodies yesterday offered different stances on whether teachers would hold a mass rally at the and of the month.

Debt plan for city hall

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to launch a “special purpose vehicle” worth Bt5 billion as a way to pay off debt for construction of its second city hall in Din Daeng district.

IN BRIEF: Egat affair

Civic group attacks Cabinet for ordering firm to increase fuel tariff

Millions celebrate Loy Krathong festival

Candle-lit krathongs were cast adrift on water across the nation last night as millions of revellers turned out to celebrate the Loy Krathong festival. In lively festivals everywhere, people took part in colourful parades, music and beauty contests and the launching of krathongs.

Vaccine ban stays

The government yesterday decided to continue its ban on bird-flu vaccine for fowls, but fell short of commenting on case-by-case vaccinations for rare birds.

Abbot lose appeal

The Appeal Court yesterday upheld the 150-year jail term handed down to the former abbot of Nakhon Pathom’s Wat Samphran for raping underage hilltribe girls while he was in the monkhood.

Laota wins appeal in drugs case

The Appeal Court yesterday upheld a lower court’s verdict to acquit Laota Saenli in a heroin-trafficking trial, which involved an influential local politician in Lampang.

EGAT RULING: Public hearings needed, Snoh says

Nobody should be allowed to own water, power agencies; praises court ruling

Somkid eyes trade boost with China

Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has high hopes that trade with China’s Guangdong province will jump from US$6.5 billion (Bt270 billion) now to $10 billion in three years on closer commercial relations.

BURNING ISSUE: lost independence

Pratin says agencies empowered to root out corruption have yet to find their footing

A ruling for integrity

Experts say the Administrative Court is one of the few remaining sources of hope for justice because it has so far managed to maintain its impartiality and integrity.

Statistics debate halted

Parliament’s controversial debate yesterday over amendments to the National Statistics Act was not concluded and will continue next week, as Democrat MPs were not convinced that the government’s draft didn’t contain a “hidden agenda”.

Bhokin adds Bang Na site to list

Parliament President Bhokin Bhalakula yesterday added another site to the list of possible locations for the new Parliament building, a decision on which will be made next month.