Two more overpasses at the Lat Phrao intersection will open to traffic at 5am today. Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said he believed the overpasses would improve traffic flow on Vibhavadi-Rangsit road by 80 per cent.

Top honour for Pornchai

France’s ambassador to Thailand Lorent Oblin presented professor emeritus and Mahidol University rector Dr Pornchai Matangkasombat with a “Commandeur” of the Order of the Palmes Academiques on Wednesday evening for his distinguished work in a variety of disciplines including tropical medicine, biostatistics, immunology, neurosurgery and geographical information technology.

Plan for exotic menu called ‘barbaric’

Social critics and environmental activists have pronounced the “exotic menus” that the Chiang Mai Night Safari plans to offer, a grotesque reversal of the worldwide trend to protect wild species.

Maggoty pork legs cause a furore

The Livestock Development Department seized 300 fresh pork legs from a supermarket in Chantaburi yesterday after about 100 maggots were found in food cooked with legs bought from the store.

Midnight ban on alcohol now in effect

All stores as well as venues serving drinks across the country have to stop selling alcohol at midnight, instead of 2am, effective as of yesterday, the Excise Department said.

Medical team to assist Haj pilgrims

The Public Health Ministry will send a medical team to Saudi Arabia to treat Thai Muslim pilgrims at the holy city of Mecca during the annual Haj between December 3 and February 3.

Democrats stoke Egat flames

The Democrats are preparing to add fuel to the Egat privatisation fire next week by sending notices to the government, to anti-privatisation protestors, and to the plaintiffs whose case before the Supreme Administrative Court secured an injunction on Tuesday halting Egat’s initial public offering.

IN BRIEF: Ag’s office

Ambulance purchase okayed. The Office of the Attorney General and the Comptroller General’s Department signed a joint decision yesterday approving the purchase of 232 ambulances after several months of fractious squabbling among rival Public Health Ministry officials.

New centre for creative inventors opens shop

The Commerce Ministry yesterday launched the Intellectual Property Central Market to promote the commercialisation of innovative products and new inventions.

IN BRIEF: Egat affair

Civic group attacks Cabinet for ordering firm to increase fuel tariff

NTC CHARGES: CAT purring over fees

State telecom expects to pay about half of original estimate CAT Telecom Plc now expects to pay Bt400 million in new regulatory fees this year, almost half of its preliminary calculation of Bt700 million. Senior executive vice president Sompol Chantprasert said yesterday that two developments make it highly probable that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) would lower its charge.

Magazine growth outstrips other media

The president of The Magazine Association of Thailand (TMAT) estimates that magazine advertising this year will have grown faster than for other media in spite of the economic slowdown, due to entry of many new magazines.

Beer garden to up the ante

Heineken is set to shake up the local beer market this cool season with new beer parks, including a two-story affair in downtown Bangkok.

LATE NEWS: Highways dept

Two motorways are proposed. The Highways Department will propose that the Transport Ministry build two new motorways – a 50-kilometre stretch connecting Bangyai-Ban Pong, Cha-am and Kanchanaburi and a 150km stretch from Saraburi to Nakhon Ratchasima – using funds from next year’s state budget.