Democracy groups raise spectre of 1973 and 1992 bloodshed as they urge Thaksin to put an end to roiling dispute

Planets tell premier to gag himself

It came as a typical Thaksin-style surprise yesterday when the Prime Minister informed the reporters on board the plane coming back from the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in South Korea, that he would stop giving any interviews and refrain from offering any comments to the media until next year.

Every dog will have his chip

Electronic tags aim to solve Bangkok’s stray problem, but some are dubious. A plan to implant identifying microchips in pet dogs starting early next year is expected to solve several of Bangkok’s “dog issues”. Dog owners in the city will have to register their animals with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and have them implanted with a microchip that will identify the owner in the event of problems.

Ill girl’s mother in despair at rejection

For the young mother of the girl reported to be the latest suspected victim of bird flu yesterday morning, the reaction of those around her added to her anguish as her family turned her away, her boss told her to quit her job and passers-by edged away from her in the street.