Officials focusing on the viability of designated floodways; coordination at provincial level is key, says premier

Besides his passion for motorcycles, Danish Ambassador to Thailand Mikael Hemniti Winther wants to demonstrate the importance he places on road safety.

Dr Art-Ong Jumsai na Ayudhya, a former scientist at the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa), has called for the relocation of Thailand's capital to the Northeast.

The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) yesterday welcomed Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung's idea to tap the phones of inmates allegedly involved with drug-trafficking rings, and may seek court permission to do this at certain prisons.

The driver of a 10-wheel truck was shot dead yesterday in Pattani's Muang district, Pol Lieutenant Fahami Henpiya of Muang Pattani police station said yesterday.

Police have arrested three more suspects for the January 29 robbery at a clothing businesswoman's home in Bangkok's Sai Mai district in addition to the earlier arrest of two suspects, city police chief Pol Lt-General Winai Thongsong told a press conference yesterday.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul said yesterday he will propose that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra approve a long-shelved plan to establish a special economic zone in Tak's Mae Ramat, Mae Sot and Phop Phra districts, to prepare for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015.

A public transport van skidded off a road and plunged into a ditch in Sukhothai yesterday killing four people and injuring 14 passengers.

Among major policies issued yesterday after yestesday's meeting of a central government committee is that water is drained from all major dams as earlier as late May - to prevent the dams' over-capacity during the peak of rainwater volume which resulted in panic releases of water and subsequently massive flooding in the plains south of the dams, said PM's Office Minister Nivatthamrong Boonsongpaisal, a panel member.

Cancer is believed to be the No 1 killer in Thailand accounting for about 20 per cent of deaths in the country every year. In 2010 alone, 58,076 people succumbed to the disease.

The Foreign Ministry yesterday called on nine countries to lift their travel warnings about terror threats in Thailand.

Users of the SimSimi "chat robot" application who post texts deemed libellous to other persons online face prosecution, even if the offensive remarks are generated by the program, Information and Communications Technology Minister Gp Captain Anudith Nakornthap said yesterday.

Narcotics sales among inmates to be stamped out in a year, minister vows

Publishers invited to present e-textbooks and learning tools

The National Health Assembly yesterday pushed through a resolution to ensure strict law enforcement and harsher punishment for companies that falsely advertise food, drug and cosmetic products.

Taxi motorcyclists nationwide pay Bt684 million each month in protection fees to so-called mafia, an inquiry initiated by a son of Deputy PM Chalerm Yoobamrung found yesterday.

Parents have complained to the Culture Ministry about people teaching the Simsimi robot computer application to use rude language, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome said yesterday.

Two brothers arrested as accomplices in a burglary in Bangkok's Sai Mai district on Sunday claimed that they had been forced to take part in crime.

Pracha Terat, deputy permanent secretary for the Interior Ministry, said the law had to be strictly enforced to protect children from drugs as well as prohibit entertainment venues from allowing youngsters under the age of 18 from entering.

The Stop Global Warming Association (SGWA) is threatening to take authorities to court if they go ahead with plans to encourage the construction of floodwalls around industrial estates.