Good morning,

It has been revealed that the King Fisher, the boat which capsized and led to the death of one Israeli tourist, was carrying 65 people despite being licensed to carry only 15 (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121393). This is not the first time that people have been endangered this way and, alas, it will surely not be the last. It is being reported that the Mandarin Hotel, which suffered from a severe fire, may have had no functioning sprinkler system (http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/06/national/national_30047924.php).

The textile industry is facing a crushing loss of competitiveness with the high baht exchange rate and the lower labour costs available in Vietnam and China. Exports are projected to be down 5% this year (probably that number should be higher) and as much as 30% of the industry will close down (http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=121375). Producers are being instructed to differentiate their products and create strong brands – as they were being encouraged to do under the previous, democratically-elected government which actually understood how business works.

An Imam was shot dead yesterday and five people were wounded in one of several bomb blasts that exploded in the South of Thailand (http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=31470). Schools are closed again. The army does not seem to have any new ideas for improving the situation.

Back tomorrow.