Plan for single Internet gateway scrapped

BANGKOK • Thailand's military government has scrapped a plan to create a single Internet gateway, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak said yesterday.

The plan to consolidate Thailand's 10 Internet gateways into one central government-controlled point had been approved in August.

Many feared it would destroy competition and felt it was reminiscent of the most authoritarian measures to stifle free speech.

Internet traffic in Thailand is already heavily policed and those deemed to be using the Internet inappropriately can be jailed for up to five years under the 2007 Computer Crimes Act.

REUTERS

8 in 10 Chinese cities 'heavily polluted'

BEIJING • Pollution in nearly 80 per cent of Chinese cities surveyed by Greenpeace "greatly exceeded" national standards over the first nine months of this year, the advocacy group said yesterday.

The average level of PM2.5 particulates in the 367 cities tested was also more than four times the maximum recommended by the World Health Organisation, Greenpeace said.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE