Thai Airways bans magazine

Thai Airways said yesterday it had banned distribution of the Hong Kong-based Far Eastern Economic Review on flights because of a report in the magazine of strained relations between Thailand's king and Prime Minister. An article in the Hong Kong-based weekly's January 10 issue commented on King Bhumibol Adulyadej's birthday speech in early December in which the monarch said Thailand was facing a crisis. The king's speech was widely interpreted as being critical of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.