Bangkok evacuations ordered as death toll from flood exceeds 500
The death toll from Thailand’s worst flood in half a century surpassed 500 on Nov. 6, reported the Globe and Mail.
The spreading flood waters threatened Bangkok’s subway system as new evacuations were ordered in the capital.
The most recent district to be evacuated by the government is Chatuchak, an area with a major public park and a large shopping zone that is a popular tourist attraction.
Bangkok’s governor, Sukhumbhand Paribatra, has ordered evacuations in 11 out of 50 districts in the city.
Since the evacuations are not mandatory, many people are staying in order to protect their homes and businesses.
Greek prime minister to resign after interim government forms
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou will not lead a new interim government once it has been formed, announced the country’s president on Nov. 6, reported CBC News.
President Karolos Papoulias met with Papandreou in Athens following an emergency cabinet meeting held inside the Greek parliament.
In cross-party talks to form a national unity government, Papandreou said he wants to form a temporary coalition government to deal with the country’s financial crisis and then call elections.
Opposition leader Antonis Samaras maintained his position that if the prime minister resigned immediately, plans to deal with the crisis would remain on track.
34-car pile-up kills 7 on British highway
Police investigating the cause of a 34-car pile-up that killed seven people and injured 51 on a major British highway are focusing on a fireworks display near the site of the accident, reported the Winnipeg Free Press.
Although initial reports suggested that fog and wet road surfaces were the cause of the huge collision, police say they have now pin-pointed the fireworks show as a likely cause following witness statements that black smoke emerging from it may have caused the accident on Nov.6.
The fireworks display in a nearby rugby club was one of many organized across Britain to celebrate Guy Fawkes Day, an annual commemoration of the English activist who attempted to blow up the British parliament in the 17th century.
