Bangkok - Honda-brand products exported from Thailand earned 80.98 billion baht (2.6 billion dollars) during the first nine months of this year, a 11 per cent increase year-on-year, Asian Honda Motor Comany announced Monday.

But exports of Honda automobiles, motorcycles and power products grew only 4 per cent in the third quarter, pointing to a downward trend.

Bangkok - December's summit of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been moved from Bangkok to Chiang Mai to avoid ongoing anti-government protests in the capital, media and ministerial sources said Monday.

Thai Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat announced the shift over the weekend during a visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand's second-largest city, located 550 kilometres north of Bangkok, the Bangkok Post said.

The change in venue, however, has yet to be confirmed with Thailand's fellow ASEAN members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam.

"It's 90-per-cent certain, but this will have to be ruled on soon," Thai Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat said.

Bangkok- Army officers representing Thailand and Cambodia on Friday agreed to ease border tensions around the 11th century Preah Vihear temple, the site of a clash that claimed three lives earlier this month, state news reports said.

The tentative agreement between the two militaries was reached at the Thai-Cambodian Regional Border Committee (RBC) meeting held in the Cambodian northwestern province of Siem Reap, reported the Thai News Agency (TNA).

Bangkok - Thai share values plunged 6.96 per cent in value on Friday as panic selling seized the region, analysts said.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) index ended at 432.87, down 32.37 points or 6.96 per cent.

"There was panic selling in tune with the trend in other Asian markets," said Phuwadol Larpudomsuk, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities.

Thailand's uncertain political scene also played a role. Another confrontation between anti-government protestors and anti-anti-government protestors is expected over the weekend.

Bangkok - Thailand's embattled Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat departed Thursday to attend the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Beijing where the soft-spoken leader can look forward to a busy visit.

Somchai and his entourage departed at 10:40 am (0340 GMT) to Beijing, which will host the seventh ASEM Summit on Friday and Saturday.

The diminutive Somchai, who has been Thailand's prime minister for only 35 days, will be a key player at ASEM, especially on the sidelines of the summit.