Bangkok - Thailand's ongoing political crisis could lose the kingdom up to 32 billion baht (928 million dollars) in forfeited tourism revenues if the chaos is prolonged, media reports said Tuesday.

Tourism Authority of Thailand Governor Pornsiri Manoharn has warned that up to 840,000 foreign tourists would cancel their trips to Thailand in the upcoming peak season if the country's political standoff continues to the end of the year, The Nation newspaper reported.

Bangkok  - Despite Thailand's ongoing political crisis, its stock market jumped 3.07 per cent Monday, boosted by the US government's takeover of mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and growing optimism about the world economy.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand index ended at 665.66, up 19.86 points.

"Our market was just following the other markets today," said Puwadorn Labudomsuk, an analyst at Asia Plus Securities. "The rebound was led by foreign investors. Many local investors are waiting to see what the political situation will be tomorrow."

Bangkok - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej on Monday denied charges that he had broken the constitution by hosting a television cooking show while holding the premiership, claiming the programme had been done on a freelance basis.

In May, a group of Thai senators charged Samak with violating the constitution by continuing his job as a TV presenter on his personal cooking show, Chim pai, bon pai 
(Tasting and Complaining), after he had been appointed prime minister on February 6.

Bangkok - Embattled Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej claimed Sunday he would attend the United Nations General Assembly later this month to explain the country's political situation to the international community.

In his weekly "Talking Samak Style" Sunday television programme, the prime minister said he was not worried about a military coup occurring while he is in New York at UN annual meeting which starts on September 23.

Bangkok - A flash flood killed one woman in Thailand's northern province of

Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has chosen a respected career diplomat to become the country's next foreign minister at a time of heightening political crisis for his government, official sources said Saturday.

Samak has named Saroj Chavamaviraj, 66, the new foreign minister and on Friday submitted the appointment to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej for approval, a foreign ministry source confirmed.

Saroj retired in 2002 as ambassador to France. Prior to his Paris posting he was permanent secretary of the foreign ministry for four years.