Bangkok - Foreign husbands of women from Thailand's Buriram province are pumping 230 million baht (6.7 million dollars) into the local economy each year in remittances and spending, a recent survey of the income-generation of mixed marriages revealed Friday.

According to a survey of 967 mixed marriages registered in Buriram province, 300 kilometres north-east of Bangkok, foreign husbands have proved good providers for the local economy, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported.

Bangkok - Thailand's newly appointed Culture Minister Worawat Ua-apinyakul has announced plans to promote the sale of black magic amulets, including phallus and buffalo-shaped ones, as souvenirs for tourists, media reports said Wednesday.

"We can turn local amulets with phallus symbols and buffalo statuettes into key chains and sell them to tourists," said Worawat, unveiling his bold plans for the culture ministry under his leadership. Worawat was named Minister of Culture last week.

Although the dominant religion in Thailand is Buddhism, there is a strong undercurrent of Brahmanism and black magic in local customs, such as the use of amulets that are believed to protect the wearer from harm or endow them with special powers.

Bangkok - Thai exports grew 15.5 per cent in August, the slowest performance this year, while imports were up 26.9 per cent, leaving the kingdom with a 
675-million-dollar trade deficit, the Bank of Thailand said Tuesday.

The value of Thailand's exports totaled 15.79 billion dollars, up 15.5 per cent from August 2007, the central bank said. The rise was lower than July's 44-per-cent jump.

The export slowdown was led by declines in rice shipments and prices while rubber exports also dropped in volume, the bank said.

Bangkok - Thai shares los

Bangkok - Thai shares shed 2.86 per cent of their value on Monday as investors remained uncertain about the global outlook despite the US's proposed 
700-billion-dollar bailout. 

Bangkok - Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej swore in the cabinet of Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat Thursday amid mounting criticism they are not up to the challenges facing the country.

Somchai, who is also serving as defence minister as had former prime minister Samak Sundaravej who resigned earlier this month, said the first cabinet meeting will be held Friday and added the policies of his government will be compatible with those during the Samak administration.