Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol said on Wednesday Thailand's export growth this year could reach 5 per cent rather than the ministry's target of 15 per cent. /MCOT

RT @RichardBarrow: Heavy rain reported this afternoon in Sri Racha in Chonburi. Lots of flooding (Pic @Chitrawadi) http://thai.vi/VCPn6Z

TEMPLE OF DAWN

Repairs start to head of 'Yaksa' demon at Wat Arun

The Nation

Photo : Prasert Thepsri

BANGKOK: -- The Fine Arts Department on Wednesday started fixing a sculpture of the 'Yaksa' demon at Wat Arun, also known as the Temple of Dawn, the head of which was felled during a lightning strike last week.

Artisan Pasom Narata said the repairs will include cleaning of the broken points, strengthening the structure of the demon and reconnecting the head to the sculpture. The process, which includes redecorating the entire body of the demon, will take about two days, he said.

The repair site is high and small so there is no need to close the area.

When news that the sculpture's head had fallen to the ground was heard on October 20, people started talking about a bad omen.

The department instructed officials to install a better lightning rod on the sculpture to prevent a recurrence of the incident. An electric current ran down the original lightning rod fixed above the head of the sculpture during a downpour last week.

Earlier this year, the head and neck of a horse sculpture adorning another small pagoda at the temple broke off. The Culture Ministry has prepared a Bt130million budget for the restoration of Wat Arun between 2013 and 2015.

Though constructed in the Ayutthaya period (1350-1767), Wat Arun or Wat Chaeng (The Temple of the Dawn) became a temple inside King Taksin’s palace during the Thon Buri period (1767-1782). Thailand’s most famous Buddha statue, the Emerald Buddha, was once enshrined at Wat Arun.

-- The Nation 2012-10-24

SCB sees Thai GDP growth 2012 at 5.3 pct as global economic slowdown hurt Thai exports in Q3; likely to cut production sector growth in Q4 /The Nation

2012 export growth likely only 5%: Deputy Commerce Minister

BANGKOK, Oct 24 - Deputy Commerce Minister Poom Sarapol said on Wednesday Thailand's export growth this year could reach only 5 per cent rather than the ministry's target of 15 per cent.

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Phuket Vegetarian Festival ends with a bang

Phuket Gazette

Thousands of fire crackers were lit and tossed at the devotees in order to blaze a safe path for the Jade Emperor and Emperor Gods through the streets of Phuket Town. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

LAST CHANCE FOR FRUIT: A Phuket Vegetarian Festival 'ma song' spirit medium stops for a bite to eat before going the festival finale bonfire. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: -- Thousands of people lined the streets of Phuket Town last night as the Vegetarian Festival drew to a close with street processions arriving at Saphan Hin for the midnight finale.

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SET index closed at 1295, down 15.42; Bt/USD30.62; GBP48.75; AUD31.39; EUR39.65; CAD30.71; HKD3.94; SGD24.87; JPY38.11

Thai-style face slapping 'goes international' at San Francisco salon

By Coconuts Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Remember the famous “breast-slapper of Lat Phrao” – the Bangkok beauty technician who claimed to be able to non-surgically enhance bust sizes simply by performing an hour of strategically placed mammary strikes?

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....rancisco-salon/

DRUG TRAFFICKING

Policeman linked to drug gang lived normal life: coworkers

The Nation

Some of confiscated items displayed

BANGKOK: -- More than Bt77 million has now been confiscated from a drug-trafficking gang who includes in its number a Bangkok-based police senior sergeant major.

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Centre to be established to tackle cold spell in Chiang Mai

CHIANG MAI, Oct 24— Chiang Mai governor Tanin Subhasaen on Wednesday instructed the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to set up a centre to brace for impact of approaching cold weather.

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Thailand's South warned of heavy rain during Oct 24-25

BANGKOK, Oct 24 - Residents in the south of Thailand are being warned by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department of heavy rain during Oct 24-25.

Director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, Chatchai Promlert, said a report from the Meteorological Department indicated that low pressure ridges are covering the middle part of the southern region, causing widespread heavy rains in the area, which could result in immediate flashfloods, forest runoff and landslide.

Residents living along foothill slopes, lower land along the river, and along the coastline in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Ranong, and Phangnga provinces are warned of strong wind and danger from heavy rain during October 24-25 as well as to be wary of likely natural disasters.

Fishermen on the Gulf of Thailand, where there are downpours and over two-metre high waves, are warned to be more cautious when sailing, while small boats should not leave the coast.

Mr Chatchai said the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has cooperated with its local offices in the five southern provinces to monitor the situation around the clock and prepare a rapid mobile service unit as well as equipment to be stationed near risk-prone areas.

Residents affected by heavy rain and strong wind can contact their local disaster prevention and mitigation office or dial the 24-hour hotline number 1784 for further assistance. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-10-24

Thailand says to miss export goal on soft demand

BANGKOK, Oct 24, 2012 (AFP) - Thai exports are likely to miss growth targets for 2012, a top official said Wednesday, as the global economic slowdown and a slump in rice shipments hit demand.

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Thailand Live Thursday 25 Oct 2012