Baht falls to 18-month low

The Thai baht Tuesday fell to an 18-month low of Bt34.9598 against the greenback, prompting the Bank of Thailand (BOT) to step into the market to curb volatility.

The baht opened at Bt34.385 to a dollar before slumping to Bt34.9598, its weakest since April 2007. It closed at Bt34.9093.

A treasury dealer said the baht depreciated in line with other currencies in the region before moving in A narrow range in the afternoon. The central bank apparently stepped into the market to stop the rapid change in the value of the currency.

The Nation

WHO, Bloomberg Foundation give Thailand Bt33 million

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Bloomberg Foundation have given Bt33 million to Thailand in a bid to support its 100 per cent smoke free environment project and raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.

Prat was presented the Global Smoke free Partnership 2008 Award-GSP Extraordinary Award at the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco First Asian Regional Conference which is being held in Bangkok from October 28-31.

The award was also presented to the government of Panama, the Inter American Heart Association of Mexico, and Hermant Goswami from India.

The Nation

Somchai to visit Laos, Vietnam, New Delhi

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat has tentative plans to visit Laos, Vietnam, India and Peru next month, officials said.

 It is customary for newly appointed prime minister of the region to make visit to neighbouring countries, especially among Asean members.

Earlier plan to pay a visit to Asean earlier this month was scuttled by political instability inside the country.

Besides Laos, Somchai also plans to visit Hanoi on Thursday and Friday next week to attend the third Summit of the Arrawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, a rivers-related regional development forum.

The Nation