In an attempt to avert a repetition of the 2005 drought crisis, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is closely monitoring the drought in the East, coordinating with concerned agencies to ensure adequate water supply for the eastern industrial estates, IEAT Governor Veerapong Chaiperm said on Friday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday rejected claims that consumer prices are skyrocketing, saying the information gathered by government officials indicated that prices are on a downward trend.

The death toll from a fire at a factory in the Maptaput industrial estate has risen to 12, while 24 out of 142 injured people remain hospitalized, according to the Public Health Ministry on Sunday.

SONGKHLA, May 8 - Shrimp farmers from eight southern Thai provinces gathered today at the Tinsulanonda Bridge in this provincial seat awaiting the decision of a committee meeting considering responses to help farmers facing depressed shrimp prices.

BANGKOK, May 8 – Following three major industrial safety and workplace accidents in the past week, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the Ministry of Industry to review safety measures at all industrial estates in the eastern province of Rayong.

BANGKOK, May 8 - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubumrung said today that he is prepared to travel to Myanmar to seek the extradition of an ethnic Karen rebel leader, Na Kham Mwe, listed by Thailand as one of the 25 most-wanted suspected drug dealers, if talks between Thai narcotics officials and Myanmar authorities fail.

BANGKOK, May 8 - Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said Tuesday that the visit to Thailand's southernmost provinces by high-level representatives of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will help it better understand Thailand's stance and policy in dealing with problems in its southern border region.

BANGKOK, May 8 - The failure of the steel cable or wire rope supporting the platform carrying workers installing advertising banner on the exterior of Thailand's tallest building, Baiyoke Tower II, killing three men, was caused by being overloaded, according to the initial investigation.

NONTHABURI, May 7 - Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asserted that her government will help restrain rising consumer prices by pegging energy prices and holding public sales of cheap products to lower the cost of living.

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, May 7 - The body of a four-year-old boy was found in this southern province after he was carried away and drowned in a flash flood while swimming Sunday with his father and brother at a Tha Sala district waterfall.