Today's featured article

Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000, it is the largest town on the island. Sheerness began as a fort built in the 16th century to protect the River Medway from naval invasion. After a Dutch attack in 1692, Samuel Pepys, the Secretary to the Admiralty, established a Royal Navy dockyard in the town, where warships were built and repaired until its closure in 1960. In the 19th century, Sheerness also became a seaside resort, when a pier and promenade were constructed. Industry remains an important part of the town, and the port of Sheerness is one of the United Kingdom's leading car and fresh produce importers. The town is the site of one of the UK's first co-operative societies and the world's first multi-storey building with a rigid metal frame. (more...)

Thai auto exports increase

The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said that Thailand's automobile exports increased by 19 per cent in the first seven months of this year, in contrast with the total domestic sales, which dropped due to the economic slowdown.FTI spokesman Suraphong Paisitpattanaphong said that automobile production from January to July this year totaled 706,749 vehicles, an increase of 2.25 per cent, compared to the same period last year.Of the total auto production, 370,885 vehicles were made for export, an increase of 20.56 per cent and 335,864 for sale in local markets, a 12.43 per cent drop, compared to the same period last year.Auto sales in Thailand decreased in the last seven months because consumer confidence is low, resulted from the economic sluggishness, oil price hikes, and political turmoil.The manufacture of sedans for export increased to 12,349, up 37.10 per cent in July 2007 and 80,041 from January to July 2007, an increase of 16.66 per cent.The production of one-tonne pick-up trucks for export totaled 45,663 in July 2007 or an increase of 46.60 and 290,844 from January to July 2007, up 21.76 per cent.Thailand's auto exports totaled 56,042 in July 2007, a 38.17 per cent year-on-year rise, valued at Bt23.9 billion, surging 33.67 per cent from the corresponding period last year. (TNA)

Monkey business

Monkey
Khun Suk, a three-month-old orphan monkey, helps his owner sell eggs at the district market in Lop Buri's Khok Samrong. Vendors at the market, including Khun Suk's owner, are concerned about their future and are fighting plans to build a superstore in the area. — SAROT MEKSOPHAWANAKUL