Thailand suffered Biggest Losses From Weather in 2011 - Environment - Thailand Business News

Thailand suffered the most economic damage from extreme weather events in 2011, the Berlin-based research group Germanwatch said.

Thailand and the U.S. both endured about $75 billion of damage from storms, floods, landslides and wildfires in 2011, the group said in a report today released in Doha, where two weeks of United Nations climate talks began yesterday. China’s damages totalled almost $13 billion. Pakistan was fourth in the ranking with $5.8 billion and Brazil fifth with $4.7 billion."
ED: Chiang Mai was mostly spared from these floods triggering a Business and Residential move from Bangkok to the northern city...

Chiang Mai airport seeks scheduled release of festive lanterns - Pattaya Mail - Pattaya News, Communities, Opinions and much more...

: "CHIANG MAI, Nov 23 – Chiang Mai Airport requested the public to release their traditional festive airborne lanterns at fixed hours to avoid negatively impacting aviation.

Woradej Harnprasert, Director-General of the Civil Aviation Department and Chiang Mai Airport management told a news conference at Chiang Mai Air Traffic Control Centre, asking for the public cooperation in launching the paper flame-bearing lanterns at requested hours during the Loy Krathong festival from November 27-29." ED: Glad I was sitting down when I read this....

BRICS: The World’s New Banker?

"The BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) bloc has begun planning its own development bank and a new bailout fund which would be created by pooling together an estimated $240 billion in foreign exchange reserves"
ED: Pity the "S" isn't SEA, but the significance of this development cannot be misunderstood, as the world power pivot continues to change..

Chiang Mai events to grow : TTR Weekly

"The ministry deputy permanent secretary, Saksan Nakwong, said the convention centre could accelerate the current growth rate of 7% for business-related events to around 10% to 15% annually"

Thailand: Loy Krathong - Travel - MiamiHerald.com

"This month’s Loy Krathong celebration promises to be big. How big? Big enough that Thai Airways is adjusting its schedule and suspending some flights on its Bangkok-Chiang Mai and Bangkok-Chiang Rai routes Nov. 27-29"

Toyota Thailand to raise output up to 1Mn - Corporate - Thailand Business News

: "Toyota Motor Co. said it will sharply increase its vehicle production in Thailand, which will become the company’s core global output base, according to a report Friday by Japanese national broadcaster NHK.

Toyota President Akio Toyoda said Thursday his company will increase its annual output capacity in Thailand to 1 million units, about 50% more than the current level of 670,000 units per year"

Chiang Mai’s tourism assets go to new bureau : TTR Weekly

"CHIANG MAI, 7 November 2012: The Cabinet approved, 2 November, a public organisation named Ping Nakhon Development Bureau, to take care of three key tourism projects in the province — Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, Royal Flora Ratchaphruek and Chiang Mai Night Safari."

Bureau set up to manage Chiang Mai sites | Bangkok Post: business

"CHIANG MAI : The Tourism and Sports Ministry will hand over management of the Chiang Mai International Convention and Exhibition Centre and Chiang Mai Night Safari to the newly founded Pingnakorn Development Bureau next year."