Reports of a McDonald's in Bangkok being bombed appear to be exaggerated. Thai media says slingshots loaded with nails were fired at the Silom outlet.


A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

dailymail.co.uk The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has failed in its appeal against Foreign Office travel advice for tourists visiting the country, branding it ''unnecessary''. The TAT and the Royal Thai Embassy asked for a meeting with the FCO to look at revising the warning, which took place yesterday.

telegraph.co.uk Andrew Marshall, a journalist based in Bangkok, described the Foreign Office's decision as ''absurd.'' ''The number of protestors is diminishing, and they are always found in just one part of the city,'' said Mr Marshall. ''It's sad for the Thai people, who rely heavily on tourism, and would never wish to hurt holidaymakers,'' he added. Kuoni, the luxury holiday specialist, has said it will not allow any of its customers to press ahead with their travel plans. It is permitting holidaymakers to rebook their trips on alternative dates or cancel their holiday without charge.
A spokeswoman for Thomas Cook said that all customers with package holiday bookings would have to rearrange their trips, or cancel them free of charge. Those passengers with flight-only bookings would be able to travel, she said, although they will be advised not to.

mcot.net Due to the protracted protests of the anti-government red shirts, Thailand in April has already lost over 100,000 tourist visitors and more than five billion baht in revenues, according to Tourism Authority of Thailand estimates. TAT Governor Surapol Sawetseranee said that if the demonstrations continue, even peacefully but with political impact, Thailand's tourist income in the third quarter will entirely vanish and the country will have to hope for a recovery in the final quarter, which is normally the country's high season for tourism.

Associated Press Seven weeks into a stalemate that has turned parts of the city into a lawless protest camp, many are wondering why the government seems unable or unwilling to restore order. ''It's out of control. It's beyond imagination,'' said Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, a political scientist who teaches at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University.

scmp.com Leigh Dixon, a former Australian police official who is now a security consultant based in Indonesia, said it would have been far easier to clear out the red shirts earlier in their nearly two-month protest, before they had erected barricades and other defensive measures. The Thai authorities were now left with four difficult options: negotiate, lay siege to the protesters by cutting off their food and other essential services, raid the area with tear gas, water cannons and other non-lethal force, or seal them into their camp and ignore them.

timesonline.co.uk A veteran British treasure hunter faces jail for allegedly plundering artefacts from subterranean wrecks in tropical waters off Indonesia. Indonesian authorities are pursuing Michael Hatcher, a British-born resident of Australia who has made millions from recovering treasures from ancient vessels. He denied any wrongdoing and said that the investigation was politically motivated.

en.apa.az A report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom names more than two dozen countries as offenders. Some engage in what's classically thought of as religious persecution. The list names Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Burma and Iraq.

betasia.com Visitors to Singapore in March were up 17.3 percent from a year earlier as people flocked to the island-state's first casino, Resort World Sentosa, which opened in February. Singapore's second casino, Marina Bay Sands, opened its doors to customers on Tuesday. The Singapore Tourism Board said visitor arrivals may rise by as much 30 percent this year thanks to the impact of the new casinos and an economic recovery in Asia.

aljazeera.com Muslims, academics and human rights groups have hit out at a looming public ban in Belgium on the full face veil, following a decision in the country's parliament to make the wearing of the article of clothing illegal. The vote on Thursday was almost unanimous with 134 MPs in support of the law and just two abstentions.

scandasia.com A 41-year-old woman in Norrkoping has been indicted on charges of forgery and fraud after borrowing about $62,000 in her best friend's name, of which she spent 50,000 kronor on breast surgery in Thailand. The accused has admitted to the crimes. The woman also repaid private debts, including those from failed businesses overseas, with the funds, newspapers reported on Thursday. In addition, the woman travelled to Thailand several times and underwent a breast operation.

usatoday.com Tiger Woods, in his second tournament since returning to golf following an admission of marital infidelity, has failed to make the cut at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, shooting a 7-over-par 79 Friday for a 36-hole score of 9-over-par 153. He missed the cut by eight shots.



Until May 4 a local products show called 'The Best Thai Products' will be held at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City. About 250 products are on display, with food available.

Two farewells are taking place for popular Phuket writer-musician Tony Kelsey-Stead, who died of leukemia in Britain recently. On May 2 the Andaman Players will put on a free show at The Green Man pub in Chalong from 6.30pm, with donations welcome for Tony's partner Fon, who is now in hospital. On May 4 from 6pm at Friendship Beach in Rawai, tribute will be paid by musicians who played with Tony.

May 1 The Phuket Has Been Good To Us foundation, first fund-raising ball, Sheraton Grande Laguna Resort, 6.30pm-Midnight.
May 31-June 5 Eight-nation football tournament for players over 55 at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Iran, Armenia competing.
May Annual Phuket seafood festival.
May Date to be finalised for Muay Thai kickboxing competition at Laguna Phuket.
May 21-23 Paragliding on Phuket.
June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival, Coliseum Cineplex, Phuket City.
June 13 Laguna Phuket International Marathon. Fun runs, too.
July 21-25 Phuket Six Senses Race Week, Evason, Rawai
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta

2011
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi