bangkokpost.com Thai Airways International is increasing its domestic fares from April 1 to cover higher fuel costs. Fares will increase on the 696km Bangkok-Phuket route by 1195 baht from 2575 to 3770 baht, and on the 667km Bangkok-Krabi route by 725 baht from 2860 to 3585 baht. The highest increment of 2920 baht would be on the Chiang Mai-Phuket route. The fares exclude the fuel surcharge and insurance premium of 755 baht.

reuters.com Thai anti-government protesters say they are not interested in further talks with PM Abhisit Vejjajiva and will look at new ways to push for elections. After two rounds of fruitless talks, red shirt leaders accused Abhisit of stalling and questioned whether he sincerely wanted to find a way out of the deadlock. Abhisit left for a two-day visit to Bahrain on Tuesday.

reuters Malaysia's PM unveiled long-promised economic reforms that he said would make this Southeast Asian country a developed nation by 2020 but he provided few clues as to how he would get there.


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

wsj.com Thailand revised its 2010 growth forecast up to between four percent and five percent as a recovery in the global economy helps spur expansion in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy, but warned economic growth could be derailed by political upheaval.

reuters.com When the head of the Asian Development Bank says his better-off members should become aid donors, not recipients, it's a good indication that the region's rise is not just a flash in the pan. Asia's banks were scarcely touched by the global credit crunch and its economies are now recovering briskly. The ADB is poised to upgrade its growth forecasts next month.


bangkokpost.com Bangkok should brace for more bomb attacks after talks between the government and the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship ended in a stalemate and the red shirts vowed to continue their rallies, warns the government's peace-keeping command.


Phuketwan Update The four-day Accor Race to Survive Phuket 2010 raised more that $206,000 to support Yim Kids Foundation's projects. Chairman and COO of Accor Asia Pacific, Michael Issenberg, said: ''It truly was a remarkable effort by all concerned. They raised an incredible amount of money that will make a huge difference in the lives of hundreds if not thousands of Thai children.''


travelbizmonitor.com Suraphon Svetasreni, Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, says: ''If the first 50 years of tourism development were focussed largely on maximising the economic returns, the next 50 years will require an equivalent focus on minimising the ecological impact.''

eturbonews.com Greed has turned many formerly pristine areas into mass-tourism objects. Among the victims of overdevelopment are Pattaya, which is rebranding itself for at least the third time since the early nineties into a ''family'' destination; Samui, which now faces a water shortage and can't accommodate garbage recyclying; and areas of Phuket and Krabi. Initiatives in Thailand's most famous resort areas have recently been launched, such as turning Samui into a Green Island or stricter zoning for both Pattaya and Phuket.

Phuket: Like a limestone cowboy - New Zealand Herald


Phuketwan Update Shrimp farmers on Phuket's east coast are covertly allowing wastewater to poison local canals, say villagers led by Pa Klok Tambon Administration Organisation president Athipong Kongnam. He said the only option for villagers, who need to keep the canal water clean around the Ban Tha Rua area, was to call in the police


telegraph.co.uk As last-ditch talks between the airline and the Unite trade union broke down and it was announced the BA strike would go ahead, passengers found themselves hit by a double whammy of being offloaded from flights leaving today and unlikely to be able to travel given the restricted schedule of flights in the coming days. Many passengers arriving at Heathrow's Terminal 5 were told by check in staff that planes were severely overbooked as many had sought to travel before the industrial action.


scmp.com Russia's leaders vowed to hunt down and destroy terrorists after two female suicide bombers blew themselves up on packed metro trains in Moscow's morning rush hour, killing at least 37 people.

reuters.com New York police doubled patrols of the subway system and sent a battery of police cars to transit hubs as a precaution on Monday following the Moscow subway bombings. In Washington, police sent bomb-sniffing dogs to random Metro stations and rail yards as part of heightened security associated with the Moscow attacks.


aljazeera.net Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia's prime minister, is set to present on Tuesday a new economic policy, a controversial socio-economic initiative that aims to give equal treatment to all ethnic groups in the country. For decades many ethnic Chinese and Indian groups have long grieved of institutionalised discrimination and alleged the country's ethnic majority enjoy special advantages in housing, education and employment.


bbc.co.uk Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin has announced he is gay, ending years of speculation over his sexuality. Martin, who has sold more than 60 million albums in a career spanning three decades, said on his website that he felt ''blessed to be who he was''.
Martin fathered two children with a surrogate mother two years ago.


smh.com.au A director of a health foundation board has written a long and detailed opinion piece promoting ''healthy smoking'' for The Jakarta Post, as the Indonesian government considers its first crackdown on cigarette advertising. ''The real argument is here in Indonesia some quite remarkable Indonesian scientists and doctors have discovered that cigarette smoking can, with specially treated cigarettes, significantly assist people's health and has the potential to cut health costs around the globe,'' wrote Murray Clapham.
The chief executive of Action on Smoking and Health, Anne Jones, said: ''This is just rubbish, there is no such thing as a safe cigarette, even the tobacco companies admit that.''


thephuketinsider.com Banyan Tree Samui is set to open in June as the brand continues its expansion drive. Located on one of the islands main breach areas, Lamai, the property offers a selection of one and two bedroom private pool villas.



March 31 The Phuket Navy League is holding a welcome party at 7pm Wednesday for officers and crew of the USS Hopper, the latest US warship to visit Phuket. The USS Hopper was among the second group of ships to visit Phuket following the formation of the Phuket Navy League. Entry is no charge for those on active military duty, 200 baht for league members and 400 baht for visitors. Venue: the BBQ Hut in Patong Beach. Details: 081 8956104 or 089 9733483.

April 3 Attempt on the mass dive record, Thai Muang, Phang Nga, 11am. Details: 076-411388.
April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.
April 14-18 Phuket Cricket Sixes, Karon Sports Stadium.
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.
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta