examiner.com So far bird deaths and massive fish kills have been reported in the US, Sweden, Britain, Japan, Thailand, Brazil and beyond. Wildlife specialists state that there is nothing at all apocalyptic about these events.


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

upi At least 30,000 red shirt opponents of the Thai government rallied in Bangkok Sunday in their biggest outpouring in months, police said. Exiled former PM Thaksin Shinawatra addressed the crowd by phone from "a plane flying over Europe."

wsj.com The date for Thailand's next elections hasn't been set, but PM Abhisit Vejjajiva's campaign showed signs of beginning Sunday as he announced a series of welfare spending projects aimed at bridging the country's gaping social divides.

newstalk.ie Proclamations from Paradise: As record numbers of patients suffered on trolleys, 1.3 million VHI subscribers faced fee hikes and over 5000 were diagnosed with swine flu, Ireland's health minister Mary Harney issued statements from a five star hotel in Thailand [possibly on Phuket].

afp US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords is in a critical condition but has responded to commands after being shot through the head when a gunman opened fire on a crowd at an Arizona political event.

nationmultimedia.com Business leaders are urging small and medium-sized tourism enterprises to improve service standards and enhance their competitiveness in preparation for Thailand joining the Asean Economic Community in 2015. The Tourism Council of Thailand has asked the government to help by targeting some areas such as Phuket and Samui specifically at high-end visitors.

bangkokpost.com Since Phuket became a famous beach destination, Peranakan culture has been overwhelmed by Western influence. The Peranakan people are mixed-blood descendants of Chinese migrants going back to the 15th century who found home in southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Affectionately called "Baba" in the local speak, their ancestors began arriving in Phuket about the time the first tin mines opened.

abc.net.au A 43-year-old Australian man has died in Phnom Penh as a result of gunshot wounds. A Cambodian police spokesman says the shooting happened on Saturday night when the man checked in at a Phnom Penh hotel.

temasekreview.com Too many unacceptable foreigners are ruining Singapore for locals and foreigners of high quality alike. I feel so sorry to see how the Singapore of 2003 has ended up into a chaotic city of 2010. Beneath all the gloss of Universal Studios and malls, there is something terribly wrong with Singapore.

smh.com.au Indonesia's most notorious corrupt tax official not only left his jail cell to watch tennis in Bali - he also flew to Macau, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Gayus Tambunan admitted paying to be allowed out of prison on 68 occasions.

afp An Iran Air plane crashed on Sunday near a northwestern city in bad weather and broke into pieces, killing at least 70 of the 105 people on board, state news agency IRNA reported.

thejakartaglobe.com Indonesia's Tourism Ministry running up to the unveiling last week of the country's new official tourism slogan for 2011, ''Wonderful Indonesia.'' Reaction to the new slogan has been mixed, with some expressing remorse that the older, more direct slogan, ''Visit Indonesia,'' had been dropped.

smh.com.au More than 251,000 Australians visited Vietnam in the first 11 months of last year, an increase of 31 percent over the same period in 2009. Total arrivals topped 4.6 million.

thejournal.ie An Irishman has died after being attacked by dogs on a farm located on one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, Penang island. Maurice Sullivan, 50, and his girlfriend had ventured onto an organic farm to take photographs when he was set upon by two dogs.

aap Shares in Carnarvon Petroleum dived five percent after the explorer reported disappointing results from onshore exploration in Thailand.

straitstimes.com Primary schools in Singapore will begin the new year by taking part in a water safety program emphasising survival skills, which replaces an earlier course focusing on swimming techniques, National Water Safety Council chairman Teo Ho Pin said.

nationmultimedia.com All in all, the Airport Link is an excellent idea, but as with many things in Thailand, execution is the problem: Basic elements of function and design have not been thought through. Until they are, I recommend sticking to taxis: Bangkok Dave.



January 15-16 Phuket Air Park fly-in, Phuket
January 18 John Gray annual Phang Nga Bay cleanup
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 3 Chinese New Year Festival, Phuket
February 8-10Old Phuket Town Festival, food and walking street fest
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February 25-26 Phuket International Blues and Rock Festival 2011
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket