Cricket sixes on way to Phuket

– A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community

PHUKET: Organisers of next week’s (April 14-18) Phuket International Cricket Sixes, to be staged at Karon Beach, today announced that the recently retired captain of Australia, Karen Rolton, will headline the newly introduced Women’s Division at this year’s tournament.

“Phuket is a great place to visit, and to be able to play cricket there too is fantastic,” said Ms Rolton, who captained Australia from 2006 until 2010.

Mr Brad Tarr of the Asian Cricket Sixes Tour said, “We aim to raise the profile of women’s cricket in Thailand and across Asia and believe the introduction of the new Women’s Division to the Phuket Sixes tournament will help achieve that.”

Thai protesters bow to government orders

Reuters
Anti-government protesters cancelled a planned march to 11 no-go zones in Bangkok to avert possible clashes after thousands of security forces were deployed to block their movements.

“There won’t be any movements today. We will instead wait and see the situation at the Rachaprasong area,” said Kwanchai Praiphana, a protest leader, referring to Bangkok’s main shopping district that demonstrators demanding a new election were occupying for a fourth day.

After some brief resistance, protesters backed off.

Army spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd said, “The rally is illegal, but there will be no crackdown. We will review our measures.”

Tourists not scared off by protests

Travel Daily News
In spite of the ongoing political demonstrations in Thailand, visitors are still streaming into the country, encouraged by the fact that the rallies are being held peacefully and tourists are not in any danger.

The Airports of Thailand reported that 985,518 travelers arrived at Suvarnabhumi International Airport in March, up 17.63% over March 2009.

Thus far, the three-week-old political rallies staged by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD) have been held peacefully, with the red-shirted protesters confining their demonstrations to areas near Government House and the Ratchaprasong Intersection in the heart of the capital’s up-market shopping district.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is suggesting that tourists avoid these areas, and recommends that visitors call the 24-hour Tourist Police Hotline – 1155 – for the latest updates on traffic conditions and roads to avoid.

Electricity consumption sky rockets

Bangkok Post
Phibul Buacham, assistant governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), yesterday revealed that on Monday (April 5) at 2:30pm electricity usage to date in 2010 peaked at 23,529 megawatts, a 6.74% increase over the previous peak this year.

Yesterday, Bangkok saw its peak temperature so far this year, 37.2 degrees, still below the peak predicted by the Meteorological Department of 41-42 degrees for 2010.

Since the rise in power consumption, EGAT’s electricity reserves have dropped to 20%, not enough to cause a black-out or brown-out.

About half of Thailand’s electricity usage is in the industrial sector, while households account for 23% and the remainder goes to commercial buildings and shopping centres.

— Gazette Editors