Gates asked to participate; govt hopes to showcase island’s technology credentials

Ricky Martin to help orphans

Puerto Rican pop star Ricky Martin-the first Western celebrity to come to the Kingdom and assist charities involved in tsunami relief-met yesterday morning with Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra to give his condolences regarding the country’s losses.

Spain backs Thai bid to host tourism meet

Spain has thrown its support behind Thailand’s bid to host an international conference on tourism in

Most areas to be cleared by weekend

The clean up of most of the tsunami-affected areas should be completed this week, while the damage done to public utilities in the affected provinces was estimated at over Bt500 million.

Neglected Bang Tao gets help from abroad

Volunteers have flown in from around the world to help rebuild Bang Tao, a small beach community between Phuket airport and the Patong beach resort.

Ministry outlines plans for museum

The tsunami museum will likely be established in either Phuket or Phang Nga, the Culture Ministry said yesterday.

Phi Phi islands rehabilitation plan ‘starts from zero’

A consulting firm yesterday completed its plan on how to rehabilitate the Phi Phi islands, after more than 950 edifices on this top tourist destination were wiped out in the devastating waves of late last year.

PHANG NGA FRACAS : Villagers assault health workers

Locals believed World Vision officials intended to repatriate Burmese labourers

New unit established to keep peace in South

The Defence Ministry yesterday approved a new permanent security unit for keeping the peace in the deep South.

Doubt cast on building owner’s story

Police suspect the blaze that engulfed the United Union storehouse before it collapsed started inside the building and not – as claimed by the owner – outside when a power transformer blew up.

Democrats blast Thaksin’s television tirade as dirty politics

Democrat Party members yesterday accused Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra of playing dirty politics and said it was inappropriate for him to use a Cabinet meeting televised live to attack his political opponents.

PM’s pledge to stay draws fire

Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s announcement that he would not wash his hands of politics while there were still poor people in the country drew fire from his critics yesterday.

Group offers to aid animals

The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) yesterday offered to help tsunami-affected animals in six southern provinces.

Assumption student held for killing worker

A third-year Assumption University student working in his family’s grocery shop was arrested yesterday for allegedly shooting dead a construction worker following a dispute over the purchase of a bottle of liquor.

Razing of New World to proceed

demolition of the closed New World Department Store, where a partial collapse killed a woman last year, will resume by January 26.

EARTHQUAKE FEARS : Fault may have been awakened

Seismologists, equipment despatched to monitor three spots in the South

Disaster areas ‘pose no threat to public health’

Tsunami-hit areas pose no health risks to tourists, the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.