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[introducinlyric]

Tourists face a second night in limbo



HUNDREDS of Australian travellers remain stranded in Thailand for a second night after protesters seeking to overthrow the government forced the closure of three airports.

A Jetstar spokeswoman said a Sydney-bound Airbus A320 scheduled to depart from Phuket yesterday was still unable to leave, forcing 265 Australian passengers to stay in Phuket for a second night.

"At this stage the airport remains closed," the spokeswoman said.

She said the Australian passengers stranded at Phuket and 274 Australian passengers diverted to Bangkok last night would be accommodated at hotels overnight.

"We've found other hotels for those passengers who were unable to stay on in their accommodation," she said.

Some Australian tourists arrived back in Sydney today after making it out from Phuket yesterday just before the airport closed.

"There were all these traffic jams because there were mobs rioting and stuff and to get out of there we walked for a kilometre and climbed the fence to get into the airport," Kathryn Wellington told the Seven Network.

Fellow traveller Jane Davies said about half an hour after she left the situation "got a lot worse".

"On the way to the airport it was a bit scary to be honest and we panicked because we've never seen real shooting guns," Josephine Hook said.

The resort island of Phuket was the first airport to be shut down, followed by Krabi and Hat Yai in the country's south as protests spread across the country yesterday.

More than 5000 protesters stormed Phuket airport's two runways yesterday and about 400 protesters from the so-called People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) blocked access to the airport today.

The hundreds of Australians left in limbo have joined more than 15,000 international travellers waiting for Phuket airport to reopen.

But they may be in for a long wait after anti-government protesters said they would not back down until the Thai prime minister Samak Sundaravej resigns.

A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said Australians should stay away from the political rallies or "concentrations of military personnel", and follow any instructions issued by local authorities.

Thailand's southern provinces continue to have a "do not travel" rating, while for the whole country tourists are urged to show a "high degree of caution", according to DFAT.

Budget carrier Jetstar flies between Sydney and Phuket three times a week. Qantas flies only into Bangkok, and a spokeswoman today said it was not facing any disruptions to its services.

Source: Daily Telegraph

[Paul]

This is quite typical of the rubbish the Australian population is fed by their media.

Yes, there are protests and the airport was closed. It is now open.

No "riots"

No guns being fired and even the women didn't say that there were - I am not sure what she was trying to say or why she was quoted.

"Thailand's southern provinces continue to have a "do not travel" rating". WRONG. DFAT has given that rating to the 3 very southern most provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and that has been in place for about 3-4 years. Thailand has 76 provinces and most provinces in the South do not have any such warning and they are quite safe.

As for the newspaper quoting "A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said Australians should stay away from the political rallies or "concentrations of military personnel", and follow any instructions issued by local authorities. " What a stupid thing for a "journalist" to write. Is there any country in the world where DFAT tells tourists to head to political rallies and concentrations of soldiers.

So overall this is a poorly written article in a poor excuse for a newspaper.
There was a story - there is currently political protests in Thailand, and for 2 days, some protesters staged protests at Phuket airport which effectively closed it and stranded some tourists (including Australians) that were due to leave. Beyond that there is little else, except that perhaps some of the tourists felt concerned - so the reporter has dramatised the rest of article to shock people and sell papers.

Pathetic.

[sianeth]

Personally I'm currently finding this story more disturbing...


Australia suffering 'man drought'
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney

An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought".

The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia.

The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas.

Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males.

That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work.

It has caused a gender imbalance that is having far-reaching implications.


Major cities in Australia now have concentrated groups of unattached women, along with dwindling numbers of the opposite sex.

Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark.

"If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.

"Here is an example of one country that has drawn out a specific age demographic out of Australia which has contributed to the 'man drought'."

But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different.

Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males.

In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men.

Demographers have compiled a so-called "Love Map" that shows how the various clusters of unattached men and women are distributed across the Australian continent.

[introducinlyric]

This is quite typical of the rubbish the Australian population is fed by their media.

Yes, there are protests and the airport was closed. It is now open.

No "riots"

No guns being fired and even the women didn't say that there were - I am not sure what she was trying to say or why she was quoted.

"Thailand's southern provinces continue to have a "do not travel" rating". WRONG. DFAT has given that rating to the 3 very southern most provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat and that has been in place for about 3-4 years. Thailand has 76 provinces and most provinces in the South do not have any such warning and they are quite safe.

As for the newspaper quoting "A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokesman said Australians should stay away from the political rallies or "concentrations of military personnel", and follow any instructions issued by local authorities. " What a stupid thing for a "journalist" to write. Is there any country in the world where DFAT tells tourists to head to political rallies and concentrations of soldiers.

So overall this is a poorly written article in a poor excuse for a newspaper.
There was a story - there is currently political protests in Thailand, and for 2 days, some protesters staged protests at Phuket airport which effectively closed it and stranded some tourists (including Australians) that were due to leave. Beyond that there is little else, except that perhaps some of the tourists felt concerned - so the reporter has dramatised the rest of article to shock people and sell papers.

Pathetic.

That so interesting i know the media love to sensationalize things but i didnt realize this was true in this case.....
this morning they were saying the airports still remained closed due to more dramas although according to you this is no longer the case

[introducinlyric]

Personally I'm currently finding this story more disturbing...


Australia suffering 'man drought'
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Sydney

An analysis of new census figures has shown that Australia is suffering from an unprecedented "man drought".

The statistics have revealed that there are almost 100,000 more females than males in Australia.

The problem is worse in the coastal cities, where women have moved seeking better jobs and lifestyles, while many men have gone overseas.

Thirty years ago Australia was with flush with men thanks to immigration policies that favoured males.

That position has been reversed because thousands of Australian men in their 20s and early 30s have gone overseas either to travel or to work.

It has caused a gender imbalance that is having far-reaching implications.


Major cities in Australia now have concentrated groups of unattached women, along with dwindling numbers of the opposite sex.

Demographer Bernard Salt says the exodus of young men to foreign countries is leaving its mark.

"If you go into the United Arab Emirates census you'll find there is around 12,000 Australians living in Dubai, mostly male, mostly in the 25 to 34-year age group.

"Here is an example of one country that has drawn out a specific age demographic out of Australia which has contributed to the 'man drought'."

But the situation outside of the larger towns and cities is very different.

Vast numbers of women have abandoned the countryside seeking better jobs or education in metropolitan areas. They have left behind communities overloaded with younger males.

In the town of Glenden in the northern state of Queensland there is one single female for every 23 men.

Demographers have compiled a so-called "Love Map" that shows how the various clusters of unattached men and women are distributed across the Australian continent.

hehe trust this article to disturb you Sian..but you given me an idea to change this thread to the "Australian News" thread - it just makes more sense so thank you

[introducinlyric]

Baby born on flight to Adelaide


A pregnant Adelaide woman only bought a plane ticket for one because she wasn't expecting to give birth in the sky above Australia.

The 29-year-old woman was returning to her husband in Adelaide after visiting family in India when she went into labour on the plane.

About 5.30am (CST) today, on the final leg of her trip from Hong Kong, the woman gave birth to a healthy baby boy.

It is believed to be her firstborn.

"The baby is healthy, he is breathing on his own. Mum is jetlagged but stable," said a spokeswoman for Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH).

The woman, who was 34 weeks pregnant, is understood to have gone to the toilet after experiencing pain in her stomach.

An Adelaide doctor who, along with three other medical practitioners, helped deliver the baby on the international Cathay Pacific flight said it was a smooth, "fun" birth.

"I got the operative end, one got the comforting end, the 'breathe, breathe, breathe' end, and the other got the looking-after-the-baby end," Happy Valley GP Judith Hamel told the ABC.

"There were four of us - one surgeon, one orthopaedic surgeon, one kidney specialist and a humble GP who was the only one who'd done very much in the way of deliveries, so I got that end ...

"I think we all had fun once we knew it was all safe."

It is not known where the birth took place but luck was certainly on mum's side.

"She was fortunate enough to have doctors on board the flight," said a spokeswoman for Darwin Airport.

She said the plane made an unscheduled stop at Darwin, where it landed about 6.30am (CST).

Mum and bub were immediately rushed to RDH, where they have spent the day resting.

The RDH spokeswoman said that although the baby was six weeks early he weighed 2.7kg and was breathing unaided in the hospital's special care nursery.

"Dad is over the moon and he has rung grandparents back in India to tell them the news," said the spokeswoman.

"We are hoping to reunite mother and baby this afternoon."

Dad is expected to arrive on a flight from Adelaide this evening and his son, despite an unusual entrance into the world, will have Indian nationality.

Airlines have different policies on pregnant women travelling, with some banning them from flying for 30 days before the due date.

Others allow women to travel up to a week before.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

if my calculations are right 34wks is 8mths pregnant?? but i thought most airlines had restrictions to women flying who are so late into a pregnancy or am i wrong about this?

[introducinlyric]

Tiger Airways announces new flights


Tiger Airways will fly from Adelaide to Hobart, the Gold Coast, Perth and Alice Springs, from March next year after setting up a base in South Australia.

The company said today the services would be in addition those previously announced between Adelaide and Melbourne.

The airline will fly from Adelaide to Hobart four times a week, to the Gold Coast and Perth daily and to Alice Springs three times each week.

Prices will range from $49.95 to $99.95.

Tiger Airways Australia managing director Shelley Roberts said the new routes from Adelaide were decided by an Australia-wide poll and she thanked those who took part to help determine the cities the airline would service.

"By voting they have ensured that Tiger Airways gives our customers the route network they want," Ms Roberts said.

Tiger Airways planned to initially base two of its new A319 Airbus planes in Adelaide and was currently recruiting pilots, cabin crew and support staff.

"Traditionally many of the people of South Australia who have wanted to join an airline as a flight attendant have had to pursue their career interstate due to limited opportunities," Ms Roberts said.

"This is such an exciting opportunity for some enthusiastic and energetic people to spread their wings and join our team without having to leave home."


Source: Sydney Morning Herald

[Paul]

That so interesting i know the media love to sensationalize things but i didnt realize this was true in this case.....
this morning they were saying the airports still remained closed due to more dramas although according to you this is no longer the case

Yep, to the best of my knowledge all airports are open and the rail strike that was on is now off. There has been some more talk of some unions striking, but nothing confirmed yet.
Not sure if all flights have caught up, but pretty sure the airports are all operating.

[Paul]

Just out of interest - A while ago now I was travelling in Africa and there was a solar eclipse while I was there. About three weeks or more later I was back in Australia - it was a slow news day, so guess what I found? A paper was reporting that there would be a solar eclipse in Africa today (in the part where I just came from).

Hmmm, they really do just pluck stuff out of their arse assuming no-one knows any better.

[Paul]

Those airline prices you mention are really cheap.

Make the most of them.

I'd love to see some of Tasmania.

Have fun

[starlagurl]

Just out of interest - A while ago now I was travelling in Africa and there was a solar eclipse while I was there. About three weeks or more later I was back in Australia - it was a slow news day, so guess what I found? A paper was reporting that there would be a solar eclipse in Africa today (in the part where I just came from).

Hmmm, they really do just pluck stuff out of their arse assuming no-one knows any better.

Yeah, that's really unfortunate.... sadly though, newspapers are losing money left right and centre, so they're cutting back on employees, aka "content providers"

This means there are less people to do the legwork.

What probably happened in this case, was that the editor took the story off the wire from three weeks ago, but was going too fast to change the word "today" to "three weeks ago". If he/she had, it still would've been true, just not so newsy anymore.