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

bangkokpost.com Cabinet will today consider a proposal to develop Pattaya as a special development area with an investment of 15 billion baht over 10 years. The master plan would cover 949.47 square kilometres of Pattaya and nearby regions.

afp US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise restraint and take immediate steps to defuse tensions after their deadliest border clashes in several years.

nzherald.co.nz Two New Zealand women who fell gravely ill while on holiday in northern Thailand have spoken out about their experience and the death of their friend Sarah Carter. Emma Langlands and Amanda Eliason have written about their ordeal on a website started by Miss Carter's family to warn people of the dangers of travel in Southeast Asia.

smh.com.au From the NZ survivors: "During the day we spent in the hotel room, we were aware that people were concerned about a guest in the room next to ours, and were attempting to enter that room. On one of his visits to hospital, the manager told us that the person had passed away."

bbc.co.uk A BBC investigation has found that thousands of workers are illegally trafficked from Burma to work in Thailand's fishing industry - on Thai ships, or in factories. Some are enslaved at sea for years without ever coming onshore, forced to work long hours for little or no pay, or are imprisoned on land between voyages. Human rights activist Andy Hall said: "When you buy your fish, and that fish comes from Thailand, it's coming from an industry where there is a gross exploitation of people who are trafficked into the industry.''

bangkokpost.com Singapore-based Recap will invest 13-14 billion baht this year to acquire property projects in Asia, mainly in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Phuket. It spent nearly 1.5 billion baht to buy the 254-room Laguna Beach Resort on Phuket early this year.

bangkokpost.com The government has approved Thai Airways International as the official carrier of Thai Muslims to Saudi Arabia to perform this year's Hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage, as follows: Had Yai, 26 flights, Phuket 2, Krabi and Suvarnabhumi 1.

smh.com.au Strategic Airlines [which operates to Phuket from Australia] has signalled the most aggressive growth of its long-haul operations yet by applying for the rights to begin flights to the US from September.

Associated Press An Indonesian court has sentenced an Australian man to 18 years in jail for smuggling two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine to Bali. Michael Sacatides, 43, was arrested on Bali in October after arriving from Thailand.

stuff.co.nz New Zealand's Green Party is outraged that pressure is being put on Thailand over its bid to put warning labels on alcohol. The World Trade Organisation said the European Union, Argentina, Australia, NZ, Switzerland, Mexico and the US had raised concerns about Thailand's intentions to put health advisory messages on alcohol bottles.


indonesia.travel Event patron and Australian and Phuket yachting legend, Rolly Tasker, competed in the initial Fremantle to Bali Race in 1981 and still holds the record time of six days, 15 hours. The revived Ocean Rally started on Saturday while the International Yacht Race begins today.

cnn.com India's federal police arrested the chief organiser of last year's Commonwealth Games for suspected corruption. Suresh Kalmadi was held for allegedly buying a time, scoring and result system from a Swiss company at inflated costs.

nytimes.com More than a dozen commercial pilots in India have been stripped of their licences and a top airline safety official has been suspended after a government investigation uncovered widespread fraud and corruption.

thephuketinsider.com North Phuket will be getting a new international branded hotel as the Holiday Inn Mai Khao will open its doors on September 9, according to the resort's management.

independent.co.uk A man performing as a human cannonball at a stunt show in Kent has died after a safety net failed to engage.

mb.com.ph An abscbnnews.com report says singer Justin Bieber made a major faux pas when he greeted Malaysian fans with ''Hello, Manila!'' during a concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.



April 28 Pierre-Yves Cousteau dinner at IndoChine
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
May 1 National Labor Day public holiday
May 5 Coronation Day public holiday
May 13 Royal Ploughing Day public holiday
May 17 Visakha Bucha Day public holiday
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 17 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational, Laguna
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn
July 3 Phuket Navy League US Independence Day fair at Headstart International School
July 15 Asarnha Bucha Day public holiday
July 20-24 Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
August 12 HM The Queen's Birthday public holiday
October Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 26-27 9th Phuket International Soccer 7s
November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon
December 3-4 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s
December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket