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

scmp.com China's government warned people against "street politics" as the anonymous organisers of "jasmine rallies" on the mainland issued an open letter to major universities calling for more gatherings today.

cnn.com Speaking before China's parliament, Premier Wen Jiabao pledged that fighting inflation and corruption would be top priorities over the next five years.

wsj.com The Saudi government has banned all protests and marches in the kingdom, according to a statement from the Interior Ministry carried on the state-owned television channel al Ekhbariyah.

bangkokpost.com Police have ruled out foul play after four people staying at a Chiang Mai hotel died over a 16-day period. Two foreign tourists and a Thai tour guide were all found dead in the Downtown Inn hotel in Chiang Mai's Muang district last month. A third foreigner staying at the hotel later died in hospital.

nationalpost.com Back in 2005, the Thai government was in the market for new fighter jets. One of the jets in the running was the American-built F-16. Unfortunately, the Thai government was unable to pay for the jets and instead offered US diplomats some 80,000 tons of frozen chickens. Lockheed Martin, the company who would sell the jets to the Thai military, played along with the deal. Sadly, this poultry for planes deal was never finished due to an untimely coup against Thaksin Shinawatra's government.

nationmultimedia.com An Englishman, apparently depressed and unemployed for five months, jumped to his death at his apartment in Phuket near Prince of Songkla University. His girlfriend said she received a text message: "Please say sorry to my mom. I love you very much too." [People suffering depression on Phuket are advised to talk to friends or family or contact a clinic.]

afp The Indonesian holiday island of Bali shut down for a day of silence to mark the Hindu new year. Retailers on Saturday closed their shops and many tourists stayed inside their hotels for Nyepi, a day of reflection that is supposed to be free from daily routine, including work and play.

bangkokpost.com My heart goes out to the 41 flabby flight attendants who didn't shape up in the allotted six months they were given last June. You can see them dotted around Suvarnabhumi munching on lonely hot fudge sundaes at various overpriced airport eateries, or making quick flights up to Khon Kaen and back working alongside the niece of some THAI executive.



ON JUNE 12 Padi Platinum Course Director Camille Lemmens will swap his scuba diving fins for running shoes as he participates in the Laguna Phuket International Marathon to raise funds for marine conservation. ''As a Padi Platinum Course Director I'm privileged to spend many of my working hours underwater seeing the amazing diversity that Mother Nature offers. I also have a responsibility to ensure the continual and prolonged healthy underwater world,'' said Lemmens. ''I'm raising funds for Project AWARE, whose goal is to encourage and inspire divers to be part of the solution for ocean protection. Thailand's Padi Regional Manager Tony Andrews, immediately joined efforts with Camille and together they're planning to each run a half marathon.

nytimes.com ''Travelers hunker down to see who their neighbors are and are paranoid that they are flying in a sealed infections hospital ward,'' said the chief executive of a Los Angeles-based firm that makes a small air filter that hangs around your neck called the Ultra-Mini Air Supply. At least one study confirms the obvious: there are germs on planes.

businessinsider.com Out of the top 25 best-selling indie Kindle writers, only six were previously affiliated with a publishing house. Back of the envelope math suggests that by selling 100,000 copies a month at $1 to $3 a pop and keeping 70 percent, 26-year old Amanda Hocking, the best-selling indie writer, can make millions each year.

kcrtv.com Japan has set the ambitious goal of tripling its number of foreign tourists from 8.6 million last year to 25 million by 2020. "Niseko is such a natural destination for what we call new wealth," said Francis Yeoh, the managing director of YTL, bought one of Niseko's four main ski areas, including the Niseko Hilton, for $66 million last year. Pacific Century Premium Developments, the real estate arm of Hong Kong businessman Richard Li's PCCW, bought the nearby Hanazono Resort in 2007. Mr Yeoh likened Niseko's potential to the beach resorts of Bali or Phuket.

thezimbabwean.co.uk A state-owned newspaper claimed that President Robert Mugabe had flown to Singapore for a "final check-up" following "minor cataract surgery" in January. This is just the latest media spin. Sources have revealed that Mugabe has been receiving chemotherapy for prostate cancer, contrary to the official government line.

bangkokpost.com Canon expects revenue of 10 billion baht in 2012, with a goal of becoming the market leader in compact digital cameras in Thailand, up from third place now. It plans to develop innovations such as cameras able to link with iPhones, iPads and other mobile devices as well as printers to print photos via new applications.

stuff.co.nz Auckland's lonely ageing elephant, Burma, 28, risks suffering depression, say experts, and a horse is being moved into her zoo compound to keep her company.



March 6 Phuket Grumpy Old Men's Society car rally around Phuket
Until March 6 Pool Asia Expo and Conference, Hilton, Phuket
March 11 John Gray speaks at IBAP
March 5-19 Heroine's Monument Festival
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 26 St Patrick's Day Ball, Movenpick Resort and Spa, Karon. Details 081 3979809 or 086 9469232
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket