MARK KENT succeeds Asif Ahmad as British Ambassador to Thailand from July. Mr Kent has been studying the Thai language - a prerequisite for the job - for about a year in Thailand. Mr Ahmad, highly regarded, is being transferred to another Diplomatic Service appointment.


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

reuters A massive fire raged through an overcrowded prison in Honduras, killing more than 350 inmates, many of them trapped and screaming inside their cells. Ravaged by violent street gangs, brutal drug traffickers and rampant poverty, Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, according to the UN.

Associated Press Officials confirmed 358 dead, making it the world's deadliest prison fire in a century.

nationmultimedia.com Concerned tourism businesses called on the government to make it clear to the international community that the bomb blasts in Bangkok had nothing to do with terrorism. In some sensitive countries such as China, travel warnings would discourage tourists from travelling here, said Sisdivachr Chewarattanaporn, president of the Association of Thai Travel Agents.

rediff.com Asking the international community to draw a "red line" against Iran's support to acts of terrorism, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Tehran of jeopardising world peace.

Associated Press In defiant swipes at its foes, Iran said it is dramatically closer to mastering the production of nuclear fuel even as the US weighs tougher pressures and Tehran's suspected shadow war with Israel brings probes far beyond the Middle East.

afp Malaysia has arrested an Iranian suspected in an alleged bomb plot against Israeli diplomats in Thailand. Iran has denied any connection with the attacks.

bloomberg Police in Thailand investigating bomb blasts in Bangkok arrested two Iranians and were searching for two additional suspects as Iran rejected allegations by Israel that it sponsored that attack, as well as others around the globe.

dailymail.co.uk Officials in Thailand are again fearing for the country's tourist industry in the wake of a number of bomb blasts that caused significant disruption. The situation has led Thai tourism parties to call for calm and clarification amid concerns that the blasts will deter tourists.

ttrweekly.com Thailand's tourism scored a growth of 7 percent during the first month of the year, despite terror threats and the aftermath of the floods late last year. China was the top supplier, surpassing the all-time no 1 contributor Malaysia for the first time. But a bomb blast in Sukhumvit Soi 71 area triggered a new round of travel warnings and will spook sensitive markets that were making a recovery.

bangkokpost.com Airports of Thailand is lobbying the Transport Ministry for a change in a standing policy guideline governing the use of Don Muang airport. By allowing more airlines to shift their flights to Don Muang, Suvarnabhumi could reduce its passenger load by 17-18 million a year.

dailymail.co.uk Britain's Government is considering a controversial plan to introduce minimum pricing for alcohol and give police more powers to tackle violence and disorder using ''drunk tanks'' - cells where those deemed incapable of walking home would be sent by police to sleep it off.

nationmultimedia.com SilkAir and Bangkok Airways announced that they will code share for certain flights between Singapore, Koh Samui, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

yahoo.com Newly appointed head official at Bali's infamous Kerobokan prison has a message for holiday-making Australians: ''Don't bring the bad attitude to Bali.'' Bowo Nariwono's comments are a response to the rowdy behavior of Aussie tourists, tearing up the balmy holiday spot.

bangkokpost.com Airports of Thailand posted a 37 percent jump in net earnings for the quarter to December 2011 in spite of impacts from the great floods that caused a plunge in its passenger traffic.

smh.com.au Qantas reported an 83 percent fall in net profit to $42 million for the six months to the end of December, blaming a $194 million cost from industrial action and the grounding of its fleet, and a $444 million increase in fuel prices.

scmp.com China will invest US$3 billion in a special economic zone at Rason in northeastern North Korea, a boost for an economy that has been crippled by international sanctions. An airport, power plant, piers and a cross-border railway are involved.

smh.com.au Tourism numbers in Japan are finally recovering as the one-year anniversary approaches earthquake and tsunami that wreaked havoc on large parts of country in March last year.



dailymail.com For Arsenal here was the evidence of just how far they have fallen behind Europe's elite. Arsene Wenger's team were out-passed, out-thought and, ultimately, outclassed. Milan 4-0 Arsenal.

guardian.co.uk Once again Alastair Cook scored a century batting first, becoming the first England captain to make consecutive one-day hundreds. England 250-4; Pakistan 230. England leads the series 2-0.



February 23-26 10th Thai International Travel Fair, Bangkok

February 24-25 Phuket Blues Festival, Laguna Phuket

March 29-April 1 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina

April 23-28 Phuket Pride Festival

April Opening of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, three waterfront gardens that will dwarf Kew in London and provide ''green lungs'' for the city.

May 5 Krabi celebrates the province's 140th anniversary

May 26-June 5 National Youth Games, Phuket



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket