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

bangkokpost.com Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has announced his Thailand Reform Plan, aimed at improving quality of life for Thais, ridding the country of corruption and creating good governance nationwide. Political observers have welcomed the plan in principle, but warn that it may be too ambitious.

nationmultimedia.com Abhisit said the focus of the reform was to bring equality to all Thais so that they enjoy a better quality of living. "The most important element that the reform focuses on is human, meaning every citizen. We will start from birth till they grow up to become workers and part of society.''

abc.net.au Pope Benedict XVI says he will organise a summit of religious leaders to discuss how they can promote world peace. The October meeting will take place in the Italian town of Assisi, the birthplace of St Francis.

straitstimes.com ''We have had a very good 2010,'' Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong said. ''Let's work together, climb new heights and break new ground, and make Singapore even better in 2011.''

thestar.com.my The same language, same promises and lies are still being voiced by our leaders, regardless of their political affiliation. How we wish they could be more creative this year.

scmp.com Party excess makes getting up on New Year's Day a struggle at the best of times, but millions around the globe who were relying on a January 1 wake-up call from their iPhone 4 kept on sleeping after a glitch caused the alarm in the hip smartphone to fail.

thestar.com.my Shoppers throughout Malaysia will now have to pay 20 sen for each plastic bag when they shop at hypermarkets, supermarkets and Petronas service stations on Saturdays. The move, which is already in force in Selangor and introduced to reduce the eight billion plastic bags used each year in Malaysia, caught many shoppers by surprise. Plastic industry players in Penang have vowed to distribute 30,000 free bags in defiance of the move.

scmp.com Cathay Pacific pilots have been offered inflation-busting pay rises of up to 12.3 per cent by the airline after threatening a work-to-rule over the Christmas holiday period.

reuters.com The Discovery television network said it canceled plans to air a reenactment of the autopsy on Michael Jackson's body, citing an upcoming court hearing and concern by the late pop star's estate. The show, 'Michael Jackson's Autopsy: What Really Killed Michael Jackson,' had been set to air in Europe on January 13.

afp.com Describing himself as having spanned "the entire gamut" of relationships, Leslie Lung is now the executive director of Liberty League, a controversial support group which says it aims to help people who want to overcome "same-sex attractions". "We think that it is something that can be managed, it can be something that can be overcome, and there are people who have successfully come out of it," said Lung, who once considered sex-change surgery.


Until January 9 Phuket Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin park, Phuket City
January 6-9 Pimex boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
February 11 Phuket Chinese New Year
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February Phuket International Blues and Rock Festival 2011
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 27 Earth Hour comemoration on Phuket


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket