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

wsj.com The rising cost of food is driving Asian inflation rates higher, increasing the stakes for a successful harvest this year in a region still bruised by the 2008 food crisis. Prices for rice, sugar, milk, and in some places, fruits, vegetables and cooking oils, have risen in recent months, putting pressure on consumer prices. The region's most important economies, including India, China, Thailand and Indonesia, are all grappling with how to handle rising prices without snuffing out their economic rebounds.

Reuters World's Top 10 most thrilling experiences includes at No. 2: Motorcycle Taxi Ride, Thailand: Motorcycle-taxi riders bob in and out of endless lines of cars at alarming speeds, often mounting pavements, and wipe-outs occur with shocking regularity. Often the injured rider or passenger is carted off to hospital in a passing tuk tuk. Look for the orange vests worn by licensed taxi riders, who are legally required to carry a spare helmet; motorcycle taxis are usually down the alleys just off the main roads.

Associated Press Helicopters ferried rescuers to and bodies away from the site of massive avalanches that blocked an important mountain pass north of Kabul as the death toll soared to 166, officials said. Hundreds more remained trapped in snowbound cars.

bangkokpost.com Authorities are preparing to deport the five air crew members of the plane carrying weapons from North Korea after prosecutors dropped the charges against them. Prosecutors today will announce the decision and a source at the Office of the Attorney-General said they would not be indicted.

scmp.com Beijing has approved a visit to Hong Kong by the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier battlegroup next week. That has raised many eyebrows given Beijing's recent vow to cut military ties and impose sanctions in protest against Washington's arms sales to Taiwan. Hong Kong-based military attaches said they would watch the USS Nimitz visit closely to see whether Beijing sent People's Liberation Army officers to functions on board.

nationmultimedia.com Thailand expects serious competition from Hawaii and Hong Kong for the meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions business at the Asia-Pacific expo scheduled to held in Melbourne on March 2-3. Akapol Sorasuchart, president of Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau said that Hawaii was emerging as a new rival for MICE business because the famous island is focusing more on business travellers. As a holiday destination having other attractions, Hawaii is in direct competition with Phuket.

cnn.com Police in Sri Lnaka fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse thousands of opposition protesters demanding the release of retired general and former presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka. Fonseka lost to President Mahinda Rajapaksa and was jailed after the January 27 election on charges of conspiring to overthrow the government and assassinate his rival.

todayonline.com Events since New Year's Day have given the Hong Kong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy the impression that ''pressures are building and the entire situation is becoming much more unstable'' in Malaysia.
Perc also asserted that a group of elite minorities were dominating the national agenda to the extent that it was hurting Malaysia's attractiveness to investors.

afp A build-up of ice in the fuel lines of a British Airways flight from China caused its crash landing at London's Heathrow Airport two years ago, an accident investigation concluded. The pilot of the Boeing 777, Peter Burkill, said in an interview coinciding with the report's release that he had feared ''it might be my time to die'' after he realised the plane was destined to crash, when it lost power barely a minute before touchdown on January 17, 2008.

thejakartaglobe.com Indonesia posted full-year economic growth of 4.5 percent in 2009, slightly higher than the government's forecast, thanks to better-than-expected exports and resilient consumer spending, the Central Statistics Agency said. The news was welcomed by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Hatta Rajasa, the coordinating minister for the economy.

timesonline.co.uk Nelson Mandela has called off a historic return to the prison from which he walked to freedom 20 years ago tomorrow after serving almost three decades behind bars for fighting apartheid. Instead, ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other stalwarts of the African National Congress will lead a ''symbolic'' 500-yard march from the gates of what is now called the Drakenstein Correctional Centre to the spot where a beaming Mr Mandela, his clenched fist raised in triumph, ended his 27-year-long incarceration.

southalltravel.co.uk People taking flights to Phuket could bump into some celebrities during their travels, it has been reported. According to the Sun, Thailand is a great destination to head to for people who want to have some sun, sand, sea and do a bit of celebrity spotting. Recent visitors include Kate Moss and boyfriend Jamie Hince as well as A-list actor Kevin Spacey and Tony Hadley of Spandau Ballet fame, the newspaper noted.



Until February 14 Phuket OTOP (one village, one product) Fair at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City. About 300 booths, nightly performances, local and national products, good food. Hundreds of visitors expected each evening.

February 13-15 Keep Phuket Green performances, events, talks at Central Festival.

February 13-19 Chalong Temple Fair.

February 14 Valentines Day, Chinese New Year.

February 19-21 Old Phuket Chinese New Year Festival, Old Phuket Town.

February 25-28 Phuket Gay Festival in Patong.

February 26-27 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival 2010 at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Karon.

February 26-28 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s at Fifa Phuket Tsunami Centre.

April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.

April 14 Phuket Cricket Sixes begin.

May31-June 5 Eight-nation football tournament for players over 55 at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Iran, Armenia competing.

May Date to be finalised for Muay Thai kickboxing competition at Laguna Phuket.

May 21-23 Paragliding on Phuket.

June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival.