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

pattayadailynews.com The big news was the announcement to have an Interpol Office established in Pattaya, as this is seen as a very practical way to control international crime and the arrival of suspected criminals from overseas. This new Interpol Office will be sited at Soi-5 in Jomtien under the direction of Police Superintendent Police Colonel Athiwit Kamonrat, who is based in Chonburi. The Chonburi Immigration region now has more than 2000 warrants to arrest foreigners for crimes committed outside of Thailand, and approximately 1000 warrants issued by Thai courts against foreigners for crimes committed in Thailand.

latimes.com A convicted sex offender who had traveled to Cambodia allegedly to have sex with a minor was returned to the US to face trial in Los Angeles, the FBI said. Michael James Dodd, 59, who taught English in Cambodia, had sex with a 14-year-old girl and was seen with her on several occasions in Phnom Penh, according to an affidavit for arrest filed in federal court.

Phuketwan Update Chalong police arrested Ampai In-Aram,36, and accused him of stealing from an African expat named Peter Malhereed. Officers said Mr Malhereed left his bag on a table at a bakery in Chalong while he went to the toilet. Khun Ampai allegedly picked up the bag when he delivered ice to the bakery. In the bag was 6000 baht and credit cards.

bangkokpost.com Leaders of the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship will meet on Wednesday to set a date of a ''decisive'' mass anti-government demonstration, UDD core member Jatuporn Promphan said. ''The most suitable period for a week-long final battle is sometime in March. It will not be immediately after the Feb 26 assets verdict, or on Feb 28 as claimed by the acting government spokesman, as we want the anger to accumulate among the red-shirts,'' Mr Jatuporn said.

Reuters Migrant workers in Thailand face extortion, arbitrary detention, forced labor and physical abuse, sometimes at the hands of officials in a climate of impunity, a rights group said. The New York-based Human Rights Watch also raised concern about the February 28 deadline for more than a million migrant workers to start a process to verify their nationality, or face immediate deportation.

macaudailytimes.com The Tourism Crisis Management Office urged Macau residents who are planning to travel to Thailand to be aware of potential safety risks from protests and adjust travel itineraries if necessary. Those who are currently travelling in Thailand are asked to avoid visiting locations where protests are taking place and to remain aware of personal safety.

theage.com.au Air New Zealand's boss has accused the country's police force of trying to undermine confidence in the airline after a memo detailing drink driving offences by airline staff was provided to the media. The memo, obtained by television network TV3, detailed a meeting Auckland's road policing manager, Superintendent John Kelly, had with the airline 18 months ago to express concern over three drink driving incidents involving Air New Zealand staff and several previous incidents.

bbc.co.uk Flights have been cancelled at the two main Paris airports as French air traffic controllers begin a five-day strike over job loss fears. Half of the flights in and out of Orly airport have been cancelled, while one in four from Charles de Gaulle have also been pulled from the schedules. Staff are protesting over a deal agreed by six nations to modernise air traffic control that they say will cut jobs.

reuters Lufthansa said it expects to return to its normal flight schedule on Friday, after pilots agreed to suspend a strike that had led to hundreds of cancelled flights and travel chaos on Monday.''Of course it takes some time until the planes are back at all 200 locations that the Lufthansa network comprises around the world, and the crews need to be positioned again, too,'' Lufthansa spokesman Klaus Walther said.

afp The first A380 superjumbo operated by Air France was forced to turn back to New York mid-flight because of a fuelling problem, the plane's fourth glitch in as many months, the airline said.''The fault involves a problem in the fuel system,'' an Air France spokeswoman said, confirming that the A380 turned back to New York on Monday.
The plane had no passengers on board at the time and was returning to Paris for servicing, she added.

ANI An international conference on comparative studies by Muslim nations on whether it is the norm for Muslim women to be caned for an offence under the Shariah law will be held in Malaysia. Malaysian Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil hoped the conference could be held in three months to address the issue. "I will bring this up with the Cabinet as soon as possible," The Star quoted Jalil as saying.

guardian.co.uk An Indonesian park ranger escaped an attack by a Komodo dragon - the world's largest lizard - when colleagues heard his cries for help and drove the creature away. Marcelinus Subanghadir was outside his hut on Indonesia's Komodo island when the two metre reptile grabbed his right foot, said the Komodo National Park chief, Tamen Sitorus.




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.
March 13 "Lords (land) Last Barbecue Supper'' a Don's Mall in Rawai closes.
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.