abs-cbnnews.com Thai police said they had arrested a Filipina at Bangkok's airport for trafficking cocaine worth $247,000. Rivera Maria Elenita, 40, arrived from Peru on an Emirates flight. She told police she had been hired by a Western African drug gang in Bangkok to smuggle for Thai clients, they said.

pattayadailynews.com Thailand is warned to be on the look out for a new drug going by the unlikely name of ''miaow-miaow'' aka M-Cat and ''pussy''. The drug is currently sweeping Europe and will soon, no doubt, hit these shores.

nationmultimedia.com EX-PM Thaksin Shinawatra is beyond the point of no return, former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun has told Asia Times. ''I don't see much prospect of his return. To situate himself outside the country and start inciting insurrection in the country, I don't think it goes down well.''


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

THE ROYAL Thai Navy and the Phuket Marine Biology Centre hauled 1310 concrete blocks out to sea off Phuket yesterday and dumped them in the water off Mai Khao beach.
The aim is to leave them in ''pods'' along three kilometres of the northerly Phuket beach so that an artificial coral reef one day links up along the whole distance.
Supported by Phuket's Orborjor council, the project should one day attract divers as visitors to Sirinath National Park. The area around Mai Khao is becoming increasingly noted for five-star resorts.
An attempt to sink an artificial reef of obsolete aircraft off nearby Bang Tao beach in 2008 proved less successful because waves and fishing trawlers destroyed most of the aircraft.


nationmultimedia.com The Thai Chamber of Commerce has urged the government to end the political deadlock because the prolonged street demonstrations have already hit tourism and will soon spread to the retail, export and investment sectors. ''So far, the governments of more than 30 countries have warned their travellers to avoid visiting Thailand. Exports could be hit in the third quarter,'' said chairman Dusit Nontanakorn.


bangkokpost.com A Thai man suspected of being in an international gang has been arrested with more than a thousand high-quality fake US$100 banknotes. The Crime Suppression Division arrested and charged Pratchya Boonwanno, 65, with possessing 1040 counterfeit notes with a face value of about 3.3 million baht. A US$100 super note sells for $80 to $85 on the black market.


moviefone.com The Malaysian Film Censorship Board is coming out of the closet - well, sort of. In a country where many cultural expressions are banned on moral or religious grounds, the Malaysian Film Censorship Board has reversed a ban on films featuring homosexuality - as long as the character goes straight or realises the ''wickedness'' of his decision.

businessweek.com Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said he'll keep rolling back policies that favor the country's biggest ethnic group and sell stakes in state companies to lure investment and boost the stock market. 'Whether we will do away completely with affirmative action is something we have to consider very carefully,'' Najib said in Hong Kong.


voanews.com The Cambodian foreign minister has threatened to expel the country head of the United Nations after the UN office asked the government to allow greater public participation in the country's long-awaited anti-corruption law. Cambodian FM Hor Namhong, called UN.country head Douglas Broderick's request that the government allow more time for public scrutiny of the anti-corruption law ''a flagrant and unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of Cambodia''.

truthdig.com News is breaking in Indonesia about the role of the Indonesian military in the murder of political activists in the province of Aceh last year, in the lead-up to elections. This is happening while the White House is engaged in fierce behind-the-scenes negotiations with Congress on whether to restore aid to the Indonesian military, including one of its most notorious elements, the special-forces command known as Kopassus.

bbc.co.uk Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi opposes her party registering for forthcoming elections, her lawyer has said. Nyan Win said Ms Suu Kyi told him the National League for Democracy should 'not even think'' of taking part under what she called unjust laws. Burma's leaders say they will hold the first polls in two decades this year.


washingtonpost.com The showdown between the Internet giant Google and the world's most populous country marks a turning point in what was one of the great alliances of the late 20th century - the bond between Western capital and Beijing's authoritarian system. Chinese officials insist that the Google case is an isolated one yet Western businesses have begun to push back openly against China.


nationmultimedia.com Thai Cabinet approved the extension of the property tax incentives for another two months, said PM Abhisit Vejjajiva. The government's tax incentives for the property market, which are part of the government's stimulus package, will now end on May 31. He said that the extension would allow over 10,000 homebuyers to complete the transfers.


afp Dubai is tightening its grip on massage parlors operating in the city after dozens were found engaged in illegal activities, including sexual services. No new licences will be issued for massage parlors until further notice, state-owned daily The National reported. It said 25 massage parlors were fined for ''operating in residential areas and allowing women to massage men, among other breaches of their trade licences''.


thejakartapost.com Political tension in Thailand lately is a blessing in disguise as it could shift attention to Bintan Island, say businessmen. Brig. Gen. (ret.) Chin Chow Yoon, vice president of PT Bintan Resort Cakrawala, which manages the Lagoi international tourism complex, told The Jakarta Post: ''Foreign tourists are now afraid of going to Thailand. This situation is good for Bintan since we offer similar tourist attractions.''

afp The largest hydroelectric project in Laos, which began selling power to Thailand last week, should suspend operations until it has fulfilled its obligations to local people, activists said. US-based watchdog International Rivers accused the Nam Theun 2 Power Company of flouting an agreement not to start commercial operations at their dam on the Nam Theun river before they had compensated affected villagers.

independent.co.uk The moratorium on commercial whaling, one of the environmental movement's greatest achievements, looks likely to be swept away this summer by a new international deal being negotiated behind closed doors. The new arrangement would legitimise the whaling activities of the three countries which have continued to hunt whales in defiance of the ban - Japan, Norway and Iceland - and would allow commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Sanctuary set up by the International Whaling Commission in 1994.

time.com More and more young Americans are taking a DIY approach to meat. Many of the young pioneers of this latest culinary trend may not even realise that butchers, like milkmen and iceboxes, were a mainstay of American culture. Hipster parents and earnest ''gastronauts'' attend cult butcher Tom Mylan's weekly lessons in how to cut up animals.


zeitgeistyreport.com Radaronline.com broke the story that Devon James, is the latest woman to claim to have slept with Tiger Woods, calling the Bubba The Love Sponge radio show and blabbing about their supposed two and half year affair. The porn queen divulged some juicy tidbits including the fact that Woods paid her and another woman $2000 each for a ''two-girl party'' in 2006. Well, we all know the golf pro is an expert multi-tasker.

etrtavelblackboard.com Personal travel manager Kathy Purve says that inquiries at the Perth Bridal Fair indicate the most desired destinations for weddings, in order of interest, are Bali, Phuket, Mauritius, New Zealand and the South Pacific, especially Fiji. Topping the interest for honeymoon destinations, in order of demand, were Tahiti, Phuket, Bali, Mauritius, and the Maldives.

thephuketinsider.com A familiar face will be returning to the Phuket Gazette with Chris Husted rejoining as Managing Editor from April 20. This coincides with a move into new headquarters on Thepkasattri Road, near Isuzu Motors in Koh Kaew at the aptly named Gazette Square.

news.com.au Tiger Airways Holdings has appointed the former boss of low-cost British carrier bmibaby as managing director of Australian operations. Aviation veteran Crawford Rix will head up the Singapore-based airline's Australian arm after a four-year stint as managing director at bmibaby.



Phuket Yachties Plan Rescue
KHUN BOO, an institution in Phuket yachting around Chalong and a ''remarkable character,'' fell seriously ill this month on a yacht delivery from Donsak to Phuket. His condition was critical by the time the rest of the crew managed to get him to a hospital in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Since then he's been in ICU in a coma hooked up to various machines, says a media release from Ao Chalong Yacht Club.
''We would like to raise some funds through ACYC to help with medical costs, transport costs and to ensure there is a family member or good friend in Terengganu to be with him while he recovers,'' says ACYC commodore Mick Kealy.
On March 26 the ACYC will be holding a fund raiser to help Boo. Tiger beers will be going for 50 baht all night, to members and non-members alike. There will be a raffle and a donation box, with other contributions welcome. Details: mick@octopusasia.com

Until March 26 Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn Fair at Thalang Victory Memorial Park, near the Heroines' Monument.
March 27 Lights out at Le Meridien Phuket Resort and Spa in support of Earth Hour. Since 1987, the resort has minimised its impact with waste reduction, efficient energy management, water conservation, and green programs.
Until March 28 Local Phuket Food Festival, Saphan Hin, Phuket City
April 3 Attempt on the mass dive record, Thai Muang, Phang Nga, 11am. Details: 076-411388.
April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.
April 14-18 Phuket Cricket Sixes, Karon Sports Stadium.
May 31-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 Annual Phuket seafood festival.
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, Coliseum Cineplex, Phuket City.
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta