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

wsj.com Thailand is dreading the Supreme Court verdict on former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's frozen $2.3 billion in assets, scheduled for Friday. No matter how his wealth is disposed, given Thailand's political polarisation the only certainty is that no one will be satisfied. The conflict will likely intensify as pro- and anti-Thaksin protagonists hunker down for a long battle of attrition.

bangkokpost.com The United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship announced March 12 for the beginning of its next demonstration. It hopes supporters across the country will descend on Bangkok in droves for the big finale on March 14. The UDD's target is one million people in red who will occupy areas around Sanam Luang. Its aim is to force the government to dissolve the parliament and put an end to the role of elite bureaucrats, known as amataya.

bloomberg The power struggle has split Thailand into rival camps that disagree on how much authority appointed soldiers, judges and royal advisers should wield over elected politicians. Protests by the two sides, one wearing yellow and the other red, have led to airport blockades, rioting and bombings since the coup.''We're avoiding Thailand,'' said Burkhard P. Varnholt, who manages about $30 billion as chief investment officer of Switzerland-based Bank Sarasin & Co. ''It's a very attractive market that we would like to get back into, but we need to get more comfortable with the political situation.''

Phuketwan Update Police on Phuket practiced riot control yesterday by the island's Chief of Police, Major General Pekad Tantipong, said it was merely a precaution. He did expect trouble from either Reds or Yellow supporters as a result of Friday's court decision. ''Everyone understands the danger that trouble presents to Phuket's tourism industry,'' he said. ''Any problems are extremely unlikely.''

news.com.au Australia could face a diplomatic backlash over new terror measures which force foreign visitors from a handful of nations to undergo increased security screening.Under a $69 million program, citizens from 10 nations will be fingerprinted and have their faces scanned as part of rigorous biometric checks on travellers seeking visas to Australia. Applicants will be photographed and fingerprinted in their home country before a visa is issued.

bangkokpost.com Passenger traffic through Thailand's six main airports in January hit 5.47 million, a historic monthly high, says the Airports of Thailand Plc. The surge was thanks to the global economic recovery, reduced political unrest and peak travel demand.Last month's tally showed a steady return of traffic, especially among leisure travellers.

afp Japan's All Nippon Airways, which has asked passengers to visit the toilet before boarding to help the environment, said it will fit its jets with a women-only lavatory. ANA will introduce one female-only toilet per aircraft on international flights next month after a survey of women fliers identified it as the second most attractive service they wished for after being offered desserts. The rest of the toilets onboard will be for men and women as usual.

Reuters Las Vegas Sands Corp, which will open its $5.5 billion Singapore casino resort in late April, remains uncertain about the resort's financial performance, the company's chief operating officer said. Michael Leven, speaking at the Reuters Travel and Leisure Summit, said Sands will wait another 30 days before giving its board a fiscal plan, while it observes Genting Singapore, which opened the city-state's first casino resort on February 14.

afp.com Two Frenchmen arrested for getting into a fight with the crew of a Brazilian passenger jet in December were fined by a Sao Paulo court. A court statement said Michel Ilinskas and Antonio Nascimento, both retirees, were initially each sentenced to prison sentences of at least two years. On December 7 an altercation broke out between French passengers on a Brazilian TAM flight in Sao Paulo that had been delayed for hours waiting for take-off for Paris because of serious technical problems.



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.