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

csmonitor.comThe first major attack of Odyssey Dawn came as 112 Tomahawk cruise missiles struck surface-to-air missiles, early warning sites, and key communication modes. It's the first step in enforcing a no-fly zone.

guardian.co.uk The battle to save the Libyan revolution, authorised by the UN security council resolution, has begun. State of the art 21st-century weaponry is being pitted against tanks, guns and missiles from the cold war era.

tvnz.co.nz A defiant Gaddafi says he will arm civilians to defend Libya from what he called ''colonial, crusader'' aggression. ''It is now necessary to open the stores and arm all the masses with all types of weapons to defend the independence, unity and honour of Libya," Gaddafi said as strikes began.

smh.com.au Engineers were able to restore electricity to one of the reactors at the crippled Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. But power was still not getting through to its five other reactors, prolonging efforts to start up water pumps needed to prevent more radiation leaks

cnn.com As searches for nearly 12,000 missing continued Sunday, police in Japan said more than 7600 people had died since the monster earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck last week.

nytimes.com Japan's government said it had found higher than normal levels of radioactivity in spinach and milk at farms up to 90 miles away from the plants, the first confirmation that the unfolding nuclear crisis has affected the food supply.

independent.co.uk Zahrul Fuadi, from Indonesia's Aceh province, fled the Boxing Day tsunami that devastated several countries bordering the Indian Ocean in 2004. He then moved to Sendai, in Japan, where he escaped unscathed from last week's massive earthquake and tsunami.



Phuket Update The German wife of Phuket and Phi Phi businessman Luciano Butti, murdered on Phuket this week, remains in fear of her life, say Phuket police. She is not staying at her Phuket home. The couple were in the final stages of divorce. It is not known who will inherit his business interests. Mr Butti had a 12-year-old son.

Phuket Update Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij is on Phuket today for meetings as part in a conference to update organisations and the public with progress on the Phuket Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions centre. The ruling Democrat Party easily survived a series of no-confidence motions this week. MICE to Thailand is expected to suffer a 10 percent drop because of Japan's tsunami.

defpro.com The Royal Thai Air Force has now commenced flights from the new Gripen base in Surat Thani in southern Thailand. The first flight was completed by Squadron Commander Jackkrit Thammavichai, with Claes Wikstrom from the Swedish Air Force sitting in the rear seat of the Gripen D.

smh.com.au Jetstar pilots are too afraid to speak out about dangerous overtime and fatigue risks because they are worried about losing their jobs, a Senate inquiry has heard in Australia. An internal Civil Aviation Safety Authority audit of fatigue management at Jetstar, from May 2010, found there was a lack of evidence to demonstrate Jetstar was making appropriate fatigue risk assessment.

nytimes.com Singapore has a bauble to add to its collection: the ArtScience Museum, which opened last month in a building designed by Moshe Safdie. The museum adds a brainy element to the Las Vegas-style Marina Bay Sands development, which includes a casino, 2561-room hotel, seven restaurants from big-name chefs and a park on the roof.

gayopolis.com The Gay area of Phuket is located in Patong Beach at the Royal Paradise Complex and it is filled with plenty of bars, nightclubs and other forms of entertainment.



ST PATRICK'S DAY BALL. Life Home Project and Ireland's honorary consul Helene Fallon-Wood are hosting the Second St Patrick's Day Ball at the Movenpick Resort and Spa in Karon on March 26 with cocktails from 6.30pm and dinner to follow. Tickets at 4000 baht benefit the Life Home Project. Contact Khun Joojee 081 3979809 or Khun Eee or Nee 086 9469232. Tickets will be available at BAKE Chalong, Cherng Talay and BIS.

March 26 St Patrick's Day Ball, Movenpick Resort and Spa, Karon. Details 081 3979809 or 086 9469232
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 1 Turtle release, Banyan Tree seafront, Laguna Phuket
April 2 'To Japan from Phuket With Love' charity concert, Karon Beach
April 8-10 Phuket Bike Week, Patong
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn
November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon
December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket