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

bangkokpost.com Sand erosion could cause Pattaya Beach to vanish in the next five years, a Chulalongkorn University researcher says. The science faculty's head of disaster studies, Thanawat Jarupongsakul, has released a paper which shows erosion at the beach is now "critical".

nationmultimedia.com The latest survey found Pattaya's shore was only four or five metres deep, compared to 35.6m in 1952 and 18.7m in 2002, Professor Thanawat told a meeting on the master plan for Pattaya Beach.

Phuketwan Update A Swedish tourist who had been staying at a guesthouse in Kata died when he fell from his motorcycle under an ice truck after hitting a pole in the one-way lane outside the Duangjitt Resort in Patong about 8.45am yesterday. The man was wearing a helmet. Swedish embassy officials are notifying his relatives.

reuters About 30,000 anti-government red shirts rallied in Thailand's capital on Sunday in another show of strength that heralds a rocky run-up to an election this year. It was the second big rally this month by the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship.

bangkokpost.com Tearing up the 2000 memorandum of understanding governing border areas contested by Thailand and Cambodia will only lead to the use of force, warns Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Scrapping the MoU, as demanded by the People's Alliance for Democracy, would leave the two neighboring countries with no option but to use force to reclaim the territory, he said.

nationmultimedia.com What can Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva do to make both Cambodia and his highly charged nationalistic compatriots happy?

seattletimes.com International activist groups, which have long called for a Burma tourism boycott, have followed Aung San Suu Kyi's lead and softened their stance, now only asking that tourists snub package tours and cruise ships, which are often operated by government cronies. One tour company said bookings to Burma have surged 150 percent since November compared to a year ago.

continentalnews.net Burma's human rights record will come under scrutiny at the United Nations in the country's first Universal Periodic Review. Human rights organisation Christian Solidarity Worldwide says the UPR will provide a unique opportunity for the international community to put pressure on the military regime in Burma to reform, as well as cooperate with international human rights agreements.

telegraph.co.uk One of the women in a investigation by Milan magistrates into Silvio Berlusconi and prostitution has become the first to state publicly that she had sex with the Italian PM. Prosecutors demanded that Mr Berlusconi present himself for questioning, but he made it clear he would not turn up.

nationmultimedia.com Yuthachai Charanachitta, the third generation of the Ital-Thai Group, aims to rebrand the group by focusing on its five businesses. The group's real-estate is managed by Amari Estates, while its hospitality business under the Amari brand is managed by ONYX Hospitality Group. The company also plans to launch the latest condominium project in Patong beach on Phuket worth more than two billion baht this year.

smh.com.au Tennis world number one Caroline Wozniacki has apologised to media after making up a story that she had been attacked by a kangaroo during the Australian Open. Wozniacki, 20, who later owned up that she had walked into a treadmill, had a bandaged right leg and gave details about the size of the animal and the treatment she received.

thehindu.com In an attempt to make bilateral ties comprehensive, India and Indonesia will sign nearly three dozen memoranda of understanding or agreements during President Susilo Bamgbang Yudhoyono's visit beginning on Monday.

smh.com.au A major power outage at Melbourne Airport last night left passengers queuing in the dark, and caused delays to several international flights.

pr.com Associates of Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort recently visited Child Watch Phuket's Uncle Pitak Home to donate food supplies, books and toys, and spent a fulfilling day with the children under the centre's care. Uncle Pitak Home looks after children of inmates detained at the nearby Phuket Prison as well as underprivileged children from slum areas and construction sites.

Associated Press Workers at a Ukrainian aquarium didn't believe it when a visitor said a crocodile swallowed her phone. Then the reptile started ringing. The woman hopes to get back the phone's SIM card, which holds her precious photos and contacts.



Until January 24 Phuket Food festival, Saphan Hin, Phuket City
January 24 Villa Royale hosts the Baan Kata Arts Festival Concert
January 25 Muangtong United versus FC Phuket, 6pm. Tickets 50
baht, 100 baht
February 3 Chinese New Year Festival, Phuket
February 8-10Old Phuket Town Festival, food and walking street fest
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
February 18 Makha Bucha public holiday
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February 25-26 Phuket International Blues and Rock Festival 2011
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket