Hundreds have gathered to pay tribute to a friend, daughter and sister as Sarah Carter, who tragically died while on holiday in Thailand last week, was farewelled at a church in east Auckland this afternoon. It has not yet been confirmed how Carter died, though it was initially suspected she and two friends may have suffered food poisoning after eating seaweed.


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

bangkokpost.com Relatives of politicians and retired military officers have seized land from villagers and are encroaching on forest areas in Phuket and Phangnga, say former residents and environmentalists. The illegal land acquisition in the two southern provinces is increasing because there is no effort on the part of the state to rein in the practice, the National Reform Committee has been told.

FC PHUKET drew its first game 1:1 in Division One last night, with Bazilian striker Paulo Renato scoring in promising fashion at the 35 minute mark, only to have Suphanburi FC respond 35 minutes deeper into the game. About 100 fans who made the journey from Phuket for the game headed home reasonably happy at the promising signs for the season.

bbc.co.uk Burma's state media have published their first direct criticism of the democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi since her release from house arrest. The commentary said she and her party would "meet their tragic end" if they continued to endorse Western sanctions.

Phuket Update Phuket road death: Eighteen-year-old Pichai Kewasombut died in hospital on Phuket after crashing his motorcycle on Thepkasattri Road in Thalang about 11.30pm last night. Two 19-year-olds, Nattawoot Jan-On and Jandee Kotamda, told police they were riding as pillion passengers in heavy rain and the motorcycle hit an unseen parked pickup.

smh.com.au Burma military officials allege Australian Ross Dunkley, who co-founded Burma's only privately owned English-language newspaper in 2000, was arrested for being in the country illegally on a tourist visa and for possessing marijuana. If convicted, Mr Dunkley faces up to five years in prison, but Burmese sources told the Herald that further, unrelated, charges could follow, lengthening any jail term significantly.

bbc.co.uk Malaysia has stepped up a campaign to stop Muslims celebrating Valentine's Day - labelling it a ''trap'' that could encourage immoral behavior. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said Monday's celebration of romantic love was "not suitable" for Muslims. Several Malaysian states are planning to carry out checks on hotels to stop young couples having premarital sex.

Associated Press Italian women took to the streets across Italy bearing banners that read ''Italy is not a brothel'' following the disclosure of details of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private life.

telegraph.co.uk Hosni Mubarak used the 18 days it took for protesters to topple him to shift his fortune into untraceable accounts, Western intelligence sources said. The former Egyptian president is accused of amassing as much as $64 billion during his 30 years in power.

wsj.comThe Obama administration, seeking to help stabilise Egypt following President Hosni Mubarak's resignation, is looking at the 1998 overthrow of Indonesian dictator Suharto as a model for a democratic transition in a Muslim-majority country, said senior US officials.

nytimes.com On Wednesday evening, Google began what it calls a ''manual action'' against J. C. Penney, essentially demotions specifically aimed at the company. At 7 pm Eastern time on Wednesday, J. C. Penney was still the No. 1 result for ''Samsonite carry on luggage.'' Two hours later, it was at No. 71. Penney reacted to this instant reversal of fortune by, among other things, firing its search engine consulting firm, SearchDex. Interviewing a purveyor of black-hat services face-to-face was a considerable undertaking. They are a low-profile bunch.

afp A portrait of an Afghan woman disfigured as punishment for abandoning her marital home has won the 2010 World Press Photo award for South African Jodi Bieber. Aisha was rescued by aid workers and American soldiers, and later underwent reconstructive surgery in the US, where she now lives.




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.

February 18 Makha Bucha public holiday
February 20 Pink Floyd charity tribute by New Machine, Zantika, Khao Lak
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
March4-6 Pool Asia Expo and Conference, Hilton, Phuket
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