nzherald.co.nz NZ Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully is expecting updated information today about the death of Sarah Carter, one of seven who have died in mysterious circumstances in Chiang Mai. Ms Carter's father, Richard, said: "If the Thais are doing it themselves it's just likely to get glossed over."


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

chinahospitalitynews.com Sichuan Airlines has started operating Airbus A320 direct services three times weekly between Chongqiong, one of China's five national central cities, and Phuket to meet growing demand for the holiday island.

bloomberg.com Stores and restaurants across Asia dropped Japanese food from shelves and menus as the nation's government halted spinach shipments and told residents around a stricken nuclear plant not to drink tap water.

afp Abnormally high levels of radioactive substances have been detected in seawater near a quake-crippled nuclear power plant in Japan. Tokyo Electric Power Co. said the level of iodine-131 was 126.7 times higher and caesium-134 was 24.8 times higher than government-set standards.

scmp.com The true toll of Japan's earthquake and tsunami came into clearer focus after police estimates showed about 22,000 people were dead or missing, and the World Bank said rebuilding may cost US$235 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster in modern history.

Phuket Update As well as supplying potassium iodide tablets to departing passengers on Phuket, Public Health has sent a team of psychologists to Japan to offer mental-health care to Thai people affected by the quake and tsunami, Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said on Phuket.

afp "People who see thieves scream 'Stop it, stop it!' It's best to not go far from your house because our belongings are inside," said Ayako Ito, 84, who had only eaten one rice ball all day and said she was suffering from the cold at night with no power or electricity.

nationmultimedia.com Orient Thai Airlines has gained business in Japan and Libya, as many countries require charter flights to carry out nationals. Thai Airways International has witnessed a drop in revenue from Japan. Orient is set to receive three new leased aircraft to increase frequency on key domestic routes such as Phuket and Chiang Mai.

telegraph.co.uk RAF jets marked the start of operations over Libya with an epic 3000-mile bombing mission, the longest single sortie since the Falklands War almost 30 years ago. American and French warplanes were also refueled mid-air by British aircraft.

Phuket Update A response is expected early next month from a large Chinese construction company that Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha says has already done environmental and impact studies for a multi-billion-baht light rail transit system between Phuket airport and Phuket City.

Associated Press A Thai man faces up to 15 years in prison for selling video CDs containing an Australian TV news program about Thailand's monarchy. Lawyer Anont Nampa says Akachai Hongkangwan acknowledged selling the VCDs but says he didn't break any law.

Phuket Update Phuket Energy officials discovered large cylinders that were up to 10 percent short on gas as they investigated allegations that small shops had been illegally refilling gas cylinders, considered to be a dangerous practice. Investigations are continuing.

mumbrella.com.au Australian agencies were, on the whole, outgunned by those from Japan, Singapore and Thailand at AdFest in Phuket this year. The show was dominated by Japan - Japanese giant Dentsu won advertising agency of the year - with strong showings from Singapore and Thailand.

adoimagazine.com Hanging about in a resort meant for idyllic family getaways does not cater to even a semi-serious conference ambience and definitely makes it the ''last resort'' for the wretched families who were holidaying there when Adfest happened! It has to be said - the main conference hall was much too small to hold even the 800 odd delegates, and the trudge to a marquee in the adjacent lawns for lunch with the mercury already hovering around mid-30s was uncalled for pain - given that one pays good money to attend the event.

cnn.com Up to 1200 people have fled an active volcano in northern Indonesia, disaster officials said. The evacuations were made from two villages near Mount Karangetang, on Siau Island, the country's National Disaster Management Agency said.

traveldailynews.com TAT's Green Tourism initiative geared towards the international market is called ''Go Green, Go Thailand,'' which encourages the public and private sectors to approach tourism with greater environmental care. It is based on the TAT's concept of ''Seven Greens,'' which includes Green Hearts, Green Logistics, Green Destinations, Green Community, Green Activity, Green Service and Green Plus.

aap Sydney hotels were the most-occupied in the world last year, according to new analysis. Sydney hotels were 83.5 percent full in 2010, ahead of occupancy rates in Seoul (82.4 percent) and London (82.1 percent).

pr-usa.net Castlewood Group is building a new 200-room Phuket luxury 8over8 Hotel just a stone's throw away from the stunning Bangtao beach and the exclusive resort of Laguna Phuket. Completion in early 2013 coincides with the launch of Koh Samui and Bali. Meanwhile luxury yacht service Watermarkcharter is releasing a fleet to cruise the Andaman Sea, and what better way to see this beautiful landscape.

sbpost.ie Irish missionary priest Fr Shay Cullen has threatened to ''name and shame'' well-known hotel chains whose premises are allegedly involved in underage sex tourism across Asia. A large number of Irish visitors annually to Asian destinations such as Thailand, where sex tourism is rife.

afp Vietnam, like many other Asian countries, tightly controls casino gambling. Some provinces have been allowed to open one casino each - for foreigners only - but Hanoi is discussing a liberalisation, said Huynh Duc Tho, director of the Department of Planning and Investment in Danang.

theaustralian.com.au One of Asia's largest hospitality companies, Minor International, has offered a lifeline to Australia's struggling Oaks Hotels and Resorts through a $61 million takeover bid. The approach comes just months after the private companies of Oaks founder and former chief executive Brett Pointon were put into receivership and auditors warned of "inherent uncertainty" regarding Oaks's ability as a going concern.

afp A 63-year-old Dutch woman has given birth, becoming the oldest-ever new mother in the Netherlands. Dutch public radio said the woman got pregnant through a foreign sperm donor. Dutch fertility doctors would not help her because of her age.

bangkokpost.com I've found myself a regular traveller to Phuket for its renowned Vegetarian Festival over the past five years. Anyone walking through the fire path and the fireworks without being burned will be praised for their clean mind, body and practice during the festival.



WANT TO learn more about mantas and how you can help in a worldwide study? Andrea Marshall, "Queen of the Mantas," is spending time to talk on her last evening in Phuket. She will be at the Ban Thai Beach Resort in Patong, at 7.30pm on Tuesday. All are welcome.... for more call 089 8722026 or e: sarah@scubacat.com

PHUKET Navy League is planning a free Independence Day event on Sunday, July 3 from 10am to 7pm at Headstart International School, across the street from Makro, near Central Festival in Phuket City.

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
October Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
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