bernama.com The weather bureau warned that there will be more downpours in Ranong and Phuket. Heavy rain in Thailand's southern region may continue until the end of this month.

cnn.com Authorities issued a tsunami advisory Monday morning for coastal areas of Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan after a 6.5-magnitude quake struck the region.

bbc.co.uk The Japan Meteorological Agency warned that a tsunami of 50cm (18 inches) could hit Miyagi prefecture but later lifted the advisory.


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

news.com.au Serious floods in the south of Thailand have killed three people and affected tens of thousands more, causing about $9.2 million of damage. Emergency disaster zones have been declared in 34 districts across five provinces since heavy downpours began on Wednesday, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

mcot.net Floods in Thailand's southern provinces are reaching critical proportions with mudslides, triggered by heavy rain occurring in several areas and forcing Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport to close indefinitely due to flooding.

asiaone.com PM Abhisit Vejjavija said he had instructed the PM's Office to coordinate with the DPMD to assist flood victims, and that he would visit the National Disaster Warning Center to check disaster warning systems.

Phuket Update FC Phuket defeated bottom side RBAC Mittraphap 2-0 at home at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City last night to rise to the top of Division One after five rounds. The Hulks were fined 15,000 baht during the week for fans' misbehavior last week at home but the rain doused a repetition and the win also washed away a revolt against coach Surachai Jirasirichote.

bangkokpost.com The death toll from the earthquake in Burma is much greater than feared with more than 150 people killed, witness reports suggest. Puenkham Payakwong, who works as a reporter for the Shan Herald News Agency, told the Bangkok Post that more than 150 people were killed, double the official toll of 75.

andrew-drummond.com American Bonny Rind, whose brother was one of 90 victims on the One-Two-Go air crash on Phuket in 2007: ''I agree this is a cover-up, but not necessarily any bigger or different than any other Thai cover-up, except that it involves commercial aviation which is the backbone of every significant economy.''

nationmultimedia.com Thailand could become a regional aviation hub if the government can come up with a clear strategy and action plan. Singapore is already preparing for the regional open sky that will start in 2013 and for seamless trade within the Asean Economic Community in 2015.

scmp.com Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to deepen as dangerous levels of radiation were detected in water leaking inside a reactor building at the stricken Fukushima power plant.

thirdage.com The radioactivity spike read 10 million times higher than normal but it was inaccurate. Officials said the error occurred because workers, scared from the extremely high level, fled Unit 2 before taking a second reading.

reuters Japan's nuclear disaster helped lift anti-nuclear Greens into the seat of power of Germany's richest state of Baden-Wuerttemberg with an unprecedented surge of popularity.

bangkokpost.com Core leaders of the yellow shirt People's Alliance for Democracy, disheartened by a poor response to their latest demonstration against what they see as mishandling of the Cambodia border dispute, could be on the verge of disbanding the movement.

afp Nato has taken full command of military operations in Libya from a US-led coalition, enabling the alliance to strike at forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi should they threaten civilians.

radioaustralianews.net.au More than 10,000 people have attended a peaceful rally in Jakarta to support pro-democracy movements in Libya, Yemen and Bahrain. The crowd called for the resignation of Libyan leader Moamar Gaddafi and the protection of civilians.

walesonline.co.uk The damage caused by violent anti-cuts demonstrators was branded ''embarrassing'' and ''a total shame'' by tourists visiting London. Although much of the debris had been removed by 9am, Trafalgar Square was still showing signs. The words ''fightback'' and ''Tory scum'' were scrawled on one of the four bronze lions, while red paint remained on the 2012 Olympics countdown clock.

bloomberg Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd.'s John Slosar will face rising competition in China, higher fuel prices and a slowdown in earthquake-hit Japan when he takes over as chief executive officer this week.

pittsburglive.com Convicted killer Loeun Heng walked out of a Massachusetts detention center a free man last fall. The illegal alien from Cambodia was supposed to be deported after serving almost a decade in prison for killing a 16-year-old boy in a Boston suburb. But Cambodia is among several countries that won't take their citizens back when the US wants to jettison them.

smh.com.au A rocketing Australian dollar could hit close to $US1.05 next month, with signs its record-breaking run is far from over.

bangkokpost.com Private paid-for sex in your hotel room is not a crime in Thailand, as long as the prostitute is neither underage nor there as a result of kidnapping, deception, force or misuse of authority.

cnngo.com Passing a bar in Nana, I saw lumpy Brits groping females who could have been their granddaughters. In Pattaya, I watched a Spam-pink septuagenarian stumbling down the middle of the road dressed only in scuffed brogues and grubby underpants. At 10 in the morning. Was I going to turn into that?

stickmanweekly.com The Phuket tourist economy which is centred around Patong Beach is moving full steam ahead with new bars, hotels and guesthouses popping up all over. But with some locals reporting dwindling tourist numbers visiting the delights of Bangla, how long will it be until all the lemmings realise they are at the edge of the cliff?



IBAP with Indochine's Michael Ma as the guest speaker is at Indochine on April 8.

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.

March 28-31 Four days of traditional longboat races, Koh Panyee, Phang Nga
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 12-17 Phuket International Cricket Sixes
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
July 20-24 Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
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