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

bangkokpost.com The government is working to dispel rumors sparked by a fortune teller that Andaman coastal provinces will be hit by a tsunami on Thursday. Anchalee Vanich, the prime minister's deputy secretary-general and a resident of Phuket, insisted that early warning systems and contingency plans were in place and people could visit the provinces with confidence.

Phuket Update Phuket and the Andaman marked the sixth tsunami anniversary with remembrances. At Patong beach last night, honorary consuls joined Phuket Provincial Administrative organisation chief executive Paiboon Upatising in a ceremony at Loma Park. Media included a film crew from Japan.

dailymail.co.uk An Indonesian woman who dreamed her six-year-old daughter, swept from her arms in the tsunami, was still alive, was accused of planning a kidnap and beaten up by villagers. She is recovering in hospital.

asiaone.com Three Singaporeans died and two are still missing in the waters of Malaysia after a Christmas weekend fishing trip ended tragically. The five, with 24 other passengers, were making their way back to Singapore when their boat sank close to Mersing, Johor, about 1.30pm on Sunday.

asiaone.com The boat was believed to be overloaded beyond its normal capacity of 12 passengers. News agency Bernama reported that no one on board wore life jackets.

Associated Press Airlines are working to rebook stranded passengers and possibly add flights after a winter storm on the US east coast caused thousands of flight cancellations and left countless passengers stranded. Air carriers began canceling flights ahead of the storm to avoid stranding passengers at airports as much as possible.

guardian.co.uk Heathrow and other British airports will face fines running into tens of millions of pounds if they allow a repeat of the sort of disruption that ruined the travel plans of thousands of people after the heavy snowfall in the week before Christmas. Philip Hammond, the transport secretary, announced that he is prepared to introduce fresh parliamentary legislation that would penalise airports for "service failure".

monstersand critics.com A source said British supermodel Kate Moss ''has been forced to book the same place on Phuket where she's spent New Year's Eve for the past three years. She's in a huff because she was desperate for somewhere new, but was turned down by top resorts around the globe who had no room left. She will now be flying to Amanpuri on Phuket on December 27.''

thestar.co.uk Mossy, 36, and her fella Jamie Hince, 41, are set to blow megabucks on New Year partying. ''She'll do it in a style and raise the roof spending 100,000 pounds on her seven-day stay. She's rented a state-of-the-art yacht. They will spend NYE on the boat for sundown then they're having a 30,000 pound banquet in The Thainaan Restaurant.''

capitalfm.co.ke A suspect from Thailand was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport with 19.5 kg of illegal ivory. Police intercepted her on routine patrol while she was checking in with 105 pieces of ivory bangles, necklaces and raw ivory in transit to Bangkok.

bbc.co.uk Northern hemisphere countries are being told by health experts to brace themselves for flu outbreaks. There has been a well-publicised surge of cases in Britain during December with swine flu appearing to be the dominant of the three strains circulating.

guardian.co.uk Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner, 84, has announced on Twitter that he is to marry a 24-year-old Playmate. Hefner, married twice before, told his 427,902 followers on Christmas Day that he gave an engagement ring to Crystal Harris on Christmas Eve.



December 30-January 9 Phuket Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin park, Phuket City


January 6-9 Pimex boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 27 Earth Hour comemmoration on Phuket