UPDATING All Day, Every Day
reuters Chinese relatives of passengers on a Malaysia Airlines flight missing between Kuala Lumpur and Beijing on Saturday angrily accused the airline of keeping them in the dark, while state media criticised the carrier's poor response.
afp Six suspected drug dealers were shot dead during a firefight in Chiang Rai with Thai security forces who seized illegal amphetamines at the scene, police said.
smh.com.au Australian actress Wendy Hughes has died at the age of 61. The Melbourne-born star of 'My Brilliant Career' and longtime actor in the Network Ten drama 'State Coroner' is understood to have died of cancer in Sydney early on Saturday morning.
PhuketWATCH Daily Media Wrap
PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.
independent.co.uk Russian troops attempted to storm a Ukrainian missile base in Sevastopol but were thwarted when the defenders barricaded themselves inside. It remained unclear why the Russians tried to enter the base.
nationalpost.com Darren Aronofsky's upcoming film 'Noah' will not be released in Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates after censorship boards in those countries determined the film is in violation of Islamic law.
bbc.co.uk Some of Thailand's biggest companies have staked large amounts of money on the PDRC succeeding in its bid to oust the Shinawatra clan. They, and every other party that has backed a protest movement that turned into an insurrection, fear retribution from the pro-Thaksin camp if they fail.
presstv.ir Thailand's consumer confidence has fallen to a 12-year low due to the country's political instability and slowing economic growth, media reports say.
AP A leading international rights group called on Thai authorities to investigate the navy's alleged role in the trafficking of desperate migrants from Myanmar instead of charging journalists for reporting on the subject. Navy officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
dvb.no While it's ''good news'' that Morison and Sidasathian are not immediately facing prison terms for their reporting, the issue of government accountability remains, said spokesman Phil Robertson, reiterating the position of Human Rights Watch that an independent investigation should be made into Rohingya treatment, and results made public.
theguardian.com Human Rights Watch said the Thai navy ''should cease its efforts to silence the journalists and instead permit civilian authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into alleged trafficking and other serious mistreatment of Rohingya''.
pcij.org The Southeast Asian Press Alliance alert quoted Chutima as saying that the online news site will almost certainly fold up with the recent developments, as all of the site's junior staff had already resigned ''because of mental pressure.'' ''Without me and Alan outside jail, it is likely the newspaper would be closed,'' Chutima was quoted as saying.
afp A Malaysian couple have been sentenced to hang for murdering their Indonesian maid by starving her to death, according to reports that said she weighed just 26kg when she died.
smh.com.au Rupert Murdoch appears to be back in the dating game, making his first public appearance with a new woman on his arm since calling it quits on his 14-year marriage to ex-wife No.3 Wendi Deng. The blonde who waltzed into the Vanity Fair post-Oscars bash in Los Angeles this week and happily posed for photographers was 44-year-old Juliet de Baubigny, 38 years Murdoch's junior.
scmp.com The celibate Dalai Lama has thrown his considerable moral weight behind gay marriage, condemning homophobia and saying sex is fine as long as it is consensual.
channelnewsasia.com Haze returned to Singapore on Friday, with the Pollutant Standards Index crossing into the moderate range.
voanews.com Forest fires in the Indonesian province of Riau continue to rage a week after a state of emergency was declared.
latimes.com Mark Johnston, 52, has sued a Las Vegas casino after he lost $US500,000 on blackjack and pai gow over Super Bowl weekend, contending he shouldn't be responsible for his losses because he was blackout drunk.
bangkokpost.com Ten Thai hotels have been honored in the 2014 Asean Green Hotel Awards in recognition of their environmental efforts and sustainable energy conservation measures. They include Pakasai Resort, Krabi and Baan Santhiya, Krabi. There were no Phuket awards.
Phuket World Sports Wrap
dailymail.co.uk Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino has revealed that Lionel Messi has been to see experts to determine why he has been vomiting during matches, but says there is no cause for alarm. Messi, 26, was sick on the pitch during Argentina's midweek friendly against Romania, and has been reported to have thrown up in other matches for his country and Barcelona.
Phuket Coming Events 2014
PHUKET'S growing MICE market (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) is a key segment which can help Phuket attract quality visitors. On Friday March 14 the American Chamber of Commerce has organised a tourism event at the Angsana Laguna Phuket focusing on how to grow MICE business in a sustainable manner. Speakers include:
Supawan Teerarat, Director - Vice President Strategic and Business Development, Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB)
Welf Ebeling, Vice President, APAC - Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)
Mark Simmons, Vice President Sales and Marketing, Asia-Pacific - Outrigger Hotels and Resorts
Natasha Eldred will serve as moderator. The event runs from 4.30pm to 6pm. Admission is THB 100. E: Sheree Tanpensuk at sheree@amchamthailand.com or call 02-254-1041 ext 212.
March 10-15 Golf Cup International World Finals 2013 at Blue Canyon Country Club
April 11-19 Phuket Bike Week
April 13-16 Songkran New Year Water Festival
August 12 Queen's Birthday
September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket
December 5 King's Birthday
