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

nationmultimedia.com The founder of the For Sea Foundation is urging authorities to close dive sites in more national marine parks on the Andaman Sea, claiming this week's closure of 18 sites in seven parks does not go far enough. Vittayen Muttamara said all diving sites where coral reefs are damaged should be shut, measures introduced to control tourists, and snorkelling banned.

thepeninsulaqatar.com Singapore Airlines announced additional fuel surcharges from January 27 because of rising world oil prices and hinted that the cost of flying on the premium Asian airline could rise further. The increases will also apply to its regional wing SilkAir and range from $3 to $27 depending on the distance and class of travel.

smh.com.au Once, airlines could break even with load factors of about 65 percent. Now, as average fares paid by consumers continue to fall, that figure is approaching 80 percent for many carriers. Airline accountants will no longer accept planes that are, on average, less than 80 percent full - about 10 percentage points more than a decade ago.

bangkokpost.com The suspect in the road rage shooting of a Thai Airways International flight captain last week has been arrested in Thai Muang, a short drive north of Phuket, police said. Parisorn Huayhongthong, 26, is accused of having fired several shots at the vehicle driven by Poolwit Ruengdech on the night of Jan 13.

nationmultimedia.com Three fully loaded 11mm pistols were allegedly found in Parisorn's possession at the Sriwara Hotel. Police said Natthaphong had a long history of shooting at other vehicles. He was in custody on Phuket and likely to be flown to Bangkok last night or this morning.

Phuketwan Update First Division newbies FC Phuket defeated Krabi 3-0 last night in a Phuket City benefit match that raised more than 40,000 baht for ailing player Camara Ahmed and demonstrated the skills of Brazilian import Paulo Renato Sizino, who scored twice. FC Phuket plays a second benefit against Phang Nga at 6pm Sunday.

businessweek.com The value of proposed foreign investment projects in Thailand dropped by almost one-third last year, the country's Board of Investment has announced, as concerns about political stability peaked.Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat said that 865 foreign investment projects worth 236.03 billion baht had applied for promotional privileges, representing a 9.8 percent increase in the number of projects compared to 2009, but a 32.7 percent drop by value.

bbc.co.uk Burma's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has obtained internet access, two months after she was freed from years of house arrest. Ms Suu Kyi is believed never to have been online.

wsj.com A former Soviet military officer accused of offering to sell weapons to a terrorist group will be tried in New York in September. The trial date of September 12 was set during a hearing for Viktor Bout. Bout was extradited from Thailand two months ago.

thejakartaglobe.com Illegally generated outflows of cash from developing countries into richer ones have become a torrent, according to a new report, with an average of more than $1 trillion flowing across borders in the latest year measured. China continues to lead the world in outflow, with Malaysia a surprising fifth despite its relatively small population.

sfgate.com Two foreigners recently drowned at Karon Beach on Phuket. Though the Andaman Sea is usually calmest from December through April, unusual weather patterns from Sri Lanka to Australia have created strong rip currents. Tourists visiting Karon, which is considered one of Thailand's best beaches, should always pay attention to the posted surf warnings.

dpa Public hospitals on Thailand's resort island of Phuket have complained about the rising cost of treating foreign patients who cannot pay their bills, media reports said. Vachira Phuket Hospital, for example, last year spent 1.3 million baht treating 17 ''penniless foreigners,'' most of whom were elderly Europeans who had retired to the island, the Bangkok Post reported. ''We've treated these patients based on professional ethics until the last moments of their lives,'' a hospital spokesman told the newspaper.

etravelblackboard.com Phuket's newest villa resort called The Shore at Katathani has appointed Revolve Communications to promote the 48 villa property in the Australian market. The Shore belongs to a portfolio of luxury properties. Couples can experience the ''ultimate blend of luxurious seclusion and boundless space.''

afp South Korean navy commandos stormed a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, rescuing all 21 crew and killing eight pirates, military officials said.

bangkokpost.com The Japanese hotel operator Okura is scheduled to make its debut in Bangkok next year with an investment cost of five billion baht. Despite political tensions, the number of Japanese visitors to Thailand last year dropped by only one percent year-on-year to 948,688.

hotelnewsresource.com Hotel transaction activity in Australia reached $1.3 billion during 2010, up 62.3 percent on 2009, representing the fourth biggest year on record for transaction volumes. This strong result demonstrates the ongoing positive investor sentiment for Australian hotels.

smh.com.au The "father of the internet" says the world is going to run out of internet addresses "within weeks" - and it will be all his fault. Google's chief internet evangelist, Vint Cerf, who created the web protocol, IPv4, that connects computers globally, said he had no idea that his "experiment" in 1977 "wouldn't end".

thephuketinsider.com Phuket is auspiciously absent from Trip Advisor's Travelers' Choice Awards 2011. Last year the island tallied in with a number of highly ranked resorts.



January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
January 23 Big motorcycle helmet rally, near Provincial Hall, Phuket City, 4pm.
January 23 FC Phuket plays Phang Nga at Surakul Stadium, Phuket City.
Until January 24 Phuket Food festival, Saphan Hin, Phuket City
January 24 Villa Royale hosts the Baan Kata Arts Festival Concert
January 25 Muangtong United versus FC Phuket, 6pm. Tickets 50
baht, 100 baht
February 3 Chinese New Year Festival, Phuket
February 8-10Old Phuket Town Festival, food and walking street fest
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
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
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