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

nationmultimedia.com PM Abhisit Vejjajiva will today announce his government's blueprint for national reform of the economy, quality of life, justice and education. Efforts in these four areas will be overseen by key Cabinet figures from the ruling Democrat Party.

australianetworknews.com Celebrations continue across the globe to welcome in the new year and for many it's been a time to reflect. North Korea has called for better relations with South Korea amid heightened tensions on the peninsula. In Burma, Oppostion leader Aung San Suu Kyi looked to future, calling for greater democracy in her country.

watoday.com.au A Perth man who lost his leg to a jet-ski has told how he had to pinch his own artery in his severed limb to stay alive. "When I hit the water and saw my leg in front of me I knew it was gone, so I reached down and felt where the pressure was hitting my hand and reached in and pinched my artery," he said. He added that it was important that people realised how dangerous jet-skis could be.

malaysiasun.com From April 1, transiting from Singapore will be taxed. The tax levy has been broken into two: Singapore dollar 12 for passengers spending less than 24 hours in Singapore during transit and Singapore Dollar 20 for transit passengers staying for more than 24 hours. The tax will be applicable for tickets sold after February, for travel after April 1.

thestar.com.my Four Thais and a local are missing after a fishing vessel capsized in rough sea, 17 nautical miles off Kuantan. The crew are from Thailand while the skipper, a local, has been identified only as Chuk Luck.

mcot.net Seventy-nine persons were killed in road accidents throughout Thailand during the first two days of the "seven high-risk New Year's holidays" from December 29.

bangkokpost.com An estimated 1.8 million passengers, or 150,000 a day, are expected to pass through Suvarnabhumi Airport during the holiday season, up 7.9 percent from last year, according to Airports of Thailand. Airlines have increased flights by five percent for the period between December 25 and January 5 to meet high-season demand.

heraldsun.com.au Singapore Airlines could soon sell its 49 percent stake in UK carrier Virgin Atlantic, according to industry experts. Goh Choon Phong, who takes over as Singapore chief today, will contemplate a sale to release funds as he wrestles with growing competition from Jetstar and other budget carriers in Asia, analysts say.

monstersandcritics.com A total of 134 people died from dengue fever in Malaysia this year compared with 87 in 2009, health department director general Ismail Merican was quoted as saying by the Star newspaper.

businessweek.com Singapore's economy grew a record 14.7 percent this year, rebounding strongly from last year's recession as the global recovery boosted exports and tourism.

Associated Press Law enforcement officials from police to prison wardens routinely torture Indonesian suspects and convicts to extract confessions or obtain information, a new report asserts. Beatings, intimidation, burnings and rape are so commonplace that they are considered the norm, with few victims ever bothering to lodge complaints, said Restaria Hutabarat of the Jakarta-based Legal Aid Foundation.

thestar.com.my The recent surge of nudity, streaking and promiscuity, signs of a more liberal generation, has everyone scratching their heads in once prudish Singapore.

brudirect.com Call girls are fast getting the boot in Brunei. There is no way that they can stay in the Sultanate for long. Brunei's law enforcement agencies, particularly the Police and Immigration are constantly on the trail of vice girls who slip in for a quick buck now and then from neighboring countries, according to Immigration sources.

Associated Press North Koreans have been given a rare treat: their first TV broadcast of a film from the West, the British soccer comedy 'Bend it Like Beckham.'

thsnews.com The Thailand breast slap was first introduced by Khemmikka Na Sonkhla, a beautician who claims this to be a method successfully used by her grandmother to increase her breast size. She is currently looking for a patent for the procedure since a lot of other companies are also claiming to provide the Thailand breast slap technique as well. The Thailand government, with this initiative, hopes that more young women will opt Thailand breast slap to increase their breast size rather than go under the knife.


Until 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 11 Phuket Chinese New Year
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February 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 comemoration on Phuket


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket