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

UPI Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra says Thailand is "at a crossroads" with elections coming up after a period of political instability. In an interview in The Wall Street Journal, Thaksin said he hopes to influence Thailand's economic policy if the opposition wins. Thaksin, who has been exiled from Thailand since 2008, spoke at his home in Dubai.

bangkokpost.com There's a reason why Thailand has a reputation as one of the more corrupt countries in terms of business, politics and society. What we need in this society is to foster the sense of shame, to admit wrong, to develop the courage to speak out and condemn what is wrong and to love one's country sincerely enough to make things right.

nationmultimedia.com The Public Health Ministry reported a toll of 63 from the flooding, but reasons for the four "extra" deaths were not known late yesterday. Krabi officials, meanwhile, found two bodies in separate locations.

smh.com.au Australians have a strong affinity with Bali and will keep going, travel agents say, despite it being dubbed "holidays in hell" by Time magazine. The magazine says the island is struggling with waste and some of its famous beaches are strewn with rubbish.

straitstimes.com China's central bank is reportedly considering the idea of making Singapore a second offshore hub - after Hong Kong - for trading the Chinese currency. The Monetary Authority of Singapore is in talks with the People's Bank of China to become an active market for buying and selling yuan.

wsj.com Singapore's casino regulator said that it has begun investigations into allegations about illegal activities in the city-state's two casino resorts and has asked Las Vegas Sands Corp. for more information.

Phuket Update The RBFC Rawai Beach Fishing Club in Phuket will host Thailand's inaugural IGFA fishing tournament next year. The Thailand 2012 IGFA Sport Fishing Tournament will be held from February 2-4 at Similan Islands, renowned as Thailand's premium sport fishing area, some 70 miles northwest of Chalong Bay, Phuket. The event offers prize of over four million baht including cash.

bbc.co.uk Hundreds of anti-government protesters are reported to have been hurt in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, a day after similar clashes in the city of Taiz. The BBC correspondent in Sanaa says the area has been blocked off by army trucks, and single gunshots echo through the city.

thejakartaglobe.com The US has singled out Burma for criticism in a new human rights report and aired concern over Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines, while adding a rare note of praise for Indonesia's recent record.

edmontonjournal.com Our four weeks in heaven took place in Southern Thailand, exploring the beach holiday hot spot of Phuket Island and ecologically diverse Krabi province, famous for its dramatic landscape and endless natural attractions.

guardian.co.uk Sidney Lumet, who died at the age of 86, was one of the most significant film directors of his time, a man dedicated to the cinema as an art form and to the pursuit of truth and social justice as a dramatic theme. He received more than 50 Oscar nominations for films including '12 Angry Men' and 'Dog Day Afternoon'.

ibnlive.in.com The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Japan are preparing to discuss ways to better cooperate when dealing with natural disasters. Foreign ministers from the 10-nation group and Japan will attend a meeting co-chaired by Indonesia's Foreign Minister Party Natalegawa and his Japanese counterpart, Takeaki Matsumoto.

Terry Wogan: As I write, it hasn't stopped raining here for weeks. Phuket in the Andaman Sea is where you find me, head to toe, like everyone else, in a pacamac. On all sides are flooded fields, with optimistic locals up to their chests in the water with little nets, attempting to catch fish. Talk about making the best of things. It may not be without its own significance that Thailand has just bought six second-hand submarines from Germany. [Like the local press, news in the Daily Telegraph appears to be about a week old.]

usatoday.com For your default browser, there isn't a better option than Chrome. With its speed and simplicity, Chrome is the best at fading away - the true test of a great browser. But picking a browser doesn't mean you can't have several at your disposal. If a Web site doesn't load correctly in one, a switch to another will often fix the issue.

Phuket Coming Events

BIKE WEEK until April 11 is expected to draw thousands of visitors to Patong with highlights including a tree planting campaign, a tattoo contest, island rides and Miss Phuket Bike Week.

JAPAN and flood relief concerts April 9-10 in Queen Sirikit Park and a walking street fair in Thalang Road Phuket City hope to raise six million baht for quake and tsunami victims in Japan and flood victims in Thailand. From 5pm.

SARASIN Songkran. A first-time three-day fair and concerts from April 11-13 sees Phuket joining with neighboring Phang Nga to celebrate Thai new year on the obsolete Sarasin Bridge that links the provinces.

Until April 10 Phuket Bike Week, Patong
Until April10 Phuket 'mini concert' to aid Japan, Old Phuket Town
April 11-13 Sarasin Songkran on the bridge between Phuket and Phang Nga
April 12-17 Phuket International Cricket Sixes
April 13-15 Songkran Festival, Phuket City, Patong celebrations
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn
July 3 Phuket Navy League US Independence Day fair at Headstart International School
July 20-24 Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
October Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
November 26-27 9th Phuket International Soccer 7s
November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon
December 3-4 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s
December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna

Phuket Coming Events 2012

March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

Phuket Coming Events 2014

Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket