PATCHY rain is predicted on Phuket for the next couple of days with wind gusts, the Southern Meteorological Centre forecasts this morning. There was no mention today of violent storms.

Associated Press Osama bin Laden's young teen daughter has told Pakistani officials that she saw her father shot and killed, an official with Pakistan's spy agency said.


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

Andaman Update Two of the coastal tsunami warning towers in the Andaman border province of Ranong sounded alarms at 12.20pm yesterday, bringing consternation and fear to villagers in Sai Daang and Baan Thalay Nok. The false alarms were followed by strong criticism of the present tsunami warning system, which relies on warning towers along the Phuket and Andaman coast.

afp The White House has warned that a photograph of Osama Bin Laden's corpse was "gruesome" and said it was concerned it could be inflammatory if it was publicly released.

cnn.com US forces moved upstairs where they found bin Laden in a room with a woman believed to be his wife - both unarmed, White House spokesman Jay Carney said. She rushed the US forces and was shot in the leg but not killed. Although unarmed, Bin Laden ''resisted'' and was shot and killed, Carney said.

mirror.co.uk Osama bin Laden was caught after his top aide Sheikh Abu Ahmed broke the terror chief's golden rule made a bungling 60-second phone call. CIA spies who were bugging the line tracked him down and he led them straight to bin Laden's lair in Pakistan. A security insider said: ''His blunder was fatal.''

bernama Secretary-General of the National Security Council Thawil Pliensri said the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden should not impact the situation in Thailand's three southernmost provinces, reported Thai news agency on Tuesday. Thawil said the intelligence authorities found there are no links between insurgents in southern Thailand and Al-Qaeda or Jemaah Islamiya terrorist groups.

news.com.au Security has been boosted across Indonesia, including in Bali, the scene of the country's most devastating terrorist attack, amid an increased threat of reprisals against Western targets following the death of Osama bin Laden. However, terrorism experts are playing down the potential for another massive attack. They said terrorism was now linked to domestic political issues.

bangkokpost.com The Abhisit Vejjajiva administration's last and longest Cabinet meeting in which tens of billions of baht for budgets was approved has drawn severe criticism as a cynical election ploy.

smh.com.au A Senate inquiry is expected to force Australia's aviation safety watchdog to reveal why Tiger Airways Australia had to "show cause" why it should not lose its licence to fly. The Senate committee, which is investigating airline safety and pilot training standards and is due to hand down its report.

ft.com Prominent voices are beginning to challenge a widespread belief that Asia is set on an immutable course to global economic dominance. The Asian Development Bank, the region's only continent-wide institution, will say on Wednesday that the widely predicted Asian century may not materialise.

bangkokpost.com Thai AirAsia reimposed the fuel surcharge on international flights that it dropped in November 2008, to offset escalating jet fuel prices. However, chief executive Tassapon Bijleveld said the no-frills airline would not apply the surcharge to domestic services, especially considering the stiff competition.

eturbonews.com Six of the top ten worldwide airports by capacity growth year on year are in this region, with Delhi, Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore, Tokyo Haneda and Kuala Lumpur representing over 3.9 million additional seats and 22 percent of the total worldwide growth for the month. Delhi tops worldwide growth with a 28 percent increase in seats and 20 percent growth in flights.

headkicklegend.com Opening an all purpose MMA gym in Muay Thai Territory in Phuket is just downright crazy. But that's exactly what's going on. A team of world class trainers are coming together to open up Thailand's first MMA gym. In what looks to become a world class training facility, Phuket Top Team will bring together some of the best in the sports of Sambo, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Muay Thai, and Strength and Conditioning.

todayonline.com The US Trade Representative has put Thailand, China, India and Indonesia on its list of top pirates of intellectual property. The annual Special 301 Report said 42 of 77 nations reviewed were either aiding intellectual piracy or doing too little to fight it.

traveldaily.co.uk Banyan Tree has revealed it is looking to expand further into the Middle East market to coincide with its appearance at ATM. The hotel chain is currently showcasing its newly-launched beachfront villas at its Ras Al Khaimah property at the trade show, as well as its signature resorts in the Seychelles, Maldives and Phuket.

independent.co.uk Global travellers rate London as the UK's top destination and among the top 10 best places to visit in the world, according to travel company TripAdvisor.

ipsnews.net The UN is predicting that come October 31, the world population will hit the seven billion mark - and keep expanding till it reaches 9.3 billion by the year 2050.



May 5 Coronation Day public holiday
May 13 Royal Ploughing Day public holiday
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
May 17 Visakha Bucha Day public holiday
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 17 Phuket Property Dot Com Pro Am Invitational, Laguna
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn
July 3 Phuket Navy League US Independence Day fair at Headstart International School
July 15 Asarnha Bucha Day public holiday
July 20-24 Six Senses Phuket Raceweek
August 12 HM The Queen's Birthday public holiday
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


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket