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

bangkokpost.com A source in the judiciary conceded that the 76.6 billion assets trial had caused serious concerns in justice circles. "The most terrifying and worrying thing is not the threats of violence," the source said. "It is the money flowing in [to the country]. We fear that the money might be used to bribe judges."

bernama The Courts of Justice in Bangkok have denied a report that judges considering the case of Thailand's fugitive ex-premier Thaksin Shinawatra's assets have been offered five billion baht (US$150 million) in bribes to influence the verdict, saying that the matter has no basis in fact.

wsj.com Thailand's leaders are steeling themselves for a fresh flash point for unrest on Friday when a court is due to rule on whether to seize billions of dollars frozen in the bank accounts of ousted former PM Thaksin and his family. Political analysts say the verdict presents a dilemma for the country's military-backed government.

afp Thailand's economy grew for the first time in more than a year in the fourth quarter of 2009, boosted by tourism and rising exports. Gross domestic product for the last three months of 2009 was up 5.8 percent year-on-year after four consecutive quarters of contractions, according to data from the National Economic and Social Development Board.

voanews.com Some investors are concerned a Thai Supreme Court verdict against former PM Thaksin could lead to protests. Thai Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij warned that political uncertainties in the country could adversely affect economic growth.

reuters.com Thailand's finance minister has won the "Global Finance Minister of the Year" honors from The Financial Times' Banker magazine. But as British-born, Oxford-educated Korn Chatikavanij accepts the award at a Bangkok ballroom on Monday, he knows he has a tough job ahead in reforming Thailand's convalescing economy and helping it expand.

bbbc.co.uk A strike by about 4000 pilots at German airline Lufthansa has been suspended - with union officials agreeing to resume negotiations. The action, scheduled to run for four days, was called off after less than 24 hours of delays and cancellations for passengers.

bbc.co.uk British Airways passengers face fresh strikes after cabin crew gave "substantial" backing in a ballot for industrial action. Over 80 percent of the 12,000 members of the Unite union voted in favor of taking action in a row over jobs, pay and working conditions.

usatoday.com For all the talk about buddhism and Tiger Woods, it turns out that the Dalai Lama has never heard of the golfer. In a brief interview with The Associated Press on Saturday in his hotel suite in Beverly Hills, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader had the whole Woods' saga explained to him and then said that when it comes to adultery, "all religions have the same idea."

csmonitor.com Much has been made of the fact that, in his mea culpa beamed around the world, Tiger Woods said he had rediscovered his childhood religion of Buddhism and hoped to relearn its lessons of restraint. It is true that we witnessed the conversion of Tiger Woods, but it was a forced conversion to the new Oprahite religion of emotional openness and making public one's miseries and failings.

phnompenhpost.com February 28 is the deadline set by Thailand for migrant workers to register for nationality verification through their home governments, extending their work permits. Those who fail to register will be subject to deportation, a policy UN rapporteur Jorge Bustamente sharply criticised. ''If pursued, the threats of mass expulsion will result in unprecedented human suffering and will definitely breach fundamental human rights obligations,'' Bustamente said.

afp Singapore said it will raise levies to curb the hiring of foreign workers, amid growing unease among locals over the influx of guest workers and immigrants in recent years. The phased-in increase from July 1 is aimed at reducing dependence on foreign workers, who already comprise almost a third of the city-state's total workforce.

cnngo.com We've all heard of Thailand's everything from hip replacements to breast implants. But these days a somewhat unlikely source of tourism dollars is growing in popularity: rehab. Singapore entrepreneurs are becoming increasingly common at resort-like drug and alcohol rehab centers in Thailand.

bernama Malaysia's 2009 fourth quarter performance that will be announced on Wednesday is better than expected, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. The PM said the economic performance during the period was beyond expectation. "In other words, we have recovered from the global recession" he said.

foodweek.com.au Thai Airways International claims to be the first airline in the world to provide carbon footprint information on its signature dishes served in-flight. THAI president Piyasvasti Amranand says that from the beginning of 2010, THAI's in-flight menu features carbon footprint information for passengers, starting with two Thai signature dishes: Chicken Mussaman Curry with steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice (13.6 kg CO2 e per 250g serving) and Green Curry Kiew-Wan with steamed Thai Hom Mali Rice (13.9 kg CO2 e per 250g serving).

abc.net.au Japan's biggest manufacturer of airline seats has admitted that it falsified seat safety tests. Koito Industries has sold about 150,000 of the suspect passenger seats to major airlines including Japan Airlines, Singapore Airlines and possibly to V Australia. After a company employee blew the whistle, the president of Koito Industries Limited this week said the company and the management were responsible for the falsification of fire resistance data for tens of thousands of plane seats.



February 25-28 Phuket Gay Festival in Patong.
February 26-27 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival 2010 at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa, Karon.
February 26-28 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s at Fifa Phuket Tsunami Centre.
April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.
April 14 Phuket Cricket Sixes begin.
March 13 "Lords (land) Last Barbecue Supper'' as Don's Mall in Rawai closes
May31-June 5 Eight-nation football tournament for players over 55 at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City. Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, Iran, Armenia competing.
May Date to be finalised for Muay Thai kickboxing competition at Laguna Phuket.
May 21-23 Paragliding on Phuket.
June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival.