theage.com.au Australians have been urged to exercise increased caution in Thailand, as it braces for an outbreak of political violence. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade yesterday revised its travel advice for the country, warning that recent grenade attacks against banks could be the beginning of a campaign of violence.

nationmultimedia.com PM Abhisit Vejjajiva insisted Friday he would go ahead with an official March 13-17 trip to Australia although the pro-Thaksin protesters will stage a mass rally next week. Supporters of deposed PM Thaksin Shinawatra have scheduled a March 14 mass rally after the Supreme Court found him guilty of abuse of power and ordered the seizure of 46 billion baht.

bangkokpost.com Korn Chatikavanij, Minister of Finance, writes: When I glance back at what transpired five days ago, I can still feel an air of sadness lingering over the court's decision. This is by no means because I disagree with the verdict, because I want to make clear that I am duly respectful and accepting of the verdict - which will be considered a great precedent and a genuine classic for the country's judicial system.

wsj.com Thailand's biggest foreign investors have learned to live with a lot in recent years, including mass protests, airport closures and persistent rumblings about military coups. But now there is another issue that has companies such as Ford Motor Co. and a host of petrochemical firms wondering if they should be putting their money somewhere else: the government's struggle to deal with tough new environmental regulation.


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

straitstimes.com Malaysia and Indonesia have stepped up security in the Strait of Malacca after receiving warnings of terror attacks against oil tankers in the busy waterway. The Republic of Singapore Navy has pushed out extra ships to patrol the Strait, while the Police Coast Guard has also beefed up security in Singapore waters to prevent an attack on the island.

Reuters The Singapore navy ''has received indication a terrorist group is planning attacks on oil tankers in the Malacca Strait,'' the Singapore Shipping Association said in an advisory. ''The terrorists' intent is probably to achieve widespread publicity and showcase that it remains a viable group.'' It did not name a group or say where the intelligence came from.

cnn.com Located between Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, the Strait of Malacca links the Indian Ocean to the South China Sea and Pacific Ocean and is the shortest sea route between Persian Gulf oil suppliers and Asian markets, according to the US government's Energy Information Administration. The agency estimates that more than 15 million barrels of oil are transported through the strait every day.

todayonline.com Cambodia successfully tested a multiple rocket launcher yesterday in a show of force that comes amid simmering tensions with its neighbor Thailand. Some 200 rounds from the Soviet-made, BM-21 rocket launcher were fired in the mountains of remote Kampong Chhnang province, some 80km north of Phnom Penh.

dailytelegraph.com.au A freed killer has fled to a Malaysian island to ''relax and be happy'' just hours after breaking his 18-year silence and apologising to the family of slain heart surgeon Dr Victor Chang. Malaysian-born Phillip Lim, 50, was lapping up the sunshine on Langkawi Island after being released from jail this week and deported from Australia. Lim has spent the 18 years in a Sydney jail after being convicted of the 1991 murder of Dr Chang.

Associated Press North Korean colonel Kim Jong Ryul, who spent 16 years under cover in Austria, has described how the ''great leader'' who died in 1994 and his son and successor Kim Jong Il spent millions pampering and protecting themselves with Western goods - everything from luxury cars, silk carpets and exotic foods, to monitors that can detect heartbeats of people hiding behind walls and gold-plated handguns.

radioaustralianews.net.au The Thai deadline for foreign workers to register for permits has expired. The Nation newspaper in Bangkok says authorities are ready to deport about half a million Burmese, Laotian and Cambodian workers because they failed to meet the deadline. It quotes the Employment Department's deputy director-general Supat Gukun saying his officials will not be lenient and those who have not met the requirements will be arrested and deported.

todayonline.com Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has insisted that the decision to rescue Bank Century was the right choice, a day after lawmakers voted for a probe of Vice-president Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati for the bailout in 2008. Mr Yudhoyono said that while he respected the parliament's findings, he did not support the demand to take legal action against two of his most trusted aides ''whose integrity and credibility was proven''.

businesswekk.com Parliament 's call for a criminal investigation has created the greatest political crisis of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's six-year presidency. Indonesia's main audit agency has alleged irregularities in the bailout, which sparked violent protests on Tuesday outside Parliament. Demonstrators hurled rocks and police responded with tear gas.

todayonline.com Malaysia's largest English-language newspaper, The Star, has spiked Ms Marina Mahathir's column on the caning of three Muslim women after it got into trouble with the government over a similar article. The social activist and daughter of former PM Mahathir Mohamad said the paper refused to publish her weekly column because of concerns that such sensitive articles could jeopardise its printing permit.

asiaone.com The Catholic archbishop of Kuala Lumpur has criticised the government's decision not to prosecute two Muslim journalists who entered a church and allegedly desecrated the communion wafer. The pair published an article in the Al-Islam magazine describing how they took the wafer and spat it out after joining a church service to investigate claims that Muslims were illegally converting to Christianity.

Associated Press Singapore said it will maintain a ban on chewing gum sales, a policy that has helped shape the city-state's international image as a tightly controlled, squeaky-clean island. The ban, first imposed in 1992, is necessary to reduce gum-related litter and vandalism, Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, parliamentary secretary of the national development ministry, said: ''We remain concerned that lifting the ban could result in chewing gum litter resurfacing as a problem.''

cnet.com Apple has begun removing from its stores several Wi-Fi apps commonly referred to as stumblers, or apps that seek out available Wi-Fi networks near your location. The removal appears to relate to apps ''using private frameworks to access wireless information,'' according to an email. There was no explanation as to what Apple meant by ''private frameworks.''



March 6-20 Annual French Gastronomy Festival at The Boathouse. Wine Chef Jean-Noel Lumineau, Thailand's only Maitre Cuisinier de France, treats discerning diners to exceptional French food.

March 7 Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob departs for ICB Berlin
March 19 Phuket Australian Sundowners at Paresa Resort at Cape Sol, Kamala. 3.30 pm seminar on sustainable/green development. Drinks 6pm.
March 13 "Lords (land) Last Barbecue Supper'' a Don's Mall in Rawai closes.
April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.
April 14 Phuket Cricket Sixes begin.
May 31-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.