breaking travelnews.com A total of 11,163 exhibiting companies and organisations from 188 countries will be presenting products and the latest travel trends at the 45th ITB Berlin. All available space has been booked.


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

tvnz.co.nz Thai authorities say they have been investigating the death of New Zealander Sarah Carter in Chiang Mai but still can't say what killed her. Carter, 23, was one of four tourists who died while staying at the same hotel over a three-week period in February.

abc.net.au Pressure is mounting on Thai authorities to explain the mysterious deaths of four people staying at the same hotel. A NZ backpacker, a retired British couple and a Thai tourist guide all died after staying at the Downtown Inn in the space of two weeks last month.

bigpondmedia.com Violence is escalating in Thailand's insurgency-hit deep south the Thai government said, following a string of bomb and gun attacks in the Muslim-majority region.

ft.com Abhisit Vejjajiva, Thailand's prime minister, says he is going to call elections before the middle of the year, and if the ramp up in public spending is anything to go by, it is going to be sooner rather than later.

afp Sandwich maker Subway has stolen the fast-food crown from long-time holder McDonald's, claiming more stores worldwide for the first time this week. On January 1, Subway had 33,749 stores across the globe, a spokesperson said, surpassing McDonald's reported 32,737 outlets.

telegraph.co.uk Members of the Royal family have expressed ''dismay'' at Prince Andrew's friendship with a convicted paedophile, The Daily Telegraph has learnt. Prince Andrew's close friend Goga Ashkenazi claimed he was ''very, very worried'' about whether he can continue in his role as the UK's trade ambassador.

guardian.co.uk The threat of embarrassments such as Andrew's recent holiday in Thailand, surrounded by topless models, on a catamaran owned by the tennis racquet magnate Johan Eliasch . . . Back in 2001 a Labour MP opined: "My fear is that he thinks this job will be some kind of a sinecure." If Andrew ever thought that, he knows better now.

updateddailey.com Plan your trip to coincide with one of Phuket's many events and festivals to make the difference between a good and a really memorable holiday. Do you want to get close to the nature? How about a small tree house villa? There are many back to nature private villas around Phuket.

afp The faded 'No Climbing' signs are no match for the tourists jostling to capture that perfect shot of the sun setting over the temple of Angkor Wat, Cambodia's most famous attraction. Visitors to Angkor National Park topped 1.15 million in 2010, up 25 percent on the year before.

afp Official figures show Singapore's GDP per capita had increased from 512 dollars in 1965 to 36,537 dollars in 2009, while Malaysia's GDP per capita lagged behind on 335 dollars in 1965 to 6,975 in 2009.

todayonline.com Finland's Neste Oil officially opened the world's biggest renewable diesel plant in Singapore, marking a milestone for the city state, which is seeking to become a major energy and chemical hub. The S$969-million Singapore plant, operational since last November with about 120 employees, has the capacity to produce 800,000 metric tonnes a year of renewable diesel.

channelnewsasia.com In the next two years, gaming revenues from Singapore's two casinos may exceed those from the Las Vegas strip. The burgeoning Asian middle-class is ringing in growth for the casino industry in Asia.

thephuketinsider.com Thailand's Minor Hotel Group has announced plans to reflag the 413 room Bangkok Marriott Resort and Spa to it's own Anantara brand. The changover will take place in November.

foxnews.com A maker of novelty products such as a "Zombie Blood" energy drink and a "Nuclear Energy Powder," began selling an energy drink inspired by Charlie Sheen's proclamations that he has "tiger blood" and "Adonis DNA." Tiger Blood Energy Potion, the company's website says, is "made from 100 percent passion specifically to make your brain fire in a way that's not from this particular terrestrial realm."



LIVERPOOL Legends, a team made up of ex Liverpool Football Club players, are set to play two friendly games against the Legends of Thailand. The first match is scheduled for June 15 at Bangkok's Yamaha stadium followed by a second game at Surakul Stadium on Phuket on June 18.

MALAYSIA Truly Fun Truly Asia 2011 will take place on March 11-13 at Central Festival Phuket second floor, near Power Buy Shop. Special packages for travel to Malaysia, including airlines Firefly, Quatar Air and MAS, will be on offer from 11am-8 pm.

March 11 John Gray speaks at IBAP
March 8-19 Heroine's Monument Festival
March 14-19 ADFEST 2011 at Movenpick Resort, Phuket
March 26 St Patrick's Day Ball, Movenpick Resort and Spa, Karon. Details 081 3979809 or 086 9469232
March 27 Earth Hour commemoration on Phuket
April 13-15 Songkran Festival
May New PPAO Hospital to open, Phuket City
June 12 Laguna Phuket International Marathon
June 23-26 Phuket Fun Fly paragliding, Nai Harn


March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket