telegraph.co.uk Women and children leapt from bridges to their deaths as they tried to escape a ruthless crackdown by Libyan forces. Snipers shot protesters, artillery and helicopter gunships were used against crowds, and thugs armed with hammers and swords attacked families in their homes as the Libyan regime sought to crush the uprising. "Dozens were killed ... We are in the midst of a massacre here," a witness told Reuters.

LIBYAN troops have opened fire with machine-guns and large-calibre weapons on anti-government protesters in the second city Benghazi, witnesses say. An unknown number of people, including children, are said to have been killed.


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

dailytelegraph.com.au Thailand's Full Moon Mayhem: No parents, no rules, no authorities, no police. No limits. Welcome to Thailand's infamous Full Moon parties, where the signature drink is a bucket of hard alcohol with red bull - drugs of all kinds are bought over the counter at bars.
An investigation by 'The Sunday Telegraph' has uncovered a high-risk, unregulated and dangerous culture of drinking and drug taking - among revellers and ''officials'' - which any parent would shudder to think their child is walking into. The tales of debauchery are endless.

nationmultimedia.com Hun Manet, eldest son of Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen, and Thai Army Chief of Staff General Dapong Rattanasuwan signed in a temporary cease-fire agreement.

abclocal.go.com An American couple that sailed the world with a yacht full of Bibles was hijacked by Somali pirates, and the US said it is assessing possible options. Pirates say the yacht will make landfall in Somalia on Sunday, which would reduce the chances of a fast rescue dramatically. Two other Americans were also believed to be on board.

bloomberg.com Libyan protests demanding an end to the four-decade rule of Muammar Qaddafi may end in a bloodbath unless the international community intervenes, a leading member of an exiled opposition group said. Libyan special security forces are preparing attacks on Benghazi and other cities in the eastern part of the country that have been taken over by protesters, one protest leader said.

aljazeera.net A Benghazi doctor said one hospital had counted 44 deaths in total in three days, adding that it was struggling to treat the wounded. "All are very serious injuries, involving the head, the chest and the abdomen. They are bullet injuries from high-velocity rifles. Absolutely a shoot-to-kill policy," he said.

abc.net.au Anti-government protests have once again flared across the Middle East in a wave of unrest that threatens to destabilise the entire region. As calls for regime change grow louder across Bahrain, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Djibouti, some leaders are calling for dialogue, while others have ordered brutal crackdowns.

nationmultimedia.com Airports of Thailand is planning to reorganise Don Mueang Airport to make more use of commercial space, a move it hopes will turn around the loss-making business within five years. Domestic flights will be moved from the Domestic Terminal to International Terminal 1, which is currently not being used, said Nitinai Sirismatthakarn, AOT senior executive vice president for business development and marketing.

voanews.com Burma's ruling military has demanded that the party of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi apologize to the public for backing Western sanctions. A commentary carried in several state-controlled newspapers called for the National League for Democracy to mend its ways and beg public pardon for the party's calls to keep sanctions in place.

afp Dozens of naked women surround the Italian Prime Minister vying with each other to arouse him - this was what Silvio Berlusconi's ''bunga bunga'' parties were like, as described to prosecutors by a key participant.


WINNING the award of Phuketwan Good Value Restaurant of the Year 2010 Phuket has done wonders for the Uptown Restaurant in Phuket City. One of the judges in the competition went to Uptown for lunch recently, and found it so crowded it was difficult to find a table. Once having gained a seat, the judge could not manage to attract the attention of a waitress, and had to go to another, less awarded restaurant to eat.

hospitalitybizindia.com Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Fisherman Harbour Company Limited to develop Four Points by Sheraton and Aloft hotels in Patong, on Phuket. Both are scheduled to open in 2014. According to the company release, Four Points by Sheraton Patong will feature 290 guest rooms and 15 percent of the room inventory will have direct pool access. Aloft Patong will offer 300 guest rooms with a minimum size of 30 square metres.

Phuket Update Held from February 9 to 13, The 14th The Bay Regatta has once again met with the distinction as being the ''FUN Regatta''. An astounding sailing route and anchorages leaving from Phuket through majestic Phang Nga Bay to Krabi and back to Phuket with five nights of prize giving presentations and parties have made this event one of the most memorable ones on the Asian yachting circuit.
Varying wind conditions and impressive course designs through the stunning scenery of Phang Nga Bay and the provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi in addition to fantastic parties allowed this year's Bay Regatta to be hailed as the best yet, with Scott Duncanson and his crew on Quantum Fusion M winning the Regatta.

smh.com.au Chris and Sally Allison, a Sydney couple on an extended tour of Europe, were so enchanted with their bed and breakfast in the remote seaside town of Rhyl in north Wales that they have decided to stay for a year. The couple ran an employment agency and had not taken a holiday for 12 years and felt they had earned an extended break.



February 20 Pink Floyd charity tribute by New Machine, Zantika, Khao Lak
February 23-26 Phuket Gay Pride Festival, Patong
February 25-26 Phuket International Blues and Rock Festival 2011
February 26-27 Phuket Spicy Soccer 7s, Phuket International Academy
March4-6 Pool Asia Expo and Conference, Hilton, Phuket
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


Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket