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

smh.com.au Britain's Independent newspaper reports that the owner of Blackpool's two-star Grosvenor Hotel, the hotel that topped the British and European on the powerful online TripAdvisor's top ''dirty'' lists, says it earned the dubious distinction on the basis of 35 poor reviews, all anonymous. TripAdvisor says the list is based on a ''proprietary algorithm'' that includes factors other than anonymous reviews. But that is not placating European hoteliers, who want legislation to ensure the website overhauls its system.

Associated Press Britain's largest union says British Airways has suspended 15 cabin crew members because they allegedly posted inappropriate comments on their Facebook pages.
The Unite union called the move unacceptable. An airline spokesman said about a dozen cabin crew were suspended while internal investigations were being carried out.

smh.com.au The Catholic Church is campaigning to put the '''saint''' back into Valentine's Day, reminding lovers of the true meaning of the saint's feast day - and it has nothing to do with roses bought at train stations, sweet nothings in the classifieds or Saturday-night sex. The campaign is the church's latest effort to fight the secularism creeping into many religious holidays.

bangkokpost.com About 1500 security officers will guard the Supreme Court building at Sanam Luang and nearby areas leading up to Feb 26, the day of the court's ruling on whether the state should seize Thaksin Shinawatra's assets. Deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Division 1 Vicharnvat Borirakkul said the security forces would be made up mainly of police.

nationmultimedia.com "Thailand is not the place of wacky bars or crazy nightlife that most people think it is. It is a sensible, harmonious, calm, peaceful and respectful country driven by humanity and a soulfulness, unlike any other place in the world,'' says adman Peter Arnell, who plans to rebrand Thailand.



Until February 14 Phuket OTOP (one village, one product) Fair at Saphan Hin public park in Phuket City. About 300 booths, nightly performances, local and national products, good food. Hundreds of visitors expected each evening.

February 13-15 Keep Phuket Green performances, events, talks at Central Festival.

February 13-19 Chalong Temple Fair.

February 14 Valentines Day, Chinese New Year.

February 19-21 Old Phuket Chinese New Year Festival, Old Phuket Town.

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.

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.