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

aamulehti.fi Finland plans to build apartments for elderly citizens in destinations such as Phuket in Thailand where costs are lower and living conditions warm. Over the next 50 years, the population of people older than 65 in Finland will increase dramatically. Finnish Parliament is to seriously consider alternatives outside Europe. The average cost of housing an elderly person in Finland can be up to 227 euros a day compared to 40 euros in Thailand. On those calculations, Finland would pay off its investment in eight years.

7days.ae Travellers are being urged to ''keep clean'' and abide by the laws of the land as fresh figures show 2582 British nationals were locked up in jails across the world at the end of last September. The Foreign Office says many deluded citizens assume they can use the embassy as a ''get out of jail free card'' and take reckless risks when travelling abroad. The data shows 1057 of the 2582 Brits in prison last September were jailed on drugs charges and the Foreign Office is urging people to make knowing local law a priority. The FO says it can only ensure its citizens are in touch with local lawyers and interpreters and will contact detainees within 24 hours and arrange a visit.

Kyodo Asia's biggest airshow opened with military and commercial aircraft makers and buyers descending on the Singapore Airshow despite the world economy only beginning to recover from last year's global crisis. More than 800 aerospace-related companies from 40 countries are displaying their wares at the show, which was held for the first time last year, after the Asian Aerospace airshow shifted its venue to Hong Kong.

afp Visitors flashing their knees at Indonesia's number-one tourist attraction, the ancient Borobudur temple, will have to wear government-issue sarongs under a new plan to protect the site's dignity. Officials said tourists wearing shorts and mini-skirts would be politely asked to don a sarong for the duration of their visit to the Buddhist temple, erected between 750 and 850 on a verdant plain in central Java. During a month-long trial, tourists will also be required to wear rubber sandals to avoid damaging the temple's intricately carved stonework.

reuters.com The crew of a plane carrying 35 tonnes of missile parts and other illegal weapons from North Korea may be released rather than face charges in Thailand where they were arrested, a senior Thai official said. Thailand was not opposed to deporting the five-man crew as requested by their home countries, Kazakhstan and Belarus, Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban told Reuters, adding that the Thai attorney general's office would make a final decision.

smh.com.au A German man who lost his way in the dark while wandering around on sea ice off the northern coast was saved by a woman 500 kilometres away who spotted him on a webcam, police said. The man began to flash his pocket torch in the hope of being rescued and the beams were picked up by a sharp-eyed woman in western Germany who had also been watching the sunset via a webcam installed on the beach. She alerted police.

voanews.com Thailand has been told it needs to build a massive sea wall to prevent massive damage from land subsidence and rising sea waters. Bangkok and nearby provinces face losses of billions of dollars unless the government acts to protect the area from rising sea waters caused by climate change and subsiding land.

nytimes.com As Singapore gets ready to open its first casinos, there is little doubt that the controversial decision it made five years ago to allow gambling is going to pay economic dividends for the city-state. But whether the operators of the two giant resorts will be reaping jackpots anytime soon remains the big question. The two resorts have very different focuses - Resorts World Sentosa is targeting families with a Universal Studios theme park, while Marina Bay Sands's huge convention center floors are seeking to lure business travelers.

wsj.com Koh Phayam remains a vibrant, yet quiet spot to unwind and unplug. Fly from Bangkok to regional capital Ranong, add a short taxi ride and a 40-minute speedboat ferry to the island's pier. There are two main beaches, Aow Khao-Kwai, a sheltered crescent on the north of the island, and Aow Yai, on the west coast, the busier and more pleasant of the two. Aow Yai has bigger surf and a direct sunset view backed by the silhouette of distant Myanmar.

dailymail.co.uk A nine-year-old Chinese schoolgirl has become one of the world's youngest mothers after giving birth to a healthy boy. The unnamed girl was brought to a hospital in Changchun, which lies in the north-east of the country, when she was eight and a half months pregnant. Police were reportedly trying to establish who the father is. In the province, sex with a child under the age of 14 brings an automatic rape conviction and a lengthy jail sentence.

southalltravel.co.nz Travellers from the UK have changed their booking habits when it comes to flying, it has been revealed. According to Skyscanner, this could mean tourists are missing out on the cheap flights to Thailand or India, for example. Research released by the organisation found that, in 2009, British holidaymakers searched for flights an average of 34 days before they travelled, compared with 146 days ahead of their trip the year before.

bangkokpost.com Thailand's rapidly growing sailing season gets underway in spectacular fashion today when a big fleet of almost 50 boats sets sail to contest the annual Phang Nga Bay Regatta in picturesque southern Thailand. With four days of racing and five days of partying, the regatta fleet sails into the three southern provinces of Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, giving it one of the most scenic routes on the ever-growing Asian sailing calendar.



Until February 4 Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and other warships anchor off Phuket for shore leave.

February 3-7 Phang Nga Bay Regatta. More than 60 yachts are expected to enter in six classes. More information: http://www.bayregatta.com

February 5-14 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 7 Wichit Municipality mini-marathon over 4.5 kilometres and 10.5 kilometres. For more information call 076-525100 or 080-6481363.

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.

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.

June 4-13 Phuket International Film Festival.