cnn.com News International announced plans Friday to charge for access to The Times and The Sunday Times Web sites starting in June. The publisher said both British newspapers will launch new Web sites in early May and offer a free trial period to registered customers. Starting in June, each site will charge one pound for a day's access or two pounds for a week's subscription.

channelnewsasia Thailand's red-shirted protesters said they would hold a parade on Saturday that would eclipse last week's street events that drew 65,000 people. To avoid any attempt to halt their action, they will not announce the parade's route in advance and instead allow the assembled protesters to decide where to march.

The Nation (Thai version) Police have brought in for questioning an officer who was a workmate of Lieutenant Rachan Phanwong, 37. The Nonthaburi officer was found dead about 5am yesterday, shot in the head.
Two of his children aged five and four were also shot dead in a Toyota Fortuner nearby. His wife's body was found in the woods 40 metres away.
A six-year-old daughter was wounded and is now in hospital under police guard.
A police news conference is planned for 1pm today.


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

guardian.co.uk Britain is backing moves to refer Burma's military leaders to the international criminal court for investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity. The move is part of a heightened campaign to force the junta to embrace genuine democratic reforms, diplomatic and government sources told the Guardian.


Phuketwan Update Phuket and other regional centres will share the 2012 Futsal World Cup with Bangkok. A budget of 40 million baht will be set aside to prepare Thailand's national team. Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi said: ''The event might not compare to football's World Cup ... but it is a World Cup. There will be 20 countries competing. This will help improve the game of futsal as well as boost our economy.''


bangkokpost.com A network of about 1800 Bangkok community groups is calling for a swift end to the red shirt demonstrations. Bangkok citizens accept the United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship's right to hold political gatherings, but UDD members must ensure their activities do not infringe upon the rights of others. The Network of Bangkok Community Citizens released a statement to draw attention to the impact the demonstrations were having on ordinary people.


nationmultimedia.com International visitors fell 20-30 percent from March 1-24 because of continuing political uncertainty and street demonstrations, the Association of Thai Travel Agents said. President Surapol Sritrakul said the number of arrivals at Suvarnabhumi Airport had fallen from 80,000-90,000 a day in January and February to 70,000 a day this month. The Tourism Council of Thailand estimates the rally has shaved 10 percent off revenue, or nearly two billion baht so far.


todayonline.com Last month saw the highest growth in passenger traffic for Changi Airport in six years. Figures swelled by 21.5 percent to hit 3.11 million passengers. The Changi Airport Group said contributing factors included the Chinese New Year holiday and the Singapore Air Show. Passenger traffic on both full-service and low-cost carriers grew. Particularly strong passenger growth was registered to and from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.


theaustralian.com.au Sexual expression, freedom of religion and the direction of Indonesia's biggest mainstream Muslim group are arousing passionate national disputes. The conservative Indonesian Council of Ulemas, a Muslim scholars group set up by former dictator Suharto to monitor religious orthodoxy, succeeded in getting an international gay and lesbian conference banned this week after a quick and nasty campaign. It was condemned as a plot to "ruin the young generation".


un.org Even those Cambodian garment workers who were able to hold on to their jobs in the face of global economic challenges have not escaped the current downturn unscathed, a new survey led by the UN International Labor Organisation has found. Factory closures or cutbacks due to reduced orders forced many garment workers out of a job. One in 10 unemployed workers lost their positions two or more times last year, with most still looking for work.


Reuters Airline passenger bags going astray fell by nearly a quarter last year and almost all that did were quickly found and returned to their owners, a report says. The improved handling meant that just over 1.1 percent of checked baggage failed to reach its destination in time for normal pickup last year as against 1.45 percent in 2008 and 1.8 percent in 2007, the Geneva-based SITA grouping said.


scmp.com Cathay Pacific has caved in to demands from its flight attendants to immediately scrap new restrictions on their ability to swap work shifts with one another, but has so far not budged on other issues.


cnn.com Rare photos of Russian strategic bomber jets purportedly intercepted in British airspace show Moscow's war machine is becoming increasingly bold, analysts said. Britain's Ministry of Defence released images it said were taken earlier this month of two Russian Tu-160 bombers - known as Blackjacks by Nato forces - as they entered British airspace off Scotland's northwest coast.


Agencies A Malaysia Airlines Boeing 737 from Singapore caught fire during its descent at the Penang International Airport yesterday afternoon, prompting an emergency landing. Nobody was injured and all 83 passengers and seven crew members disembarked safely from MH674, which was scheduled to land at 12.15pm.


todayonilne.com A week since it opened to the public, Universal Studios Singapore's star attraction, the Battlestar Galactica rollercoaster ride (picture), has been closed due to a glitch. A technical problem was discovered on one of the ride vehicles during routine pre-opening testing, said Resorts World Sentosa.The theme park immediately closed the ride "in keeping with our commitment to employee and guest safety."



March 27 Lights out at Le Meridien Phuket Resort and Spa and other Phuket resorts in support of Earth Hour. Since 1987, LeMeridien has minimised its impact with waste reduction, efficient energy management, water conservation, and green programs.
Until March 28 Local Phuket Food Festival, Saphan Hin, Phuket City
April 3 Attempt on the mass dive record, Thai Muang, Phang Nga, 11am. Details: 076-411388.
April 9-13 Phuket Bike Week, including tattoo competitions, island rides and the Miss Phuket Bike Week contest.
April 14-18 Phuket Cricket Sixes, Karon Sports Stadium.
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 Annual Phuket seafood festival.
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, Coliseum Cineplex, Phuket City.
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta