aap South Africa were 7-273 at lunch, trailing Australia's first innings total of 550. A fired-up Peter Siddle (2-64) claimed the wicket of key man Graeme Smith (122) then had AB de Villiers (1) lbw in his next over.


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

nationmultimedia.com Bangkok is bracing for the biggest anti-government protest of the Yingluck Shinawatra era. The government and provincial authorities appeared to be employing various means to prevent people from the provinces and Bangkok residents from joining today's rally at the Royal Plaza.

bangkokpost.com Around 20,000 police, including crowd-control units staged a show of force, showed off their tear gas and prepared serious roadblocks that will disrupt traffic around the Royal Plaza - moves that Pitak Siam believes will increase the turnout for Saturday's rally.

nationmultimedia.com Phang Nga Governor Thamrong Charoenkul said that he had received an order from the government to keep an eye on local supporters of the anti-government movement. [Most left for Bangkok several days ago, according to the PAD on Phuket.]

nationmultimedia.com National Police commissioner General Adul Saengsingkaeo, who now heads the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order, believed the number of anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok would stand at around 50,000 and that the rally might be prolonged.

ft.com Beijing has included its South China Sea territorial claims on maps printed inside new Chinese passports, infuriating at least one of its neighbors. Vietnam has made a formal complaint to Beijing about the new passports.

thehindu.com India has started stamping its map on visas issued in China in response to Chinese passports depicting Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as its territories.

voanews.com Taiwan's government objected to the passports, following similar protests by the Philippines and Vietnam.

scmp.com Higher fuel and other operating costs, coupled with lower passenger and cargo yields, had combined ''to make 2012 a dificult year'' for Cathay Pacific Airways, the carrier's chief executive said.

nationmultimedia.com Transport Minister Chatchart Sithipan said at a seminar that regional airports like the ones in Had Yai and Phuket must be expanded to cope with more traffic.

kyivpost.com Two suspected members of a foreign organised-crime gang have been arrested for allegedly extorting and intimidating a Russian-restaurant owner. Australian Marlen Pilman, 37, and Ukrainian Iarovyi Dmytro, 36, were captured in a sting operation at the Heat-7 restaurant in South Pattaya by Pattaya Tourist Police andImmigration Police.

bangkokpost.com Honda launched the new 1.2-litre Brio Amaze eco-car sedan priced from 454,000 to 521,000 baht.

todayonline.com Despite its name, there is nothing small about the Minor Group, which plans to attract Singaporeans to invest in Thailand's luxury property sector as well as expand its presence in Singapore. With gross revenues of over S$1 billion, Minor is one of Thailand's largest hotels and resorts operators with over 70 properties, and also one of the country's largest fast-food operators, with more than 1200 outlets across 23 countries.

guardian.co.uk A humanitarian crisis is looming in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, aid agencies have warned, after another day of fighting sent thousands of people fleeing for safety. The rebel militia M23 - widely believed to be backed by Rwanda - holds the city of Goma but was taken by surprise when government soldiers launched a counteroffensive.

abcnews.go.com Tucked away on the south-eastern edge of Phuket - Thailand's tropical island getaway known for its jetset crowds, cheap massages, and raucous all night parties - lies a rooftop experience so unique, so serene, it's almost otherworldly. The view from Baba's Nest rivals any other in Thailand.



bbc.co.uk With India having racked up 521-8 in the first Test, some may look at the score of 266-6 and think that England have done well. But the reality is that, from having India 119-5, the tourists should have been looking to bowl them out for under 200.

independent.co.uk Pujara's dominance-defiance of the attack now extends to 361 runs off 719 balls. He has already spent over two and a half days at the crease.



November 25 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 28 Loy Kratong Day

November 30 AustCham Phuket sundowners social and business networking

December 1 World AIDs Day

December 1-8 King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 15-20 Patong Carnival

December 16-18 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, Bang Tao beach

December 25 Christmas Day



October 5-13 Phuket Vegetarian Festival



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket