afp Severe flooding has left 181 people dead over the past month. The government estimates that 7.8 million people have been affected, mainly in the north-east and south, with homes submerged and farmland damaged.

bloomberg.com Thai authorities are in talks with Burma to return 15,000 ethnic minorities who fled fighting along the border after the November 7 election, according to Samard Loyfar, governor of Tak province.


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

nytimes.com Clashes between an ethnic rebel group in Burma and government soldiers have pushed a flood of at least 10,000 refugees across a river into Thailand, one day after Burma held its first election in 20 years. In the attack, ethnic Karen rebels seized a police station and post office in the border town of Myawaddy, wounding at least 10 people on both sides of the river, according to reports.

thehindu.com ''When peaceful democratic movements are suppressed - as in Burma - then the democracies of the world cannot remain silent,'' he said in his 40-minute address to India's MPs. Mr Obama said the aspirations of an entire people had been held hostage to the greed and paranoia of the ''bankrupt regime'' in Burma.

bangkokpost.com The Thai Hotels Association reported that reservations in the most popular destination, Phuket, for this month and next month stood at about 70 percent of available rooms, down from the norm of 80-85 percent for the period. In Chiang Mai, bookings are now at only 50 percent.

nationmultimedia.com Government officials are preparing to evacuate many people in the South in areas such as Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phattalung amid growing concern about possible flash floods and landslides. The toll for flood-related deaths has risen to 165, with 45 fatalities so far in the South.

nationmultimedia.com Five properties in Thailand rank among the Top 20 Resorts in Asia in the Conde Nast 'Traveler' Readers' Survey. Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai ranked No 1, Four Seasons Resort in Chiang Mai at No 3, Amanpuri Phuket at No 5, JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa at No 12 and Banyan Tree Phuket at No 13.

abc.net.au A Melbourne woman has criticised airline V-Australia for not having an oxgen mask in its medical kit after her son became seriously ill on a Phuket flight. Kate Burt says her 18-month-old son started to choke after having a febrile convulsion. She says airline staff initially refused to ask if there was a doctor on the plane to help.

reuters.com Britain's Tesco and Singapore's Dairy Farm are among those to submit second-round bids for French retailer Carrefour's Southeast Asian assets, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Carrefour, the world's No. 2 retailer, had set a November 5 deadline for second-round bids in an auction which is expected to fetch $1 billion.

property-abroad.com After a rough couple of years the recovery is now thought to be underway in the Phuket property market, signalling relief for the other Thai islands like Samui and Phangan. Chris Gordon, developer of a new luxury resort village on Phuket has sold all but five of the 44 phase 1 villas at between 20-45 million baht, and such reports have become the norm.

latimes.com A little more than a week after losing his No. 1 ranking, Tiger Woods still looked like anything but the best golfer in the world at a charity tournament in Thailand. Woods finished last in the four-man World Golf Salutes King Bhumibol Skins Tournament at the Amata Springs Club in Chonburi province, winning just one of 18 holes to continue what has been a disappointing year.

bernama.com Malaysia Airlines has been voted the World s Leading Airline to Asia by World Travel Awards, which gives recognition to the very best in travel and tourism, as well as hospitality products and services.

benzinga.com The 16 Day Eat Pray Cruise showcases a luxurious cruise along the Malay Peninsula before alighting in Bali. This tour will begin aboard the 5-star Superstar Virgo cruise embarking in Singapore with ports-of-call in Penang, Phuket, Malacca and Kuala Lumpur.



November 12 IBAP meets at Thai Naan restaurant to hear Woody Leonard on what's best for Internet access on Phuket.
November 13 Phuket International Women's Club ball, Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort, Karon
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 21 Loy Kratong Festival
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
December 17 US Consular outreach service on Phuket
December 30-January 9 Phuket Red Cross fair, Saphan Hin park, Phuket City
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 The Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi