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

guardian.co.uk The shocking reality of the terrorist printer cartridge bomb plot emerged today when Scotland Yard revealed that the device taken from a plane in Britain was timed to explode in mid-air over the eastern US.

dailymail.co.uk David Cameron was urged to cancel his planned family Christmas holiday in Thailand because he would be seen to be supporting human rights abuses. Downing Street has confirmed the PM will be spending the Christmas break in the South East Asian country [possibly on Phuket] and while it is a destination for tens of thousands of Britons each year Mr Cameron's decision is said to be sending ''the wrong message''.

nationmultimedia.com Phuket Tourism Association vice president Bhurit Maswongsa said that through mixed marketing strategies, the island city targets to welcome visitors throughout the year rather than just the high season as at present. Khun Bhurit said 2011 should show a seven percent increase in sale revenue, with the average occupancy rate of 65-70 percent.

cnn.com The death toll from flooding in Thailand now stands at 185, the government said. Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said 127 deaths are mainly from northern and northeastern regions, and 58 in the south.

bangkokpost.com Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij said graft hindered the country's competitiveness because it raised the costs of Thai businesses. The minister said corruption could be solved but this would require support from both the givers and takers of bribes.

aap Three of Singapore Airlines' Airbus A380 superjumbos will be out of service until at least next week after the airline pulled them from its network because of engine problems. But Singapore Airlines says schedules had not been affected and other planes would be used to replace the three A380s.

nationmultimedia.com Great Eagle Hospitality Group, a Hong Kong-based hotel developer, is expanding its business internationally, including a plan to operate five Eaton hotels and three Langham properties in Thailand over the next five years. A 78-villa property in Phuket will be developed by an Irish investor and focus on foreign tourists.

smh.com.au US President Barack Obama has admitted his project to reconcile the US with the Islamic world needed much more work. ''I can promise you, no matter what setbacks may come, the United States is committed to human progress,'' he said. ''That is who we are, what we have done and what we will do.''

nationalpost.com Barack Obama's long awaited visit to Indonesia where he lived as a child was overshadowed by claims his wife Michelle had forced a conservative Muslim cabinet minister to shake hands. Tifatul Sembiring, the Information Minister who says he never touches women who are not relatives, admits he shook Ms Obama's hand, but adds he was basically forced into it.

theage.com.au In central Seoul, a display of statuettes portrayed each of the G20 visiting VIPs in their national dress. Australia's PM Julia Gillard, was dressed like a character from 'The Sound of Music'. Yes, she was dressed as an Austrian.

wireupdate.com The US State Department issued a travel alert for Indonesia due to the oingoing eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java, cautioning Americans about travel to the nation.

cnn.com The toll from recent eruptions of Mount Merapi volcano has climbed to 191 dead and 145 seriously injured, government officials said.

bloomberg.com Singapore's gross domestic product will cap its fastest annual growth this year since independence, rising as much as 15 percent to about $210 billion, while the economy of Malaysia, a country 478 times its size, will expand seven percent to $205 billion, government forecasts show. The only Southeast Asian nation without natural resources, Singapore has grown 189-fold since independence in 1965.

afp Cambodia's monks have been warned not to mingle with the crowds at a major water festival from November 20-22, with any caught looking at girls in short skirts facing a reprimand.

iwantsun.co.uk A third of British holidaymakers change their beach holiday plans after consulting online social media sites, new research shows. The World Travel Market poll revealed that one in three UK travellers used sites such as TripAdvisor, Facebook, YouTube or Twitter to decide on their summer break destination.

ukpa Nearly 4500 passengers and crew on board the Carnival Splendor, low on food and without air conditioning or hot water, are having to eat canned food dropped in by helicopters, and their misery is expected to continue until the ship finally reaches port on Friday. What began as a seven-day cruise to the Mexican Riviera turned into a nightmare on Monday when an engine room fire cut power and set the cruise ship adrift off Mexico's Pacific coast.

guardian.co.uk ''I can't help feeling its headquarters is just one massive computer," said B&B owner John Holder after leaving a gathering in London organised by TripAdvisor to make itself appear less distant.

wickedlocal.com As an avid fake-ationer myself, I had mixed feelings about seeing the results of the latest traveler survey from TripAdvisor. At least I know I'm not alone in the need to be on the constant hunt for a strong wi-fi connectionto get my laptop running. But then, is there really any reason to rejoice in knowing that 69 percent of US travelers say they connect with work while on leisure trips?

smh.com.au Fertility specialists at IVF Australia have developed technology which magnifies human sperm by 7300 times its normal size - about 18 times larger than they have ever been seen. The digital imagery gives scientists their clearest picture yet of which sperm are most capable of fertilisation.



TOP international DJs are being imported for the first five-day Festival on the Sand as part of the Patong Carnival from December 15-20. Up to 10,000 party goers are expected on the beach.

November 12 IBAP meets at Thai Naan restaurant to hear Woody Leonard on what's best for Internet access on Phuket.
November 12-14 Krabi-Andaman Festival plus Krabi Food Festival, Krabi Town. Details: 075-623-966, 081-7874074.
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 26-28 Phuket Honda Racing Fest at Saphan Hin, Phuket City
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
December 3-5 North Phuket Culinary Arts Festival, Mai Khao resorts
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
December 16-18 2010 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous
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