bangkokpost.com The number of passengers passing through Suvarnabhumi, Phuket and four other facilities operated by Airports of Thailand Plc this year was up 15 percent over last year to a total of 66.3 million, AoT president Anirut Thanomkulbutra said.


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

bangkokpost.com Opinion: On Phuket, experts revealed that the tsunami early-warning system in the Andaman Sea is broken, unreliable and perhaps beyond repair. Disaster expert Smith Dharmasaroja revealed in an interview on Phuket that the supposedly hi-tech tsunami warning system has deteriorated and may be useless.
After the expenditure of hundreds of millions of baht, people on the Andaman coastline seem no better protected against tsunamis than they were in 2004.

scmp.com Distraught relatives were trying to come to terms with the death of University of Hong Kong student Joseph ''Joey'' Basha after it emerged that his body was found slumped in a public toilet near his home, 48 hours before he was reported missing.

Associated Press The powerful lower house of India's Parliament passed a contentious anti-corruption bill after hours of fierce debate even as a protest leader began a three-day hunger strike demanding Parliament adopt his tougher proposals.

asiaone.com Singaporean Mervyn Yap was underwater with other divers off Koh Rok in Trang when the 2004 tsunami swept through the region, killing about 5400 people in Thailand. ''Luckily for all of us, nobody was hurt,'' he said. Tourists from at least 30 countries were reported missing or dead.

cnn.com Thousands of people likely will file past a glass case housing the body of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il during his funeral Wednesday to pay respects to the dictator, revered as a godlike "dear leader" by his people.

property-report.com The long term future for the property market is not as bleak as first thought as outside factors are helping and areas outside of Bangkok are benefiting.

afp A Copenhagen hotel will continue reserving a whole floor for women, despite a recent ruling that doing so is discriminatory and illegal, the hotel director said last week..

pattayapeople.com Human Trafficking Prevention and Suppression police led a team in a sting operation to hunt down a Human Trafficking Business disguised as a normal beer bar. The venue, called the Shadow Bar, and located on Pattaya 2nd Road opposite Tiffany's, had many complaints submitted to the police.

theaustralian.com.au An Australian mining company has halted exploration on the Indonesian island of Sumbawa following the deaths of at least two anti-mining protesters in a clash with police.

afp A Czech man has been nabbed in Argentina for trying to board a transatlantic flight with 247 live animals including poisonous snakes and endangered reptiles packed in a bulging suitcase.

bbc.co.uk Irish singer Sinead O'Connor has announced the end of her marriage to therapist Barry Herridge. Writing on her blog, O'Connor blamed the end of her fourth marriage after only 16 days on disapproval from Mr Herridge's family and friends.



sportinglife.com Harry Redknapp hailed the ''unplayable'' talents of Gareth Bale after watching the Tottenham winger rip Norwich apart, scoring both goals.



bangkokpost.com Phuket is hosting the ''Creative IP DJ Hunt 2011 Southern Region,'' which will take place on Karon Beach on Friday at 3pm. The contest is held as part of the Phuket Electronic Music and Dance Festival, which takes place Friday and Saturday.

Until December 30 Art festival, Royal Phuket Marina, Phuket City

December 29-January 8 Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City

December 29-31 New Year Fair, Sanam Chai park, Phuket City



January 23 Chinese New Year

February 24-25 Phuket Blues Festival, Laguna Phuket

April Opening of Gardens by the Bay, Singapore, three waterfront gardens that will dwarf Kew in London and provide ''green lungs'' for the city.

May 26-June 5 National Youth Games, Phuket

March 29-April 1 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket