bangkokpost.com Phuket boasts many marine tourist destinations, but the lion's share of tourism revenue goes to investors rather than local residents. If this situation continues, tourism will surely face problems, the National Tourism Policy Committee has been told.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/tourism-and-transport/666892/tourism-overhaul-essential-says-trsc


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



bangkokpost.com Statement to the world from Thailand: Everything is under control, but more security forces will be poured into tourist areas to keep it that way. Thailand's regime is preparing to issue a statement to the international community today as police admit their probe has been retarded by a lack of modern equipment.

nationmultimedia.com Security officials are checking guesthouses, apartments and places popular among foreigners in their bid to catch the suspected bomber behind the deadly Erawan Shrine blast.

bangkokpost.com National police chief Somyot Poompunmuang said police have identified ''a group of suspects'' in last Monday night's bombing at the Erawan shrine, but refused to discuss details, including whether he thinks the attackers are Thais or foreigners.



bangkokpost.com Thirteen illegal Lao labor immigrants who were rescued from an alleged ''slavery farm'' in Nakhon Pathom are being treated as witnesses in a suspected human trafficking case.

nytimes.com Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who cast votes in Myanmar elections five years ago have been struck from the electoral rolls, election commission officials have confirmed, although without providing a precise number. Persecution of the Rohingya has escalated in recent years with the rise of a shadowy Buddhist nationalist movement that has demonised Muslims and encouraged the eviction of Rohingya from the country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/24/world/asia/myanmar-lawmaker-u-shwe-maung-barred-from-re-election-on-citizenship-grounds.html?_r=0

straitstimes.com Malaysian authorities have found mass graves containing the remains of more than 20 people believed to be human-trafficking victims near the border with Thailand.



bangkokpost.com Globally, Thailand's safety ranking plummeted to 132 out of 140, worse than Lebanon, Iran, Myanmar and the Philippines. (Two years ago, the country ranked 87th.) Its environmental sustainability ranked 116th.

nationmultimedia.com A new special teacher-education course at Phuket and nine other Rajabhat Universities accept just 30 students. The course is also based on the Sukhaphawa (wellness) schools, which are supported by ThaiHealth: ''Simply put, we aim to produce students with efficient skills and knowledge to truly become teachers.''

wsj.com Three young American friends on vacation, two of them off-duty soldiers, charged and disarmed a suspected jihadist who appeared bent on another murderous Islamist rampage.

theguardian.com One of the US soldiers branded a hero for his role in thwarting an alleged terror attack on a high-speed train in France has spoken of his actions. ''It seemed like he just kept pulling out more weapons left and right,'' serviceman Spencer Stone said of Ayoub El-Khazzani, 25. Stone alleged to reporters in France the suspected jihadist ''took out a box cutter [and] started jabbing at me''. Despite the injuries he sustained he was able to choke the alleged attacker unconscious.

bangkokpost.com Police tracked down career robber Nawapon Sinma through one stolen computer, and then discovered he had raped at least 10 women during his burglaries.

bloomberg Talks between North Korea and South Korea on how to lower tensions continued into the early hours of Monday, as Kim Jong Un stepped up the mobilisation of his forces.

reuters Germany's interior minister led calls for a crackdown on right-wing militants and racists after a second night of scuffles between protesters and police outside a refugee shelter in an eastern German town near Dresden.

AP Italy's coast guard says it coordinated the rescue of some 4400 migrants in a single day, a record-setting number, as smugglers took advantage of ideal sea conditions off Libya to launch a fleet of overcrowded, unseaworthy boats.

theguardian.com Islamic State blew up the ancient temple of Baal Shamin in the Unesco-listed Syrian city of Palmyra, the country's antiquities chief has said: ''Our darkest predictions are unfortunately taking place.''

nzherald.co.nz A 63-year-old tourist lost in remote Australian bush was rescued after writing a desperate plea for help in the sand. British tourist Geoff Keys was camping with others in Cape York's Jardine National Park in Queensland when he went for a 2km walk to go for a swim in a waterfall.

thephuketinsider.com Phuket's legendary Thai eatery has opened a second Baan Rim Pa in Kalim, not far north of the Patong outlet. The new restaurant offers the same popular menu and features a piano bar.

nytimes.com Thousands of protesters streamed into downtown Beirut for a second day to demand that the government resign over its inability to remove enormous heaps of garbage from the city's streets.

chiangraitimes.com Turkish National Teke Onur Mustafa (36) and his Thai accomplice Kanitha Saramee (45) were arrested by Thai authorities for the manufacturing and used fake credit cards. Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee Toraksa told local media that they had been tipped off about suspicious withdrawals by the Siam Commercial Bank.



independent.co.uk A young British man has been arrested for the rape and assault of a female tourist - also British - at a guesthouse in Cambodia. Local media reported the 22-year-old victim was left with injuries and bruises all over her body, including a fractured wrist, after the attack.



afp Debutant Pedro Rodriguez inspired 10-man Chelsea to a 3-2 victory at West Bromwich Albion, while Manchester City recaptured the Premier League summit by winning 2-0 at Everton.

smh.com.au Australia eventually overcame their two opponents, England's batsmen and England's weather, to send retiring duo Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers off with a morale-boosting victory to end their failed Ashes campaign, winning the fifth Test by an innings and 46 runs.



August 26-September 3 Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival


September Quicksilver surf carnival at Patong beach

October 15-23 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

November Patong Festival

November 20 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 25 Loy Kratong festival

November 29 Challenge Laguna Phuket 2015

November 29 Phuket King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 26 Tsunami memorial ceremonies