NNT The New York Times, a world-renowned American newspaper, has released an analysis of the Thai political situation, claiming the anti-government protesters are pushing for less democracy.

reuters Anti-government protesters marched in Bangkok on Thursday in a bid to force Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra from office but their numbers appeared far smaller than earlier in the month, when she called a snap election to try to defuse the crisis.


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

telegraph.co.uk Passengers on British Airways flights will be allowed to use their mobile phones, iPads and other electronic gadgets during take-off and landing from today, the airline has announced.

Thai PBS Thai Airways International will soon provide in-flight internet services for passengers now that the Telecommunications Committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission has granted a licence to the airliner.

bbc.co.uk Russian parliament has approved an amnesty law which could lead to the release of some of the country's best-known prisoners, including Pussy Riot and the Greenpeace Arctic protestors.

telegraph.co.uk The only person born in a North Korean labor camp to have escaped to the West has written an impassioned open letter to Dennis Rodman, the former US basketball star, asking him to use his influence with Kim Jong-un to make him ''hear the cries of his people''.



bangkokpost.com Two local journalists reported to Phuket police on Wednesday to hear criminal defamation charges made against them by the Royal Thai Navy (RTN) regarding coverage of Rohingya boat people, causing another dent in the fragile press freedom of Thailand. A captain acting on behalf of the RTN has accused two Phuketwan journalists of damaging the reputation of the service and of breaching the Computer Crimes Act.

abc.net.au An Australian journalist faces up to five years in a Thai jail after being accused of defaming the country's navy. Alan Morison published a Reuters news agency story on his website that accused the Thai navy of profiting from the trade in Rohinga boat people.

Tweet by Jonathan Head of the BBC (@pakhead): ''We should salute the courage of Phuket journalists Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian, facing charges for reporting abuses of Rohingyas.''

asiancorrespondent.com The Royal Thai Navy has filed defamation charges against international journalists for their reports on authorities being involved in human trafficking of ethnic Rohingya refugees. The move sends a chilling reminder to the media about the dismal state of press freedom in Thailand, the easy exploitation of flawed laws and how little outside inquiry Thailand's military tolerates.

Australian Women's Weekly An Australian journalist faces jail in Thailand after his news website published reports critical of the Royal Thai Navy over its handling of Thailand's boat people. Alan Morison, who worked for The Age newspaper for more than 20 years, is due in court on Christmas Eve to hear the charges of criminal defamation.

bangkokpost.com With the holiday mood remaining festive, tourism revenue during this year's five-day New Year period will reach 18.3 billion baht, estimates the Tourism Authority of Thailand. The Colorful Phuket Countdown runs from December 29-31.

nationmultimedia.com Tourism operators should make a bold move to reform the industry if they want to sustain development in the long term and also help boost Thailand's tourism revenue, Charoen Wangananont, honorary secretary-general of the Association of Thai Travel Agents, has suggested. By the end of this year, more than 10 million tourists will have flown to Phuket . [Wrong! That figure is arrivals and departures.]

independent.co.uk The present polarization that we are currently witnessing is deeply disturbing to myself and many others up and down the country who are convinced that the rhetoric from both the red or yellow camps will move us dangerously backwards.

voanews.com In Thailand, official statistics indicate rates of domestic violence are increasing despite a 2007 law designed to protect victims. Many women remain reluctant to seek assistance because they are unaware of protections available to them.

smh.com.au Suitcases stuffed with cash were allegedly used to influence former Indonesian president Suharto to approve contracts to buy the Reserve Bank of Australia's plastic banknotes, according to a sworn witness statement made by a Jakarta middleman.

bangkokpost.com A survey shows 80 percent of migrant Myanmar workers would like to return home, and Thailand could face a shortage of over five million workers by 2025.

anna.aero Thai AirAsia has added a new domestic route from Krabi (KBV) to Chiang Mai (CNX). The 1190-kilometre route will be operated daily using the airline's 180-seat A320s, and is not served by any other carrier.



dpa German tennis legend Boris Becker is to become head coach for three-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, the Serbian world No.2 said.



Until December 20 Patong Carnival

December 26 Commemoration of 2004 Asian Tsunami



January 9-12 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina

March BMW Golf Cup International World Finals 2013 at Blue Canyon Country Club

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket