reuters European Athletics president Svein Arne Hansen does not expect Russia to return to international competition in time for next year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Russian athletes were banned indefinitely by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) report alleged widespread corruption and a state-sponsored drugs culture in a sporting superpower.


PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Phuketwan closes on December 31.



bangkokpost.com The National Anti-Corruption Commission dismissed malfeasance charges against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, his then-deputy Suthep Thaugsuban and Gen Anupong Paojinda, the then-army chief, over the 2010 crackdowns on red-shirt protesters.

ft.com A Syria-based Isis leader with links to one of the miltants involved in last month's Paris attacks has been killed in a US-led airstrike, a spokesman for the international coalition fighting the Islamist group said.

bangkokpost.com Editorial: Instead of ordering the police to find the alleged Thai masterminds of the rallies in Myanmar, Gen Prawit Wongsuwon, deputy premier in charge of national security, should order the Royal Thai Police Bureau to reform its work, adopt an investigation procedure that respects the rights of the accused and weed out the bad cops - a process that will take strong political will to materialise.



aviationpros.com As many as 2.56 million travellers will pass through Thailand's six major airports between today and Jan 4. Phuket airport is expected to see 43,695 passengers a day (up by 8.1pc) and 260 aircraft movements a day (up 5.3pc).

Phuket Update Inspectors from the Phuket Marine Office have carried out an annual safety inspection of ferries and other tourist boats operating at Rassada Pier, the departure and arrivals point for vessels to Phi Phi, as part of a safety drive for the New Year.

bangkokpost.com Across the country, a new environmental cause took shape in 2015 as shoppers began to ''just say no'' in campaign against plastic shopping bags.

scmp.com A late-night incident with a female public servant in a Hong Kong bar has led to the resignation of the Australian minister for cities and built environment, Jamie Briggs. The Adelaide Advertiser said it understood Briggs told the woman that she had ''piercing eyes,'' and that he put his arm around her and later kissed her on the cheek as they left.

scmp.com Sweden's top diplomat in Hong Kong, a 19-year veteran in foreign affairs, has apologised for verbally abusing staff at the exclusive Foreign Correspondents' Club in Central during a heated argument over a table. Witnesses said the career diplomat shouted at staff and hurled insults in a fit of anger before tearing up his membership card and marching out of the club.

bangkokpost.com Just days after reopening Don Mueang's renovated Terminal 2, Airports of Thailand Plc has unveiled plans to continue revamping Asia's oldest airport with a new 20-room capsule hotel.

rt .com Turkish police have dispersed thousands of Kurdish protesters in Diyarbakir, Turkey's biggest Kurdish town, who demanded an end to curfews imposed less than a month ago in several towns in the country's southeast. Some retaliated by throwing stones at riot control vehicles.

bangkokpost.com Thong Daeng, a favorite pet dog of His Majesty the King, has died at 17 of old age.

washingtonpost.com Guinea, where the deadliest Ebola outbreak in history began two years ago, was declared Ebola-free.

traveller.com.au What's the protocol for used airsick bags? My grandchildren recently used one each and the Qantas hostess refused to dispose of them.



wsj.com Ten Southeast Asian nations start an ambitious, US-backed experiment on Thursday: integrating their economies in a bid to bring more global sway and prosperity to the region's 622 million citizens. The bloc is a fast-expanding home to a rising middle class, but also to widespread poverty and income inequality.



couriermail.com.au Ocean racing would be a great sport if being human didn't get in the way. If you didn't have to go to the bathroom, eat or sleep, sailing would be a breeze. The boat is at a 45-degree angle a lot of the time, so let's just say that when you do your business, there's a good chance it will spill over the bowl before you can flush with a hand pump.

afp Manchester City were frustrated again on the road as Leicester bounced back from defeat at Liverpool with a 0-0 draw that maintained their surprise Premier League title challenge.



Until January 5 Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City



January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show