theguardian.com Protesters wearing the white-faced Guy Fawkes masks that have become synonymous with the Occupy movement and the hacktivist grouping Anonymous have taken part in gatherings in 400 cities around the world in opposition to causes ranging from corruption to fracking.

asiatraveltips.com From December 1, a Fly-Thru service will allow AirAsia passengers to check their bags through and collect them at their final destination when transiting through Bangkok Don Muang International Airport. Thai AirAsia's most popular routes that people self connect to include Macau-Phuket, followed by Guangzhou-Phuket and Chongqing-Phuket.


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

nationmultimedia.com The Pheu Thai government appears to be retreating from its stance on backing the controversial amnesty bill, which is facing growing public opposition, while the Senate also seems to be ready to reject the bill.

theguardian.com Thailand's prime minister has defended a political amnesty bill that has sparked large protests in Bangkok, but suggested her party will drop the legislation if it is rejected by the senate.

bloomberg Opposition from the public, universities and business groups convinced a majority of Thailand's 149 senators to block the legislation, Senate Speaker Nikom Wairatpanij said at a media briefing in Bangkok.

bangkokpost.com The government should listen to voices of the people protesting against the blanket amnesty bill in order to rapidly bring an end to the rallies, said Sumeth Suthat Na Ayutthaya, chairman of the Thailand Incentive and Convention Association. He said protests had already eroded the country's image and could affect tourism during this high season.

nationmultimedia.com The National Anti-Corruption Commission issued a statement opposing the amnesty bill on grounds that it would absolve thousands of graft violations, including hundreds against top politicians. Of the total graft cases being investigated, some 400 cases involved high-level politicians and another 666 cases were already at the indictment stage.

cnbc.com Shares in Thailand, already weakened by volatility in emerging markets over the past few months, are taking a hit from a new foe: forgiveness.

dw.de In the latest NSA scandal plot twist, Britain has been accused of spying on Germany from its Berlin embassy. German politicians are demanding consequences, but observers are hardly surprised by the revelations.

radioaustralia.net.au Six people have died and more than a dozen have been injured when crowded tourist ferry sank off the Thai resort of Pattaya. Divers have managed to get inside the capsized ferry, confirming there were no more fatalities.

thephuketinsider.com According to news site Balidiscovery.com Indoneisia's popular resort island is looking at the possible option of a tax on tourists who enter by air and sea.

nytimes.com In an apparently unprecedented ruling, 152 former members of the Bangladesh Rifles, a paramilitary border security force, were sentenced to death on Tuesday in connection with a bloody 2009 mutiny in which several thousand troops took control of their headquarters, demanding better working conditions, and killed scores of people.

nationmultimedia.com German enterprises in Thailand said they are keen to invest and expand their businesses in this country, especially to take part in the Bt2-trillion infrastructure development project. However, they also maintained that corruption is unacceptable and should be seriously tackled under the law.

cbsnews.com Dutch children's rights activists used a computer-generated image of a 10-year-old Philippine girl to catch suspected sex predators and say that, as a result, they successfully unmasked 1000 Internet users from 71 countries who wanted to pay to watch a child engage in sex acts via webcam.

travel.aol.co.uk Tourists have been warned to stay out of the water at Phuket's northern beaches after a large three-metre crocodile was spotted in the sea. According to the Phuket Wan, the animal was seen at Mai Khao beach in Thailand, and the sighting was confirmed by authorities.

bangkokpost.com In the end, the Malaysian defence contractor known in military circles as ''Fat Leonard'' would use prostitutes, plane tickets and other bribes to hook the US officer into a scheme that overbilled the Pentagon by millions, investigators say in court papers. The misdeeds include $10 million in inflated bills in a single year for servicing US Navy ships at Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri, Thailand.

eturbonews.com At Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach Phuket, numerous standards, procedures, and campaigns for reducing energy use and pollution have been established. This includes power efficient lighting, measures to reduce fresh water consumption, modern waste management systems, and now electric ''Tuk-Tuks'' to carry guests around the property.

scmp.com Mission Hills, founded by China's "Mr Golf" David Chu Shu-ho, has been instrumental in establishing the sport on the mainland. So splashing out US$3 million to US$4 million to bring Woods and McIlroy to Haikou, was not just good publicity for the resort, but hopefully for the island, which has little name recognition outside China, says Ken Shu-ho, admitting the powerbrokers are keen to position it as a global destination along the lines of Bali, Phuket or Hawaii.



reuters Novak Djokovic ground down Roger Federer 6-4 6-7(2) 6-2 in his opening match at the ATP World Tour Finals on Tuesday to preserve his slim hopes of ending the year on top of the rankings.

theage.com.au The French stayer Verema was put down after breaking a leg in the Melbourne Cup: ''It shows that sometimes these horses are pushed beyond their physical limits, and it is a high price to pay.''



THE BIS Phuket International 7-1-side Football Tournament kicks off November 8-9. The tournament attracts huge interest from international schools around Asia - this year, the 12th year the event has run, yet again will be the biggest ever tournament with approximately 1000 children participating.
Each team will have accompanying coaches, teachers and parent supporters. Last year saw 88 football teams registered, representing 25 premium international schools from Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Korea. The tournament has an exciting and vibrant fair-like atmosphere.

November 5 Melbourne Cup Day

November 8-9 Islamic New year celebrations, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall

November 8 IBAP networking, Urban Food, Central Festival

November 8-9 BIS schools football tournament

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

November 24-December 1 Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest. Laguna Phuket

November 26 Phuket's honorary consuls meet with officials

November 28 French Fair, Jungceylon

December 5 HM The King's birthday

December 26 Commemoration of 2004 Asian Tsunami



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

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket