afp More than 700,000 people fled the central Philippines amid threats of giant waves, floods and landslides as powerful Typhoon Melor approached the archipelago nation, officials said Monday.

reuters Nearly 90 people were killed during Friday's clashes in the Burundian capital, the army said, the worst outbreak of violence in Burundi since a failed coup in May.


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 Education authorities will ask all schools to double-check their foreign teachers, after the shocking arrest of a convicted pedophile in the Northeast.

nationmultimedia.com Another suspect was taken into military custody as authorities intensified their operation against alleged anti-junta individuals who posted, shared or just clicked ''like'' on Internet posts about the Rajabhakti Park scandal, while police set up a working group to hunt for more suspects.

bangkokpost.com The government will give a one-year performance presentation December 23-25 through discussions and exhibitions highlighting both its achievements and shortcomings, the government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.



AP Pervasive human trafficking has helped turn Thailand into one of the world's biggest shrimp providers. Despite repeated promises by businesses and government to clean up the country's $7 billion seafood export industry, an Associated Press investigation has found shrimp peeled by modern-day slaves is reaching the US, Europe and Asia. The problem is fueled by corruption and complicity among police and authorities.

http://lasvegassun.com/news/2015/dec/12/global-supermarkets-selling-shrimp-peeled-by-slave/

bloomberg Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha said last month the government ''will continue to prosecute these individuals and sustain progress on this matter.''

bangkokpost.com How can a police officer such as Pol Maj-Gen Paween, who is seen as an honest, clean and hard-working cop by international human rights organisations and international and local media, be treated like a pariah by his superiors in the police force?



nationmultimedia.com Police have arrested two Russians in the tourist provinces of Phuket and Krabi in response to arrest warrants issued by Russia. Roman Ledenev, 33, is wanted for alleged drug possession while Alexander Bukharov, 42, is wanted for alleged human smuggling.

traveller.com.au Friday is the most expensive day of the week to buy a plane ticket, according to new research, with flights on average 13 percent dearer than if booked on a Sunday.

ft.com French voters turned out in droves in an apparent attempt to repel the National Front, with exit polls indicating that the far-right party had failed to win control of any regional government in Sunday's local elections. Estimates showed a surge in voting, with turnout up on last week's first round by more than 9 percentage points to 59 percent.

bbc.com Russia says one of its warships fired warning shots at a Turkish fishing boat in the Aegean Sea to avoid a collision. A Russian defence ministry statement said the Turkish vessel approached to 600m before turning away in response to Russian small arms fire.

reuters Ecuador and Sweden have signed a pact that would allow WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to be questioned by Swedish authorities at Ecuador's embassy in London where he has been holed up for more than three years.

independent.ie A fire has swept through a Russian home for people with mental illnesses in a village soputh of Moscow, killing 23 patients and injuring another 23, the emergency services said.



afp Rice wine brewed with a toxic level of alcohol has killed at least 19 people and left 172 more in hospital in northeast Cambodia, the health ministry said.



afp Arsene Wenger said that Arsenal had enjoyed a ''perfect week'' after they won 2-0 at Aston Villa to supplant Manchester City at the Premier League summit.

Phuket Update Failing to secure points in their final two matches, Phuket FC's final ranking for the season was 18th place out of 20 teams, ensuring that the club will restart in Division 2 next year. Krabi FC narrowly escaped relegation by a single point after defeating Angthong FC at home 2-0.

bbc.com Jamie Donaldson shot a final-round seven under 65 to win the Thailand Golf Championship by three strokes. The Welshman, 40, started the day two shots behind overnight leader Clement Sordet but nine birdies and two bogeys sealed his first win of 2015.



December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 2004 Tsunami memorial ceremonies

December 26-January 5 Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City



January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show