bloomberg Super Typhoon Haiyan killed more than 10,000 people in the Philippines, AP reported, as storm surges flooded islands and strong winds knocked down buildings and destroyed an airport before moving toward Vietnam.

nytimes.com The powerful typhoon that swept across the Philippines, one of the strongest storms ever to make landfall, cut a path of destruction through several central islands, leaving the seaside city of Tacloban in ruins and leading to early, unconfirmed estimates of as many as 10,000 dead.

xinhua A tour bus carrying mainly exchange students overturned when climbing a steep mountain road in Thailand's island resort of Phuket, injuring 44 people aboard.



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

independent.co.uk More than 1200 people are feared dead in the Philippines after one of the most powerful storms ever recorded left a trail of destruction across large parts of the archipelago.

bangkokpost.com A major pro-government rally and continuing anti-amnesty demonstrations will take place on Sunday even as the governing coalition promises to kill the contentious amnesty bill if the Senate rejects it on Monday. Many red shirts oppose the amnesty bill because it would also cover senior Democrat Party figures who ordered the violent military crackdown on their rally in Bangkok in May 2010, resulting in dozens of deaths.

nationmutimedia.com Election commissioner Sodsri Satayathum expressed concern that the ongoing protests against the amnesty bill and the government could escalate into a political crisis or even a civil war. Thailand was now disunited, dangerous in the face of an imminent ruling by the International Court of Justice on a territorial dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.

bangkokpost.com Cambodia has been covertly ramping up its security at Preah Vihear ahead of Monday's ruling by the International Court of Justice on the disputed territory surrounding the temple.

standartnews.com The chief of Cambodia's military forces on the Thailand border has called an emergency meeting after Thai aircraft were seen flying low around disputed land near the Preah Vihear temple, BBC reports. Tension on the border is high ahead of a verdict due on Monday by the UN's highest court on where the border lies around the ancient temple.

freedistrict.com The red-shirt United Front for Democracy against Dictatorship announced it will hold nationwide mass rallies in various provinces to pressure anti-amnesty bill protesters in Bangkok to disperse, said a co-leader of the group.

nationmultimedia.com A 50-seat bus carrying Thai and foreign students lost control, hit an electricity pole, and plunged into a roadside ditch in Phuket. Police said the students from the Asian Institute of Technology were on the educational visit to Phuket.

bangkokpost.com The bus was carrying 50 exchange students from AIT from Bangkok for a leisure trip. The students come mainly from India, Nepal, Myanmar and Malaysia.

voiceofrussia.com Five Russians have been injured, while one woman has died as a result of a road accident in Pattaya. The condition of one Russian man is grave. A German - since arrested - lost control of his car and collided with another vehicle. The vehicle was shoved off and hit the taxicab with the Russians.

washingtonpost.com Two US admirals - including the director of naval intelligence - are under investigation as part of a major bribery scandal involving a foreign defense contractor, Navy officials announced. [The Glenn Marine scandal has been investigated on Phuket.]

AP Four people are accused of torturing a California marijuana dispensary owner with a blowtorch and cutting off his penis in an attempt to force him to reveal where he had buried piles of cash in the desert.

bangkokpost.com The no-frills carrier AirAsia will herald the Fly-Thru service for its flights through Don Muang on December 1, a move meant to generate more than 1 million transit passengers next year. The service will allow passengers flying from one international destination to another via Don Muang to bypass the immigration process in Bangkok, exempting them from visa requirements and airport tax.

dawn.com Thai customs have found over a thousand turtles and tortoises in airport luggage in a week, including a haul of 470 creatures as conservationists warn of ''skyrocketing'' smuggling for the pet trade.

heraldsun.com.au Novotel has opened a new resort at Kamala Beach in Thailand - its 100th hotel in the Asia Pacific region. The newly built beachfront resort is on its own stretch of sand on Phuket's western coast, about 10 minutes from the nightlife and shopping of Patong Beach.



reuters Jose Mourinho planted an almost apologetic kiss on the cheek of former sidekick Steve Clarke after a controversial penalty saved Chelsea from defeat against West Bromwich Albion at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea 2-2 West Brom.

Agencies European champions Bayern Munich set a new record for the longest unbeaten run in Bundesliga history - 37 matches - with a 3-0 victory at home to Augsburg.

bangkokpost.com Police have arrested a man suspected of killing former Olympics sports shooter Jakkrit Panichpatikum and are now seeking the gunman's accomplice and the man who hired them. Jirasak Klinkhlai, 33, was arrested in Si Racha district of Chon Buri. Earlier reports wrongly said he was arrested in Krabi.

bbc.co.uk Roger Federer battled to a brilliant three-set win over Juan Martin Del Potro to set up a semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal at the World Tour Finals.

nationmultimedia.com On Phuket, Nicha Lertpitaksinchai wasted two set points at 6-4 in the second-set tie-breaker yesterday before losing to China's Zhang Ling 6-2 7-6 (9-7) in the final of the US$15,000 Chang ITF Pro Circuit.



On November 24 the Camillian Social Center in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, will be holding a 30-kilometre charity bicycle ride. Team, family and individual entries are invited. The centre, supported by the Sarojin Khao Lak Community Fund, provides day care, education, food and physiotherapy for disabled children in the region. Start: 8.15am. Contact Khun Somchai at somchaismilelove@gmail.com

On November 22 the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand will hold a real estate seminar at the Angsana Laguna Phuket. Topics include the trend in leasehold ownership, regulating real estate agencies and current island property trends.
The event is public and ideal for for professionals, those working in real estate related businesses and anyone thinking of investing in real estate in Thailand. From 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Admission is 100 baht which includes one free drink.

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

November 22 Amcham real estate seminar, 4.30pm Angsana Resort

November 24 Camillian day care 30k charity bicycle ride, Phang Nga. 8.15am.

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