UPDATING All Day, Every Day
bangkokpost.com Caretaker premier Yingluck Shinawatra has asked the military to help police enforce law and order if protest leader Suthep carries out his threat to ''shut down'' Bangkok.
nationmultimedia.com My friends are betting on whether the general election scheduled for February 2 will actually take place. As of yesterday the odds stood at 50:50. That speaks volumes about the state of political affairs in this country. Nobody is quite sure about anything anymore.
washingtonpost.com Passengers on a research ship that has been trapped in Antarctic ice for more than a week are expected to be rescued by helicopter on Thursday after three icebreakers failed to reach the paralyzed vessel, officials said.
scmp.com A Chinese man was rescued by the Japanese coast guard after he attempted to fly to the disputed Diaoyu Islands a hot-air balloon, but crash-landed into the sea more than 20 kilometres away from his destination.
PhuketWATCH Daily Media Wrap
PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.
traveldailynews.asia.com Mr Thaugsuban's New Year ''gift'' to Bangkok inhabitants - and consequently tourists - is a total blockade from January 13, 2014. In a speech on January 1 at Democracy Monument in Bangkok historical city centre, the anti-government protest leader announced that Bangkok shut down could last between ''five and 20 days''.
nationmultimedia.com Protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban said the siege could last for a month, or until the caretaker government of Yingluck Shinawatra resigns so political reform is possible. He said that from Sunday, daily marches will be held so protest members can further promote the siege.
reuters Embattled Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra returned to the capital, Bangkok, for traditional New Year celebrations in a display of unity alongside military chiefs before a looming showdown with anti-government protesters. Demonstrators who accuse Yingluck of being the puppet of her self-exiled brother, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, have vowed to occupy government ministries and other key sites in Bangkok in their bid to scuttle a snap February 2 election.
bangkokpost.com The city siege plan may take five days or it may go for 20 days and will be around the clock, Mr Suthep said. He threatened to cut electricity and tap water to homes of caretaker ministers and at all government office buildings and vowed victory over the government would be achieved this month.
nationmultimedia.com Core protest leader, Witthaya Kaewparadai: ''Nowadays, I would like to call the people's movement 'the return to morality'. Many people have come out on to the streets to oust the 'Thaksin regime' because they cannot stand in the middle between good and evil. They had to choose one side, and they chose the best. My sense tells me that the people will win.''
NNT Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has stated her New Year wish is to see unity and peace in the nation, while calling on all sides to settle differences in a peaceful manner. Prime Minister and Defense Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted her New Year wish on her Facebook page, asking all Thais to have love for one another and be united, adding that all differences should be sorted out through a peaceful means.
forbes.com Natural and man-made attractions [in China] suffer from overcrowding, pushing Chinese tourists to destinations beyond the border - in some cases only to meet the same Chinese crowds in Phuket or on Jeju island. Off the shelf package tours became decidely unfashionably in 2013.
Nine Important Developments in China's Outbound Tourism:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/profdrwolfganggarlt/2014/01/01/nine-important-developments-in-chinas-outbound-tourism-2013/
bangkokpost.com Five people were killed and eight wounded in a gunfight between rival gangs at Mor Chit 2 Bus Terminal in Bangkok early Wednesday morning, police said. After an earlier argument, a fight broke out at about 12.20am between a group of motorcycle taxi drivers and people living near the bus terminal.
bangkokpost.com A video clip has circulated online showing what appears to be a policeman slapping a female tourist in Pattaya. The clip was posted on Youtube and has gone viral, drawing condemnation from netizens.
VIDEO Policeman Slaps Tourist's Face in Pattaya: :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m58C7FbXs7c/
afp America's first retail stores selling marijuana have opened for business in Colorado, putting the state in the vanguard of the country's evolving attitudes on legalising the drug.
scmp.com Apple has denied any knowledge of a National Security Agency tool to hack into iPhones after newly released documents showed the company's smartphone was targeted by the US spy agency.
AP Indonesia's elite anti-terrorism squad shot and killed six suspected militants and arrested another amid New Year's Eve celebrations in an all-night standoff at a house near Jakarta, a police spokesman said.
theguardian.com Three bombs exploded within an hour outside a hotel frequented by government officials in a heavily fortified district of the Somali capital, killing at least 11.
afp Thousands marched in Hong Kong to demand a greater say in how their future leaders will be chosen, expressing fears that China will limit long-awaited political reforms.
inquirer.net Thousands of demonstrators clad in black flooded a square in the center of Kuala Lumpur to protest at increases in petrol and other prices, putting pressure on a government struggling to reduce debt.
dvb.no In his New Year message to the Roman Catholics of Burma, Monsignor Charles Bo called for unity between the ''different souls'' of ''this wonderful nation'' and pointed particularly towards the Rohingya Muslims, saying those born in the country should be granted citizenship. The archbishop called for an end to violence against the Rohingya, and urged the country to instead fight against poverty and human trafficking.
metro.co.uk Eliminating ''factionalist filth'' has made North Korea much stronger, its ruthless leader claims. Kim Jong-un boasted that the execution of his powerful uncle last month bolstered the country's unity ''by 100 times''.
scmp.com The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau will phase out permits that allow special driving privileges, such as running red lights without consequences and free parking, the Beijing Youth Daily has reported.
nytimes.com Ariel Sharon, the former prime minister of Israel who has been comatose for nearly eight years, edged closer to death on Wednesday evening, suffering from kidney failure.
cnn.com Anticipated hotel openings of 2014: Anantara will open its second Phuket property, Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa, Thailand, and will also open Anatara Emei Resort & Spa in China.
Phuket World Sports Wrap
telegraph.co.uk Tim Sherwood has taken Tottenham Hotspur's players back to their roots, reminding them of what it was like when they first ran with a ball in the streets as kids, playing for the love of it, expressing themselves and daring to dream of glory. Manchester United 1-2 Tottenham Hotspur.
telegraph.co.uk Corey Anderson hits the fastest century in one-day international history off just 36 balls as New Zealand pile up a mammoth 283 for four in just 21 overs on their way to a 159-run victory over the West Indies in a rain-shortened match.
Phuket Coming Events 2014
PIMEX, the annual Phuket International Marine Exhibition, is being held from January 9 to 12 at Royal Phuket Marina on the island's east coast. Billed as Asia's best boat show, the event brings together everything the boat enthusiast needs and wants.
New Year Red Cross Fair at Phuket City's Saphan Hin park
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
