NNT The Meteorological Department has warned residents of Phuket and surrounding provinces to brace for possible mudslides and more heavy rains during the next two days. Rain on Sunday caused brief flooding in the Patong area of Phuket, bringing traffic in most parts to a standstill.

Phuket Update Parts of Patong were still awash at 2am Monday after driving rain lashed most of Phuket. The west coast holiday hub suffers flooding because canals have been built over.

independent.co.uk Six Islamist extremists have been jailed for a total of more than 100 years for plotting a gun and bomb attack on an English Defence League rally that could have sparked spiralling communal violence in Britain.


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

bangkokpost.com Besides Russia, whose citizens have become big travellers to Thailand, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are three rising stars listed by the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It said these countries could help to offset declining tourism on Phuket and in other destinations from European states beset by slowing economies.

nationmultimedia.com Thailand is the most favored destination in Southeast Asia for tourists from Kazakhstan with the number of arrivals continuing to rise due to the friendly service, greater accessibility and affordable price.

cnn.com A 29-year-old computer technician for a US defense contractor leaked details of a top-secret American program that sifts through reams of data from telecommunications companies, American and British newspapers revealed. ''My sole motive is to inform the public as to that which is done in their name and that which is done against them,'' said Edward Snowden.

bangkokpost.com Muslim religious leaders of the deep South unanimously demand the separatists guarantee a peaceful Ramadan next month - while a political veteran of the long conflict says the BRN is ''deceiving and ridiculing'' a naive government.

afp North and South Korea held their first official talks for more than two years, seeking to set up a high-level meeting in Seoul after months of tensions and threats of nuclear war.

bangkokpost.com Ministers and tourism authorities from Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines have agreed to collaborate on a smart tourism system that will allow more use of electronic systems and third parties to facilitate visas.



Phuket Update Michael Page of the UK won the eighth Laguna Phuket International Marathon as the annual running festival took to Phuket's roads with more than 4000 entrants of all ages and abilities from 45 countries competing on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising. Naomi Ochai of Japan won the women's race.

dailymail.co.uk A gay soldier told how Prince Harry bravely rescued him from a terrifying homophobic attack by squaddies from a rival regiment. The Prince stepped in to save Trooper James Wharton after he was confronted by six soldiers threatening to ''batter'' him.

bangkokpost.com The anti-government Thai Spring will open a web page designed to act as a rallying point for the group's activities, its co-founder Kaewsan Atibhodi said.

nationmultimedia.com While many Pheu Thai members are under the illusion that their party is invincible, its top-down power structure has been blamed for what some consider a failure to sense the true wishes and needs of Thais, and is even seen by some as a threat to the party's future.

abc.net.au Turkey's defiant prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has told supporters his patience with anti-government protests is running out. Mr Erdogan's comments in front of cheering supporters in Ankara came as police fired tear gas and jets of water at demonstrators who are staging unrelenting protests against his government's decade-long rule.

nationmultimedia.com One frequently asked question is: Does Thailand have the capacity to be a high-asset game changer in the new Asia? By conventional wisdom, the answer should be a forceful ''yes''. Unfortunately, this is not the case at this juncture. ''Not for the time being,'' is the preferred answer.

bangkokpost.com Russian loan sharks are taking advantage of the increasing number of penniless Russian tourists in Pattaya.

smh.com.au The Tiger Girls are a band with a difference. ''I'm not your average pop star,'' they sing. ''Don't drink, don't smoke, don't drive a car/Don't kiss guys in a disco bar/'Cause that don't fly in Myanmar.'' Burma's first girl band was created after Australian Nikki May arrived in the country with a simple mission. "''wanted to change the world,'' she says.

thestar,com.my Omega's latest innovation is a worthy addition to its classic Seamaster series. Celebrities and media were ferried via catamaran to the resort island of Naka Yai, on Phuket, for a launch.



idependent.co.uk Rafael Nadalsealed his place in history as the greatest clay-court player of all time. A 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 victory over David Ferrer in the final of the French Open saw Nadal become the first man ever to win the same Grand Slam title eight times.

smh.com.au A masked, flare-wielding protestor halted the French Open final in Paris after he leapt onto the court in a demonstration against France's same-sex marriage law.

canadianpress Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel coasted to victory from pole position at the Canadian Grand Prix. The Red Bull driver finished the 70-lap race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve 14.4 seconds ahead of second-place Fernando Alonso's Ferrari.

pa Mark Webber has vented his frustration after a collision with Caterham's Giedo van der Garde cost him a possible podium finish. The Red Bull driver was running third when van der Garde, last at the time, collided with the Australian as he ignored the marshals' waved blue flags.

goal.com Brazil earned their second win in their seventh game under Luiz Felipe Scolari with a timely 3-0 win over France at the Arena do Gremio.



June 11-17 Phuket Prison fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City: furniture and other Otop items from 25 prisons across Thailand's south for sale.

June 22-24 Baba style traditional wedding, Old Phuket Town

July 6-7 Phuket Air Show and Family Picnic, Phuket Air Park

July 17-21 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek

July 22 Arsarnha Bucha Day

August 12 HM The Queen's Birthday

October 5-13 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

October 29-November 3 Womens' volleyball, Karon beach

November 9 Asian Cup Triathlon Sprint, Patong

November 10 ITU Long Distance Series triathlon, Patong

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

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

December 5 HM The King's birthday



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

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket