AFP Myanmar's army chief has called on Thailand to review the death sentence against two Burmese men for murdering a pair of British backpackers. General Min Aung Hlaing asked Thailand for a ''review of the evidence'' against the two men, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar reported.

bangkokpost.com The senior officer who implicated a network of politicians, army and police officials in the trafficking of Rohingya migrants has repeated claims that he received several death threats while heading his investigation. Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin fled to Australia in fear for his life earlier this month and is now seeking asylum there.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/807344/paween-insists-death-threats-real


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 Bangkok traffic moved at an average of 15kph in the morning rush hour this year, says a new study that also names the five most miserable places to drive.

nationmultimedia.com The Constitution Drafting Commission (CDC) is close to completing the first version of the draft charter, which should be ready soon for a public referendum, an official said.

bangkokpost.com Thai authorities are confident that protests in Myanmar against the Koh Tao murder convictions will not get out of hand, but an army officer suggests Thai travellers now in the country should consider coming home just the same.



aap Provinces in southern Thailand have held memorial services in various locations along the western coast that was hit by giant waves that killed more than 5300 people, including Australians, 11 years ago. Anniversary events were held at Kamala Memorial Stone, Mai Khao Memorial Wall, Phuket City Hall and Patong Beach in the southern resort island of Phuket. Interfaith ceremonies were also held in resort towns across the Andaman coast from Phang Nga province to Phi Phi archipelago.

nationmultimedia.com Ranong province did not host a tsunami anniversary service. Officials opted instead for a campaign for public knowledge on how people can protect themselves and survive disasters in the future. Provincial governor Suriyan Kanchanasil said related agencies would soon survey evacuation routes and re-arrange them, as well as fix disaster warning towers to be ready for use, to boost public confidence.

euronews.com The small fishing village of Nam Khem north of Phuket lost more than half its population when the devastating Boxing Day tsunami struck Thailand's coast. When the water finally ebbed, only 49 buildings were still standing. Relatives of the victims gathered at Tsunami Memorial Park, bringing flowers and prayers for their loved ones.

biztekmojo.com Facebook may have damaged a small business of a pub by suspending their account based on the assumptions that their name was racist or contained offensive language. Named as the Blackcock Inn, the family business has been run for 175 years.

bangkokpost.com New land appraisal prices nationwide for 2016-19 are up 27.8 percent from the levels set in 2012-15, while property on Silom Road remains the most expensive in the country, according to the Treasury Department.

abc.net.au China is effectively expelling a French journalist who criticised Beijing's treatment of the Muslim Uighur minority in the north-west region of Xinjiang. Beijing is refusing to renew the press visa of Ursula Gauthier, the Beijing correspondent for the weekly L'Obs news magazine.

theguardian.com Hundreds of people had to flee their homes after torrential rain triggered flooding in towns across Lancashire and West Yorkshire, and dangerously high waters even reached the cities of Manchester and Leeds.



newstalkzb.co.nz A Malaysia Airlines flight from Auckland is the subject of a safety probe after the pilot radioed air traffic control to ask why the flight was tracking on a route he didn't expect. Passengers on the Christmas Day flight were unaware of the confusion.



AP The Malaysian government said it has accepted the withdrawal of two Israeli windsurfers from the ISAF world youth sailing championships. Amir Gill, chairman of the Israel association, also told local media that Malaysia had placed '''unacceptable''' demands by forbidding athletes from carrying their country's flag or wearing any symbol on their attire and surfboards that showed their country of origin.

theguardian.com It really did happen and, for the second season in succession, Southampton did win this fixture, beating Arsenal 4-0.



Until January 5 Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City



January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show