news.sky.com Two Palestinian men armed with axes, knives and guns have killed at least four worshippers at a synagogue in Jerusalem. The incident happened at around 7am local time at Kehilot Yaakov synagogue in the ultra-Orthodox Har Nof neighborhood.


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



thephuketinsider.com Satire: The Disney classic movie 'Mary Poppins' has been banned by officials in the resort destination of Phuket. Concerned local officials have instigated the action as a direct result of a series of unlawful use of umbrellas by tourists at local beaches.

prachatai.org Not satire: The education minister and the North Korea Ambassador to Thailand mutually agreed that the education systems of both country is rather similar and plan to develop ties by exchanging educational resources.

nasdaq.com This has not been a good year for the once Tiger economy of Thailand. While the country has been mired in dubious political ventures which culminated in another coup last May, its economy has slipped and exports are down dramatically.

nationmultimedia.com Hosts Thailand plundered more gold in the 4th Asian Beach Games, sealing crucial victories to maintain their commanding lead in the medal tally.



AFP Bangladeshi Navy intercepted a ship in the Bay of Bengal carrying hundreds of migrants being taken to Malaysia by people-smugglers. ''There are 500-600 people in the boat,'' an officer said. ''The crew are all from Burma (Myanmar).'' Police said the boat was ''heading to Malaysia illegally'' and would be taken into shore.
http://www.arabnews.com/news/661576

AP ''I can't stand living here anymore,'' said Rohingya Shabu Kuna, 23, before leaving. She said she is aware of the risks - including being held for ransom in a jungle camp, sold into the sex trade, or beaten or killed - but that nothing could be worse than staying in Burma.

Phuket Update Phuketwan Editor: If one Navy can do this, why can't others?



Chaofa Cluster Paragliding, power paragliding 9am-on
Karon Cluster Beach water polo 3pm-5pm; Beach Basketball 10am-1pm; Beach Handball 10am-5pm; Woodball 9am-2pm; Beach Volleyball 9.00am-4.30pm
Patong Cluster Beach Sepaktakraw 8.30am-3.30pm; Jet-ski 9.30am-2.30pm; Muay thai 5pm-on; Petanque 8.30am-on
Bang Neaw Dam Cluster Cable wakeboard, Wakeskate 7am-3.30pm
Saphan Hin Cluster Beach Soccer 9.45am-4pm; Inline stunt 1pm-8pm; Skateboard 1pm-8pm; BMX freestyle 1pm-8pm



independent.co.uk More than 35 million men, women, and children across the world are being held as slaves, according to a bleak new report. The document highlighted how swathes of people are currently trapped by forced labor, human trafficking, forced marriages, debt bondage and or commercial sexual exploitation.

bbc.com Walk Free says it found evidence of slavery in all 167 countries it surveyed. The report says Africa and Asia face the biggest challenges in eradicating slavery.

telegraph.co.uk Thailand's tourist authority (TAT) has dismissed a book's claim that the country is one of the world's most dangerous destinations as an ''exaggeration.'' Joanna Cooke, PR Manager for TAT London office, said: ''The vast majority of visitors enjoy a safe and trouble-free time.''

AP An elephant trampled its handler to death and ran off with two Russian tourists - a mother and her 9-year-old daughter - who were riding it during a trek in Phang Nga, southern Thailand, police said.

bangkokpost.com Police have identified the dead woman found stuffed in a suitcase floating in the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi on November 6, and said Laxami Manochat was last seen alive with a male foreigner leaving Bangkok in a taxi for Kanchanaburi.

nationmultimedia.com An arrest warrant will be issued for an American man who allegedly tried to courier human parts to the US. He faces charges of theft, possessing stolen items and falsely declaring the types of items being posted. Police were also in the process of acquiring surveillance-camera clips implicating Ryan Edward McPherson.

nationmultimedia.com All nine Army officers, including Maj-General Songphol Thongjeen, a deputy commander of the Third Army Region in the North, were killed in a helicopter crash in Phayao.

scmp.com China and Australia concluded their near decade-long negotiations over a free-trade deal that will cut tariffs on exports and ease restrictions on investment.

watoday.com.au West Australians are being ripped off by the state's taxi services, paying 16 per cent more than they should be, according to a major report: ''The licence holders can't hold the community hostage.''

guardian.co.uk Supermarket chiefs need to take drastic action by shutting one in five of their stores if the financial health of the mainstream grocery chains is to recover from the damage being wreaked by altered shopping habits and the onslaught of the discounters, according to analysts at Goldman Sachs.

nbcnews.com A fire roared through a carrot packaging plant in eastern China, killing 18 people and injuring at least 13 others, according to official state media, which said that unidentified company executives were in custody.

bloomberg International visitor arrivals rose 8 percent for Indonesia over the first nine months of 2014 from a year earlier, and 10 percent for Malaysia in January through July from the previous corresponding period. While political upheaval weighed on Thai tourism this year, arrivals are expected to rebound as stability returns, broker Jones Lang LaSalle Inc. said in an October report. Growth of low-cost carriers and the lure of tourist destinations including Bali and Phuket will also support hotel and resort occupancies, according to the report.

bangkokpost.com Long-delayed plans to rebuild Pattaya beach may finally get underway in December with a 430 million baht Marine Department project.



aap The wife of a New Zealand investor has admitted ordering her husband's killing in Bali, but says she told his alleged assassins not to do it ''sadistically''. A re-enactment of the death of Robert Ellis was carried out involving his wife Noor, her two maids, three men arrested for the crime, and with police officers playing the parts of two men still wanted.

scmp.com US companies registering in Singapore to skirt sanctions on Myanmar helped the city state trump China as the country's number one investor this year, Myanmar's deputy finance minister said.



nationmultimedia.com Despite another searing day in the seaside resort, crowds of Thai spectators and tourists braved the sun to watch the fun-packed competition on Phuket's beaches and venues including Karon, Patong, Nai Yang and the Sapan Hin Sports Centre. Thailand got off to a great start when jet-ski riders raised local cheers by claiming two gold medals.



Until November 23 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket

December 5 King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 10th Anniversary, 2004 Tsunami

December 31 New Year's Eve



February 13-15 Phuket Yacht Show