bangkokpost.com The 2004 tsunami has not affected land prices in Phuket, which tripled over the past 10 years in the wake of booming tourism. The most expensive plots today are on Patong beach, at 180 million baht a rai or 450000 baht a square wah from 40 million baht a rai in 2004.

afp A Malaysia-bound Malindo Air flight from Delhi diverted to Thailand and made an emergency landing on Monday after the cabin started to depressurise, the airline said, adding that none of the 129 people aboard was hurt.

itv.com A man believed to be 29-year-old British citizen Rurik Jutting has been pictured arriving at a local court in Hong Kong to face two counts of murder. It follows the discovery of the bodies of two women in an apartment in Wan Chai.

bangkokpost.com Three major Thai retailers will probably know by February if the embattled British retailer Tesco will opt to sell its Asian assets to shore up its finances.


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 Authorities raiding two Bangkok entertainment venues say they discovered a list of police officers who were allegedly bribed to ignore licence violations and illegal sex services. A range of illegal items, from methamphetamine pills to marijuana, were also found during the raid.

nytimes.com Thailand's military government, which seized power from an elected government in May, is considering a law that would ban the dog meat trade, a move that animal rights activists backing the bill are portraying as a way the junta can enhance its image internationally.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/02/world/asia/dog-meat-trade-in-thailand-is-under-pressure-and-may-be-banned.html?_r=0

bangkokpost.com Police unveiling the so-called ''men in black'' has been a game changer for red shirts embroiled in the legal consequences of the political violence of 2010.



bangkokpost.com What happened on Koh Tao - among other recent problems - has provided a serious wake-up call to the one crucial fact that has been long ignored here - the safety of tourists. The deaths of the two Britons has had an enormous effect.



NNT Minister of Tourism and Sports Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has traveled to Phuket to follow up on the readiness of venues to be used for the Asian Beach Games later this month. Ms Kobkarn said she has instructed the organisers to help persuade as many Phuket residents as possible to come and watch the games, adding that the highest security will be provided for the spectators.

Dow Jones newswire A 29-year-old British banker has been arrested by Hong Kong police as part of an investigation into the murder of two women found dead in an apartment, one of whom was hidden in a suitcase. Police are questioning the man after the bodies were discovered in an upscale apartment complex in the city's Wan Chai district, an area popular with tourists and known for its night life.

stickmanbangkok.com There's a lull on Patong's Soi Bangla early evening but after 8pm or so it picks up and is every bit as vibrant as Pattaya's Walking Street. Bangla Road is more upbeat and is largely without the seediness and desperation that mars Pattaya.
http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/StickmanWeeklyColumn2013/Bangla-Road-Patong-Beach-Phuket.htm

bangkokpost.com Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her son Supasek Amornchat returned to Thailand on Sunday morning from China, reports said. Ms Yingluck and her son left for Japan on October 19 for a tour with permission from the National Council for Peace and Order.

cnn.com The world faces ''irreversible'' effects of climate change unless countries reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the UN warns in a report.

dailytimes.com.pk At least 60 persons including women, children and paramilitary troops were killed and over 80 injured in deadly suicide attack in front of a roadside restaurant in Wagha Border market in Lahore.

bbc.com Chancellor Angela Merkel would rather see the UK exit from the European Union than compromise over the principle of free movement of workers, according to the German magazine Der Spiegel.

usanews.net US news outlets have expressed dismay at the prohibitive expense of the nine-day trip which will take Mr Obama to Australia, China and Burma. The $60,000 air-ticket does not even guarantee a seat on Air Force One particular, but only on a chartered flight that tails the president's Boeing-747 around the world.

en.rocketnews24.com Miss International Queen began in 2004 with the aim of building international awareness of transgender rights. The event, now in its tenth year, kicked off with a press conference last week, and the final will be held on November 7 at Tiffany's Show Theatre, Pattaya.



news.com.au An Australian couple are devastated they had to cancel their wedding in Bali after 60 guests who booked through online travel company Bali Indulgence were allegedly conned out of more than $30,000.

channelnewsasia.com Singapore could attract up to half a million more visitors in two years' time if it improves its visa procedures, said a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and World Tourism Organisation.

cnn.com The remains of all 44 Malaysian passengers of Flight MH17 have been identified, a government statement says.



afp Sergio Aguero's goal ensured Louis van Gaal's first Manchester derby ended in defeat as Manchester City beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Eastlands.

bbc.com Lewis Hamilton caught and passed Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg to win the UU Grand Prix and extend his World Championship lead.

afp Misbah-ul Haq set a new record for the fastest Test half-century Sunday as Pakistan piled up a lead of over 500 against the hapless Australians on the fourth day of the second Test. Misbah smashed fifty off just 21 balls with four boundaries and as many sixes.



bangkokpost.com Entrance fees to all 147 national parks will be waived on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day as part of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's ''happiness'' campaign.

November 1-3 Patong Carnival

November 6 Loy Kratong

November 14-23 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