theguardian.com China has urged the US to think twice about ''making trouble'' after Washington launched a direct military challenge to Beijing's territorial claims in the South China Sea with naval manoeuvres near two artificial islands in the region.

bbc.com A whale-watching boat sank so quickly off the coast of western Canada that there was no opportunity to send a mayday call, its operator has said. Five Britons were killed when the boat, which was carrying 27 people, sank near Tofino, a popular tourist area on Vancouver Island. An Australian remains missing.


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



AP A massive earthquake struck remote and impoverished regions of northern Afghanistan and Pakistan on Monday, killing at least 263 people as it shook buildings across South Asia and knocked out power and communications to already-isolated areas.

traveldailymedia.com Hong Kong Airlines will launch the first direct flight between Hong Kong and Krabi next month. Commencing November 13, the new service will operate daily using an all-economy Airbus A320 aircraft.



middleeastmonitor.com The government of Myanmar is triggering anti-Muslim riots and there is ''strong evidence'' genocide is taking place, an Al Jazeera's Investigative Unit has revealed. Al Jazeera obtained eyewitness and documentary evidence that suggests the Myanmar government is triggering communal violence for political gain.



bbc.com The trial of two men who deny murdering two British tourists in Thailand has ended with defence claims that prosecution evidence is ''unreliable''. Hannah Witheridge, 23, and David Miller, 24, were found dead on the island of Koh Tao last September. A verdict is due on December 24.

bangkokpost.com There is no longer a low season for tourism in Chiang Mai, thanks to the influx of Chinese travellers. Hoteliers in the northern province are enjoying booming trade, with the average occupancy rate hitting 70-80 percent in what would have been the low season.

PTI Thailand has approved new and tougher penalties for tourists who overstay their visas after several people, mostly Indians, were recently charged with violating the country's Immigration Act. Immigration chief Gen Nathathorn Prousoontorn said this was a part of the bureau's ''Good guys in, bad guys out'' operation aimed at catching foreigners who overstay their visas.

nationmultimedia.com The Alcoholic Drinks Control Subcommittee has said celebrities and an alcohol brand violated the 2008 Alcohol Control Act when they posted pictures of themselves posing with the brand on social media.

bangkokpost.com Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya has confirmed Suriyan Sucharitpolwong, a key suspect in the latest lese majeste case, is alive and well, dismissing rumours about his demise.

ft.com The US navy is poised to start freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea in a high-stakes effort to push back against Chinese territorial claims over artificial islands in the disputed resource-rich waters.

cnn.com You may have just learned that processed meat such as bacon, sausage and ham may cause cancer and unprocessed meat may be ''probably carcinogenic to humans,'' according to a new World Health Organisation report. Or that cheese and sugar can be as addictive as a drug. Eat more like a Greek. Yes, your parents were right to push you to finish your veggies.

afp New York's largest police union has demanded a boycott of Quentin Tarantino films after the Oscar-winning director protested against the deaths of unarmed suspects at police hands.

smh.com.au There aren't as many Australians in Thailand as there are in Australia, but if you went by blood alcohol percentage, the populations would be roughly similar. New Year's Eve in Phuket is heaven for anyone who likes to party, and/or vomit in public. If 'What Really Happens in Thailand' offers nothing else, it is at least intriguing to ponder the motivation behind the concept.

nationmultimedia.com Tesco Lotus is investing at least Bt1.6 billion this year and next on a reshuffle of retail space at some of its 170 hypermarkets in Thailand, aimed at expanding the mall space available for rent by individual vendors.



afp Indonesian President Joko Widodo said during a visit to the White House on Monday that he would seek to join a vast US-backed trans-Pacific trade bloc, signaling a challenge to economic nationalism at home.



Phuket Update The Consular Section of the US Embassy in Bangkok will hold an outreach session in Phuket on Friday at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort from 8am to noon.

November 1-3 Patong Carnival

November 20 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 25 Loy Kratong festival

November 29 Challenge Laguna Phuket 2015

November 29 Phuket King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 26 Tsunami memorial ceremonies



January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show