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



reuters Russia appeared to seize the initiative in international efforts to end the conflict in Syria as Washington scrambled to devise a new strategy for the war-ravaged country and France sent warplanes to bomb Islamic State targets.

bangkokpost.com A man reportedly suffering from a mental disorder was arrested after he allegedly stabbed and slashed five boys, four of them related, to death at a home in Chiang Mai.



bangkokpost.com Three police officers at Lumpini Police Station have been transferred to temporary duties at the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters for 30 days pending an investigation into why they did not see CCTV footage of an Erawan Shrine bombing suspect entering and leaving a toilet in Lumpini Park.

bangkokpost.com Police want to cancel the passport of Wanna Suansan, who promised but never showed up to explain her role in renting rooms for the bombing suspects.



thephuketinsider.com Over the past few days I have been inundated by emails about a BBC news segment and magazine piece on 'The Phuket Property Nightmare'. There remains little recognition of the plights of foreign property buyers in Phuket and in reality all of Thailand. Welcome to Phuket's latest nightmare.

philstar.com The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) is trying to reestablish contact with the unnamed informant who pointed to the exact location of the Reyes brothers in Phuket, Thailand that led to their arrest for a 2011 murder last week. No one has yet sought to claim the four million pesos reward. The brothers were believed to be planning to set up a fitness club on Phuket.

bangkokpost.com Editorial: The military's secret attempt to build a ''great firewall'' has been exposed, and it is clear that the disadvantages for the public outweigh any need.

skynews.com.au The Queensland peninsular where an enormous sinkhole has opened up could eventually disappear, a geotechnical engineer says. About 300 campers were evacuated from Inskip Point near Rainbow Beach after the sinkhole swallowed a car, caravan, tents and a camping trailer.

belfasttelegraph.co.uk The owners of the Cereal Killer Cafe - which sells a range of breakfast cereals - said it was a ''terrifying'' experience for staff when protesters wearing pig masks and carrying flaming torches attacked the shop in East London: ''They see us as one of the biggest symbols of gentrification in the area.''

usa today A man with an apparent case of arachnophobia caused a fire at a suburban Detroit gas station by putting a lighter to what he says was a spider near his fuel door.

thehindu.com It's never a bad time to visit Thailand, especially the smaller islands such as Krabi and Phi Islands.

thephuketnews.com Typically, local beach clean-ups only focus on removing rubbish from the beach, which is ultimately transported to Phuket's overflowing landfill and incinerator in Saphan Hin, where it is either added to the smelly heap, if not incinerated.

thephuketinsider.com As of the beginning of February next year Virgin Australia will cease flying direct between Perth and Phuket.

traveller.com.au I was recently in a hotel in Asia and I could have found it with my eyes closed by smell alone. It wasn't unpleasant at all, but it was overpowering. I didn't want to smell like bergamot in that instance and it clashed with my own perfume.



news.com.au For the second time in a year, Australian travellers have been promised free entry to Bali only to be denied an exemption at the last minute. Bali.com spokeswoman Cindy Lugten said it was her understanding ''only Australia'' would be withdrawn from the new list of exemptions.



afp Thailand veteran Thongchai Jaidee captured his seventh European Tour title on Sunday with a one-shot victory at the European Open.

afp Lewis Hamilton denied he had acted unsportingly with the move which swept him past fierce rival Nico Rosberg at the start of the Japanese Grand Prix. Hamilton went on to record his eighth victory in 14 races this year.



HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn will again lead Thais on a 29-kilometre cycling trip, this time the Bike for Dad ride, on December 11.

October 15-23 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

November Patong Festival

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