cosmopolitan.co.uk Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney (she married George Clooney a few months back) has been warned she risks arrest after she highlighted a number of serious issues with Egypt's judicial system. Her report highlighted that officials and the government are able to exert a tremendous amount of power over state prosecutors.

afp Bangkok Airways has been forced to cancel a flight over the New Year period after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck to the plane's engine, the airline says. The Airbus A320 had flown to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.


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



reuters Buckingham Palace denied allegations by a woman who said in Florida court documents that she was forced as a minor to have sex with Britain's Prince Andrew and other high-profile figures linked to a wealthy US businessman.

pattayamail.com It used to be that ''high season'' was when Pattaya's hotels were full, the beaches packed and shopping malls bustling. But high season hasn't resembled what people remember for years.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/01/us/transgender-questions-leelah/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

bangkokpost.com PTT and Bangchak will lower prices of all varieties of gasoline and diesel fuel, except gasohol E85, by 50 satang per litre, effective from 5am Saturday.



news.com.au A total of 30 bodies have now been recovered from the AirAsia plane crash, with one of them identified as Australian student Kevin Soetjipto



bangkokpost.com Sadly in 2015, people who are referred to as ''modern-day slaves'' cannot expect to be freed like the slaves of a century ago. The victims of slavery in the past were not rounded up, shamed, detained and and deported to their countries of origin, unlike those who are currently toiling as forced laborers in the sex industry, on fishing boats or in factories. Thailand has a choice of whether to save face or face the problem. The first step must be to admit we cannot efficiently combat trafficking without reducing corruption.



nytimes.com When Ms Fink began to read the report on her laptop, she did a search for Ms Koniono's name. It immediately popped up as the first suspicious case in Sierra Leone. ''I actually cried,'' Ms Fink said. ''I couldn't believe she was known about from the very earliest moment. It just blew my mind. How could this information not have been shared?''



news.com.au The price of a jet ski (or ''personal water craft,'' as they're officially known, because ''jet-ski'' is a Kawasaki name) has been cut by more than half with the arrival of the Sea-Doo Spark which is about $A9000 tow-away, no more to pay - including a trailer.

nationmultimedia.com The Road Safety Centre reported that 190 people were killed and 1782 injured in 1737 road accidents over first three days of Thailand's seven-day crash-monitoring period.

cnn.com How to Help Transgender Friends: The weekend suicide of a transgender teen in Ohio sparked an intensely emotional reaction across social media which shows no sign of letting up. Born as Josh Alcorn, the teen signed an online suicide note as Leelah.
http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/01/us/transgender-questions-leelah/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

nationmultimedia.com We root for LGBT rights and giggle at the flamboyant transvestites on the screen as much as anybody - but the gay community earned much more genuine respect last year.

bangkokpost.com The impeachment of three former Pheu Thai-government leaders will begin next week when National Legislative Assembly members return amid promises of independence from the NCPO.

nationmultimedia.com Independent Thai hospitality group Manathai Hotels & Resorts has opened a centralised sales office in Bangkok to coordinate global sales and marketing activities for four boutique resorts it operates in beachfront areas in Thailand at Phuket, Phang Nga, Hua Hin and Samui.

themalaysianindiser.com Tickets for Firefly's international destinations are being offered in Malaysia for New Year on a promotional price from RM105 for destinations such as Singapore, Krabi, Phuket and Samui.

scmp.com Shanghai authorities have brought down a wall of strict censorship on local coverage of Wednesday night's deadly stampede.

news.com.au U2 frontman Bono says he may never play the guitar again after a bicycle crash that injured his hand, shoulder, elbow and face.

thetimes.co.uk A couple who are ''stranded'' in New York for three months after their baby was born prematurely face an anxious wait to learn whether their six-figure medical bills will be covered under their travel insurance.

reuters North Korea was hit with more sanctions designed to impede access to the US.financial system in the wake of a cyber attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment, which the Obama Administration has said was supported by the reclusive country.

dailylife.com.au When I was in North Korea, no one asked me ''what do you think?'' ''What do you want to be in future?'' ''What do you dream?'' I now have free will.

scmp.com Casino operator Melco Crown Entertainment announced plans to delist from the Hong Kong Stock Exchange after Macau reported its first decline in gaming revenue in more than a decade.

news.com.au A leading doctor has courted controversy after saying we should stop wasting money on the search for a cancer cure as it is the best way to die.

nationmultimedia.com The Mall Group is leading the charge in plans to build more shopping paradises, not just in Bangkok but also Hua Hin and Phuket.

news.sky.com Three men have been arrested by police investigating a series of suspected drugs-related deaths in Britain. The death of a fourth man in Shropshire was also being linked to the ecstasy drugs.

independent.co.uk They can't fly, and they may not even move, but an Elvis Presley super-fan is nonetheless expected to spend as much as $15m to buy two of the King's private jets, Lisa Marie and Hound Dog II. One jet was once used to fly the 'dog, Getlow, to Boston for a kidney operation.

news.com.au Donna Douglas, who was best known for her role as Elly May Clampett in The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She was 81.



hereisthecity.com Singapore's economic growth disappointed in the fourth quarter, as manufacturing contracted and tourism slumped.

bangkokpost.com Southeast Asian countries are likely to produce more than four million vehicles in 2015, up to seven percent more than last year, the Asean Automotive Federation predicted.

See Phuketwan's new Asean Today column
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/asean-today-burma-tourism-booms-mas-overshoots-runway-fears-asean-crime-hub-airasia-piece-21647/



independent.co.uk LA Galaxy emerged as the clear front-runner to sign Steven Gerrard as his former team-mate Jamie Carragher questioned why Liverpool had not done more to keep the 34-year-old at Anfield.

itv.com Former Sheffield United footballer and convicted rapist Ched Evans has been offered a contract by Maltese side Hibernians.

news.com.au MS Dhoni's sudden Test retirement during the Australian tour caused shockwaves in India, leading to a furious call for him to be banned from playing international cricket.



January 6-11 Phuket International Boat Show

January 21 Australian embassy outreach to Phuket Call 02-3446300, e: consular.bangkok@dfat.gov.au

February 12-15 Phuket Yacht Show