ft.com Oil slumped to its lowest level since the financial crisis as traders reacted to a rancorous Opec meeting last week that exposed the organisation's inability to tackle a global oil glut.

nytimes.com Donald J. Trump called for the US to bar all Muslims from entering the country until the nation's leaders can ''figure out what is going on'' after the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino, Calif., an extraordinary escalation of rhetoric aimed at voters' fears about members of the Islamic faith.

news.com.au A plane packed with tourists departing Bali was forced to return to the terminal because a British passenger had wanted to bring a toy bomb on board, Indonesian officials said. David Fogli was released after questioning, 24 hours later.

nytimes.com Officials in Beijing declared that the thick smog blanketing the city was bad enough to require a red alert, the first time they had raised the alarm to its highest level since an emergency air-pollution response system was announced in 2013.


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 The army moved in on Monday - closing controversial Rajabhakti Park, warning against public comments and staging a show of force against activists at a railway station.

nationmultimedia.com Many university students are addicted to gambling and some use money borrowed from the Student Loan Fund (SLF) to fuel their habit, a network of academics who monitor gambling revealed during a seminar.

bangkokpost.com The Culture Ministry will join over 20 government agencies and the private sector next year in launching a six-year plan to promote "Thainess" among Thai people. It is hoped the plan will persuade tourists to stay in Thailand longer and discover the country's cultural attractions.



Phuket Update A team of Royal Thai Navy security personnel led a raid on an illegal Phuket gambling casino in a home and arrested 40 people in Chalong. Neighbors tipped off authorities.

amnesty.org The arrest of a group of 37 activists in Thailand ahead of a planned anti-corruption protest is the latest evidence that the country's military government is using arbitrary powers of detention to silence peaceful activism, Amnesty International said.

Phuket Update Other Phuket sources have confirmed what controversial Cherng Talay Mayor Ma-Ann Samran told Phuketwan last month - that he does not intend to stay in politics, even when local elections resume under a new government.

halifaxcourier.co.uk Expat Derek Polak, 63, suffered a catalogue of injuries when the car he was travelling in flipped into a ditch. He currently works as an English teacher in a Thai school and is now back at his home awaiting treatment after a gruelling three-hour journey on a bus from the hospital.

nytimes.com Letter: The Thai economy is fast recovering with a steady growth trajectory despite a weak global environment. Consumer and industrial confidence indexes are picking up, thanks to the stimulus measures by the government. The American Chamber of Commerce in Thailand has voiced support for reforms and maintained its confidence in Thailand as an attractive investment destination. Pisan Manawapat, Ambassador of Thailand, Washington.

jakartapost.com Indonesia's Tourism Ministry plans to work with Asean counterparts to draw up cultural tourism packages that will connect domestic sites with various destinations in neighbouring countries. The integrated tour package aims to achieve 12 million culture-based visits to Indonesia by 2019.

standard.co.uk It's almost 35 years since I was last in Bali, and with so much development on this Indonesian island in the intervening years, I feared much would have changed. However, waking up on my first morning near Manggis on the east coast, I was reassured to find it still had its old charm despite many believing that the rate of tourism here is unsustainable.

smh.com.au Buried in last week's national accounts was the startling statistic that Australian punters bet a record $6.5 billion in the September quarter, equating to $1000 a year for every Australian. What has startled many in the industry is that while there are fewer gamblers, with each year that passes they are betting more heavily.

washingtonpost.com Holly Woodlawn, famed by Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side,' died on Sunday at 69. The cause was cancer and cirrhosis, said Penny Arcade, a fellow Warhol superstar

techinasia.com To date, Villacarte, and its sister associate Bizphuket, have 700 over premium and luxury villas in Phuket, more than international competitors like Travelmob, Homeaway or Airbnb. On top of assisting to rent the villas, Villacarte provides a range of services to well-off tourists from nannies to drivers to assist the tourists during their stay.

news.com.au The first thing you'll want to do when you arrive at your Sri Panwa villa, set high atop Cape Panwa on Phuket, is dive into your private infinity pool, which also has an in-built jacuzzi function, naturally. Pack a bikini. Or don't - it's a private pool. Byline: ''As told to Alley PascoeSunday Style.''



aap Indonesian authorities warn a terror attack over the Christmas-New Year period is ''possible,'' with police in Bali tightening security, particularly at Denpasar airport.



afp Romelu Lukaku extended his red-hot streak as the Everton striker's late equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.



December 10 Constitution Day

December 11 Thailand Bike for Dad

December 11-13 2015 Wake Park World Series on Phuket

December 26 Tsunami memorial ceremonies

December 26-January 5 Red Cross Fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City



January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show