PhuketWATCH Daily Media Wrap
PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.
Today's Top Stories
bangkokpost.com Thai AirAsia (TAA) has chosen the southern Chinese cities of Nanning and Nanchang for inaugural routes from its new base at U-tapao airport. TAA plans to station two Airbus A320s at U-tapao, the airline's fifth base after Don Muang in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai and Krabi.
nationmultimedia.com People should vote ''yes'' to the draft charter in the upcoming referendum, Suthep Thaugsuban, president of People's Democratic Reform Foundation (PDRF), told the media. Suthep, who had led the People's Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) protest to oust the YingluckShinawatra government, said the draft should be able to drive five key reforms put forward by the ''great mass of people''.
bangkokpost.com Police have arrested a foreign man described by authorities as the prime suspect in the bombing of the Erawan shrine that killed 20 people and injured 130. But inconsistencies emerged over the the location of the suspect's arrest while senior Thai police admitted to still being baffled over who was behind the bombing.
Phuket World of People
bangkokpost.com A Phuket court has dismissed defamation charges filed by the Thai Navy over a report implicating the navy in human trafficking.
cnn.com Alan Morison, the 67-year-old Australian editor of independent Thai news website Phuketwan, and reporter Chutima Sidasathian, a Thai citizen, were facing seven years in jail - two years on criminal defamation charges and five years for breaching the Computer Crimes Act. On Tuesday, the judge delivered his verdict in a Phuket court: Not guilty.
bangkokpost.com Food prices are rising, headline inflation is falling and cautious consumers are staying away from luxury purchases until they spot genuine bargains.
brisbanetimes.com.au Hundreds of asylum seekers demonstrate outside Budapest's Eastern Railway Terminus demanding they be allowed to travel on to Germany, as European Union asylum rules begin to feel the strain of unprecedented migration.
nationmultimedia.com A Pattaya landlord is entering the hotel business with a 300-million baht luxury boutique property, which is scheduled to open its doors in December, targeting high spenders from Thailand and abroad. Pongstorn Sangruchi, owner and managing director of the venture, said the project - the Monttra Pattaya - would feature 23 units on 4 rai (6400 square metres) of land.
bangkokpost.com Phuket police on Tuesday arrested two youths for killing a man and injuring another after they sprayed bullets across the resort island's main tourist pier at Chalong.
Phuket Update Police have charged two men for the shooting murder of a 16-year-old at Suan Luang public park in Phuket City on Monday. Natthakan Wongtom was shot in the chest during a gang fight at the popular park at 4.30pm.
bangkokpost.com Editorial: Giving reward money to policemen for doing their job sends many wrong messages, and disrespects thousands of police working on hundreds of other cases.
Phuket Update The inflation rate in Phuket of 4.1 percent for the full year 2014 well outpaces the national average, including Bangkok, reports Bill Barnett of hospitality consulting firm C9 Hotelworks.
nationmultimedia.com The PM's Office Committee, which has been assigned to help the sea-gypsy community get land and housing security, went to inspect four sea-gypsy cemeteries in Krabi's Koh Lanta district following complaints that the community was facing eviction and lawsuits from investors.
Coming Events on Phuket 2015
Phuket Update The annual Por Tor (Hungry Gost) Festival organised by the Phuket City Municipal Office and Tourism Authority Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office is being held in Phuket Town and everyone is being invited to join.
September 6-11 Asian Weightlifting Championships
Until September 12 Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival
September Quicksilver surf carnival at Patong beach
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
