UPDATING All Day, Every Day
bangkokpost.com An elderly Belgian drowned off a beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan???s Hua Hin resort town, police said.
dailymail.co.uk Two men were arrested in Melbourne for allegedly planning an Islamic State-inspired attack at Anzac Day commemorations honoring soldiers who fought and died for Australia - the country's most important national event.
skynews.com.au The New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for the Thai government to drop charges of criminal defamation against Australian journalist, Alan Morison.
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 News Items
bangkokpost.com The future of Thailand is bright and sustainable thanks to the groundwork and reform initiated by this government, according to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha.
dailytelegraph.com.au Destinations popular with Australian travellers have seen price hikes of as much as 36 percent in one year, according to trivago.com.au. Chiang Mai has seen the biggest rise in Thailand, now at an average of $121 per night - a 27 per cent jump - while the rest of the country has gone up 18 percent.
watoday.com.au Vietnamese Australians and human rights activists have blasted the Australian Government over a secret Navy-led mission to return a group of asylum seekers back to the Communist government of Vietnam.
Phuket World of People
bangkokpost.com An elderly Chinese tourist drowned off Koh Larn in Chon Buri while swimming with his compatriots at the Pattaya tourist island.
nationmultimedia.com Key tourism bodies have said they are generally satisfied with the government's overall six-month performance, while urging it to continue pushing for greater strength in some areas in a bid to boost the economy.
bangkokpost.com The following [enlarged] statement has been released by Bangkok Post editor Pichai Chuensuksawadi after communicating with the Columbia Journalism Review over a libellous and incorrect article it recently published. This is the statement.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/532067/
news.com.au The New York-based rights group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for the Thai government to drop charges of criminal defamation against Australian journalist, Alan Morison. The editor of online news website Phuketwan and his Thai reporter, Chutima Sidasathian, are facing long prison sentences if convicted.
nationmultimedia.com In the statement released by its New York office, Human Rights Watch said that criminal defamation laws should be abolished, as criminal penalties are always disproportionate punishments for reputational harm and infringe on free expression.
theage.com.au Media muzzling hurts Thailand reputation. Defamation charges against Australian Alan Morison draw rebuke from international community.
equaltimes.org ''I feel sorry for myself, but I have to stand up for my country,'' says Chutima Sidasathian. ''I tell other colleagues, 'Hey, you are a journalist. You should be brave!'''
http://www.equaltimes.org/thai-journalists-under-increasing#.VTGOE9yUfdk
aap High level behind-the-scenes talks have been underway between Australian representatives and senior Thai government foreign affairs officials. But sources say progress has slowed, with both sides giving little ground and the Thai navy pressing the journalists to acknowledge culpability.
laht.com ''Thailand's efforts to show progress in tackling human trafficking are seriously damaged by this shoot-the-messenger action against journalists exposing abuses,'' Brad Adams of HRW added.
laprensasa.com Thailand has been trying to improve its rating on human trafficking after a US report downgraded it to tier 3, the lowest level, where it joins Afghanistan, North Korea and Iran. Rohingya Muslims, one of the worlds most persecuted minorities, have not been granted citizenship by Myanmar, which considers them Bengalis, but neither are they recognised in neighboring Bangladesh.
news.com.au Female hunter Rebecca Francis, who was attacked online by Ricky Gervais for posing smiling next to a giraffe she had just killed, has accused the British comedian of sexism. Franciswon a US-based reality television show competition called Extreme Huntress.
nationmultimedia.com A naked British man who cavorted in Bangkok during the Songkran splash festival on Monday was fined just 100 baht, sparking fears there could be more naked copycats next year.
theguardian.com Canada's military has charged four members of the British navy with sexual assault causing bodily harm at a Canadian Forces base in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
scmp.com Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the United States, said that China was building its first airstrip on the Spratly Islands only to provide supply and maintenance for passing ships.
bangkokpost.com Volunteers for military service increased more than 10 percent this year, accounting for nearly 44 percent of the year's total intake.
io9.com A recent analysis of human-chewed remains has provided some of the most compelling evidence to date that ice age Britons engaged in cannibalistic practices.
Around the Asean Region
themalaysianinsuder.com The Malaysian government needs to show greater political will in prosecuting human traffickers and protecting their victims if the country hopes to improve on its currently lowest ranking in the US State Department's Trafficking in Persons (TiP) report, US ambassador to Malaysia Joseph Yun said.
Try Phuketwan's Asean Today daily:
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/asean-today-aussie-navy-defeats-refugees-second-maid-beheaded-asia-costly-visit-22280/
Coming Events on Phuket 2015
Until April 19 Phuket Bike Week
May 4 Additional public holiday scheduled
June 20-21 Baba wedding at Old Phuket Town
July 15-19 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek
