bangkokpost.com Immigration police have started a campaign to stop would-be foreign residents from using one tourist entry after another to extend their stays without visas, by making serial trips across a land border and back.

bangkokpost.com Vietnam has complained about Bangkok's new cash requirement on its tourists entering Thailand, saying it runs against Asean's spirit and long-standing practices. Thailand has recently asked Vietnamese to pay 23,000 baht before entering the country, according to the Hanoitimes.


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



AP Senior security official Tharit Pengdit warned that if the anti-government movement carries out an attempt to appoint an unelected prime minister, it would ignite anger from government supporters that ''could definitely spread to clashes and could eventually lead to a civil war.''

bloomberg The leader of Thailand's Red Shirt group vowed to fight any attempt to overthrow the government through a military or judicial coup, raising the risk of clashes with protesters seeking to install an unelected premier. ''If we don't fight for change today, we will never get real democracy,'' said Jatuporn Prompan, head of the United Front for Democracy Against Dictatorship, or Red Shirts.

wsj.com Thailand could soon be in the bizarre position of having two candidates claiming to be prime minister if protesters now occupying the government's genteel, Italian-designed headquarters get their way.

bangkokpost.com The PDRC is closing its main stronghold at Lumpini Park and will move to Government House and Ratchadamnoen Avenue, while the red shirts are readying for a long stay at their site to counter their rival.

reuters Pro-Moscow rebels declared a resounding victory in a referendum on self-rule for eastern Ukraine, with some saying that meant independence and others eventual union with Russia as fighting flared in a conflict increasingly out of control.



afp The lack of any evidence indicating what caused flight MH370's disappearance raises a legal conundrum that is expected to force Malaysia Airlines into out-of-court settlements with angry next-of-kin, aviation law experts say.



news.com.au The family of an elderly Canadian man are desperately trying to track down a mystery father-and-daughter duo to thank them for saving their father's life. Katie Severn, 28, said the two Aussie heroes rescued her father, Mike Reynolds, 73, when he had a heart seizure and lost consciousness while on a snorkelling trip to Phi Phi island on April 22.

telegraph.co.au Katie's sister Kristi said the good Samaritans told her they were both lifesavers on Australia's east coast and were in Phuket on a family holiday. Mr Reynolds is still in intensive care in Phuket.

business-standard.com In the coming days, cancellations are expected to go up to 30 percent as the Indian embassy in Thailand has issued a fresh travel advisory for travelers, advising precautions for personal safety, including avoiding certain areas.

nationmultimedia.com The beach at Pattaya is to be widened to about 35 metres to prevent erosion and boost income from tourists visiting the seaside resort town. Pattaya City's sand-fill project is expected to begin in October and will take around two years, said mayor Itthiphol Kunplome.

bbc.com At least 36 migrants drowned when their boat sank off the Libyan coast earlier this week, officials said, following the recovery of more bodies. Another 54 people remain missing.

smh.com.au Australians are living in the most expensive G20 economy in the world. A study by the World Bank shows the costs of goods and services in Australia are elevated around the levels of pricey European countries Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

theage.com.au Exorbitant internet fees are at or near the top of the list in hotel industry surveys that measure guest dissatisfaction, and the practice is particularly prevalent in Australia.

reuters France has offered to host a summit with Nigeria and its neighbors focused on Islamist militant group Boko Haram, President Francois Hollande said. Global outrage over the Boko Haram's abduction of 200 schoolgirls last month has focused attention on the group.



globalnation.inquirer.com The 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) met in the Burma (Myanmar) capital Naypyidaw this weekend in the absence of a top-level Thai representative following Wednesday's judicial ruling ousting Yingluck from office for abuse of power.

nationmultimedia.com Among human traffickers, Thailand is known as a haven due to its easy access, the weak law enforcement and border controls. Authorities working in collusion with traffickers near and far ensure that their victims' illegal entries are carried out in systematic ways in various parts of Thailand.

independent.co.uk The Foreign Office confirmed that it was investigating reports of an alleged relationship between a female British diplomat and a prison inmate serving six years for drugs charges on Bali.

care2.com Brunei's Stone the Gays law is now in effect, and Hollywood isn't taking this lying down - at least, not in any of the hotels in California that the Sultan of Brunei has financed.

bangkokpost.com Asia-Pacific airlines saw their net earnings last year fall 55 percent as they succumbed to widespread pressures arising from stiff competition and lacklustre air-cargo demand. The region's 23 main carriers posted US$2.5 billion in combined net profit, down from $5.6 billion the previous year, said the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).

scmp.com The South China Sea dispute is not a problem between China and Asean, Beijing said, urging certain member states not to use the issue to sow discord.



goal.com Liverpool narrowly missed out on this year's title as Manchester City registered a 2-0 win over West Ham to lift the trophy. Brendan Rodgers' men came from behind to sign off their campaign with a 2-1 victory at home to Newcastle.

theguardian.com Manuel Pellegrini has challenged his Manchester City players to begin an era of dominance after watching them wrap up a second Premier League title in three seasons.

reuters Rafa Nadal won an unconvincing second straight Madrid Open title after Kei Nishikori sustained a back injury when closing on victory in the second set of Sunday's final and was forced to retire early in the third.

thetimes.co.uk Lewis Hamilton set a personal milestone with a fourth win in a row for the first time in his Formula One career as he swept to victory in the Spanish Grand Prix and into the lead in the World Championship.



May 13 Visakha Bucha Day

July 11 Arsanha Bucha Day

August 12 Queen's Birthday

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

November 6 Loy Kratong

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket

December 5 King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 10th Anniversary, 2004 Tsunami

December 31 New Year's Eve