pattayaone.net The Pattaya Police Chief announced that he has begun an investigation into Tim ''Sharky'' Ward, a confessed sexpat who recently confronted officers at Pattaya Police Station over allegations of theft of money and gold.


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 China and Japan will consider lifting travel advisories announced during this year's political unrest to make travel to Thailand easier, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said.

bbc.com Violinist Vanessa-Mae has been banned from skiing for four years after results were manipulated to help her qualify for the Sochi Winter Olympics. An International Ski Federation (FIS) hearing panel found ''violations'' in the Thailand skier's results at an event in Slovenia.

thenational.ae The next two weeks will see a surge in visitor numbers as fans arrive on Phuket for the fourth Asian Beach Games, which begin on Wednesday and run until November 23, bringing with them more cheer and business for the natives.



usatoday.com President Obama is expected to address the plight of the Rohingya during his meeting Thursday with Burma's President Thein Sein. Some Rohingya who flee Burma encounter situations worse than those back home. An extensive human-trafficking ring emerged to exploit the desperate migrants.

nationmultimedia.com With links to smuggling gangs, each seemingly innocent-looking fishing trawler can carry more than 200 Rohingyapeople per trip, while a big boat can carry as many as 1000, a source said.

cnn.com ''There couldn't be a clearer case of ethnic cleansing,'' said Matthew Smith, executive director of Fortify Rights, a human rights group that has extensively researched the crisis in Rakhine state.

afp The United Nations has urged Thai authorities against deporting 259 Myanmar boatpeople being held in southern Thailand after they were intercepted en route to Malaysia.



afp British police have departed from Thailand after reviewing an investigation into the murder of two Britons on a southern Thai island and will now compile a report of their findings, Scotland Yard said.



afp The Ebola epidemic has led to a boom in downloads for the online game ''Plague Inc,'' prompting its British developer to launch a charity initiative and offer it as a teaching tool.



reuters Reuters.com is ending user comments on news stories. Much of the well-informed and articulate discussion around news, as well as criticism or praise for stories, has moved to social media and online forums.

bangkokpost.com The 2004 tsunami has not affected land prices in Phuket, which tripled over the past 10 years in the wake of booming tourism.

Phuket Update Bobbies on bicycles are being tested in the form of a Phuket police beach detachment along the Kata-Karon foreshore during the Asian Beach Games, where crimes can now be reported to the nearest 7-Eleven convenience store.

news.com.au Virgin Australia has cut short a promotion with controversial share-ride company Uber after an angry backlash. The airline was offering $40 off an Uber ride with any tickets sold for flights in 2015 in a deal that had many passengers stumped. Uber has been the subject of debate throughout Australia with Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales imposing hundreds of fines against ''unauthorised'' drivers operating illegally, and without valid insurance.

nationmultimedia.com Belgian national Patrick Lagrou, 54, was arrested on Phuket for growing 20,000 marijuana trees in his country, the record and largest number, as well as running an illegal trade worth around EU25 million. He had entered Thailand and worked on a farm in Phang Nga, police said.

xinhua.com According to Sisdivachr Chewarattanaporn, President of the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA), an estimated 4.3 million Chinese tourists will have visited Thailand by the end of this year. China topped the number of foreign tourists to Thailand last year with 4.7 million arrivals.

nationmultimedia.com More Russians are expected to head to the Andaman coast as operators have pushed marketing activities after the political crisis faded out.

thehindu.com Eleven women died and 34 were reported critical on Tuesday after undergoing ''faulty'' sterilisation surgeries at a government-organised family planning camp in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh.

nationmultimedia.com The National Legislative Assembly whip resolved yesterday to defer impeachment proceedings against ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra till November 28 over the rice-pledging scheme because she had not yet looked into the documents or prepared herself to fight the case.

reuters Thailand's largest homebuilder Land & Houses PCL reported a 6 percent drop in third quarter net profit due to lower revenue from its apartment block projects.

scmp.com The captain of the South Korean disaster ferry Sewol was sentenced to 36 years in prison for negligence and abandoning passengers when his ship sank in April.

AP A head-on collision between a passenger bus and a truck on a highway in southern Pakistan killed 58 people, police said. The collision ignited a fuel fire.

traveldailynews.asia Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group has experienced a record year in 2014 with nine property openings between January and September, equating to an average one opening per month. ONYX currently manages 51 properties, including 14 properties in development, ensuring its strategic plan to manage 81 hotels, resorts and serviced apartments by 2018 is on track to being achieved.

traveller.com.au Krabi Province is well known for its jarringly stunning limestone cliffs, turquoise waters and powdery white-sand beaches, but it's not only just about swimming and snorkelling in this idyllic location (although it can be if you want it to be). If you're a water enthusiast there are myriad of ways to enjoy the Andaman Sea.



nbcnews.com Australia said it remained committed to searching for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 after comments by one of the airline's directors suggesting the plane would be declared officially ''lost'' angered passengers' families.

washingtonpost.com ''I have been Rohingya for 66 years,'' said Albella, a resident who uses only one name. She wept as she described workers forcing her to lie on her citizenship application. ''It's more than a betrayal,'' she said. ''I no longer trust my own identity.''

afr.com At the Apec summit in Beijing, Indonesia's new President Joko Widodo has used his first overseas speech to make a direct appeal to foreign business to invest in his country.



November 14-23 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



February 13-15 Phuket Yacht Show