A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

nationmultimedia.com The Office of the Consumer Protection Board is summoning low-cost airlines to respond to complaints of unfair charges. The OCPB has issued letters to Thai AirAsia, Nok Air and One-Two-Go by Orient Thai demanding that they meet with officials by tomorrow to discuss the complaints. Consumers overseas know how to get the lowest price by making reservations far in advance, but in Thailand few are familiar with the procedure.

dailytimes.com.pk Tension between Thailand and Saudi Arabia eased after a senior Thai policeman charged over the 1994 disappearance of a Saudi businessman turned down a promotion. Lieutenant General Somkid Boonthanom declined the post of assistant national police chief after intense lobbying by Saudi diplomats who have demanded Thailand find those responsible for a jewellery theft and the murder of at least three Saudis.

economist.com In fiction, jewellery heists usually finish with a satisfying flourish. The priceless gemstones are recovered. The masterminds are caught and their fiendish plot laid bare for all to see, with a final revelation of the clue that gave them away. Thailand's Blue Diamond affair, named after a rare gem that a Thai servant pilfered from the palace of a Saudi prince in 1989, has not followed this script.


nationmultimedia.com The wife of the chief prosecutor in Surat Thani, who was shot dead on a public bus in Ratchaburi on Tuesday night, was killed over a property purchase deal with a man identified as the father of a Cabinet member, the Department of Special Investigation and local police said. A lone gunman boarded the bus, grabbed her by the hair and fired three shots into her head. He jumped off the bus and fled amid screaming and panic from the other passengers.

smh.com.au The mayor responsible for Australia's famous Bondi Beach says she backs a clampdown at Perth's Cottesloe Beach that would see beachgoers fined up to $500 for a range of offences including flying kites, using oversized umbrellas or digging holes. Sixty extra clauses would be added to council laws, banning a total of 100 listed activities at the famous beach.

telegraph.co.uk Under the plan, drinking alcohol, sitting on paths and disobeying lifeguards will attract a penalty. The council claims that the beach has become so popular that existing laws are outdated. The move has provoked an angry response from locals.

sky.com Dropping cigarette butts and wasting water could also be barred. Visitors to Sydney's Bondi beach have to comply with restrictions including bans on ball games, while kite flying is restricted to a festival held once a year.

telegraph.co.uk The British Isles are the worst place to live in Europe, according to a new survey that claims residents endure higher prices, work harder and receive poorer public services than their counterparts on the continent. Britons pay more for food and fuel than other European citizens, while spending more time in the office per week and enjoying less sunshine. Only Ireland fares worse.

MCOT The State Railway of Thailand and the Tourism Authority of Thailand jointly initiated a new campaign and a fleet of newly-renovated passenger trains to boost domestic tourism. SRT Governor Yutthana Thapcharoen, presiding over the inauguration ceremony with TAT Governor Surapol Svetasreni, said the train improvements were meant for tourism and creating a new image.

smh.com.au Time is fast running out for the army of Delhi construction workers to fix the athletes' village, with Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper unable to give a guarantee the event will proceed.

nzherald.co.nz Singapore could be used as a holding pen for athletes if the Commonwealth Games village is still uninhabitable by the time they are due to arrive.

bbc.co.uk People who think more about whether they are right have more cells in an area of the brain known as the frontal lobes. UK scientists, writing in 'Science', looked at how brain size varied depending on how much people thought about decisions.

carrentals.co.uk Addressing rural poverty, climate change and coastal tsunamis are all on the agenda for the Global Aquaculture conference in Phuket. The 700 delegates listened in concerned silence as the opening keynote address swept through a raft of issues. With some staggering statistics Professor Swaninathan from Unesco spoke of the effects of a two degree rise in sea temperature. Effects such as entire coastal populations disappearing, and becoming coastal refugees. This is a major concern in countries with extensive ocean coastlines.

un.org During the four-day conference, which takes place on Phuket, participants will consider ways to reduce and mitigate the secto'rs environmental impact and improve its governance, while further increasing its contribution to food security, economic development and the alleviation of poverty. They will seek to build consensus on advancing aquaculture as a global, sustainable and competitive food production sector.

scmp.com A dengue fever alert has been issued after the first Hong Kong acquired case in seven years of the potentially fatal disease was confirmed.

thedailystar.net Malaysia has shown its eagerness to hire 5000 fishermen from Bangladesh, which the government thinks could be the first step towards reopening door to Bangladeshi workers. ''Having received offers from the Malaysian side, our high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur inquired if we could send fishermen,'' Dr Zafar Ahmed Khan, secretary to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, told The Daily Star.

autosport.com Michael Roche, the executive director of the Singapore Grand Prix, said at the Marina Bay circuit: "I want to see this race institutionalised - so that we are a Monaco, and an absolute must for Formula 1.'' F1's only proper night-race has proved a huge success since its inaugural event in 2008.

cnn.com Unknown gunmen fatally shot three policemen at a police station in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, authorities said. Men on motorcycles entered the police compound about 1am and shot the officers.

cnn.com An investigative committee looking into last month's bungled bus standoff in the Philippines has recommended criminal or administrative charges against former top police officials and three television networks, President Benigno Aquino told reporters.

cnngo.com Bangkok's Chatuchak Weekend Market will be under a strict non-smoking policy from October 1, reports the National News Bureau of Thailand. Puff-happy offenders will pay a maximum fine of 2000 baht.

guardian.co.uk The five-month long contest for Britain's Labor Party leadership ended as the ballot closed, leaving the two Miliband brothers, David and Ed, waiting until Saturday afternoon to discover which of them will be given the task of leading the party.



September 25 International Reef Cleanup Day, Phuket. More: Roger Chubb 087 628 2805 E: scubawoj@gmail.com
September 25-26 Phuket Dinghy series, for young sailors, begins
Until September 26 Quiksilver 2010 Surf Competition, Kata beach
Until September 29 USNS Walter S. Diehl to visit Phuket
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
October 12 Qatar begins daily flights to Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
November 5 Phuket Charity Pro Am Golf, Blue Canyon
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi