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

cnn.com A fire at a karaoke bar and discotheque in Medan, in Indonesia's North Sumatra province, killed at least 20 people on Friday night, according to a hospital.

bbc.co.uk The fire engulfed a karaoke bar on the third floor of a commercial building in the city, Indonesia's third largest. Officials said that they had only just gained access to the smoke-filled rooms where victims were trapped and feared that the death toll could rise further. Local media reports suggested hundreds had been in the bar.

Associated Press Russian news agencies say a blast at a nightclub has killed 76 people in the city of Perm. There were no immediate reports on the possible cause of the explosion early Saturday.

Phuketwan Update The fleet of the Phuket King's Cup Regatta marks HM The King's birthday today with a traditional sailpast salute, just one of many events in celebration on the island. HM The King is due to make a televised appearance in public in Bangkok about 10.30am, his first appearance in public since September 19.

APART FROM a tremendously exciting pro race, race organisers also anticipate one of the largest fields ever on Sunday December 6 at the 2009 Laguna Phuket Triathlon. This year is the fifth consecutive year that entries to the individual race have sold-out, with 900 individuals, 50 relay teams (150 competitors), and an expected 300 people taking part in the 6k Fun Run.

Associated Press Local WFTV-Channel 9's Eyewitness News reported that Tiger Woods' three alleged mistresses could just be the tip of the iceberg. The station reported that two more women are talking to lawyers, claiming they too have had affairs, one of them up until three weeks ago. There also are reports by the Web site The Daily Beast that Tiger and Elin Woods are in marriage counseling and are renegotiating their prenuptial agreement.

smh.com.au Den Le Batard writes; More and more people are profiting from this new-media world where the famous get screwed and the screwed get famous.

upi.com Burma's Supreme Court has agreed to consider dissident leader Aung San Suu Kyi's appeal of her additional 18 months of house arrest, her lawyer said on Friday. U Kyi Win told the New York Times that the country's highest court has scheduled a preliminary hearing for December 21. That hearing is procedural, allowing lawyers to argue for a full hearing.

straitstimes.com Jessica Cheam, Money Reporter, writes: Climate change negotiations begin in Copenhagen on Monday. As I head towards the European city, though, I know there are some who are still unaware of what climate change is, those who don't really care either way, and those who are still doubting the science behind it.

guardian.co.uk British police this week shut down more than 1200 scam websites that claimed to be selling designer clothes and jewellery in what is thought to be the biggest single swoop of its kind in the world. The websites had '''.co.uk'' web addresses, so British shoppers were duped into making what seemed to be bargain purchases, but they received counterfeit products or nothing at all.

nytimes.com Gliider is just one of a growing number of online tools to help travelers plan where to go and what to do. While still immature and somewhat buggy, finding, sorting, saving and organizing nuggets culled from online travel content is becoming more efficient and fun. Two other services, TravelMuse and NileGuide, also help users organise trip information, create their travel guides and make bookings via partners.

scmp.com Beijing is pushing ahead with its request to take a lead role in co-ordinating anti-piracy efforts off Somalia, formally presenting a proposal this week during a meeting of international naval task forces in Bahrain. The PLA Navy is seeking co-chairmanship of the monthly sessions, which see European Union, Nato and US-led flotillas map out patrol strategies to protect and manage vital sea lanes.

thestar.com.my Using current statistics, an informed blogger estimates that by 2015 Singapore will be populated by 6.59 million people, of just only half (or 3.91 million) will be true-blue Singaporeans. Take away the naturalised citizens (estimated: 181,000) born and bred Singaporeans may be the minority in their country.

nationmultimedia.com Techno guru Armin Van Buuren headlines this year's S3quence Festival at Phuket on December 10. Van Buuren was recently ranked as the top DJ of 2009 by DJ Mag and Beatport. Entry to the Patong beach party is free.

thisislondon.co.uk A fleet of superyachts could be moored alongside Olympic venues under plans to build a marina in time for the 2012 Games. Informa Yacht Group has held talks with docks operators and City Hall as it seeks to add a maritime playground on the Thames to its portfolio in Phuket, Antigua, Abu Dhabi and Monaco.

cnn.com Feng Zhenghu, a Chinese citizen who has moved into Narita Airport's international arrival concourse because he has been denied entry into China eight times. Four times he boarded planes and landed in Shanghai before Chinese immigration turned him around. The other four times Japanese officials didn't let him board the plane. Feng suspects it's due to his work in China as a human rights activist.

hdmag.com on December 22, Ritz-Carlton will introduce its first Reserve property at Phulay Bay in Krabi. Guests enter the resort over a stepping-stone walkway that leads them to a wooden Thai pavilion on an island surrounded by thousands of gently flickering candles. Meanwhile, contemporary Thai style permeates the property's 54 villas, while high aubergine walls and ''hedges'' made from indigenous trees offer guests a connection with nature.