UN secretary-general Ban Ki-Moon supports Thailand's plan to achieve political stability and is visiting the country on October 26, PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said during his weekly broadcast.


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

cnn.com Anxious family members and exhausted rescue workers reveled in joyful relief after a drill pierced the roof of an underground mine in Chile where 33 men have been trapped since August 5.

globeandmail.com Although they have now plunged a large rescue hole deep into a Chilean mine, workers are unlikely to begin raising any of the men trapped below before Tuesday evening, a senior Chilean mining official said.

smh.com.au So bonne chance to all of you marrying today on 10.10.10 in the hope that it will bring you luck in a world which considers the perfect woman to be Jennifer Aniston, an actor so wooden she can be mistaken for the set.

bangkokpost.com The president of Thai Airways International reiterated his determination to get a budget airline joint venture with Singapore's Tiger Airways off the ground. His statement was the first response since the Transport Ministry on September 27 ordered the creation of a special committee to examine the plan.



LA FLORA Khao Lak and The Village Phuket Charity Golf Competition: The community in Khao Lak, a tourist destination on the coast north of Phuket that was hammered by the 2004 tsunami, is holding its first charity golf tournament in aid of two worthy causes: the Foundation for Education and Development, and the KL Community Appeal Foundation. The November 6 event is at the Tab Lamu Navy Golf Course, one of the secret delights of the Andaman coast: a links course with a great reputation at good value. Some of the kids are pictured above. Email sam@khaolakappeal.com or telephone 089 875 1995.

scotsman.com Taxi driver Pat Donnelly is awaiting a tuk-tuk motorised rickshaw from Thailand, which he plans to operate on a timetabled service for visitors around the tourist destinations in Glascow. Donnelly, first with a licence for a three-wheel tuk-tuk in Scotland, plans to charge passengers 10 pounds a head - less than 500 baht - for a one-hour trip.
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smh.com.au Ten people in an Australian state have been fined a total of more than $A580,000 for posing as taxi drivers and illegally providing rides at discount rates. One British tourist, who asked not to be named, said she had become ''uncomfortable'' after accepting a ride from a man on Bondi Beach last week. A NSW Taxi Council spokeswoman said: ''Taxi drivers are hard-working individuals who have undergone the appropriate criminal checks and intensive training.''

troymedia.com Many tourists content themselves to spend all their days in the busy and extremely touristy area of Patong. Believe it or not, there is more to Phuket than Patong. So, take advantage of the excellent roads and explore the many spectacular facets of the island.

mirror.co.uk Cheered by thousands, the Queen Elizabeth sailed into her home port of Southampton for the first time. The 400 million pound, 92,400-tonne liner, capable of carrying 2092 passengers, built in Italy, will be officially named by the Queen on Monday and embarks on its maiden voyage to the Canary Islands on Tuesday.

eturbonews.com Thai AirAsia launches a new Phuket to Bali flight this winter served by four weekly frequencies. Thai Airways just boosted the total number of frequencies from Bangkok to Jakarta and Bali during the summer, offering, respectively, 10 and 11 weekly frequencies.

bbc.co.uk The former editor of Indonesian Playboy, Erwin Arnada, has been arrested on Bali. Police had been looking for Mr Arnada, who ignored orders to surrender after being sentenced to two years in jail for indecency in August.

theage.com.au A ferry carrying about 240 people caught fire in the Baltic Sea, injuring 22 people, German authorities said. All passengers and crew were rescued. An explosion on the upper deck of the 200-metre Lisco Gloria set the ship ablaze but it was not clear what caused the explosion.

telegraph.co.uk Britain has fewer intensive care beds than any other developed country and would struggle to treat patients injured in a large scale disaster, experts have warned.

necn.com More than 50 animals including two endangered Bengal tigers belonging to convicted international wildlife smuggler Anson Wong and his wife have been seized in Penang. They also removed a 1.52m-long crocodile, four wildcats and six pythons from an orchard, believed to be owned by Wong's family members.

nme.com A monument to John Lennon, a globe with doves flying above, has been unveiled in Liverpool by his first wife Cynthia and son Julian. October 9 would have been the late Beatle's 70th birthday.



MONDAY'S Vegetarian Parade is from the Lim Hu Tai Su Shrine in Sam Kong down Yaowarat Road to Phuket Town and back. It starts about 7am.

Until October 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 6 Charity golf at Tab Lamu, near Khao Lak: Call Sam on 089 875 1995 E: sam@khaolakappeal.com
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 21 Loy Kratong Festival
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