UPDATE
bbc.co.uk The death toll from Sandy is continuing to rise as swathes of the US East Coast battle to recover from the massive storm. At least 90 people are now known to have died in the US, 38 in New York City alone, and others are missing.
PhuketWATCH Daily Media Wrap
PHUKET: A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.
telegraph.co.uk Burma has acknowledged the persecution of its stateless Rohingya Muslim minority and is considering giving citizenship to third-generation members of the group as a first step to finding a solution to the conflict with local Rakhine Buddhists.
afp Bangladeshi fishermen in the Bay of Bengal searched for about 130 people missing after a boat sank while carrying Rohingya refugees heading for Malaysia. UNHCR coordinator James Lynch said: ''Unscrupulous smuggling networks are exploiting the desperation of people facing violence and poverty.''
huffingtonpost.co.uk Rohingya, despite having lived in Burma for hundreds of years, are not recognised as citizens. For years they have faced severe restrictions on marriage, movement, education and religion in Burma, because they are deemed ''foreigners''.
Phuket Update Phuket has a new honorary consul. Jiratha Thavornwongwong represents the Republic of Brazil and has opened an office at Kata Beach Resort and Spa. She is also responsible for the safety of citizens in Krabi, Phang Nga and Ranong.
bangkokpost.com New Pheu Thai Party leader and Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan has vowed to press ahead with the controversial reconciliation and charter amendment bills, renewing fears of a new round of political unrest.
Phuket Update Phuket Governor Phuket Maitree Inthusud meets the Phuket media for the first time today with two keenly anticipated tourism-boosting events - the Andaman World Experience festival, scheduled to be opened on November 10 by PM Yingluck Shinawatra, and the two-day Paris Hilton New Year party at Surin beach - not on the list of topics for discussion.
livetgradingnews.com Yingluck Shinawatra has reshuffled her Cabinet for the third time since last year, with a dozen new faces, in a move to further consolidate her power and at the same time silence her critics.
reuters British police arrested comedian Freddie Starr as part of an investigation triggered by allegations that the late BBC presenter Jimmy Savile sexually abused hundreds of children. Savile's 4.3 million pound estate has been frozen in response to the allegations.
thephuketinsider.com Phuket's high profile chic Surin Beach is set to welcome the Diamond Beach Club next month.
bangkokpost.com PTT and Bangchak will cut the prices of all petrol by 0.40 baht per litre and 0.20 baht a litre for gasohol E85, effective from 5am on Friday. The prices of diesel and E20 will remain unchanged.
ft.com Indonesia is introducing random drug tests for judges and judicial staff after a judge was arrested at a Jakarta nightclub on suspicion of possessing ecstasy and methamphetamine.
smh.com.au In a surprise announcement, New York's Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, says Superstorm Sandy has reshaped his thinking about the presidential campaign and he is endorsing Barack Obama.
cnn.com In just five days, US voters go to the polls to decide whether to replace Obama with Republican contender Mitt Romney. The outcome could depend on just eight states.
telegraph.co.uk The city of New York always has been a paean to human achievement - but seldom more than it is this week. The recovery from Sandy is turning out to be more spectacular than the storm itself. The New York marathon is to proceed as planned on Sunday, sending 50,000 runners down streets where taxis were floating just a few days ago.
bbc.co.uk More than 80 people are now known to have died in the US, 37 in New York City alone, and others remain missing. About 4.5 million customers in 12 states are still without power, and chronic fuel shortages persist.
smh.com.au Websites that link to offensive material may no longer be able to hide behind the defence that they are not technically publishers, after Australian Michael Trkulja successfully sued Google for defamation.
dailymail.com Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler proposed in December last year and said that their wedding planning was going swimmingly: ''I thought either [Hawaii] or Phuket [in Thailand],' he told Life & Style. I'm all about writing 'I love you' on a beach and surprising somebody.''
bangkokpost.com Mention Phuket and you immediately think of its beaches. But, surely, Phuket has other points of interest even if they don't come to mind as readily. One of them is exploring its history, and for that there's no better place than the Phuket Thai Hua Museum located in the old quarter of town.
Phuket World Sports Wrap
rnzi.com Brazil have begun the defence of their Futsal World Cup crown in convincing fashion, thumping Japan 4-1 on the opening day of the tournament in Thailand.
nationmultimedia.com Thailand opened their Futsal World Cup campaign in highly impressive fashion with a 3-1 victory over Costa Rica to set the early pace in Group A. They next face Ukraine on Sunday.
reuters Andy Murray wasted a match point before being knocked out 5-7 7-6 6-2 by Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz following a sloppy display in the third round of the Paris Masters.
Phuket Coming Events 2012
From November 1 Futsal World Cup, Bangkok
November 9 IBAP network meeting
November 25 Laguna Phuket Triathlon
November 28 Loy Kratong Day
November 30 AustCham Phuket sundowners social and business networking
December 1 World AIDs Day
December 1-8 King's Cup Regatta
December 5 HM The King's Birthday
December 10 Constitution Day
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
December 16-18 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous, Bang Tao beach
December 25 Christmas Day
Phuket Coming Events 2013
October 5-13 Phuket Vegetarian Festival
Phuket Coming Events 2014
November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket
