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

pattayapeople.com A large contingent of the US Navy arrived in Laem Chabang port after finishing their 2010 Valiant Shield Training Mission in South Korea. The US aircraft carrier George Washington, with support ships USS Cowpens and USS McCampbell, will be at the port for five days. [Phuket was the US port of preference before a series of taxi and tuk-tuk blockades.]

cnngo.com Thailand's never-die tuk-tuks now a global export: Here's a look inside one of the country's four tuk-tuk factories, which churns out about 200 of the popular tourist icons every year.


afp The captain of a Qatar Airways flight from the Philippines to Qatar died as it was in the air, forcing the plane to be diverted to Kuala Lumpur. In Kuala Lumpur, a new crew boarded.

alibaba.com Indonesia's state procurement body, Bulog, said it was still in talks to buy 200,000 tonnes of rice from Thailand. Traders and government officials meeting on Phuket said the deal had not been sealed because of the rise in the baht, which has forced the Thai government to raise its offer price, making Bulog reluctant.

telegraph.co.uk The pornographic film industry in California is in crisis after an actor was diagnosed with HIV. Five film companies have suspended production and others are expected to follow as medical officials scrambled to track down actors exposed to the disease.

smh.com.au The Australian dollar has hit a fresh 27-year high against the US dollar, rising to almost 99.4 US cents. [More Australians are travelling to Phuket because of the $A's strength.]

todayonline.com If everyone on the planet enjoyed the same level of consumption as the average resident of Singapore, three Earths would be needed to sustain it. According to the World Wide Fund for Nature Living Planet Report 2010, the ecological footprint of the average Singapore resident in a year is equal to that of 33 Africans.

afp Yonni Barrios, the 21st miner to be hauled to the surface after 69 days underground, stepped out of the escape capsule to be hugged by his mistress, Susana Valenzuela. Valenzuela and Barrios's wife of 28 years, Marta Salinas, had come to blows weeks ago when both claimed to be the woman Barrios was pining for as he sat trapped in the Chile mine.

abcnews.go.com Once the jubilation is over, experts say reed miners may have to confront medical and psychological issues. How they respond depends on each miner's individual psyche as well as the amount of support they get from mental health professionals, their families and the community.

nationmultimedia.com French operator Sofitel aims to have properties in every Asian capital and in major tourist destinations, including Phuket and Samui, over 10 years. Key competitors in Southeast Asia are Hilton, JW Marriott, InterContinental, Hyatt, Mandarin Oriental and Westin. InterContinental has 23 properties, followed by Hilton with 19, Westin with 14, and Sofitel and JW Marriott with nine each.

mcot.net The annual vegetarian festival on Phuket this year has attracted around 70 percent of Thai and foreign visitors according to the average room check-in ratio, said Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket director Bangornrat Chinaprayoon. Participants in the festival are Thais of Chinese origin as well as Malaysian, Singaporean, and Chinese tourists.

Associated Press Cambodian courts convicted an American (three years' jail) , a Frenchman (17 years) and a Japanese (seven years) in separate cases of sexually abusing teenagers that authorities said should serve as a warning to pedophiles.

bbc.co.uk Burma's detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi will refuse to vote in the national election on November 7. Her lawyer, Nyan Win, said that although her name was on a voters' list, she would not take part.

afp Indonesia, with one of the highest smoking rates in the world, plans to raise its tobacco excise tax by five percent next year to help meet state revenue targets. Sixty percent of men are estimated to smoke along with a ''disturbing'' number of children

smh.com.au Australia is viewed as the ''dumb blonde'' of the world, attractive but shallow and unintelligent, says a visiting British branding expert. Simon Anholt, who has advised more than 40 countries on national identity and reputation, said Australia has a one-dimensional image.

hospitalitybizindia.com W Hotels Worldwide will open W Retreat Koh Samui, in Thailand on November 1. The hotel will feature 75 private villas with private plunge pool, daybed, an outdoor shower, Yamaha sound system, 46-inch plasma screen TV, wine refrigerator, signature W bed and an indoor/outdoor lounge.

nationmultimedia.com The so-called Bangkok Eye will become one of the world's tallest Ferris wheels, surpassing even Britain's famous London Eye, a deputy Bangkok governor said.

stuff.co.nz To get to Khao Lak, we turn right at Phuket Airport. It's a little like turning left on a jumbo jet - more spacious, more luxurious, with better food and fewer people. [Yes, they're still getting it wrong. This is how errors become facts on the Internet. New Zealand, please turn LEFT - otherwise you'll never get off Phuket.]



Until October 16 Vegetarian Festival, 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