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

bangkokpost.com The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has warned local residents in Phuket, Phang Nga, Ranong, Krabi and 31 other provinces to beware of flash floods, landslides and mountain runoff due to heavy rains in the next few days.

pattayapeople.com Pattaya is no stranger to flooding, but on Sunday the whole city and surrounding areas suffered the worse flood damage in its history. Indeed, the whole city was paralysed and came to a standstill. Pattaya has never experienced such a crisis in its long history and the news is not good as more rain is forecast for the area over the next few days.

nationmultimedia.com The flooding death toll nationally stands at 82 with the body of a French mountainbiker identified merely as Reimi, 30, found in Prachin Buri. He disappeared Saturday night while cycling alone near Eto National Park. Waist-high flooding hit many areas of North and South Pattaya in Chon Buri province while Central Pattaya was inundated.

Phuket Update Local authorities checked Patong bar patrons for ID cards and drugs, with special attention being paid to bars and go-go venues that have in some cases applied to open but do not as yet have formal permission to operate on Phuket. Surprise visits on Sunday night were led by Patpong Nernklong, Permanent Secretary of Kathu District as part of a national campaign also targetting rip-offs, too-sexy shows and other abuses.

thejakartaglobe.com Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in her first official visit to Indonesia, praised past cooperation between the two countries and expressed optimism for stronger links in future.

bangkokpost.com Bangkok Airways has cancelled its order for four Airbus A350 jets after suspending the launch of long-haul flights that would have been served by the new-generation wide-body aircraft. Airline president Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth said the carrier's revised strategic is to shelve its intercontinental start-up and prepare for domestic and regional expansion.

smh.com.au RedQ is emerging as the most likely name for Qantas's latest spin-off, an ultra-premium airline aimed at executives travelling in Asia. Singapore Airlines has also tried to keep secret the name of its new long-haul budget airline - to be launched next year - but filings in Singapore show it has sought to trademark Scoot.

pattayapeople.com Pattaya Police were called to investigate the apparent balcony hanging suicide of a Swiss man, 40-year-old Mr. Jurg Buchs. He and his Thai girlfriend of four months had just had an argument over who was to go fetch drinking water as she refused and carried on sleeping.

media release ITB, the leading travel trade show, is stepping up its activities in the market for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender tourism. Only recently, ITB Berlin became the first tourism trade fair to gain a seat on the supervisory board of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Rika Jean-Francois, in charge of gay and lesbian travel at ITB Berlin, has been appointed to the supervisory board of this international organisation.

timesofassam.com Finally the Indian Parliament bowed down to listen to people's voice on corruption and resolved to frame strong anti-corruption legislation. Following a massive protest spread across the sub-continent led by Gandhian Anna Hazare, both houses of Indian Parliament have agreed to go for an effective Lokpal (ombudsman) to check corruption in every level.

smh.com.au Fighter jets were scrambled and bomb squads were called out after security fears on US passenger planes on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks - but officials said the scares were nothing more than people ''making out'' in bathrooms and long toilet breaks.

suntimes.com A US federal judge will consider an Australian national's request to have his drug trafficking charges dropped because it's been nine years since he was charged. Prosecutors say defendant Mitchell Blake was serving a Thai prison sentence after being convicted in that country in the 1990s on drug charges. Blake, who also goes by Martin Garnett, was charged in 2002 with shipping heroin from Thailand to Indiana.

Media Release The 8over8 hotel, a project by Castlewood Group, will be situated in Phuket, near the beautiful Bang Tao Beach and Laguna Resort. It is scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

afp The US aviation regulator proposed a $590,000 fine for Alaska Airlines for allegedly operating a Boeing 737 jet on more than 2000 flights when it had failed to meet safety regulations.

nationmultimedia.com Thailand has been ranked the fourth best world destination in a survey conducted by the renowned Conde Nast Traveler magazine while Six Senses Hideaway Samui has been voted Best in the World, winning the number one spot in the Readers' Travel Awards Top 100.

bangkokpost.com Among the ranks of the World's Top Island Destinations, Phuket was ranked 10th, but was given high scores for value for money and for hospitality; according to the magazine, the island resort was a place where one can find ''luxury-on-a-budget and a friendly welcome.''

asiatraveltips.com ''The Holiday Inn portfolio is expanding rapidly in the region with a pipeline of 28 hotels in the next three years,'' said Jennifer Yuen, Brand Director for Holiday Inn, Asia Australasia. ''The opening of Holiday Inn Resort Phuket Mai Khao Beach reaffirms our leadership in providing quality, great value accommodation in the mid-scale segment.''

bdnews24.com Six Rohingya men bearing fake Bangladeshi passports were arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport when they tried to pass Immigration to go to Saudi Arabia.

dailymail.co.uk A toddler has been suckling milk directly from a cow ever since his mother went away to find work when a storm destroyed the family home. Tha Sophat's grandfather revealed the 18-month-old had been feeding himself this way since July when his parents left Cambodia for Thailand.



PHUKET'S venerable monk Luang Pu Supha, founder of more than 30 wats throughout Thailand, will be awarded an honorary Chulalongkorn University degree this Friday, one day before his 115th birthday.



smh.com.au A brave Rafael Nadal found a way to win the third set and hang in after breaking Novak Djokovic when he was serving for the match. But Djokovic cleaned up in the fourth set, winning the US Open title 6-2, 6-4, 6-7, 6-1.

cnngo.com The Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011 will take place in Phuket on Patong beach from September 21-24. If a sizable swell should arrive during the competition, organisers say the backup site of Kalim Beach, just a few hundred meters away, will be utilised, with its right-hand reef break that can produce 100-meter long rides.

afp A parade of topless motorcycle-riding strippers scheduled to take place in Auckland this month has been cancelled to preserve the rugby World Cup's family atmosphere.



September 17-18 Honda Racing, Saphan Hin, Phuket City

September 21-24 Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition 2011, Patong

September 27-October 5 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 1-6 Women's Beach Volleyball Series at Karon on Phuket

November 26-27 9th Phuket International Soccer 7s

November 27 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

December 3-4 6th Andaman International Soccer 7s

December 4 Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship, Laguna



March 18-28 National Youth Games, Phuket

March 29-April 1 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket