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

PHUKET Tourist Police Director Colonel Ekachai Pramanakul has warned all Phuket businesses that they could be prosecuted if they use the Tourism Authority of Thailand's logo or slogans ('Unseen Thailand,' for example) without permission. At least one Phuket time share organisation has done so. Colonel Ekachai says action will be taken and the copyright infringement carries a penalty of up to three years' jail and/or a 6000 baht fine.

ukpa Victims of a nightclub fire in Thailand have been awarded a "pitiful" amount of compensation, a lawyer for one of the Britons caught up in the blaze has said. Sixty-seven people died and more than 100 were injured in the incident at Bangkok's upmarket Santika Club on New Year's Day 2009.

bbc.co.uk A Sheffield man who was badly injured in the Santika fire has called the level of compensation ordered by the court "disappointing". Oliver Smart, 33, said he would need medical attention for the rest of his life as a result of his injuries.

bangkokpost.com Officials from the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department have used heavy machinery to demolish a house built illegally in Thap Lan National Park in the Nadi district. ''We will do this to 50 more resorts and residences illegally built in our forests,'' said Damrong Pidech, the department director-general.

afp Eleven people were killed and 14 people were missing after a traditional boat sank off Bali. Up to 335 people were killed when a heavily overloaded ferry sank off Sulawesi island in January last year.

officialwire.com Indonesian police say a wooden boat carrying dozens of Balinese musicians has sunk in high waves, killing 11 people. Members of a traditional percussion troupe were heading to a nearby island to perform at a cremation ceremony when their vessel capsized.

bangkokpost.com The EU's economic woes will result in the number of European tourists to Thailand growing by only five percent in the fourth quarter, markedly down from an earlier projection of 20 percent, says the Tourism Council of Thailand. It recommends Thai operators monitor the situation closely.

ft.com News that Tesco is to hive off 15 of its Thai hypermarket sites into a listed property fund worth some 14 billion baht ticks important boxes for new chief executive Philip Clarke. Thailand, despite its color-coded tribal politics and penchant for coups, is looking increasingly attractive, if only in comparison to the slow-motion car crash in the developed economies.

bangkokpost.com Security checkpoints at Suvarnabhumi are undergoing dramatic changes under a 155-million-baht makeover designed to remove the bottlenecks choking traffic at one of Asia's busiest airports.

smh.com.au Fosters, Australia's biggest brewer, ended its defiance in the face of the hostile approaches from the Anglo-South African giant SABMiller when it accepted a sweetened takeover offer worth $12.3 billion.

kyodo Myanmar's democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi said she expects to be able to work well with President Thein Sein as he seems ''committed to reform,'' but the international community should not yet lift sanctions imposed on the military-dominated government.

smh.com.au "News Ltd's" days are numbered. The antipodean arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp will be rebranded "News Australia" from early next year.

incentivetravel.co.uk Royal Phuket Marina is establishing a fully covered dry boat storage facility from October 1. This will complement the marina's existing state-of-the-art dry stack facilities. The ''boat garage'' as it is called, will have space for approximately 30-35 vessels of up to 33- feet in length. Storage is weather-proof and the service includes hauling boats in and out of the water, as well as cleaning and maintenance.

telegraph.co.uk The BBC has overhauled its homepage in a bid to make it easier to use and clearer to see a larger selection of its content at a glance.



reuters Debutant Owen Hargreaves scored his first goal for more than three years and Mario Balotelli grabbed his first of the season as Manchester City beat holders Birmingham City 2-0 in a League Cup third round tie.

guardian.co.uk A 10-man Chelsea won a scoreless but entertaining Carling Cup tie against Fulham on the penalty shoot-out, courtesy of Bryan Ruiz's missed fifth kick that smacked the crossbar and bounced close to the goalline.

bbc.co.uk Craig Bellamy opened the scoring with a composed finish early on and played a part Liverpool's second goal as Dirk Kuyt confirmed their place in the next round of the Carling Cup draw 10 minutes from time. Brighton 1-2 Liverpool.

bangkokpost.com Red shirt leaders who are now members of parliament will fly off for a friendly football match with the Cambodian premier and his subordinates. They are planning similar football friendlies in other neighboring countries.

smh.com.au Australian rugby fans claim they have been spat on and abused by New Zealanders at the World Cup. Phil Dunne, a Sydney man who flew to Auckland with his wife last weekend, told the New Zealand Herald a ''hate vibe'' had become entrenched in the psyche of many New Zealanders.

asiaone.com With the Singapore Formula One just around the corner, even non-track side hotels stand to be big winners here, charging almost double their usual room rates. Rooms at Hotel 81's branches at Bencoolen and Bugis, located near to the track, are going for about $350 a night on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - about twice the regular $159 weekend rate.



THE FIRST-EVER joint Skal and PATA event on Phuket will be held at the Movenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach on Saturday September 24 from 5.30pm, with leading tourism officials attending, with a delegation from Bangkok. Phuket resort GMs, travel and tourism industry leaders are invited to join. The cocktail and dinner event can be booked by emailing Arnupab Satakorn on Arnupab@PATA-Thailand.org

TWINPALMS, noted for holding some of the best parties on Phuket, is celebrating its seventh anniversary on Saturday September 24 with an event at the Catch Beach Club in Surin from 8pm to Midnight that features performers and the intriguing dress code: white (latex welcome.) Telephone: 076 316657.



Until September 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