nytimes.com The State Department travel alert issued in response to reports of a threat by Al Qaeda was anything but precise. The alert's vagueness embodied the dilemma for the authorities in the United States and Europe over how to publicise a threat that intelligence analysts call credible but not specific.


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

HAPPY AIR is to begin flights between Phuket and Nakhon Ratchasima in Korat on Saturday, October 16. Flights to the new destination on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays will enable travellers to Isarn provinces to bypass Bangkok.

Associated Press Alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout arrived at a Bangkok court Monday in a bulletproof vest for a crucial hearing that could finally determine if he will be extradited to the United States.

hindustantimes.com A Moscow-Singapore flight landed in Kolkata airport a few minutes after midnight on Sunday, forced down by a mid-flight bomb scare. According to airport sources, there were 265 passengers and crew on board the flight SQ2345.

bloomberg The US State Department issued an alert warning Americans traveling to Europe to be vigilant about possible terrorist attacks. The advisory says Americans should be aware that terrorists often target popular tourist attractions and public transportation such as subways and rail systems.

reuters The British government updated travel advice for its nationals in France and Germany on Sunday, raising the threat of terrorism to ''high'' from ''general,'' the Foreign Office said.

smh.com.au More than 400,000 dogs in Bali will be vaccinated for rabies within the next few months to stop an outbreak that has claimed 70 lives. About 30,000 people have been bitten by dogs in six months, including several Australians who had to be flown to Darwin for treatment because Indonesia is chronically short of vaccinations to use after exposure.

bangkokpost.com Doctors and administrative staff at state hospitals suspected of taking commissions from pharmaceutical companies are being targeted as part of a crackdown to help reduce unnecessary state spending.

nationmultimedia.com Thirty years ago, the Philippines' economy was double that of Thailand but due to corruption it plunged, Utis Kaothien, senior adviser to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, said last week. ''Looking ahead, either Indonesia or Thailand could experience a similar situation,'' he said. Corruption is widespread among local administrations, where nominees were set up to take under the table bribes, he said.

smartcompany.com.au Central banks and governments in Japan, Colombia, Thailand, Poland, Taiwan, Russia, Peru, Mexico, Korea and South Africa are now either intervening directly in foreign exchange markets to try to force their currencies down, or talking about it. Money is pouring out of the developed world and into emerging countries, pushing their currencies higher.

smh.com.au Thailand's government is planning to repatriate Burmese asylum seekers after that country holds its first elections in 20 years next month, raising concerns refugees could be sent back to the war-zones they've fled. Speaking in New York, Thai Foreign Minister, Kasit Piromya, said returning Burmese to their homeland was a priority for the government.

dailymail.co.uk A former Marxist guerilla from Brazil is set to become the most powerful woman in the world - more influential than U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Dilma Rousseff, 62, represents the ruling Workers Party and is the hand-chosen successor of outgoing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

cnn.com Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez followed his shock win over compatriot and world number one Rafael Nadal by claiming the Thailand Open title with a three sets defeat of Jarkko Nieminen.

ibtimes.com Indonesia is one of the ''rising stars'' of emerging Asia and some economists believe this vast nation will one day become a regional superpower, behind only China and India, as global economic activity increasingly shifts towards east Asia, away from the faltering developed nations of the west and Japan.



DATES for the 2011 Phuket International Blues Rock Festival have been announced: Phuket grooves on February 26-27 next year.

October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Hafale, Phuket City
October 8 IBAP panel on Phuket's economy, Thai Naan restaurant, Central Festival corner, 7pm.
October 8-16 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 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


January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi