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

wsj.com Thailand topped the latest HSBC Expat survey for best overall expat experience, particularly when it comes to setting up, integrating and finding friends. China, Singapore, India and Taiwan all emerged in the top 10, with Malaysia (No. 20), Indonesia (No. 31) and Vietnam (No. 32).

smh.com.au Australian embassies are being secretly used to intercept phone calls and data across Asia as part of a US-led global spying network, according to whistleblower Edward Snowden and a former Australian intelligence officer. The top secret Defence Signals Directorate operates the clandestine surveillance facilities at embassies without the knowledge of most Australian diplomats.

Phuket Update The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Phuket will today review the reaction to the 500 million baht SuperCheap blaze earlier this month. A police forensics investigation is continuing.

nationmultimedia.com If the ruling Pheu Thai Party carries out its threat of passing the wholesale amnesty bill that will effectively absolve ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra of all guilt, including corruption and conflict of interest, a new round of political chaos is just around the corner.



dailymail.co.uk [Phuket pin-up] Rihanna uploaded a slew of sexy underwater bikini photos to her Instagram profile. The 25-year-old singer was photographed in the Dominican Republic in a series of seductive underwater shots, including drinking beverages with a friend.

Phuket Update Phuket Governor Maitree Intrusud is to visit the jet-ski operators on Patong beach this afternoon after chairing a meeting of private businesses connected to tourism in advance of the high season. Journalists could not recall a jet-ski visit by a governor since Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob introduced insurance and went for a ride in November, 2009.

scmp.com A spate of thefts by passengers from China who help themselves at duty-free stores in Phuket International Airport before making airborne getaways has prompted debate about security.

bangkokpost.com Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra Hospital publicly apologised after a photograph of two of its nurses flashing a victory sign in front of a slain bomb squad officer circulated on the internet.

nationmultimedia.com A cover picture of supermodel Naomi Campbell for Vogue Thailand would be unremarkable except that she no longer looks - how shall we put this - quite as African-American. Furore spread around the world ahead of the November issue's release today.

airport-world.com IATA director general and CEO, Tony Tyler, outlined his hopes for ''hassle-free'' airport journeys by 2020. ''A smooth and hassle-free journey where passengers do not have to break their stride from the kerb to the gate unless they choose to is the goal,'' said Tyler, speaking at the opening of the World Passenger Symposium in Dublin.

afp China and Malaysia, which have competing territorial claims, have agreed to hold landmark military drills next year.

bangkokpost.com The High Court in Scotland has handed down a life sentence to Clive Carter, 35, a security guard convicted of killing Khanokporn Satjawat with a fire extinguisher. Khanokporn was killed at a conference on HIV drug therapy in Glascow in November, 2012.

scmp.com Five suspects have been detained in connection with the car crash and explosion in Tiananmen Square, which authorities described for the first time as a ''terrorist attack''.

futuregov.asia One of the questions running through my mind during last week's 10th annual FutureGov Summit 2013 in Phuket was: The way individuals and organisations interact has been revolutionised, what are governments in Asia doing about this?

theregister.co.uk California cops have issued what is thought to be the first ticket for wearing Google's head-mounted Glass computers while driving. ''A cop just stopped me and gave me a ticket for wearing Google Glass while driving!'' said Cecilia Abadie on her Google+ page.

sfweekly.com Phuket Thai in the city's Lower Haight has decided to open its bathroom to non-customers - for a fee. Curious about this side business, we called Phuket, where we spoke to an employee named Mary. The managers were fed up with randoms dropping in and clogging the toilets.



goal.com Thailand's Pattaya United have announced that the club will be disbanding at the end of the Thailand Premier League season. The announcement came after a riot occurred in their last match against Chiangrai United, where Pattaya supporters blocked the stadium for two hours after they were provoked following the award of a controversial penalty to Chiangrai.

theguardian.com Eventually, Alvaro Negredo and Edin Dzeko scored the goals that earned Manchester City a Capital One Cup quarter-final place 2-0 over Newcastle.

indiatimes.com No total appears safe these days as India made a mockery of Australia's huge total (350-6) for the second time in the series, chasing down the target despite George Bailey's 156.



THE BIS Phuket International 7-1-side Football Tournament kicks off November 8-9. The tournament attracts huge interest from international schools around Asia - this year, the 12th year the event has run, yet again will be the biggest ever tournament with approximately 1000 children participating.
Each team will have accompanying coaches, teachers and parent supporters. Last year saw 88 football teams registered, representing 25 premium international schools from Bangkok, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei and Korea. The tournament has an exciting and vibrant fair-like atmosphere and the public are welcome.

Until November 3 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour, Karon

October 31 Halloween

November 2 Nakhonrachasima FC V Phuket FC

November 5 Melbourne Cup Day

November 8-9 Islamic New year celebrations, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

November 24-December 1 Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest. Laguna Phuket

December 5 HM The King's birthday

December 26 Commemoration of 2004 Asian Tsunami



January 9-12 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket