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



bangkokpost.com Indonesian fires have blown an unhealthy haze over Hat Yai and Trang, with officials handing out face masks but advising residents to stay at home.

nationmultimedia.com Thailand won't be decriminalising marijuana anytime soon, and it's a bummer for attendees at a public forum on freeing the weed.



bangkokpost.com As the Erawan shrine regains its full shine, it is increasingly clear that human traffickers of Uighur migrants are deeply involved in the August 17 bombing that killed 20 people. All the suspects detained or being sought are believed to have links with Uighur smuggling rings.

atimes.com The Turkish embassy in Bangkok expressed concern over reports alleging that its citizens were involved in a deadly bomb attack in the Thai capital last month, dpa reports.



bangkokpost.com These human smuggling and migration businesses thrive locally because of Thailand's permissive and hospitable society and easy living, propped up by poor and often corrupt law enforcement.

nnt Fishing vessels operating in Krabi are rarely found to be involved in human trafficking issues, according to Royal Thai Police Deputy Commissioner-General Ek Angsananon. Police General Ek visited the center for the control of fishing vessels in Krabi as part of his follow-up on work to address human trafficking and illegal fishing.



crikey.com.au Journalists Chutima ''Oi'' Sidasathian and Alan Morison are now free, after a Thai court acquitted them of defamation and computer-crimes charges this week. But Reuters abandonment of the journalists as the trial got underway still grates. As Reuters collected a Pulitzer prize for its coverage of people-smuggling in South-east Asia, Sidasathian and Morison were slapped with criminal charges.

Phuket Update A pregnant Aussie female tourist is bitten on the foot by a marine creature at a Phuket beach - and the world's media immediately assumes it has to be a shark. Locals have never recorded any shark attacks on the holiday island and the damage was probably done by a bird-beaked puffer fish, say Phuket marine biologists.

Phuket Update A 59-year-old French tourist was arrested at a Patong money exchange booth when he attempted to exchange a fake 100 Euro bank note. The man, named as Rene Louis Regrault, was later found to be in possession of five more fake notes.

smh.com.au The New York Times has launched a blistering attack on the Australian government's asylum seeker policies, suggesting they are ''unconscionable'' and urging European nations struggling with a tide of migrants not to follow suit.

nytimes.com Editorial: [Australian] Prime Minister Tony Abbott has overseen a ruthlessly effective effort to stop boats packed with migrants, many of them refugees, from reaching Australia's shores. His policies have been inhumane, of dubious legality and strikingly at odds with the country's tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution and war.

jpost.com Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott faced backlash from members of the country's Jewish community over remarks he made comparing the Islamic State terror group to the Nazis.

theage.com.au Newspaper mogul Rupert Murdoch has called for a snap Australian election as the ''only hope'' for a country that has become ''almost ungovernable''.

Phuket Update One Scotsman and four Thais have been arrested in the latest anti-drugs sweep through Patong, that netted 70 meth pills,crystal meth and marijuana. Christopher Blackwood, 32, was caught with 1.2 grammes of pressed marijuana.

scmp.com President Xi Jinping said he would cut military personnel by 300,000 - twice the size of the British armed forces - by 2017, shortly before presiding over an unprecedented parade laden with symbolism and messages.

nationmultimedia.com Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort has revealed its new marketing strategies to cash in on an increase in international arrivals, primarily targeting the China and Middle East markets. General manager Urs Lienhard said China and the Middle East were emerging markets not only for the hotel but also for Krabi province and other major tourist destinations such as Phuket.

mcclatchy Struggling long-haul start-up NokScoot has secured Taiwanese permission to operate regular flights to Taipei from Bangkok. NokScoot has availed its B777-200s for some charter purposes, being used in recent months to ferry Chinese tourists from Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, to the southern resort provinces of Krabi and Phuket.

bbc.com A new initiative being trialled in 3,500 Thai schools means that lessons will end at 14:00, and students will be allowed to choose from a host of extra-curricular activities or even go home, Bangkok-based The Nation newspaper reports. Officials say the scheme is intended to relieve pressure on pupils, and give them a chance to try out the arts, sports, music or vocational training.

khaosodenglish.com A 46-year-old British national had to be rescued after falling into an uncovered sewer hole last night in northern metropolitan Bangkok. The Briton sustained minor injuries after rescue workers fished him from the hole, which witnesses said he fell into after leaving a nearby restaurant with two friends at around 11.30pm, leaving him chest-deep in sewer muck.

bbc.com Pope Francis drew crowds for an unusual reason - after slipping out of the Vatican to visit an optician. While the optician normally delivers new glasses to the Vatican, Pope Francis insisted on travelling to the shop in central Rome this time.

cnbc.com For students seeking to make some extra bucks to pay for tuition, Pornhub may be able to help. The adult video website is offering a $25,000 scholarship to a legal age college student who likes making others happy.



channelnewsasia.com At least 14 people have drowned after a boat carrying around 70 Indonesian migrants capsized off the Malaysian state of Selangor, according to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.



The inaugural Thailand Yacht Show is to held from February 11-16 2016 at the modern Ao Po Grand Marina, on Phuket. The Thailand Yacht Show will aim to promote the region as a world class cruising destination, able to offer yachts of any size unique experiences in Phuket and surrounding areas, with top class services.

September 6-11 Asian Weightlifting Championships

Until September 12 Por Tor (Hungry Ghost) Festival

September Quicksilver surf carnival at Patong beach

October 15-23 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

November Patong Festival

November 20 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 25 Loy Kratong festival

November 29 Challenge Laguna Phuket 2015

November 29 Phuket King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 26 Tsunami memorial ceremonies