bbc.co.uk More than 3000 firefighters in Australia are battling devastating bushfires raging across New South Wales as weather conditions worsen.

nytimes.com Tablets are devouring the PC market, which has long been Microsoft's playing ground. Apple said iWork, a set of applications for Macs, iPads and iPhones that essentially duplicates what Microsoft's Office offers customers, would be free to anyone who bought a new Macintosh computer or mobile device from Apple.

aap/dpa Thailand is mulling slapping a 500-baht entry fee on tourists to help cover foreigners' unpaid medical bills at hospitals, officials say. The new policy might help prevent ''trash'' tourists from entering, Health Minister Pradit Sintavanarong was quoted as saying.


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 Central Group is set to invest 20 billion baht to develop shopping malls and resort towns on about 200 rai of prime land in three strategic locations across Phuket in a bold move to transform the island into a luxurious destination. The retail giant is planning three shopping malls, three hotels, a convention hall, condominium projects, office towers, specialty stores and a leisure and entertainment complex.

Phuket Update Wednesday is Chulalongkorn Memorial Day, a public holiday throughout Thailand. King Chulalongkorn, otherwise known as King Rama V, introduced major reforms in Thailand.

bangkokpost.com The Appeals Court acquitted Wisuk Setsawat, owner of White and Brothers (2003) Co which ran Santika Pub, of gross negligence leading to deaths and injuries and causing damage to property in connection with the New Year's eve fire on December 31, 2008. More than 1000 revellers were celebrating New Year's eve. Sixty-seven pub goers died and 103 were injured, 32 of them seriously.

nationmultimedia.com The verdict also upheld a lower court decision, reached in September 2011, which sentenced Bunchoo Laoseehanart, executive of Focus Light Sound System, to a three-year imprisonment term without suspension. Bunchoo was held responsible for the use of pyrotechnics in the upscale pub that resulted in the fire.

andrew-drummond.com EVEN THE BANGKOK POST DESCRIBED THIS AS A WHITEWASH! No fall guy for an illegal club operation as Godfather owner goes free. Like the One-Two-Go aircrash on Phuket, nobody important gets to take the wrap. Life goes on. But the lives of many in this fire and on Phuket did not.

xinhua The Thai cabinet approved a draft proposal to lift entry visa for Thai and Burma (Myanmar) citizens, making short-term visits by air. The visa-free plan will cover only travelers from the two countries using 23 designated Thai airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Hat Yai and Phuket. Their stay should not exceed 14 days.

tienphong.vn Headline (translated from Vietnamese): Thai officials accused of trafficking Rohingya

watoday.com.au Aussies who ''get drunk and act violently'' while on holiday in New Zealand cannot expect to pay their way out of trouble just to save taxpayers the cost of sending them to jail, a judge has warned.

wsj.com Brunei will introduce strict Islamic criminal laws - including stoning for Muslim adulterers - its ruling sultan said as the oil-rich Southeast Asian country continues to embrace a more conservative form of Islam compared to its Muslim-majority neighbors.

AP A moderate earthquake killed one villager, injured two others and damaged more than 100 in western Indonesia on Tuesday, a disaster official said. The quake measured magnitude 5.3 and was centred in Aceh province, the US Geological Survey said.

theguardian.com Apple has acted to fend off increasing competition in the tablet computer market by introducing the iPad Air - a lighter, thinner, faster update of its high-end tablet.

scmp.com Apple is refreshing its iPad lineup and slashing the price of its Mac computers ahead of the holiday shopping season as it faces an eroding tablet market share and growing competition from rival gadget makers.

cnn.com Facebook sees it as a legitimate service to allow its audience to see a woman being killed, but won't let users see exposed breasts - for fear of causing offense.

wanderlust.co.uk The Thai government is considering charging travellers a 500 baht fee upon arrival for trips lasting more than three days. Phuket's Director of Public Health, Kajohnsak Kaewjarus, told PhuketWan Tourism News: ''A share of the fee could lift living standards and health care across Phuket. It would be good for people who live on the island as well as for visitors.''

stuff.co.nz Representatives of the tourism sector were less enthusiastic, and warned of a possible deterrent to tourists. ''Most foreigners who come here on tours already have medical insurance so this fee would be redundant,'' said Samphan Panphat, adviser to the Thai Hotels Association. ''And there are questions about the transparency of the scheme.''

ctvnews.ca A top Greek prosecutor ordered an emergency nationwide investigation into birth certificates issued in the past six years after a girl was discovered living with alleged abductors at a gypsy camp. The case has triggered international interest in missing children.

tvnz.co.nz In a parallel case in Ireland, police took a 7-year-old blonde girl living with a Roma family into care on Monday following suspicions that she was not a blood relative, a senior police source said.

scmp.com China's government and state-owned companies are putting more pressure on media outlets around the world to prevent and punish reporting critical of Beijing, a US-based think tank has said.

dailymail.co.uk Singer Noel Harrison, known by millions for hit song The Windmills of Your Mind, has died at the age of 79. The son of actor Rex Harrison, who was best known for recording the song on The Thomas Crown Affair soundtrack.

theconversation.com Fagan showed us a copy of the Courier Mail's classified weekend supplement of a few years ago. It comprised some 150 pages. Now, he said, showing us a recent edition of the same supplement, there were 16 pages. The rest had gone to the internet. How could any business, he asked, sustain such a hit to its core revenue stream?



goal.com Coach Jurgen Klopp, forced to watch from the stands, has expressed his jubilation at Borussia Dortmund's 2-1 win at Arsenal in the Champions League. Robert Lewandowski sealed the three points for BVB with a late winner.

reuters Fit-again Fernando Torres sparkled on his 100th start for Chelsea, scoring twice to help the 2012 winners outclass Schalke 04 3-0 to go top of Champions League Group E.

reuters A Lionel Messi strike in his first start since injury kept Barcelona two points clear at the top of Group H after drawing 1-1 at AC Milan.

bbc.co.uk Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League is still within reach after defeating Ajax 2-1 in Glasgow.

afp French defender William Gallas is on the verge of a move to Perth Glory in Australia's A-League after being released by English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.



October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

October 26 Phuket Fc V Rayong United

October 29-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