smh.com.au Australian endurance swimmer Chloe McCardel has ended her attempt to swim from Cuba to the US after suffering a ''severe debilitating jellyfish sting''.

PATONG'S Immigration office on the beach road, closed for almost 18 months, was due for a ceremonial reopening today. The office will be able to handle some tasks, update resident reporting services and provide information while the Phuket City HQ remains the main point of contact.

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

NNT The National Disaster Warning Center has issued an urgent warning for residents in six southern coastal provinces to brace for flash floods, forest runoffs and mudslides from today until Saturday. Residents living in flood-prone and low-lying areas in Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun provinces are urged to closely monitor the situation.

Phuket Update A warning has been issued for heavy downpours and possible floods and landslides in 39 provinces of upper Thailand as well as Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Phang Nga in the South. Small craft were advised to stay close to shore because of high waves and strong winds. Chatchai Phromlert, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said the department had already instructed its regional branches and provincial authorities to prepare for disasters and emergencies.

thestar.com Two CBC veteran foreign correspondents have been arrested and held in custody in Turkey, the CBC confirmed. Sasa Petricic and Derek Stoffel, who have been reporting on the citizen protests, ''have been detained but are in good condition'' in Istanbul. [Petricic has worked with Phuketwan post-tsunami on Phuket.]



bymnews.com After winning two regattas and scoring two 2nd places plus 3rd and 4th places at six events during the 2012-13 Season, Frank Pong and the crew on his Reichel/Pugh 75 Jelik, were crowned the 2012-13 AYGP Skipper and Yacht of the Year.

gantdaily.com ''About 25 years ago we had a dengue outbreak of around 170,000 cases,'' Pornthep Siriwanarangsun, the director of Thailand's Department of Disease Control, told IRIN. ''This year, we expect 150,000 to 200,000 cases.'' Up to 200 people could die in a worst-case scenario, he said. Even if dengue cases surpass the '87 record, the death toll that year of more than 1000 is unlikely to be exceeded.

afp Singapore is fighting back against a rapidly worsening dengue epidemic by distributing insect repellants to every household and recruiting hundreds of disease control officers, officials said.

scmp.com In an exclusive interview carried out from a secret location, former Central Intelligence Agency analyst Edward Snowden made explosive claims that the US government had been hacking into computers in Hong Kong and on the mainland for years.''I'm not here to hide from justice - I'm here to reveal criminality.''

bangkokpost.com The baht is at a nine-month low near 31 per US dollar, but officials say it will find its own level as short-term ''hot money'' pours out.

guardian.co.uk Google should face a comprehensive inquiry into its tax affairs from HM Revenue & Customs, a committee of MPs says, after concluding that the internet giant's tax arrangements were ''deeply unconvincing.''

guardian.co.uk Facebook has announced plans to introduce clickable hashtags for users. The tool is already widely used on other media, such as microblogging site Twitter, so users can find out what others are discussing.

fansshare.com Following the huge success of the Formula One Grand Prix in Singapore and Malaysia, Thailand is eager to get involved but the suggestion that Phuket will be the location does seem a bit far-fetched. There are plenty of other more practical locations in Thailand but Phuket remains the top choice.

thediplomat.com On the surface, Thailand's latest anti-Shinawatra movement seems new. With its gleaming white V-for-Vendetta masks, the movement has grown in recent weeks, spreading for the first time on Sunday. there were protests on the island resort of Phuket and Ratchaburi.

scmp.com Thailand is resettling poor Buddhists into the country's insurgency plagued south in a trans-migration program that appears designed to dilute the Muslim majority.

aap A man suspected of being behind the violent robbery and rape of a Perth woman in Bali has been shot while being arrested by police. The 30-year-old was arrested after a six-week search by police on Bali and on the neighboring Indonesian island of Lombok.

irrawaddy.org The UN human rights rapporteur for Burma Tomas Ojea Quintana has condemned a shooting incident that killed three Rohingya women in Arakan State last week, calling it a ''shocking example'' of how government security forces continue to mistreat the Muslim minority ''with complete impunity.''

dvb.no A court handed a 26-year prison sentence to Ne Win, 48, the Muslim man accused of setting a Buddhist woman on fire in Lashio last month, which led to two days of anti-Muslim rioting in the Shan state town.

bangkokpost.com Business Air is to launch flights between Hat Yai in Songkhla province and Incheon airport in Seoul on August 31. Business Air also operates flights between Korea and Chiang Mai, Udon Thani and Phuket.

scmp.com The Mariner of the Seas, on its maiden visit to Hong Kong, was the first cruise ship to dock at the Kai Tak cruise terminal - which its passengers described as ''magnificent''.

smh.com.au Former South African President and anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela is ''responding better to treatment'' says President Jacob Zuma.

thestar.com.my Commenting on reports that Burma's national airline was offering half-price tickets for nationals who wish to return home from Malaysia, Burma Campaign Malaysia president Tun Tun said it was a joke that the workers would want to go back home because of the salary difference.

navytimes.com Seven weeks after arriving at Singapore, the combat ship USS Freedom left Changi Naval Base to begin a series of regional exercises with navies of friendly nations. The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercises take place annually around southeast Asia.



bbc.co.uk Barcelona footballer Lionel Messi and his father are being investigated in Spain for allegedly defrauding the state of more than 4m euros. He could face a year in jail.

smh.com.au Australian opener David Warner has been stood down for a game after being involved in a physical altercation with an England player. The player is understood to be England batsman Joe Root and it's believed he was not injured in the altercation.'

theage.com.au An altercation between David Warner and England's Joe Root in a Birmingham nightclub was triggered by the Australian opener's belief that the Yorkshire batsman was using a fake green and gold beard to impersonate South Africa's Muslim cricket star Hashim Amla.

bbc.co.uk David Warner is a loose cannon for Australia, but he is still a potential match-winner. Nevertheless, this latest incident, which saw him dropped for the Champions Trophy match against New Zealand after allegedly attacking England batsman Joe Root in a bar, shows he needs to change his ways.



June 13-16 World Youth Asia Wrestling titles, Saphan Hin gym, Phuket City

June 14 IBAP meets at the Full Moon Brewwork Microbrewery and Restaurant at JungCeylon to hear from local author and colorful character, Colin Mackay. Mr Mackay will explain why women on Phuket are comparatively so successful and powerful in business, politics and as heads of their households in Phuket and the region. Thailand has a higher percentage of Female CEOs than any other country.

Until June 17 Phuket Prison fair, Saphan Hin, Phuket City: furniture and other Otop items made in 25 prisons across Thailand's south for sale.

June 15 Rugby for children begins at Alan Cooke Ground, each Saturday. E: acgrugby@gmail.com

June 22-24 Baba style traditional wedding, Old Phuket Town

July 6-7 Phuket Air Show and Family Picnic, Phuket Air Park

July 17-21 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek

July 22 Arsarnha Bucha Day

August 12 HM The Queen's Birthday

October 5-13 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

October 29-November 3 Womens' volleyball, Karon beach

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

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

December 5 HM The King's birthday



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

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket