Thai media reports that charges of money laundering and wire fraud against alleged Russian arms smuggler Viktor Bout should be dismissed, clearing the way for his extradition to the US.

cnn.com An emergency decree in Bangkok and three provinces has been extended, a Thai government spokesman said. The decree allows authorities to detain suspects without formal charges up to 90 days.


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

ameinfo.com Qatar Airways has announced a huge expansion in Thailand with the introduction of a third daily flight to Bangkok, effective November 1. The increase in capacity comes just three weeks after the airline launches scheduled flights to Phuket. Beginning October 12, Qatar Airways introduces six-flights-a-week to Phuket via Kuala Lumpur.

gulf-times.com With the Bangkok flights, the airline's Thai operations will step up from 21 to 27 flights a week across two destinations. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: "With Phuket and Hanoi coming online around the same time, Qatar Airways will soon operate to two destinations each in Vietnam and Thailand and we are thrilled to be able to offer these exciting destinations."

cnn.com Eight people thought to be German nationals were killed in a suspected drone strike in northwestern Pakistan, two Pakistani officials said. Missiles struck a building that held the eight, who are believed to have been members of the group Jihad al Islami, the officials said.

bbc.co.uk More governments have joined the US and UK in issuing travel warnings to their citizens about travelling in Europe amid fears that al-Qaeda plans to attack cities on the continent. Sweden and Japan urged their nationals to be vigilant when using public transport or visiting tourist sites.

nationmultimedia.com Thais are expected to splurge 26.3 percent more, or altogether 33.50 billion baht, on this year's Phuket Vegetarian Festival because of the growing number of people shunning meat and higher food prices.

bloomberg.com Thai PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said stimulus measures put in place last year have led to a ''broad-based and balanced'' economic recovery. ''The only sector obviously lacking is tourism, which may have been affected by the events of April and May, but even that sector is also recovering well,'' Abhisit said from Brussels, where he is attending the Asia Europe Meeting.

smh.com.au Bali police will work with Interpol to try to establish that an international drug network is behind the shipment of 1.7kg of ice that Michael Sacatides is accused of smuggling into Bali. A police spokesman said Mr Sacatides's mobile phone record would be examined for connections in Bali and Thailand.

indiatimes.com A Singapore Airlines flight with 225 passengers and 39 crew on board was forced to remain airborne for three hours after the captain was alerted of a bomb threat on Sunday. His first option was to touch down at Delhi but as the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was in progress, permission was denied and the aircraft had to fly on to Kolkata, nearly three hours away.

afp Venice's mayor mocked critics of giant billboards that cover many of the city's historic monuments undergoing repair, following an appeal by leading international museum directors and architects. Giorgio Orsoni advised disgruntled tourists to go home and look at photographs of famous sights such as the Bridge of Sighs or St. Mark's Square from the comfort of their own sofa.

wsj.com Terry Leahy is now well into his long goodbye. Mr. Leahy is easing his way out when Tesco, the world's third-largest retailer by revenue, is continuing to outperform. This week, he will preside over his last results announcement, which promises to be another record-breaker. [wsj seems not to note that it's actually Sir Terry. His Phuket interest is West Sands.]

wonderwoman.intoday.in The big fat Indian wedding has found a new overseas destination. More and more Indians are choosing Phuket as well as Bangkok for wedding functions for the last three years, say Thai tourism board officials and event management companies. Sid Sehgal, the Thai-Indian owner of the restaurant Indus in Bangkok, said he had organised 40 Indian weddings in Thailand last year and 28 already this year.

theage.com.au A Lithuanian company is planning to open a resort in the Maldives staffed entirely by blonde women. The BBC reports that Lithuania's Olialia (pronounced 'oh-la-la') plans to attract tourists by creating a resort staffed by blondes, with direct flights on board planes that also have a blonde crew. However, Maldives local laws require resorts to have a minimum of 50 percent of staff hired locally. Maldivians naturally have dark hair.

ft.com US efforts to extradite Viktor Bout, the alleged arms trafficker, from Thailand have been delayed once again after a Thai court called for a new legal hearing. Washington has been pressing Thailand to extradite the Russian businessman accused of being one of the world's most prolific arms dealers. A court ruled that it wanted to hear a second set of charges of wire fraud and money laundering.

nytimes.com A contentious four-hour hearing on the extradition of Viktor Bout ended inconclusively Monday, but judges appeared to quash the prospect of a lengthy second trial that could have delayed or scuttled Mr. Bout's departure for the US.



hindu.com Eighty-one-year-old Professor V. Radhakrishnan, eminent radio astronomer, will set sail from Kochi in a few days to Phuket to ''see what happens, and then plan a longer voyage.'' He plans to call at many continents while circumnavigating the world.

dailymail.co.uk A father posed as a rich American playboy on Facebook to trick his wife into handing over their son after she fled overseas with him. Sean Felton used the social networking site to carry out his ploy then flew from Britain to Thailand, where his wife had bolted with their three-year-old six months earlier. The plot led to an emotional confrontation and little Jobe being handed back.

thisislondon.co.uk Indonesia's information minister was condemned by gay rights groups for tweeting jokes about people with Aids. Tifatul Sembiring wrote: ''Aids - Akibat Itunya Dipakai Sembarangan,'' which means ''because they were reckless about where they put their genitals''.

bbc.co.uk Comic actor Sir Norman Wisdom has died, aged 95. Sir Norman, who was famous for his slapstick film roles in the 1950s and 60s, passed away after suffering a series of strokes over the past six months.

phnompenhpost.com Two women seeking work in Thailand drowned while fleeing Thai border authorities last week, a Cambodian border official said. Officials believe Muon Saroeut, 59, and her daughter leaped into a canal in an attempt to escape.



IBAP meets on Friday to discuss Phuket economics and politics with Bill Barnett and Alasdair Forbes on the discussion panel. Catch them at theThai Naan restaurant, on the Central Festival corner, from 7pm.

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
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi