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

Associated Press Accused Russian arms merchant Viktor Bout was flown from Bangkok toward New York Tuesday in a chartered US plane, extradited in manacles despite a final outraged push by Russian diplomats to persuade Thailand to release him instead, current and former American officials said.

ft.com On arrival in the US, Mr Bout is to face charges of conspiring to kill US nationals, conspiracy to acquire an anti-aircraft missile and conspiracy to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist group.

bangkokpost.com Thai Airways International is spearheading the creation of yet another airline that would operate regionally in a bold move that would turn the national carrier into a family of airlines. The new airline, tentatively called Thai Lite, would be part of a multi-brand strategy aimed at cashing in on the entire spectrum of passenger market segments.

bbc.co.uk Police in Thailand have found the remains of more than 300 human foetuses hidden in a Buddhist temple in Bangkok. The police say they suspect the foetuses came from illegal abortion clinics.

thejakartaglobe.com President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has acknowledged that the Indonesian people are ''not satisfied'' with the country's law enforcement system but says he cannot do anything about it.

afp A Singapore court jailed a defiant 76-year-old British author for six weeks for insulting the judiciary by publishing a book critical of executions in the city-state. In the stiffest sentence imposed in Singapore for contempt of court, Alan Shadrake was also fined 20,000 Singapore dollars for his book based on the long career of a hangman who allegedly put more than 1000 to death.

nytimes.com A quick experiment. Before proceeding to the next paragraph, let your mind wander wherever it wants to go. Close your eyes for a few seconds, starting ... now.

smh.com.au East Timor's President, Jose Ramos-Horta, has urged the US and Europe to lift sanctions against Burma after the junta released the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

traveldaily.co.uk Accor has entered a partnership with TripAdvisor which will see reviews displayed on the hotel chain's website. The service is available around the world for Sofitel, Pullman, MGallery, Novotel, Suite Novotel, Mercure, Adagio, ibis, all seasons, Etap Hotel and Formula 1 properties. Romain Roulleau, deputy director of direct sales at Accor said the move was part of its ''commitment to quality''.

easyvoyage.co.uk Starting a week ago, 50 ''tuxis'' have taken to the streets of London. Cleverly wrapped to look like the traditional tuk-tuk, the branded taxis look just like Thailand's most emblematic mode of transport. Commuters as well as tourists will not be able to restrain from smiling at the new eye catching design and strap line ''See something amazing every day''.

newsweek.com ''For Western pedophiles, Cambodia is no longer a safe haven,'' says Samleang Seila, the head of the local child-protection group Action Pour Les Enfants. The change is evidenced by a rising number of arrests for ''debauchery'' and ''indecent acts,'' which grew from just eight in 2003 to 36 last year, according to APLE. The organisation tracks sex tourists, gathers evidence against them and hands their cases over to local police.

nationmultimedia.com Tourism Authority of Thailand expects more visitors from Indonesia following the launch of Indonesia AirAsia's Surabaya-Bangkok direct flights on November 7 and the launch of the first direct flights from Medan to Bangkok on November 16.

theregister.co.uk The world's two largest poker sites, PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, are battling to keep poker bots off their sites. In October, Full Tilt removed an unstated number of players, confiscated the funds in their accounts, and pledged to redistribute this money to players who'd lost to the bots. PokerStars took similar action with 10 accounts in July.

scmp.com Police in Shanghai have detained eight people for unlicensed welding believed to have started a catastrophic building fire that left at least 53 dead and scores in hospital.

smh.com.au You could check the Australian government's travel advice website, Smart Traveller, although that should really be renamed "Scared Traveller", because that's what you'll be once you're done with all of the warnings listed.

thejakartaglobe.com The Indonesian government vowed that it would use every last resort available to resolve the most recent case of maid abuse in Saudi Arabia. Her body is riddled with injuries allegedly inflicted by her employers, including cuts around her lips believed to be made with scissors. A previous hospital had been unable to treat her extensive injuries.

reuters Carrefour has suspended the sale of its Malaysian and Singapore stores after bidders, including Japan's Aeon Co Ltd offered too little to persuade the French retailer to part with the operations, two sources told Reuters.

world-wire.com Misool Eco Resort and Shark Savers announced that a Shark Sanctuary has been declared for the entire 17,760 square miles of Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Bupati Drs Marcus Wanma, the Regent of Raja Ampat, made this historic declaration, demonstrating leadership in marine conservation. The Raja Ampat Shark Sanctuary provides full protection for sharks, manta rays, mobulas, dugongs, and turtles.



2010 Andaman and Phuket International Soccer 7s: On November 20 games will be played at Cherntalay ground (opposite the Municipality) from 8.30am. November 21 games from 9.30am, finals from 3pm. This year's tournament will support Women's Will Power Phuket Charity Group.

November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 19-20 Korean Film Festival, Patong
November 20-21 2010 Andaman and Phuket International Soccer 7s
November 21 Loy Kratong Festival: Phuket's Tin Mine Mumeum to open.
November 26-28 Phuket Honda Racing Fest at Saphan Hin, Phuket City
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
December 3-5 North Phuket Culinary Arts Festival, Mai Khao resorts
December 15-20 Patong Carnival
December 16-18 2010 Asia Superyacht Rendezvous
December 17 US Consular outreach service on Phuket
December 30-January 9 Phuket Red Cross fair, Saphan Hin park, Phuket City
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
January 22 QSI International fun run day at Bang Wad Dam, Kathu
January 23 The Great Phuket Rubber Duck Race Day, Laguna Phuket
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi