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

Phuket Update Thailand's Minister of Transport, Jarupong Rungsuwan, meets on Phuket today with official from southern provinces to talk strategy and budget for 2013. As a key tourism province, some of Phuket's infrastructure needs may be raised.

nationmultimedia.com An ad-hoc operations centre was set up to cope with the flood situation in Bangkok and elsewhere for a 30-day period as a result of Tropical Storm Gaemi, which is expected to hit Thailand by the weekend.

gulfnews.com Qatar Airways resumed flights to Rangoon (Yangon) after a four-year absence with the launch of scheduled thrice-weekly services to Burma's largest city. Yangon becomes the Doha-based carrier's 10th gateway in the Asean region following on from operations to Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Bali, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Hanoi, Singapore, Manila and Phuket - and the carrier's 119th destination worldwide.

news24.com The ex-wife of South African Oswald Heinrich Duvel, 50, whose bullet-riddled body was found dumped next to a shallow grave north of Bangkok, has confessed to killing him, Thai police said. The man who allegedly fired the three fatal shots was described as ''the new husband.''

bangkokpost.com Don Muang airport resumed its full-scale operations early this week, but it is the airport's state-of-the-art, multi-million-baht rest rooms that have stolen the show. The rest rooms are equipped with sensor-controlled doors, sanitaryware and bin lids.

theglobeand mail.com A man convicted in Thailand for sexually abusing children has been set free in Canada, but a judge has imposed strict public safety conditions on the pedophile once dubbed Swirl Face. Christopher Neil must be watched for the next 18 months to prove he's not a danger, provincial court Judge Patrick Chen ruled.

independent.co.uk Facebook now has one billion users, the equivalent of about one in seven of the world's population, its founder announced. Mark Zuckerberg welcomed the ''amazing, humbling'' milestone, which has come in a year that has seen the social network float on the stock market to a mixed reaction.

voanews.com Thailand has long been recognised as a leading exporter of rice and other agricultural produce. But tests for pesticide residues are raising concerns about whether the food is safe. Even inside Thailand there are worries about whether the chemicals are affecting food safety.

stuff.co.nz A coroner has pushed for New Zealanders to be given better warnings about the dangers of drinking in Bali. Michael Denton, 27, died in September last year after consuming several Arak beverages - a drink which was linked to at least 30 deaths in a two-year period.

afp An Indonesian court has indicted Britons Lindsay June Sandiford and Julian Anthony Pounder on multiple charges involving an alleged cocaine drug ring in Bali, which could see them both face the death penalty.

nationmultimedia.com PepsiCo Inc moves forward with its most recent investment on two new plants to continue gearing up its snack and beverage business in Thailand after it has invested over US$2.9 billion since 2000.

mizzima.com A Burmese tourism industry master plan is being drafted with the technical assistance of the German-based Hanns Seidal Foundation, with support from the Norwegian government and the Asian Development Bank.

bbc.co.uk Indonesian officials are investigating why one of the world's rarest tigers died during attempts to transport it to a wildlife sanctuary.A spokesman for Garuda Indonesia airlines insisted that the correct procedures for carrying the Sumatran tiger - one of only 400 left in the world - were followed.



mirror.co.uk Brendan Rodgers has pulled no punches after watching his Liverpool side suffer a shock 3-1 Europa League defeat at home to Udinese. Udinese were gifted three goals to win a game in which they were always second best.

goal.com Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has hailed his side's ''fantastic'' performance in the 3-0 win over Bordeaux in the Europa League. Bordeaux were previously unbeaten in 17 games.

espn.go.com Michael Schumacher is retiring from Formula One racing again - and this time, he says, ''it might be forever.'' Unable to duplicate the success of his prime, the seven-time F1 champion announced he will retire at the end of the season.

smh.com.au Bulldogs prop James Graham has been suspended for 12 matches after being found guilty of biting Melbourne fullback Billy Slater in the Australian NRL grand final.



October 14-22 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

October 21-24 Phuket International Sports Fishing titles

November 25 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 28 Loy Kratong Day

November 30 AustCham Phuket sundowners social and business networking

December 1 World AIDs Day

December 1-8 King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 15-20 Patong Carnival

December 25 Christmas Day



November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket