News Update Malcolm Turnbull is new leader of Australia's Liberal Party with Julie Bishop as his deputy in a 54-44 vote that removes Tony Abbott, who will soon no longer be PM.

reuters Malaysia has arrested three suspects in connection with the investigation into a bomb blast in central Bangkok last month that killed 20 people, police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said.

reuters Egypt's police and military killed 12 Egyptians and Mexicans and injured 10 when they accidentally shot at a Mexican tourist convoy while engaging militants in the country's western desert, the ministry of interior said.

nytimes.com Novak Djokovic's 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Roger Federer gave him a second US Open singles title and a 10th Grand Slam singles title.


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



nationmultimedia.com Billionaire businessman Richard Branson is considering entering his Virgin airline into the Thai aviation market soon while ramping up his Virgin Active health club chain. ''We are just starting beautiful health clubs here in Thailand. One day, I expect to fly our airlines in the Kingdom. It should be here sooner in a big way but at least we have radio stations''.

bbc.com A Chinese woman suspected of stealing a $300,000 diamond in the Thai capital, Bangkok, has had the jewel surgically removed from her intestines. She is thought to have swallowed it in order to smuggle it out of the country.

bangkokpost.com A stricter law carrying long prison terms will be enforced against anyone possessing or distributing pornographic materials of children and people under the age of 18, starting in December.



aa.com.tr People smugglers trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims across the Andaman Sea are changing their routes after a crackdown by Thai authorities following the June discovery of corpses at a trafficking camp, according to Phuketwan.



nationmultimedia.com Novotel plans major renovations for its resort in Phuket to attract guests from emerging markets in order to secure growth of 5-10 percent next year. Pobchai Jivavisitnon, owner and managing director of Novotel Phuket Resort and Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, said the company planned to spend 70 million baht to refurbish the Novotel Phuket Resort.

bangkokpost.com Transport planners are looking into a new rail route linking Trang with Satun and Phuket provinces as part of efforts to boost tourism to the South. A separate feasibility study is also underway for a proposed ''romantic route'' linking Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi and Trang by road, which targets key popular destinations for couples.

nationmultimedia.com Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha will for the first time attend the UN General Assembly in New York later this month to explain Thailand's sustainable development plan as well as His Majesty the King's sufficiency economy philosophy.

Phuket Update More than 50 wild boars that have made their home beside the bypass road close to the Tesco Lotus underpass construction will be moved at government expense to Phang Nga from September 21, say local authorities. The plan is to catch them alive.

reuters Al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on young Muslim men in the United States and other Western countries to carry out attacks inside there and urged greater unity between militants.

nationmultimedia.com Michael David Selby, an experienced businessman, has become one of the first foreigners to be appointed as adviser to a Thai minister. The Cabinet last week approved the appointment of Selby, 61, as adviser to Deputy Education Minister Dr Teerakiat Jareonsettasin.

smh.com.au Thirty-four refugees, almost half of them babies and children, drowned when their boat sank off a Greek island, almost certainly the largest death toll in those waters since the migrant crisis began, the coastguard said. Four babies, six boys and five girls died.

washingtonpost.com In late August, American Airlines accidentally flew the wrong plane from Los Angeles to Hawaii, a mix-up that violated Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

thetimes.co.uk Israeli police raided one of Jerusalem's most sacred and hotly contested sites, clashing with Palestinians hours ahead of the Jewish new year. Police entered the Temple Mount at dawn and fired tear gas and stun grenades after a group of Palestinian youths threw stones at the officers.

heraldsun.com.au A man faces charges after authorities say he urinated on passengers on a flight from Anchorage to Portland, Oregon. Jeff Rubin, 27, was arrested after JetBlue Flight 47 arrived at Portland International Airport, KOIN-TV reported.

skift.com Rising incomes and cheap flights have permitted record numbers of Chinese to travel domestically and abroad, touring scenic and cultural spots around the world. Among other complaints are line-cutting, smoking in public, littering and fouling public toilets.

foxnews.com A strong earthquake shook communities along the Gulf of California on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The US Geological Survey said the magnitude 6.6 quake struck at 1.14am local time.

businessinsider.com From stunning islands in the south to remote elephant sanctuaries in the north, here are 21 photos that will inspire you to book a trip to Thailand.



news24.com Malaysia's maritime and aviation departments issued warnings over poor visibility caused by the worsening haze in the capital and elsewhere. At least two international flights were diverted during the past two days due to poor visibility, Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said.



Open Update Djokovic takes the first set 6-4 in the US Open final and Federer takes the second set 7-5.



September Quicksilver surf carnival at Patong beach

October 15-23 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

November Patong Festival

November 20 Laguna Phuket Triathlon

November 25 Loy Kratong festival

November 29 Challenge Laguna Phuket 2015

November 29 Phuket King's Cup Regatta

December 5 HM The King's Birthday

December 26 Tsunami memorial ceremonies




January 7-10 Phuket International Boat Show