UPDATING All Day, Every Day
smh.com.au US president Barack Obama has announced a sustained, US-led effort to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which would include action in Syria. The plan involves sending an additional 475 US military personnel in non-combat roles to train Iraqi and Kurdish forces to fight ISIL (also known as IS or ISIS).
dw.de Richard Kiel, best known for his portrayal of James Bond movie villain Jaws, has died in a California hospital aged 74.
PhuketWATCH Daily Media Wrap
PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.
Today's Top News Items
bangkokpost.com Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will outlay plans to create a stronger foundation for future governments when he makes his first policy address to parliament on Friday. A policy statement issued on Wednesday calls for the streamlining of local, regional and national bureaucracies to improve efficiency and decentralise power.
nationmultimedia.com PM Prayuth Chan-ocha says in his policy statement, due to be announced in the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) tomorrow, that his government's major goals are to create a society where there is reform and justice, with no corruption: "We now have to create an atmosphere and environment suitable for unity and reconciliation that we lacked in the past. This is not easy to achieve. There are still many problems and obstacles ahead.''
bangkokpost.com Amnesty International called for Thai military authorities to halt what it called a ''100-day spiral of repression'' and restore civil rights throughout the country. ''The Thai authorities should end this disturbing pattern of repression, end human rights violations, respect its international human rights obligations and allow open debate and discussion - all of which are vital to the country's future,'' said Richard Bennett, the Asia-Pacific director of AI. It was the first time in recent memory that Amnesty International has released a special report on Thailand.
voanews.com Two rights groups say they have collected evidence that detainees in Thailand have been tortured since the May 22 coup.
bangkokpost.com The anti-corruption drive is taking a massive hit, with prosecutors now looking into the case of the fabulously expensive sound-video system and microphones installed in Government House as details come clear that prices negotiated by the Department of Public Works are far above those listed by the manufacturers.
nationmultimedia.com Following a public and media outcry, the price of 89 microphones intended for communication in the Cabinet meeting room at Government House has been reduced by 35 percent.
straitstimes.com Thai politics has completed a dramatic turn. From the electoral authoritarianism under deposed premier Thaksin Shinawatra in 2001-06, it has become a virtual military government under General Prayuth Chan-ocha today.
Latest on the Ebola Outbreak
news.com.au A severely ill man has been rushed to Australia's Gold Coast University Hospital and isolated this morning amid suspected Ebola virus fears. The man fell seriously ill with emergency crews confirming he had just returned from The Congo two days ago.
Phuket World of People
bangkokpost.com The maritime office has ordered certain vessels heading to Phuket to report through their navigational systems as officials tighten the checks on inbound marine traffic from October 1.
abc.net.au A 24-year-old Japanese multimillionaire has fathered a 16th baby via a surrogate in Thailand. The surrogate employed by Mitsutoki Shigeta has given birth in Chiang Rai, north of Bangkok.
freshfruitportal.com Migrant worker rights campaigner Andy Hall has had his passport returned almost three months after it was confiscated by a Thai court, on the final day of proceedings in one of three defamation cases brought against him by pineapple processor Natural Fruit Company. On his Twitter account, Hall described the decision as ''very good news,'' explaining that a Prakanong court judge announced the court no longer considered the academic to be a flight risk. A ruling is expected on October 29.
First Natural Fruit v. Andy Hall case draws to a close
http://www.freshfruitportal.com/2014/09/10/thailand-first-natural-fruit-v-andy-hall-case-draws-to-a-close/?country=others
news.com.au Egypt's ambassador to Australia has given hope that jailed journalist Peter Greste may be released. Hassan El-Laithy has says he hopes Greste will be back home in Brisbane ''sooner rather than later,'' Fairfax Media reports.
hawaiireporter.com Building upon an incredible international expansion, including its most recent location in Manila, Philippines, the Hawaii-born Teddy's Bigger Burgers just finalised the first of a two-store agreement in Thailand, set to open in late 2014 or first quarter of 2015.
bangkokpost.com Thai Airways International (THAI) has cancelled plans to borrow 7 billion baht from the Government Savings Bank this year as its financial position has improved.
reuters Thai hospital operator Bangkok Dusit Medical Services is selling 10 billion baht ($311 million) in zero-coupon convertible bonds, according to a term sheet.
deathandtaxesmag.com I have carried the torch for the iPod Classic since its inception, and now that Apple has officially discontinued the model, I am deathly afraid of my unit's eventual failure.
Around the Asean Region
telegraph.co.uk Former Scotland Yard detective Adam Whittington has been jailed in Singapore after a foiled attempt to snatch a two-year-old boy back on behalf of his mother at the centre of an international custody battle. The boy's London-based mother was also sent to prison for her part in the daring plan to bring the child to Britain.
ft.com Indonesian lawmakers are making a last-ditch attempt to abolish direct elections for mayors and regional governors in what critics say would be a big blow to this young democracy.
AP A 6.5-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of Sulawesi island in eastern Indonesia but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, and authorities said there was no threat of a tsunami.
ucanews.com Health officials in Myanmar's Rakhine state say the government will meet with aid group Medecins Sans Frontieres-Holland this week for discussions that could see medical operations by MSF resume later this month.
Phuket World of Sport
theage.com.au The Australian Football Lesague says it is reassessing a lucrative sponsorship deal with Royal Brunei Airlines amid international condemnation of Brunei's new anti-gay laws. AFL Europe - the governance body for the sport across Europe - had previously promoted a year-long deal with the state-owned airline as its ''biggest-ever sponsorship'' agreement.
Coming Events on Phuket 2014
September 12 Amcham at Angsana: the New Phuket
September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day
November 6 Loy Kratong
November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket
December 5 King's Birthday
December 10 Constitution Day
December 25 Christmas Day
December 26 10th Anniversary, 2004 Tsunami
December 31 New Year's Eve
Coming Events on Phuket 2015
February 13-15 Phuket Yacht Show
