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 Thailand's Chearavanont family is ranked fourth on the list of Forbes Asia's first-ever ranking of the top 50 Asian business dynasties, with a fortune valued at US$19.9 billion, while South Korea's Lee family, which controls the Samsung Group, tops the list with a combined wealth of $26.6 billion.

nationmultimedia.com The Stop Drink Network has said celebrities who recently posted photos of themselves consuming branded alcohol drinks on popular social media site Instagram had violated the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and should face the prospect of jail time.



nytimes.com Around the region, flights have been grounded, schools have been closed, and tens of thousands of people have sought medical treatment for respiratory problems, allergies, eczema and other ailments. More than a month into the crisis, it seems that the region cannot curb the haze in the short term.

nationmultimedia.com The prolonged haze is hitting Phuket's tourism hard, with tourist operators on the island complaining about flight delays and holiday cancellations.

asiaone.com Flights to the southern provinces of Songkhla, Krabi and Phuket were delayed amid thick haze.

afp '''It is the worst haze [on the island] in many years,''' said Trakul Thotham, director of the department of disaster prevention and mitigation on Phuket. However, he said the smog was ''getting better'' on Thursday.

straitstimes.com Only one-third of children turned up at the Phuket City Municipality's nursery on Wednesday, as parents took precautions against the haze.



bangkokpost.com Several security guards were filmed beating up two foreign tourists in Phuket and the video has quickly gone viral. [The removed Facebook post topped 280,000 views and other versions are still being watched.]

AAP Thai police have launched an investigation into a brutal attack on two Australian men by several Thai security guards outside a club on the popular resort island of Phuket. Australian officials were unavailable for comment.

stuff.co.nz A potential Australian passenger mutiny is simmering aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship currently steaming through the Malacca Straits en route to Phuket, Thailand. Passengers are enraged by what they believe is duplicitous behavior by the captain of the Legend of the Seas and have suggested that he might ''walk the plank'' before the ship docks in Singapore.

telegraph.co.uk Billionaire news magnate Rupert Murdoch apologised after suggesting that President Barack Obama was not a ''real black president''.

theguardian.com A British man held in Myanmar's most notorious jail is wasting away in a tiny cell with no window and an open sewer for a toilet while the British government is ignoring pleas to intervene, his father has told the Guardian. Philip Blackwood, 33, and two Burmese colleagues were accused of insulting religion and sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail in March after he posted a psychedelic image of Buddha wearing headphones on the Facebook page of the Yangon bar he manages.

bangkokpost.com Norwegian tourist Tore Klungeruik, 50, has complained to police he was bashed and robbed of 12,000 baht and an iPhone by a motorcycle taxi driver in Pattaya, after a night out on the town.

khaosodenglish.com When Thailand's contender for the Miss Universe crown takes the stage later this year at the international beauty pageant, she will arrive in a tuk-tuk. A dress inspired by the iconic, three-wheeled wonder was selected from 356 entries as the national costume.

Phuket Update Movenpick Resort & Spa Karon Beach Phuket has announced the appointment of Nick Porter as general manager. Originally from the UK, Mr Porter has more than 20 years' experience working in Asia.

bangkokpost.com Satun is an ideal destination for those looking for a peaceful and quiet holiday.



smh.com.au Refugees who travelled to Australia by boat could be permanently resettled in the Philippines under a deal being negotiated, but senior government sources fear the premature leaking of the deal to the media could see the proposal scuttled. The deal is reported to be worth about $150 million. A senior source told Fairfax Media the talks are still only at an ''in-principle'' level.

benarnews.org At least 265 Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar have fled refugee camps in Indonesia's Aceh province and their whereabouts are unknown, officials and refugees confirmed to BenarNews.



afp Liverpool confirmed German coach Jurgen Klopp as their new manager in a deal worth a reported $6.1 million a year.

smh.com.au It was the hosts Jordan who took control of a disjointed Australian outfit, with two second half goals in the Group B World Cup qualifying match



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