A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective. Reports from national and international media, with translations into English from Thai.

Bangkok Post Thailand is planning an informal meeting of six countries to discuss nuclear issues following North Korea's decision to attend this month's regional security forum in Phuket. Panich Vikitset, assistant to Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya, went to North Korea on Monday to invite Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun to participate in the Asean Regional Forum on July 23. Speaking from Beijing, Mr Panich said Mr Pak was deciding whether he would attend or send representatives. Thailand is expected to talk with North Korea about ARF participation when Mr Kim meets Mr Kasit in Cairo next week.


Los Angeles Times Music legends, sports figures, and civil rights leaders paid tribute to Michael Jackson during an emotional, song-filled service at Staples Center that was part polished entertainment, part revival meeting. Jackson was praised as a music pioneer and a barrier-breaking cultural figure, who the Rev. Al Sharpton said paved the way for other black entertainers to reach superstardom. The service culminated with Jackson's 11-year-old daughter Paris Michael Katherine Jackson = in tears - telling the audience from the stage, ''I just wanted to say, ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you can imagine. I just wanted to say I love him so much.'' Jackson's gilded casket was borne by a group of pallbearers each wearing sequined glove.

bbc.com Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya has refused to resign after police questioned his involvement in last year's Bangkok airport siege. Mr Kasit said he would fight his case in court. Mr Kasit was among more than 30 leaders of the People's Alliance for Democracy, also known as the yellow shirts, summoned by police this week. Prime Minsiter Abhisit Vejajiva says he will not force Mr Kasit to quit the foreign ministry post. His Democrat Party said it would allow Mr Kasit to exercise his own judgement. The foreign minister is due in Phuket next week for the Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

dpa The World Health Organisation is to issue new guidelines for member states on how to monitor the H1N1 virus, given that it was widespread and counting each case is no longer needed. The three cases of patients with swine flu who have shown resistance to anti-viral drugs were not unexpected, a senior WHO official says. All three patients, in Denmark, Hong Kong and Japan, were believed to have made full recoveries. There were about 98,000 cases of the virus confirmed, with 440 deaths, in 137 countries and territories. The organisation would probably recommend that only countries with few or no cases keep tabs on every instance, but otherwise to focus on possible mutations, other changes and severity.

csmonitor.com Score one for international sanctions against North Korea. That is the line that US and United Nations officials are taking after the return home of the Kang Nam, a rust-bucket North Korean freighter suspected of carrying a cargo of illicit weapons exports. It is not always easy to get the international community to line up behind efforts to punish Pyongyang. In particular, China and Russia at times have balked at tough measures aimed at their regional neighbor.But the trailing of the Kang Nam shows how North Korea can be deterred if everyone works together, President Obama says.

guardian.co.uk One of Burma's main rebel groups has pledged to stop using child soldiers in return for outside aid in an effort to enhance its international credibility. Leaders of the Shan State army, one of several ethnic insurgent groups battling the country's military junta, have signed a memorandum of understanding with Abolish Slavery and International Operations Centre for Children, two western non-governmental organisations, to prevent minors serving in its forces. Burma has the highest number of child soldiers in the world, about 70,000. A Human Rights Watch report in 2002 found widespread forced recruitment of boys as young as 11. Subsequent reports say the number of child soldiers in Burma is largely unchanged.

wsj.com Hong Kong and Singapore topped a global list measuring countries' free-trade attributes, with the US ranking 16th and Japan 23rd, the World Economic Forum says. The Geneva-based business forum, which hosts the annual conferences in Davos, Switzerland, said its Enabling Trade Index measures the institutions, policies and services facilitating the free flow of goods over borders and to final destinations. It measures four overall trade issues: market access; border administration; business environment; transport and communications.

Associated Press Even as troops fight militants in the south, government officials and donors in Afghanistan's Bamiyan valley are training tour guides and teaching restaurateurs about customer service. It's an attempt to draw tourism and return one small part of Afghanistan to normalcy. The challenges are many - land mines, dangerous roads outside Bamiyan, and, not least, Afghanistan's reputation as anything but a tourist haven. But the hope is to persuade history buffs and adventure seekers. By the end of October, the major historical sites are expected to be landmine-free. ''It's some sort of adventurous traveling, so it's of course more interesting than going to Thailand, Which is actually quite boring, isn't it?'' said one german tourist.


Phuket Lashed by Torrential Storm, Flooding
Photo Album Can an island be wet and dry at the same time? Yes if it's Phuket, where an alcohol ban today was accompanied by a furious downpour.
Phuket Lashed by Torrential Storm, Flooding

Phuket Big Buddha Celebration: Photo Special
Photo Album In a display of the remarkable diversity on Phuket, hundreds of traditional Mon people flock to the Big Buddha to mark one of the year's most significant Buddhist holy days.
Phuket Big Buddha Celebration: Photo Special

Phuket Bars to Close Tuesday, Wednesday
Latest All bars and clubs in Patong and across Phuket are expected to shut for 48 hours from early Tuesday to respect key Buddhist holy days. The closure may surprise some tourists.
Phuket Bars to Close Tuesday, Wednesday

N Korea Fires July 4 Missiles: Phuket Talks Follow
Update With regional security talks on Phuket looming, North Korea defies UN sanctions and fires more missiles, coinciding with the July 4 US Independence Day holiday.
N Korea Fires July 4 Missiles: Phuket Talks Follow

Phuket Marketing: Special Offer to Kim Jong-il
Satire If a panda can sell Chiang Mai and an F1 driver attracts resort villa buyers, then perhaps Phuket deserves North Korea's Kim Jong-il. First, we need him on the island.
Phuket Marketing: Special Offer to Kim Jong-il


MediaWATCH: Phuket Security 'Starts Thursday'
News Digest The Phuket Asean security clamp begins on July 9, say reports; All set for Jackson's thriller; Jobless vote in Indonesia; viet war architect dies; Jetstar at war.
MediaWATCH: Phuket Security 'Starts Thursday'

MediaWATCH: FM Faces Police Scrutiny
News Digest Thailand's Foreign Minister pressured over PAD protest and Asean summit on Phuket; North Korea vessel due home; Federer wins Wimbledon; Burma unmoved; black box found.
MediaWATCH: FM Faces Police Scrutiny