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

Bangkok Post Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has promised to end corruption and all illegal political activities to restore foreigners' confidence in the country. ''Thailand can be developed if corruption is eradicated and laws are enforced seriously, particularly the laws relating to political activities,'' Mr Abhisit said while giving a speech on the economic crisis and the future of the country.


Bloomberg The mayors of Hoboken, Ridgefield and Secaucus, New Jersey, and five rabbis were among 44 people charged by the US with public corruption and money laundering, trading in human organs and extortion. New jersey Governor Jon Corzine said: ''Any corruption is unacceptable - anywhere, anytime, by anybody. The scale of corruption we're seeing as this unfolds is simply outrageous and cannot be tolerated.''

smh.com.au The terrorist network responsible for Friday's Jakarta bombings used methods so sophisticated and precisely executed that police, fearing another attack, have taken over responsibility for security at the city's main hotels.The national police chief called the managers of 33 five-star hotels to a private meeting and ''read them riot act'' over their security arrangements. Police were immediately taking over security assessments of the hotels, an unprecedented move. Hotels are also rushing to upgrade security, placing sniffer dogs at entrances, deploying security staff on all floors and buying devices that can detect explosives.

AFP The US State Department has hit back at North Korea's denunciation of Hillary Clinton as ''by no means intelligent'' and her remarks on denuclearisation as ''vulgar'', saying those unflattering terms better describe the regime in Pyongyang itself. ''What is vulgar is that the North Korean government chooses to harvest missiles rather than enough food for its people,'' declared State Department Philip Crowley in defence of Secretary of State Clinton. ''And what is unintelligent is the path that the North Korean government has chosen. It's a dead-end which dooms the North Korean people to a dismal future,'' he said.

Reuters The United States and North Korea became entangled in a brief diplomatic imbroglio on Thursday when they found themselves competing for the same stage for a news conference. The two countries, which do not have diplomatic ties and are mired in a long-standing row over Pyongyang's nuclear programs, booked back-to-back news conferences in the same room at the Asean Regional Forum security gathering on Phuket. Clinton's meetings ran so long that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had to cancel his news conference, EU officials said.

TNA Thailand's Minister of Foreign Affairs Kasit Piromya called the 42nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the 16th Asean Regional Forum meetings at Thailand's famed resort of Phuket successful gatherings. ''Over the course of the past five days, we were able to agree upon key issues paving way for a more effective and rules-based Asean,'' Mr Kasit told a press conference as AMM and ARF concluded. He added that adopting Terms of Reference for the Asean Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights provides the regional group with a platform for advancing its efforts in promoting and protecting human rights.

irrawaddy.org A senior US official told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that US officials from Hillary Clinton's delegation held a bilateral meeting with Burmese officials on Wednesday evening in Phuket. ''They met yesterday - a small group from the State Department and a small group from Burma,'' said a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official said that the outcome of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's detention would have a ''direct effect'' on the next step of engagement regarding their bilateral relationship, adding this meant that if the Burmese authorities released Suu Kyi, the US would be prepared to look at ''positive measures.''

indianexpress.comA Muslim model who was sentenced by an Malaysian Islamic court to be flogged with a rattan cane for having a beer in a nightclub has accepted the judgment and wants her punishment to be carried out soon. ''I will accept this earthly punishment, let Allah decide my punishment in the hereafter,'' Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno was quoted as saying. Kartika, 32, said that she wanted to get the over the painful experience soon so that she could focus on her life with her family and two children.

AFP French tourists who run into trouble after travelling to war-torn parts of the globe could be asked to pay back the cost of rescuing them. Presented to the French cabinet by Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner, the new bill targets ''French nationals who travel without a valid reason to dangerous areas, despite being warned of the dangers they face.'' Part of the aim is also to persuade travellers to take out better insurance, said the foreign ministry, pointing out that evacuating French nationals during street protests in Thailand in 2008 cost hundreds of thousands of euros.

bloomberg.com ''During a recession, we also prosper because people are coming down market,'' said Tony Fernandes, chief executive officer of AirAsia, Southeast Asia's biggest budget airline. ''We are no different from McDonald's or Wal-Mart. Our goal is to fill up our planes.'' AirAsia filled 80 percent of its available seats on average in June, the best ever for that month, Fernandes said. Jetstar Asia, partly owned by Australia's Qantas Airways Ltd., flew 15 percent more people in the first six months compared with the year earlier period. In contrast, Singapore Air's passenger numbers slumped 19 percent in June, the eighth consecutive drop. Thai Airways numbers declined 18 percent last month, the 12th straight decline.

Computerworld At least six staff members at the Los Angeles County Coroner's Department improperly viewed Michael Jackson's death certificate hundreds of times in the two weeks immediately following the pop star's death on June 25, the Los Angeles Times reported. The illegal access of Jackson's death certificate from the Electronic Death Registration System appears to have occurred despite a warning by officials that such access was improper.


Phuket, Not to Be Eclipsed, Says 'Hello Hillary'
Take the Tour Inside Hillary Clinton's Resort Cloud earlier covered the eclipse of the sun, But Phuket finally got something special. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives.
Phuket, Not to Be Eclipsed, Says 'Hello Hillary'

AseanWATCH: Clinton Show Rolling on to Phuket
Latest Human rights will be high on Hillary Clinton's list as the arrest of five Malaysian Immigration officers provides topicality. Phuket gives her a chance to impress the critics.
AseanWATCH: Clinton Show Rolling on to Phuket

Patong Police Dial a Killer: 'Give Yourself Up'
Latest A Patong lieutenant reveals that he called the chief suspect in a murder investigation following a gun battle and told him to surrender to police. The escape vehicle belonged to the victim.
Patong Police Dial a Killer: 'Give Yourself Up'

Phuket, Not to Be Eclipsed, Says 'Hello Hillary'
Take the Tour Inside Hillary Clinton's Resort Cloud earlier covered the eclipse of the sun, But Phuket finally got something special. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives.
Phuket, Not to Be Eclipsed, Says 'Hello Hillary'

Patong Gunfight: Police Warn of Killers On The Run
Murder Alert The gang that shot four men today, killing one, are on the run on Phuket and dangerous. Police tonight warned people to stay clear of the fugitive gang, and named the victims.
Patong Gunfight: Police Warn of Killers On The Run

Patong Gunfight: One Dead, Three Wounded
Updating Report A shootout in Patong has left one man dead and three injured this afternoon. Bystanders said it was a like the Phuket version of a scene from the wild west.
Patong Gunfight: One Dead, Three Wounded

Phuket Rampage: Knife 'Held at Tourists' Throats'
Latest Police have arrested three men accused of a Phuket City rampage during which, security camera footage reveals, they held a knife to the throats of a tourist couple in a lift.
Phuket Rampage: Knife 'Held at Tourists' Throats'