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

sfgate.com The family of American actor David Carradine has asked the FBI to help investigate his death after his body was found in a hotel closet in Bangkok with a rope tied to his neck, wrist and genitals. Carradine's family does not believe he committed suicide and are troubled by conflicting accounts about the circumstances of his death. Thai police said they have not been contacted by the FBI.

news.yahoo.com Family members, ''profoundly disturbed'' by the publication of a forensics photo in a Bangkok tabloid, are seeking an independent pathologist and have threatened legal action against any media outlet that reprints images of the actor in death. The family will also seek an independent autopsy by famed forensic pathologist Dr Michael Baden to determine whether another person could have been involved.

Bangkok Post Police top the list of the most corrupt state agencies, according to a study funded by the National Anti-Corruption Commission. The top five state agencies and officers that businessmen had to pay ''extra money'' to are the Land Department (72.22 percent), followed by tambon administration organisations (68.52 percent), provincial administration organisations (60.52 percent), highways and traffic police (59.08 percent), and local politicians and influential figures (44.76 percent).


ft.com Kurt Wachveitl, stepping down after 41 years as manager of one of the world's best hotels, the Bangkok Oriental, has this advice for future managers: ''concentrate, be dedicated and focus, there really is no other way if you want to be the best. I can't believe it sometimes: you call a hotel office on Saturday morning and everyone is out playing golf or having fun. I don't understand it and I don't want to.'' When he took over the Oriental four decades ago occupancy was 10 percent. If there is more bad news over politics, the global financial crisis or swine flu then it might dip to 10 per cent again. ''Full circle,'' he says cheerfully.

Associated Press The trial of Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi for allegedly violating conditions of her house arrest has been delayed for a week over efforts to reinstate three defense witnesses. Suu Kyi's trial was adjourned until June 12 while a higher court hears a request by her attorneys to reinstate the defense witnesses who were earlier barred from testifying at her trial. ''The next session will be coming (next) Friday, but there won't be final arguments that day,'' Nyan Win said.

travelmole.com Tourism Australia has decided to close overseas offices in Thailand, Taiwan and Dubai by June 30. Outbound tour operators in all three cities view it as a set back that will further erode market confidence. Tour operators in Thailand say the closure did not take into account long term benefits. The Thailand market delivers 80,000 visitors a year to Australia, mainly high revenue incentive groups. Tour operators in Thailand will now have to contact TA's manager of Trade Development, Kelvin Yin, based in Malaysia.

TNA Thailand has allocated one billion baht plus for development of three Malaysian border checkpoints intending to facilitate more cross-border trade, but primarily at Sadao in Songhkla. Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is to pay an official visit to Malaysia for talks with his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak today.

New York Times Simon Winchester reviews The East, the West and Sex by Richard Bernstein,beginning with a tale of ''an adventurous English friend named Belinda,'' who in upcountry Thailand, had a sweet-smelling unguent applied at a salon while naked. ''Seconds later she heard a door slide open, then a rushing sound, and felt the air itself throbbing with movement. She was then swiftly overcome by pleasing physical sensations of an almost unbearable intensity. She lifted her head slightly, and was just able to see why: portions of her body had become suddenly covered with thousands upon thousands of brilliantly colored captive butterflies. All of them were engaged in licking away the ointment with what felt, as she later said dreamily, like a million tiny tongues.'' The book may sell.

Associated Press Mexican soldiers have fought a two-hour battle with heavily armed men holed up at a house in an Acapulco hotel zone, killing 15 of the gunmen as tourists cowered in their rooms nearby. One soldier was killed and the wounded included three soldiers and three bystanders. Several Mexican tourists were evacuated from small hotels in a faded neighborhood once frequented by Hollywood stars. When soldiers arrived at the house on a tip, the gunmen opened fire and hurled about 50 grenades, according to an army colonel.

news.com.au Phuket-style haggling has become standard in Sydney outlets as retailers try to move stock. Karah Tarran-Wilson, of Paddington boutique Rose and Ruby, said price haggling was now expected. ''If you have something at full price, it's like there are blinkers on. People are asking for discounts now.'' Ms Tarran-Wilson said that Sydney's Oxford St was worlds apart from the tourist strip in Phuket but ''it's almost a game in a way, to see how low they can go."

online.wsj.com The developed world, which for decades has offered upward mobility, appears to be losing its allure. Unemployment is rising, and backlashes against foreign workers are mounting. The result is potentially the biggest turnaround in migration flows since the Great Depression, economists say. Anecdotal reports and data indicate that the flow of immigrants from poor to wealthier countries is slowing significantly for the first time in decades while more people are returning home. Dilip Ratha, an economist and migration expert at the World Bank calls this reverse migration ''unprecedented.''

Phuket Gazette The release of a summary of the investigation into the One-Two-Go crash with 90 deaths at Phuket Airport in 2007 is reported on the front page, along with the illegal construction of what's described as a large ''artificial quay'' near Ao Por. This week's Editorial attempts to argue that a Thai or Burmese earning 6000 baht a month should be made to pay the same entrance fee for sporting events as an expat earning 10 or 20 times that much.

New York Times Conditions at a refugee camp holding almost 200 men in Indonesia's northernmost province of Aceh have deteriorated, leading to the escape of a known people smuggler and his nephew, according to a nongovernmental organisation. The escaped people smuggler is believed to have about $100 and a cellphone on him. The men are a mixture of Muslim Rohingya and Bangladeshis found by a fisherman after floating adrift for three weeks. They were rounded up by the Thai military and cast out to sea in motorless boats, a policy of ''push-backs'' that has since been halted.

Bernama Firefly, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, expects to carry 1.2 million passengers this year with seven new ATR-72-500 aircraft. Firefly managing director, Eddy Leong, said the community airline, which operates out of KL and Penang, carried about 300,000 passengers from January to May this year. It flies daily from Phuket to KL and less frequently to Penang. From July 1, it would fly to Singapore from KL four times daily.


Englishman Drowns at Karon, 'Girlfriend Expecting'
Updating Report The girlfriend of an Englishman who has drowned at Karon beach on Phuket is flying home alone and pregnant, Phuketwan has learned. It's the third drowning in a week.
Englishman Drowns at Karon, 'Girlfriend Expecting'

All Safe in Patong Emergency Rescue Practice
Photo Album A rescue drill involving a gps system and aircraft support was carried out on Patong beach today to demonstrate what should happen when tourists strike trouble at sea.
All Safe in Patong Emergency Rescue Practice

Small Phuket Beach Gains Big Eco Cleanup
Photo Album A gem of a beach, Kata Noi, gains a cleanup and some trees from the resort that benefits most from the sun, sea and sand there. Others come to help, too.
Small Phuket Beach Gains Big Eco Cleanup

Horrific Crash Kills 16 on Bus Bound for PhuketLatest A shocking bus crash in the neighboring province of Krabi kills 16 people as they were heading for Phuket, highlighting the need for improved road safety.
Horrific Crash Kills 16 on Bus Bound for Phuket

Phuket's Grand Mosque Plan Wins the Governor
Photo Album With one in three of Phuket's population being Muslim, the prospect of a Grand Mosque is a significant ambition. And now the plan has three potential sites and the Governor's support.
Phuket's Grand Mosque Plan Wins the Governor

Outrigger to Brand Seventh Laguna Phuket Resort
Latest The Outrigger brand now has its third Phuket resort, a sign of confidence in the island's future. This one will be at Laguna Phuket, where construction of resort No. 7 is well under way.
Outrigger to Brand Seventh Laguna Phuket Resort

Phuket Deal Spurs Free Trade for Seven Nations
World Exclusive Breakthrough talks on Phuket seal a historic deal that will lead eventually to free trade between Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Phuket Deal Spurs Free Trade for Seven Nations

Aussie Bar Solves its Beer Mat Heist Problem
Photo Album Patong these days is quiet out of season although sporting events can still attract a crowd to the Aussie Bar. Just leave those kangaroo bar mats alone, ok?
Aussie Bar Solves its Beer Mat Heist Problem

Monsoon Riders Title, Kalim Beach, June 12-14
Phuket has had surf competitions since 2002 but nothing like 2009, with three tournaments each over three days in a big new series. Local riders with face a test against the best.
Monsoon Riders Title, Kalim Beach, June 12-14

Phuket Fashion & Music Week, Patong, June 24-30
Photo Album High stepping models strutted their stuff in Patong at the preview of the first Fashion Week at Jungceylon that promises parades and a party every night.
Phuket Fashion & Music Week, Patong, June 24-30