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

Straits Times, Singapore: Under the heading 'Uncertainty over Summit,' correspondent Nirmal Ghosh writes: ''Officials and diplomats have been making trips to Phuket to sort out logistics and other issues, but as of yesterday apart from the host, none of the 15 countries had confirmed that its leaders would attend. ''A lot of countries are quietly wondering why there should be a summit in June when there is another scheduled for October. It seems Thailand is more intent on restoring its own image,'' one diplomat said, requesting anonymity. Another diplomat echoed the view, saying: ''Nobody seems very comfortable. Everyone would be much happier if the two summits were rolled together in October.''

Bangkok Post: Phuket is likely to gain an Ikea store within a few years. Siam Future Development Plc (SF) has announced a joint venture with foreign and Thai partners to develop a 10-billion-baht home furnishing centre that will bring Ikea to Bangkok. The Mega Bang Na complex is scheduled to open by October 2011, said SF chief executive Nopporn Witoonchart with expectations of creating 20,000 jobs and 40 million visitors annually. Two more stores are planned in unspecified locations.


telegraph.co.uk: In just the kind of splurge Phuket needs, writer Sasha Bates visited three Phuket resorts and handed out favorable reviews. The chosen three: Phuket Pavilions, Mom Tri's Villa Royale and The Vichitt. ''The bathroom alone is bigger than most British flats,'' she says of PP. Scuba diving, kayaking and sailing are plugged, along with the gibbon sanctuary and the always impressive Big Buddha. She offers small criticisms, too: ''Our suite was directly below the restaurant,'' ''It's almost impossible to walk anywhere'' and ''at low tide [the water] recedes so far it is impossible to swim.'' See which fits which for yourself.

Matichon: Former PM Thaksin Shinawatra has placed a bid for Sveti Nikola, a private European island off Montenegro. The island last changed hands in 2007 for 20 million euros. At the first auction launched a couple of months ago, the island, also known as Hawaii, was offered at 28 million euros. According to online reports, Khun Thaksin now has a Montenegro passport.

Bangkok Post: Rights activists are dismayed at what they say is a lack of effort by the authorities to find out who is responsible for trafficking Rohingya boat people. The human rights panel of the Lawyers Council of Thailand, which monitors the issue, says it was disappointed there had been no signs of progress in pinpointing traffickers. ''There have been no efforts to track down and unmask those involved,'' said Surapong Konghchantuk, a panel member. Negligence was also cited in the case of 54 Burmese immigrants who suffocated in a container on the back of a truck on their way from Ranong to Phuket in April last year. The truck driver was charged but no further investigation of ringleaders was had been conducted, Mr Surapong said.

Suffocation or Solution? http://phuketwan.com/tourism/human-trafficking-suffocation-solution-10993/

xinhuanet.com: The Cambodian government has presented its complaints to Thailand, demanding compensation for damage and losses ''caused by Thai troops'' in an attack in early April on a market located in front of the Temple of Preah Vihear. Cambodia's foreign ministry noted that 264 stands were destroyed, ''causing great hardship and misery to 319 Cambodian families who have lost their livelihood," it said, adding that "the material loss incurred on these families amounts to US$2.15 million.''

The Nation: A leading academic of the Public Health Ministry warned Monday that the Influenza A(H1N1) may be unavoidable in Thailand despite tightened containment measures. Associate Professor Dr Thawee Chotepitthayasunon, head of an academic team of the ministry, said an outbreak could happen no matter how well Thailand has been prepared to cope with it.

bloomberg.com: The swine flu H1N1 virus has been detected in people in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China (Hong Kong), Costa Rica, Colombia, Denmark, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Poland, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US.

skyscanner.net: According to this cheap flight site, Bangkok (and Thailand) is bouncing back among British travellers. Perhaps they are Daily Telegraph readers. Fastest growing destinations: Bangkok, Thailand (+271%) Los Angeles, USA (+170%) Porto, Portugal (+163%) Dalaman, Turkey (+160%) Orlando, USA (+158%) Istanbul, Turkey (+157%) Sharm El Sheik, Egypt (+156%) Bodrum, Turkey (+153%) Burgas, Bulgaria (+152%) Oslo, Norway (+143%)

smh.com.au: In the Sydney Morning Herald Peter Hartcher notes the ''extraordinary role reversal'' with Indonesia now where Thailand once stood. ''Thailand is now a wreck, suffering a constitutional crisis, emergency rule and an investment strike. Indonesia, on the other hand, is stable and tolerant under a mature and clean president, with better growth prospects than any of the states in the region. The US think tank Freedom House has designated Indonesia for the first time as the only fully free and democratic country in South-East Asia.''

worldfocus.org: Praising the effectiveness of Bangkok's Skytrain in easing congestion since 1999, the World Bank's Pichaya Fitts writes: ''When it comes to infrastructure development, Thailand has done very well compared with some other Southeast Asian neighbors. In fact, appropriate infrastructure, including access to power and water, has helped Thailand fuel rapid economic growth during the past three decades. Good infrastructure has made Thailand attractive to foreign investment, helped facilitate international trade, and improved the efficiency of everyday business activities.''

abcnews.go.com The number of Cuban Americans visiting Cuba is up 20 percent so far this year and will probably keep rising as Washington eases travel restrictions. Cuba's annual tourism convention attracted tour operators from more than 50 countries. They watched videos of the island's attractions and haggled with their hosts over blocks of hotel rooms.


Phuket Red Shirts Speak Out: We Want Peace
Latest Whether there are red shirts on Phuket has been a matter of speculation. Now the island's red shirt leaders are stepping forward, waving a flag of peace, for the Asean Plus Six Summit.
Phuket Red Shirts Speak Out: We Want Peace

Phi Phi Deaths: Cause 'May Take a Month or More'
Latest Relatives and friends of two women who died in strange circumstances on Phi Phi will probably have to wait several weeks before they learn the cause, and so will islanders.
Phi Phi Deaths: Cause 'May Take a Month or More'

Phuket Fall Stalls in Latest Flier Figures
Latest Just a small drop in air passenger numbers for Phuket in April could mean better times lie ahead, or at least that the decline will be slower this shallow season.
Phuket Fall Stalls in Latest Flier Figures

Phuket Love: Bliss for 10,000 Chinese Couples
Love Tryst Isn't love grand? Phuket aims to woo 10,000 Chinese couples with romance in their hearts under a new scheme proposed by a leading China business association.
Phuket Love: Bliss for 10,000 Chinese Couples

Phuket Tourists Untroubled by Asean Security: PM
Photo Album The PM briefs journalists on Phuket about his two days off then turns to the more serious subject of Asean and the possibility of the Internal Security Act being imposed.
Phuket Tourists Untroubled by Asean Security: PM

Phi Phi Deaths: Paradise By Day, Party By Night
Take the Tour The deaths of two tourists on Phi Phi remain a mystery as speculation continues about the cause. The island, visited by day trippers in sunshine, also parties long and hard.
Phi Phi Deaths: Paradise By Day, Party By Night


MediaWATCH: More than 100 Resorts For Sale
Latest Swine flu continues to swirl as an issue while the red shirts mass in the Bangkok rain and a report says that more than 100 resorts are for sale in Thailand. Here's Monday MediaWATCH>
MediaWATCH: More than 100 Resorts For Sale

MediaWATCH: Tourist Death Theories Abound
Latest Internal Security Act coming for Phuket; International media seek clues to the deaths of two Phi Phi tourists; why travel is not dangerous; a swim to Burmese heroine Suu Kyi.
MediaWATCH: Tourist Death Theories Abound