A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.

Associate Press UN drug experts warn that Asia is facing a rising threat from illegal amphetamine-type drugs, even as the problem from plant-derived drugs such as heroin and cocaine has eased. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime backed up the warning with data in a new report tracking production and use of amphetamine-type stimulants, ATS, in East and Southeast Asia.

DPA Supply and demand for amphetamine-type drugs is climbing rapidly in South-East and East Asia with potentially fearful consequences, a UN report released in Bangkok says. Gary Lewis, regional representative of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime said: ''It is quite alarming. The social and economic consequences are real and dangerous. We also know that drug crime spills over in to many other crimes.''

nytimes.com Just three decades after the downfall of the Khmer Rouge, a deadly regime that left behind little notion of private property, a law that would allow foreigners to buy some kinds of real estate in Cambodia appears to be nearing approval. Experts agree it also would be a general boost for the country, which has been struggling through its own version of the global economic downturn.

Associated Press Thailand has issued rules making sex change surgery more difficult - including a requirement that potential candidates cross-dress for a year - over fears that some patients are rushing into the operation, a medical association says. Transsexuals and transgender men are a common sight in Thailand. But a rash of castrations has alarmed the medical establishment and prompted the new rules.

boston.com Malaysia's government plans to impose a four percent goods and services tax by 2011 to boost revenue by an additional $297 million annually. Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the new tax was crucial to economic well-being and would replace the current narrowly applied 10 percent sales tax and five percent services tax.

nationmultimedia.com A pick-up truck loaded with passengers was rammed into by a speeding train, killing seven people and severely injuring six others. Police said the train dragged the truck about 700 metres before it stopped. The train was leaving Ubon Ratchathani for Bangkok.

seekingalpha.com Senator Schumer is denouncing Adidas for deciding to make NBA game jerseys in Thailand instead of in New York. What a classic example of arrogance by a politician. And what about all those foreigners playing in the NBA? Are they insults to American basketball players, robbing jobs from American workers?

cnn.com Authorities have filed murder charges against a politician over the massacre of 57 unarmed civilians in the Philippines, state-run media reported. Andal Ampatuan Jr, who is the mayor of the town of Datu Unsayalso and the son of a Philippines provincial governor, had voluntarily turned himself in for questioning.

heraldsun.com.au Virgin Blue forecast that it would turn a profit in the current financial year based on improved trading conditions since August, when it had warned it would merely break even. The long-haul service of V Australia will receive a fourth Boeing 777 in November, with plans for service to expand to five new destinations including Phuket, Nadi and Johannesburg.

thepeninsulaqatar.com Thailand will be sending more skilled workers especially in the construction industry as part of the Thai government's effort to strengthen bilateral relations with Qatar. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva told journalists at the Four Seasons Hotel that his administration was giving priority to deploy more of his countrymen to the construction industry here where they excel in the manpower pool.

bloomberg.com Sri Lanka's presidential election is likely to be held in the middle or end of January with a final date to be announced in about a week, Deputy Finance Minister Sarath Amunugama said. President Mahinda Rajapaksa three days ago called an election for 2010, two years before his mandate expires, seeking to capitalise on the defeat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels in May.

aap Giant pandas Wang Wang and Funi will provide a $600 million boost to the South Australian economy during their 10-year stay in Adelaide, zoo officials say. The pandas arrive in Adelaide on Saturday and will be worth more in tourism and other economic benefits than both cycling legend Lance Armstrong and golfing great Tiger Woods.

nytimes.com The cable network Bravo confirmed on Thursday that its cameras were following and filming an aspiring reality-show couple who managed to attend President Obama's first state dinner at the White House on Tuesday. A White House official, informed of Bravo's statement, said: ''We've already confirmed that they weren't invited.''

foznews.com Two million Muslims are headed to Muzdalifa, Saudi Arabia, to cast stones at the devil in the most dangerous part of the annual hajj pilgrimage, Reuters reported. Once the Muslim pilgrims get there, they will collect pebbles to throw at walls of the Jamarat Bridge to symbolise the rejection of the devil's temptations.

thestar.com.my Golf's Asian Tour has sealed a deal to broadcast tournaments live in Australia, a week after the rival OneAsia Tour announced a global television partner to boost their own profile. The two Tours are at loggerheads as they fight for market share in the lucrative region, with OneAsia, backed by the PGA of Australia, emerging this year as a real threat to the Asian Tour's traditional dominance.