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

guardian.co.uk The Libyan convicted of killing 270 people in the Lockerbie bombing is expected to be freed from jail on compassionate grounds tomorrow because he is now thought to be close to death, with prostate cancer that is aggressive and advanced. Kenny Macaskill, the justice secretary for Scotland, will defy intense pressure from Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, to keep Abdelbaset al-Megrahi in jail. An announcement will be made coinciding with news bulletins on the eastern seaboard of the US, home to many of the disaster victims.

bbc.co.uk It is thought preparations for Mr Megrahi's possible release were being made in time for him to be home with his family in Libya by Ramadan, which starts on Friday. Intense pressure on the justice secretary and the Scottish Government has been mounting, including interventions from the White House. On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton reiterated her opposition to the possible release of Megrahi. She said it would be ''absolutely wrong''. ''I knew a lot of these families. I talked with them about what a horror they experienced,'' Mrs Clinton said.


smh.com.au It's official. The recovery has begun, according to the International Monetary Fund's chief economist. But the nature of the rebound is likely to be slow and unpredictable. ''The recovery has started,'' claimed Olivier Blanchard in a paper published by the IMF. ''Sustaining it will require delicate rebalancing acts, both within and across countries.''He warned that recovery would be slow and complicated. ''The world is not in a run-of-the mill recession. The turnaround will not be simple. The crisis has left deep scars, which will affect both supply and demand for many years to come,'' he said.

voanews.com Indonesian police say they have arrested two men suspected of arranging funds for last month's deadly hotel bombings in Jakarta.Authorities identified the men only as ''Ali'' and ''Iwan.'' They say Ali is believed to be a Saudi national. The arrests are part of an investigation into the July 17 suicide bomb attacks on the Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels. Nine people died, including the bombers.

Reuters Indonesia appeared to bat away offers from other Southeast Asian countries to help stop haze pollution on Wednesday, leaving the region facing worsening skies as a result of a brewing El Nino weather pattern. Worried about the potential impact, environment ministers of the region met in Singapore to discuss ways to mitigate the haze, which cost over $9 billion in damage to the region's tourism, transport and farming during an El Nino weather pattern in 1997/98.

nytimes.com The World Bank ignored its own environmental and social protection standards when it approved nearly $200 million in loan guarantees for palm oil production in Indonesia, a stinging internal audit has found. Indonesia is home to the world's second-largest reserves of natural forests and peat swamps, which naturally trap carbon dioxide - the main greenhouse gas that causes climate change. But rampant destruction of the forests to make way for palm oil plantations has caused giant releases of CO2 into the atmosphere, making Indonesia the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases on the planet.

Bangkok Post Human rights activists have lodged an appeal with the National Human Rights Commission asking it to investigate the deaths of two Rohingya illegal immigrants held in Ranong. Thongchai Keeratihatthayakorn, a doctor in Ranong, said the two had died of sudden inflammation of the heart. Immigration officials in Ranong said another 10 Rohingya detainees had fallen ill and had symptoms of fatigue. Thai Allied Committee for Desegregated Burma coordinator Nassir Achwarin said the two men died while in the custody of government authorities, which was a serious issue since they were denied the basic right of proper medical treatment.

forward.com Editorial: The southeast Asian nation of Burma is one of the poorest, sickest, most oppressive places in the world. The military junta that has ruled ruthlessly for two decades has enriched itself with the country's abundant natural resources, but left most of the population of about 56 million destitute. Burma's health system is the second worst on earth. HIV/AIDS is rampant, more than a quarter of the population lacks access to clean water, forced labor is widespread, and the nation is home to the world's largest number of child soldiers.Even its name has been stolen. The military regime changed it to Myanmar. The UN went along with this thievery. Fortunately, the US did not.

ca.sys-con.com Consumers in urban areas in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand have increased their confidence about the prevailing economic conditions. In the first quarter the Consumer Confidence Index of these countries was lower, following media reports about the global recession and pessimistic forecasts of economic development. During the second quarter several economies in the Southeast Asian region have shown signs of recovery, and some have predicted positive growth figures in 2010.

Associated Press Singapore's PM said in his National Day speech that ''aggressive preaching'' by religious groups and evangelising threaten the tiny city-state's stability. Lee Hsien Loong, a Buddhist by birth, said his education at the island's Roman Catholic High School was an example of how different religions can coexist peacefully. ''The most visceral and dangerous fault line (in Singapore) is race and religion,'' Lee said. Singapore's majority Buddhist Chinese, Malay Muslims and Indian Hindus have largely avoided conflict since race riots between Chinese and Malays left about 40 dead in the 1960s.

spicenews.com In a boost to the Australian MICE industry, the Qantas Group has announced it would order four additional Airbus A330-200 aircraft for Jetstar to cater for further long-haul international growth. Jetstar is set for a further long-haul expansion. Jetstar already operates a fleet of six Airbus A330 aircraft to a number of key Asia-Pacific MICE destinations ex-Australia, including Bangkok, Denpasar, Honolulu and Phuket. Qantas Group CEO Alan Joyce said the first A330-200 aircraft would be delivered in November 2010.

monstersand critics.com Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who introduced micro-credits in rural Bangladesh, on Wednesday launched a centre at Thailand's Asian Institute of Technology that aims to explore new avenues for tackling poverty in the region. ''If you want to see poor people get out of poverty, you have to change the system,'' Yunus said after the official launch of the Yunus Center at AIT. Yunus, the winner of the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his pioneering concept of micro-credits and this year's winner of the 2009 US Presidential Medal of Freedom, has chosen the 50-year-old AIT as his poverty-fighting partner.

pr-inside.com Starwood Hotel Group has signed its first Westin resort in Thailand, The Westin Siray Resort which is due to open in early 2010. The resort is located on tranquil Siray Island in a private cove overlooking Siray Bay and has its own private beach. The resort, which is currently under construction, will offer 258 guest rooms, suites and villas each with ocean views and some with private plunge pools. Guests will be able to experience a range of Westin products and services including the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, Westin Workout and Heavenly Spa. Other facilities will include six food and beverage outlets, three outdoor pools, Westin Kids Club, a business center and four meeting rooms.

bernama.com Malaysia's High Court on Wednesday passed the mandatory death sentence on a Thai woman after she was found guilty of trafficking in cannabis five years ago. Judge Datuk Muhamad Ideres Muhamad Rapee ordered the sentence after the prosecution managed to prove a prima facie against Roseedah Cheubong, 41. Roseedah, who was clad in a red baju kurung, was seen shedding tears when the sentence was passed. Roseedah's counsel Zamri Mat Nawang had pleaded for leniency, saying that she was a single mother doing various odd jobs after her divorce to fend for herself and her teenage child, and that she regretted her action.

Associated Press A Muslim part-time model will be caned next week, becoming the first woman in Malaysia to be given the punishment under Islamic law, after she pleaded guilty to drinking beer, a prosecutor says. An Islamic court in July ordered that Kartika Sari Dewi Shukarno, 32, be lashed six times with a rattan cane after she was caught drinking alcohol in a raid on a hotel night club in eastern Pahang state last year. Prosecutor Saiful Idham Sahimi said Kartika will be the first woman to be caned under Islamic law after she chose not to appeal the sentence.

bbc.co.uk Michael Jackson's remains will be buried in Los Angeles on what would have been his 51st birthday, the late singer's family have confirmed. He will be laid to rest at the Forest-Lawn memorial park in Glendale on August 29 in a private ceremony for close friends and family. A spokesman for the Jacksons said they wished to convey their gratitude for the support offered by fans. The cause of Jackson's death, on June 25, has yet to be revealed.


Phuket's Beaches Fail the Five-Star Enviro Test
Latest A new star rating system for Thailand's beaches leaves the best on Phuket lagging a little. There's one local island with a five star beach, but it's not Phuket.
Phuket's Beaches Fail the Five-Star Enviro Test

Phuket Still Has Chance of Gaining Extra Police
Photo Album Word has begun on a perimeter wall that will eventually surround the new Region 8 Police Headquarters, in Mai Khao. Local Phuket squatters have been asked to move.
Phuket Still Has Chance of Gaining Extra Police

'Withered' Rohingya Rescued from Ranong
Latest Rohingya boatpeople have been evacuated from Ranong Immigration detention centre. A doctor says conditions there were so bad that two men died and more were endangered.
'Withered' Rohingya Rescued from Ranong

Two Killed with Different Weapons, say Police
Latest The investigation into a double murder in which the victims were dumped at a national park north of Phuket is uncovering more information about the deaths.
Two Killed with Different Weapons, say Police

Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project
Photo Album Phuket's upmarket Taj Exotica project has been halted by the Governor, who wants to know more about potential environmental issues. The resort is to go on a small island.
Phuket Governor Halts Big $$$ Taj Exotica Project

Final Word on Phuket and Asean Due Monday: PM
Latest The prospects of Phuket hosting the October Asean summit of 16 national leaders has seen more swings and roundabouts than a carousel. A final decision is due on Monday.
Final Word on Phuket and Asean Due Monday: PM



MediaWATCH: Amnesty Call for Red, Yellow Shirts
News Digest An amnesty for both sides is suggested in the battle of Thailand's red and yellow shirts; Indonesia quake jolt: Man U vendors fight back; Call for Burma to act on boatpeople.
MediaWATCH: Amnesty Call for Red, Yellow Shirts