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

thetelegraphandargus.co.uk A head teacher has ordered an inquiry into claims that a group of British teenage pupils watched a live sex show on a school trip to Thailand. Bingley Grammar School has received complaints that the group of a dozen 16 to 18-year-old male and female students visited Bangkok's notorious Patpong red light district. The group was on a month-long trip to Thailand and Laos with two teachers.

smh.com.au A United Airlines pilot was arrested aboard a flight to Chicago on suspicion of being drunk, London police and an airline official said. Scotland Yard said the 51-year-old was arrested aboard United Airlines Flight 949, due to fly from London's Heathrow Airport to Chicago. Airline spokeswoman Megan McCarthy said the pilot had been removed pending an investigation. The 124 passengers were put on other flights.

news.com.au The International Transport Workers Union has initiated legal action alleging that checked baggage was not adequately screened before it was put on Jetstar aircraft on five occasions, including at least one flight to Phuket. The union is threatening to impose bans on Jetstar unless the Qantas subsidiary addresses concerns over the alleged security lapses at Sydney airport. The union claims to have written statements alleging that bags were not adequately checked before flights to New Zealand, Honolulu and Phuket. Qantas rejected the claims.

Phuketwan Update Twenty candidates for the Miss Belgium 2010 title will be staying at the Cape Panwa Hotel next week, just up the road from the Radisson Plaza where Miss Poland entrants were accommodated earlier this year. The large Belgian entourage includes media and TAT officials from Europe. Elephant rides, Thai cooking lessons, and a voyage on Phang Nga Bay are among the delights planned for the week. On Sunday the Cape Panwa will open 52 Cape Suites, phase one of a renovation.

reuters.com Land & Houses, Thailand's biggest house builder, posted a better-than-expected 35 percent rise in quarterly earnings after its home sales surged as consumer confidence improved. July-September net profit was 1.16 billion baht, up from 861 million a year before and above its 1.1 billion baht profit in the second quarter.

Associated Press A former dive shop owner convicted of killing his wife on a Caribbean scuba outing in 1999 has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for what prosecutors called a near-perfect crime motivated by his desire to pursue another woman. David Swain was found guilty of murder nearly a decade after Shelley Tyre drowned while diving at a sunken ship off Tortola.

afp A weekend summit involving US President Barack Obama and the premier of military-ruled Burma will be a ''breakthrough'' in ties between Southeast Asia and the US, Singapore Foreign Minister George Yeo said. ''The US has decided that its Asean policy will not be determined by its policy towards Myanmar (Burma)," Mr Yeo said.

smh.com.au The term ''price leader'' is a magnet for consumers and is generally claimed by cut-price airlines on the prowl for new business. To hear it in the same sentence as ''Singapore Airlines'' not only signals value for passengers but also indicates we're living in extraordinary times. Singapore Airlines has been chasing customers aggressively this year with prices that are unheard of for one of the travel industry's full-service leaders.

Phuketwan Update Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva flew to Phuket then travelled on to Phang Nga on Tuesday afternoon for the cremation ceremony of Boonrawd Vanich, mother of former Orbortor Phuket Administration Organisation president Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra, Khun Anchalee is now the Deputy Secretary of the PM's Department.

latimes.com As the first generation of 'Sesame Street' viewers veers toward middle age, it's hard to believe that the show that introduced generations to Kermit the Frog, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and, of course, Big Bird, is turning the big 4-0 today (Tuesday). Sesame's 40th season debuted on the tube with a special appearance by First Lady Michelle Obama and Cameron Diaz, brought to you by the letter ''H'' and the number 40.

Phuketwan Update Looking at fresh ideas to bring tourists to Hainan, a holiday island in China that resembles Phuket except that it is much, much larger, the island-province's Vice Governor, Jiung Sixian, showed particular interest on Monday in Phuket FantaSea, yachting marinas, and Laguna Phuket. Phuket Governor Wichai Praisa-ngob emphasised the need for both islands to retain a balance with the environment. Compulsory retirement may mean he misses a visit to the Hainan Carnival, scheduled for March 22.

swvatoday.com Old Blue Rosenbloom said, ''Anything can happen in Thailand, according to the Pattaya News. I read where a hippopotamus swallowed a circus dwarf named Od.'' ''I don't believe that,'' said Agnes Groceclose. ''It was a freak accident,'' Old Blue said. ''They were performing in northern Thailand when the dwarf bounced off a trampoline. He landed in the mouth of a yawning hippopotamus waiting to appear in the next act. His flopping around caused the hippo to gag and that's when Od went down the tubes.''