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

reuters.com Arab and Muslim Americans braced for the possibility of verbal or physical attacks after an Army psychiatrist of Arab descent allegedly killed 13 during a shooting rampage at a military base in Texas. Suspected gunman Major Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire with two handguns in one of the worst killing sprees ever reported on a US military base.

guardian.co.uk Moustafa Bayoumi writes: So much is still unknown about the shooting at Fort Hood Army base and the motives of the alleged shooter, Nidal Malik Hasan, but still I have that same queasy feeling in my stomach that I've had before: this will not be good for Muslims. We still have yet to understand how profound the depths are to the stresses of war, especially in cases of repeated exposure to war. And you don't have to be on the battlefield to be scarred.

The Nation Thailand terminated the memorandum of understanding on overlapping maritime areas with Cambodia that was signed during Thaksin Shinawatra's administration in 2001. PM Abhisit Vejjajiva said he was adopting a ''wait-and-see'' approach on the current conflict with the neighboring country.

bangkokpost.com The popularity of the Abhisit Vejjajiva government has soared after its diplomatic protest against Phnom Penh's appointment of convicted Thaksin Shinawatra as an economic adviser, an opinion poll has found. Most Thais have told another poll they don't want Thaksin to offer advice to Cambodia. Up to 68.8 percent of 3709 respondents in 21 provinces have thrown their support behind the government, a huge increase.

xinhuanet.com Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia is not good for Asean. ''We hope that both our friends will keep the larger interest of Asean in mind and find a way to resolve their differences quickly in a spirit of good neighborliness,'' the ministry said.

afp Singer Beyonce, who put off a gig in Malaysia following Islamist outrage over her ''gyrating moves'' and ''sexy outfits,'' has brought her world tour to Egypt where she faced more hostility. Hamdi Hassan, a lawmaker from the Muslim Brotherhood, has written to the speaker of the house and the interior minister labeling her planned Friday night show a ''sex party'' and demanding to know why she was allowed to perform.

ntdtv.com Thousands of students turned up for class in Australia were locked out. Four bankrupt private colleges in Sydney and Melbourne closed overnight without notice. Australia's international student sector, worth about $12 billion, has come under fire after reports some colleges had taken payments for certificates and residency visas.

bbc.co.uk Fed up and frustrated with the levels of graft within the institutions that are charged with the responsibility of protecting them, Indonesians have taken to the streets in what is being called one of the grandest showings of people power since the days of the 1998 Reformasi movement. ''It's a big incentive for [President] Yudhoyono to push for true reform in the police,'' one observer said.

voanews.com The German capital Berlin prepares for major celebrations on Monday, November 9, to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Wall that divided the city and the country for nearly three decades. The Brandenburg Gate will be the focal point for the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

witness.co.za Thailand's top soccer players will feast on free burgers as part of a three-year sponsorship deal with American fast-food giant McDonald's worth almost $900,000. ''This will be a great help towards our efforts to reach the 2014 World Cup finals,'' Football Association of Thailand (FAT) president Worawi Makudi told Reuters.

channelnewsasia.com Americans Lee Burgess and Kent Jackson, who travelled to Thailand on three occasions to prey on young boys in sex sessions they filmed and photographed, have each been sentenced to more than six years in jail. An Alabama judge said on release both must register as sex offenders and be subject to a three-year probation.

timesonline.co.uk The opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey is already one of the more moving fixtures in a week of events marking the sacrifice of Britain's war dead. Among the veterans present was Lieutenant Tony Eldridge, 86, one of just two remaining Second World War ''human torpedoes''. Lieutenant Eldridge took part in a successful mission against Italian liners harbored in Phuket in 1944, the last combat mission of the so-called ''Charioteers.''

telegraph.co.uk The 25 tuk-tuks are organised in what looks like a grid for the world's slowest grand prix. Alongside us are teams from countries including Australia, South Africa, India, Colombia and Thailand. Local television crews gather despite the rain. Soon it is our turn to gawp when an elephant crashes through the foliage. We dodge it, and arrive at our hotel in 23rd position. The yellow sarong will have to wait.

forimmediateeelease.net More than 1600 senior management and decision makers from the world's travel and tourism industry will be in London this weekend. All 120 Miss World 2009 contestants will also be present.The true stars, however, will be those travel professionals and organisations collecting their World Travel Awards. Twenty of the best hotels in the world are in the running for the title of World's Leading Hotel.

Phuketwan Update Remote Lands, the Asia ultra-luxury bespoke private tour operator, has announced their private jet vacations to the Amanresorts hotels in Southeast Asia. ''We are delighted to be working closely with Amanresorts, one of the world's most prestigious hotel groups,'' said Catherine Heald, Co-Founder & CEO. ''Our clients are from the same exclusive niche of high net worth families, so we are an excellent fit for one another.'' Check into your spectacular pool villa at the legendary Amanpuri on the finest beach on Phuket and relax in hedonistic magnificence. Take the Aman I yacht to Phang Nga Bay for a day of diving. Prices for a Remote Lands luxury bespoke holiday in Asia start at $1000/person/day, not including private jet charters.

bangkokpost.com The Phuket International Marine Expo 2010 (Pimex) is expected to draw as many as 5000 affluent visitors and promote Phuket tourism through yachting and marine activities, according to the Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau. Infoma Yacht Group will stage Pimex 2010 from January 7-10 at the Royal Phuket Marina.


Places to Go As well as the unmissable rubber duck race for charity at Laguna this Saturday, on Sunday there's a Jazz Brunch at The Mangosteen Resort and Spa in Rawai from 11.30am to 3pm, with singer Bonnie Anderson there to keep everyone cool. (Entrance free, brunch 499 baht, use of the pool after live performance.) And that probably leaves just enough time to get to Karon for the final of the women's beach volleyball.