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

Associated Press China on Tuesday executed a British man convicted of drug smuggling in its first execution of a European citizen in half a century, drawing a strong condemnation from Britain's prime minister.

smh.com.au UPDATE: China's Supreme Court said it had approved the death sentence against British national Akmal Shaikh, state media reported, in the first official confirmation that his execution would go forward. Shaikh, found guilty of heroin smuggling, was due to be executed in Urumqi by firing squad at 10.30am local time (1.30pm AEDT).

timesonline.co.uk A global search for accomplices in the Detroit airliner plot was under way after an al-Qaeda group based in Yemen claimed responsibility for the operation and the would-be bomber was reported to have said that more attacks were being planned. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a terrorist cell led by a former personal secretary to Osama bin Laden, issued a statement saying that the failed attack by Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a response to American-backed air strikes on the group in Yemen this month.

csmonitor.com The thwarted Christmas Day terrorist attack aboard a US-bound flight triggered heightened security measures that severely restrict airline passenger mobility, resulting in flight delays and setting off a heated debate over airport security. On one Air Canada flight from Toronto to New York, passengers were reportedly told to remain seated for the entirety of the flight and were not allowed to use electronics. Passengers were also not allowed to access their personal belongings on the flight because of ''enhanced security procedures''.

cnn.com Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, in its message, threatened further attacks, saying, ''since Americans support their leaders they should expect more from us.'' ''We have prepared men who love to die,'' the statement said. US officials privately acknowledge they have provided secret intelligence on several al Qaeda targets to Yemen's government, but won't say whether U.S. aircraft took part in strikes.

latimes.com President Obama, taking time out from his Hawaiian vacation, said: ''We will not rest until we find all who were involved and hold them accountable.'' The president said he also has instructed the government to look into current terrorism watch-list policies.

bangkokpost.com Travel Monitor reports: Thanks to a surge in tourism arrivals in the last quarter of 2009, the Thai tourism industry is projected to close this year with a total of 14 million arrivals, down just four percent over 2008. In 2010, the forecast is for a 7-10 percent increase to between 15 million and 15.5 million visitors, ''if no serious incidents of political or other threats arise.''

straitstimes.com Singapore's tourism recovery is getting under way, with 830,000 visitors arriving last month, an 8.4 percent jump over the same month last year. This is the biggest increase for the year and only the second time in 18 months that arrivals have grown. This time round industry players believe the figures have turned a corner, with several key tourism indicators showing strong growth.

joongangdaily.com A week ago Jin Air, budget carrier of Korean Air, the nation's leading airline. launched its first international flight to Bangkok, making it the second budget carrier to offer cross-border services after Jeju Air. Air Busan has plans to offer service next year. Eastar Jet is also offering irregular flights to Kuching, Malaysia until January 6. Jin Air is hoping to fly to more cities in Thailand including Phuket and Chiang Mai as well as other destinations like the Philippines, Malaysia and Macau.

heraldsun.com.au More Australians are playing up abroad, with a record number arrested overseas during the past year. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade helped more than 27,800 Australians in difficulty during 2008-09. More than 1000 Australians were arrested and 295 were convicted, sentenced and imprisoned. Melbourne woman Annice Smoel, 36, was one of the highest-profile cases, making headlines for stealing a bar mat on Phuket. The number of Australians who travelled overseas exceeded six million for the first time.

Associated Press A helicopter fired warning shots towards a suspected pirate skiff where six Somali men sat among assault rifles, grappling hooks and an aluminium ladder. But before the boat could be boarded by sailors from a nearby Dutch warship, the men threw all the gear overboard. The high-seas encounter earlier this month illustrates how the multinational naval force formed a year ago to try to stem piracy has had limited success

bernama The Tourism Authority of Thailand will boost medical tourism in earnest in 2010, Vietnam news agency reported, citing the National News Bureau as saying. [Ed: extreme sourcing here.] The TAT is gathering information relating to health service providers, accommodations, rehabilitation facilities and tourism programs for companions, to be displayed on its website. Road shows will be scheduled.

ft.com Five years after the Indian Ocean tsunami killed 240,000 people, much of the region's early warning system is in disarray. Thailand's disaster warning centre hopes to deploy two more buoys next year. The centre has put loudspeaker towers along the country's eastern coast [er, we think they mean western] to warn locals and tourists. Almost half the 5000 people who lost their lives in Thailand in 2004 were foreigners. Locals in Phuket and Phang Nga say, though, that the sense of urgency is fading.

smh.com.au Two US professors have pinned the loss to shareholders from Tiger Woods's marital infidelity at up to $12 billion. The University of California, Davis, researchers said the new study speaks to the question of whether celebrity sponsorship has an impact on a firm's bottom line. ''While having a celebrity of Tiger Woods's stature as an endorser has undeniable upside, the downside risk is substantial, too,'' said Victor Stango, professor of economics.

theage.com.au Nearly $A537 million in tsunami aid for Sri Lanka is unaccounted for and more than $A686 million has been spent on projects unrelated to the disaster, an anti-corruption watchdog says. Berlin-based Transparency International has demanded an audit of the money received by the Sri Lankan Government to help victims of the Asian tsunami, which hit the island on December 26, 2004, killing 31,000 people.


December30 Red Cross is reckoning on a lot of people wanting to win a house on Phuket in probably the island's biggest lottery draw ever. Losers? There won't be any. The Red Cross Fair runs until January 9. Expect a big night on stage at Saphan Hin park in Phuket City on January 31.

December 31 Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation holds turtle release to celebrate the New Year and to raise funds for the care of sea turtles. Donations of 2000 baht to release each of 50 turtles will go to the hatchery program. Contact Khun Aim on 086 689 2230 or e: info@maikhaoturtlefoundation.com