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

abcnews.go.com The weather might feel right for a taking a dip, but for those on the US coast of Massachusetts, now's not a good time for one last summer swim. Recent sightings of four great white sharks have prompted a swimming ban for the rest of the Labor Day weekend at some of the area's oceanside beaches. Chatham's harbormaster and parks and recreation director said in a statement: ''In particular, people should avoid swimming in waters in the direct proximity of seals where sharks may be in search of prey.''


Bangkok Post It seems to be business as usual for illegal taxi operators and tour guides at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport. In the past two months, 395 unlicensed taxi drivers and 210 illegal tour guides who exploited travellers have been arrested in a crackdown on crime at the airport. But airport authorities still see unauthorised taxi operators and tour guides preying on victims. They claim they have connections in high places.

jakartapost.com The arrest of 12 Jakartans for giving alms to beggars at the capital's road intersections have sparked debate and criticism. Is giving alms a crime now? It has been a kind of tradition, especially during Ramadan, to give small change to beggars and street children. The implementation of a 2007 bylaw on public order has turned these charity givers into ''criminals''. The city has long been desperate to get rid of seasonal beggars.

nytimes.com ''A capital is built on the condition that it be a comfortable, safe and dignified place,'' said Budiharjo, who took over Jakarta's Social Welfare Agency eight months ago and decided to penalise charity givers for the first time. ''If we stop giving, naturally they will disappear,'' said Mr Budiharjo, who, like many Indonesians, uses only one name. He said about 500 arrested beggars belonged to groups that gathered in villages and bused them to Jakarta. Officials were still looking for leaders outside the city, he said.

bernama Singapore Airlines grabbed the top spot for the Best Airlines Worldwide 2009 as well as the Best Business Class and Best Cabin Service categories in a poll by smarttravelasia.com. Malaysia's low-cost carrier AirAsia was again voted the Best Budget Airline in Asia for the fourth consecutive year. Bali, Maldives and Phuket were the top three Best Holiday Destinations in Asia.

Agencies Confusion surrounds the sinking of a large modern ferry that went down in good weather off the Philippines yesterday, with nine people confirmed dead and more than 33 missing. About 900 people were rescued from the 147-metre Superferry 9, which took more than six hours to sink. The combination of normal seas, a supposedly well-maintained vessel and the proximity to militant southern regions have raised concerns about the circumstances of the disaster.

afp Simmering anger in Indonesia over Malaysia's ''theft'' of a traditional dance is spurring unlikely calls for war in the latest spat between the two traditionally testy neighbors. The dispute started in Indonesia in August after word spread Malaysia had screened tourism advertisements featuring the traditional ''pendet'' dance of Indonesia's Hindu-majority Bali island. The ad quickly turned out to have been a botched promotion for a Discovery Channel program on Malaysia, with no role played whatsoever by Malaysia's government, but that has done little to dampen feelings.

bbc.co.uk Lawyers for Burma's pro-democracy opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, say a court has accepted to hear their appeal against her latest sentence. Legal representatives say an appeal against her extended house arrest will be heard in Rangoon on September 18. Aung San Suu Kyi's detention was extended by 18 months after she was convicted of breaching security laws.

asiaone.com Malaysia cannot fix a minimum wage just for domestic maids in the country as such a move could lead to implications in other sectors. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said ''As a country with an open economy, wages in an industry are determined by existing market forces. Based on what the ministry has received from the public, the proposal to raise the minimum wage to RM800 a month for maids is too high to be borne by employers.Indonesia has demanded a minimum wage for maids.

edmontonsun.com A St. Albert teacher facing child pornography charges has been found dead in a police parking lot. Kerry Glen Avey, 45, appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Avey, on leave from his teaching post, had flown into the Edmonton International Airport from Thailand via San Francisco on August 26 when officers searched his luggage and allegedly discovered a large collection of child pornography CDs and DVDs tucked inside a pouch. The discs were reportedly purchased in Thailand.

scmp.com The first shots have been fired in a Hong Kong fish ball war that is pitting the city's traditional street-food vendors against the world's most ubiquitous convenience chain. The front line in this culinary battle is busy Tong Chong Street in Quarry Bay, where last month a new 7-Eleven shop started selling laksa, fish balls, egg tarts and milk tea from a large kitchen counter. The retailer, which has almost 1000 shops in Hong Kong, is expected to roll out more such counters across the city as it vies for a slice of a market that for generations has been dominated by small street traders.

sun-sentinel.com Florida teacher and author Christine Kling spent a month of her summer at her mother's hospital bed in Bangkok, fearing the medical system would never let them leave. Her mother had a stroke on July 18. In the end, Kling untangled the red tape at the last minute and flew home with her mother, who is recovering in Los Angeles. But she said the ordeal offers some health-care lessons: Do not go overseas without travel insurance, and even if you have it, as Gray did, be prepared to maneuver, cajole and claw to make it work.

afp A man in his 30s has been gored to death during a bull run in the eastern Spanish town of Massamagrell. A bull knocked the man to the ground and struck him in the stomach and thigh with a horn, piercing an artery, during the event. He was rushed to hospital where he died while undergoing surgery.


Phuket Surfing Series 2009: Photo Special
Photo Special A beach party and presentation bring the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Series 2009 to a successful conclusion at the Kata Beach Resort and Spa.
Phuket Surfing Series 2009: Photo Special

Phuket Storm Blackouts, But Surfers Power On
Photo Album The lights went out in parts of Phuket City more than once as squalls triggered power failures. But there was plenty of energy coming in waves at the Kata surf titles.
Phuket Storm Blackouts, But Surfers Power On

'Alternative' Phuket Fest Dispels Time-Share Myths
Latest Will time share touts pester visitors to Asia's first alternative ownership conference on Phuket? Somehow we doubt it. But time share's image still needs a boost.
'Alternative' Phuket Fest Dispels Time-Share Myths

Don't Be Unfair to Phuket Expats, Thais Are Told
Latest Backing for more overseas investment on Phuket has come from the powerful Thai military with a rear admiral who also has tourism connections revealing statistics on cash sources.
Don't Be Unfair to Phuket Expats, Thais Are Told

Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs
Photo Album Property projects on Phuket's small islands need to be controlled to prevent destruction of coral reefs and undersea environments, marine biologists say.
Poachers Lose as Phuket Gains Reef Watchdogs

Phuket Investment Drops But Bounce Predicted
Phuket Economy Investment on Phuket dipped by almost one third in the first half of the year but the second half looks more promising, latest figures reveal.
Phuket Investment Drops But Bounce Predicted