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

telegraph.co.uk At least 50 people have been reported killed in Samoa and neighboring American Samoa after a tsunami struck following a powerful 8.3 earthquake off the islands. Coastal villages in the South Pacific states were swept out to sea by the tsunami, which was recorded at just over five feet above sea level in Apia, the Samoan capital.

smh.com.au A Samoan schoolgirl whose village was evacuated to the mountains around Apia says ''hundreds'' were reportedly killed in the tsunami. Sulu Bentley, who lives in Leauvaa, 15 minutes from the Samoan capital, said local radio was saying hundreds of people were killed when the tsunami hit the village of Lalomanu.

canada.com Authorities cancelled a Pacific tsunami warning on Wednesday after a huge sub-sea quake sent waves over the Samoa islands, but falling short of a regional disaster. The Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004 killed 220,000 people, including 5400 in Thailand.

gisborneherald.co.nz A wave of panic swept New Zealand's East Coast this morning as people got mixed messages over the tsunami that never eventuated. Even though local civil defence widely publicised there was no risk to the region, the message had trouble getting through to isolated coastal communities, who prepared themselves for the worst-case scenario.

nzcity.co.nz Civil Defence officials have acknowledged that a helicopter broadcasting to locals on the ground added to some people's tsunami fears. Group coordinator Greg Wilson said that if locals did not catch the helicopter's message or were confused about what was happening, they should have taken further action.

latimes.com Officials issued a tsunami advisory for the California coast after a 7.9 temblor struck American Samoa earlier today. Officials said that they don't believe coastal regions are likely to suffer much damage but some beaches could see higher tides about 9 pm Pacific time.

brisbanetimes.com.au The bombers who blew themselves up at Jakarta's JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels were filmed jogging around the luxury hotels and mugging for the cameras as they shopped for their suicide garb in the weeks before the blasts. Chilling videos also reveal the recruiter of the bombers, Saifuddin Jaelani, inciting them to undertake their murderous acts by chanting '''Destruction to America. Destruction to Australia. Destruction to Indonesia.'''

The Nation Bidding will be held for the construction of an international convention centre on Phuket by December this year. Deputy Finance Minister Pruttichai Damrongrat said the project will cost 3.74 billion baht, using budgets from fiscal 2010 to 2012, with an environmental impact study before work could begin.

xinhua.com A grand ceremony is scheduled to start at 10 am Thursday in Beijing to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. After a massive military parade, there will be a civilians' parade comprising 36 formations and six performing groups involving about 100,000 citizens and 60 floats, complemented by 80,000 students in Tiananmen Square forming background patterns.

sfgate.com British funnyman Sacha Baron Cohen's movie 'Bruno' has been banned by authorities in Malaysia because it depicts ''gay life''. The film, starring Cohen as gay Austrian fashionista Bruno, was a success in the US and Britain, hitting the top of the box office charts on both sides of the Atlantic earlier this year.

dailytimes.com.pk Singapore's Miss World beauty contest entry has stepped down after being exposed as a credit card cheat. Ris Low, a 19-year-old student, had first resisted calls to give up her crown after Singapore media revealed she got a suspended sentence for stealing and misusing customers' credit cards when she worked as a receptionist.

theaustralian.news.com.au Budget airline Jetstar, which flies to Phuket, says it is prepared to talk about its presence in Burma after unions and campaigners accused it of indirectly propping up the military regime. Seven other Australian companies have also been accused of contributing funds to Burma's oppressive regime: Chevron, Andaman Teak Supplies, Gecko's Adventure, Lonely Planet, Millers, Sri Asia Tourism and Twinza Oil.

bbc.co.uk The US says its planned dialogue with Burma's military rulers must be part of a ''sustained process of interaction''. The State Department says the Burmese leadership has for the first time shown an interest in engaging with the US, and Washington intends to pursue that. But sanctions will remain until there is progress on human rights.

irrawaddy.org While Burmese Prime Minister Gen Thein Sein's speech at the UN assembly was nothing earth-shattering, his meetings on the sidelines should not be overlooked. Thein Sein met with US Senator Jim Webb on Monday.The two first met in August during the US senator's controversial trip to Burma, soon after which the US agreed to a policy of engagement with the junta.

smh.com.au There is nothing in the world like Sydney Thai food. Europe can't do it and neither can America. London certainly can't, with one honourable exception (David Thompson's Nahm), and neither can Bangkok, because only Sydney has the mix of climate, produce, attitude and style, and those last two are as important as the first two.

thejakartaglobe.com At least 12 of 193 Rohingya refugees sheltered at Sabang Navy Base on Weh Island, Aceh, have escaped using a small fishing boat. ''Considering the condition of the wooden boat, it must be very crammed with 12 passengers on board,'' a navy spokesperson said. The Rohingyas were found floating at sea in January and February as a result of ''push-backs'' in Thailand.