A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective. Reports from national and international media, with translations into English from Thai.

english.people.com.cn Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will visit China in late June in an attempt to assure the country of the safety of its investments, travel protection in Thailand and the security of the Asean Summit set for Phuket in October. Thai Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya said negotiation of a free trade area between China and Asean would be completed with an investment agreement to be signed during Abhisit's tour. The foreign minister said Thailand is determined to host the Asean Summit as scheduled with security ensured, promising never to allow the Pattaya unrest to occur again.

bizchina.com Countries seeking to attract Chinese tourists could take a leaf out of Thailand's book. Thailand has announced that it will extend the temporary three-month-long visa free policy to the end of the year, saving each Chinese traveller a RMB230 visa application fee. Until December 31, Chinese tourists will also get free travel insurance for up to $US10,000 to cover their costs if they are injured during political demonstrations. Tourists stranded due to airport closures will be able to offset all accommodation, dining, and traffic costs against the insurance during their extended stay.

bloomberg.com Thailand's consumer confidence slid to the lowest level in more than seven years last month as the nation slid into a recession. The index dropped to 64.3 from 65.1 in April, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said. That's its lowest reading since November 2001. The gauge is tracking a nationwide survey of 2238 respondents. Thailand's economy shrank 7.1 percent in the first quarter, putting it into its first recession since the Asian financial crisis. ''People are worried about their jobs,'' said an economist at the university.


huffingtonpost.com Greg Barrett writes of the death of actor David Carradine: ''The Thai capital isn't exactly known for the missionary position. The city and the nation are (in)famous for things recreational, not conventional. Political coups and pedophilia fugitives aside, if you judge Thailand only by its beaches, luxury hotels and shimmering new $3 billion Bangkok airport, Thailand is a jewel of Asia. Outside looking in, it should be top drawer and first world. But even the farang (foreigner) who only sees Thailand dressed in its Sunday best knows the dirt that's underneath. Carradine may have died in a closet but Thailand has no skeletons. We all know.''

Associated Press The forensics expert hired by David Carradine's family has concluded that the Kill Bill actor did not commit suicide, but said that more information was needed from Thai investigators before the cause of death could be determined. ''This is a devastating loss for our family and we greatly appreciate the compassion pouring in from all over the world,'' said brother Keith Carradine. A statement by Dr Michael Baden of New York indicated a second autopsy determined Carradine didn't kill himself.

The Nation A diving team has inspected a container on the ocean bed at Chong Sam San, eight sea miles off the Sam San port, but found no skeletons inside, and no radiation. A camera slipped through a hole found a ladder inside, suggesting it was a container turned office space. Central Institute of Forensic Science director Khunying Porntip Rojanasunan has been working with the Royal Thai Navy to find what was inside.

bbc.com''I like to cook,'' she says, prodding the noodles. ''But I won't cut raw meat. That's too much like an autopsy.'' Forensic pathologist is the last job to spring to mind when you see Dr Pornthip Rojanasunan and her spiky red hair. ''The dead can't criticise me,'' she says. It is too dangerous in Thailand's Deep South to go out and eat at a local restaurant. She has been warned that the insurgents have put a high price on her head. Dr Pornthip says she has to work with the army for her own protection but denies she is under their thumb. She says that if she sees any evidence that soldiers have physically abused anyone she immediately informs their superiors.

smh.com.au The swine flu crisis has escalated into the world's first influenza pandemic in 40 years, the World Health Organisation has declared, after infecting tens of thousands of people in 74 countries. WHO Director General Margaret Chan said the declaration of a ''moderate''' pandemic should not spark panic and did not mean the death toll from H1N1, which currently stands at 144, would rise sharply. The UN body said it was not recommending the closure of borders or restrictions. Latest figures show that the number of reported infections has reached 28,774 in 74 countries. Case numbers are growing in Thailand.

wsj.com How perfect that New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin should be quarantined for the past week in a Shanghai hotel because one person on his flight from the US seemed to have the flu. This is swine-flu panic. Among the legacies of Hurricane Katrina or the Sichuan earthquake is that politicians and public officials will forever overshoot in the face of any problem that rises to the level of a Media Code Red. Over the next year we'll learn whether our handling of the swine-flu threat is relatively rational or confused and destructive.

Straits Times Incheon International Airport takes customer feedback seriously and never stops trying to improve itself. That is probably why travellers voted it the world's best airport this year, said an official, Mr Yun Han Young. ''It was a matter of making sure that all the different operations at the airport were on the same page,'' he said. ''Some divisions, such as the police and tax departments, were not that service-minded because of the nature of their business, but we provide on-the-job training that puts a priority on service.'' A survey of 190 airports around the world by consultancy group Skytrax has ranked Incheon first this year ahead of Hong Kong and Changi in Singapore. It boasts a golf course, a spa, private sleeping rooms, a casino and indoor gardens.

Bangkok Post AirAsia founder Tony Fernandes has urged the Thai airports to build terminals for low-cost carriers and immediately slash service levies on international passengers to stimulate tourism. The low-cost carrier business is not retracting but it's simply not growing enough, says Mr Fernandes. Current airport tax, or passenger service charges (PSC), imposed by the Airports of Thailand increases costs and restricts the growth of arrivals, especially for budget travellers, says Mr Fernandes. The average one-way fare on Thai AirAsia is about 2000 baht. AirAsia planned a service between Hat Yai and Kuala Lumpur but AoT declined to reduce the 700-baht PSC. ''Who's going to go [to Hat Yai]? It's cheaper to go somewhere else,'' Mr Fernandes said.

The Nation The Absolute Group has allocated one billion to develop six hotels and resorts in Thailand, with hotels on Samui and Phuket planned in the first year, says chairman Bryan Lunt. Moreover, the company is cooperating with the U Hotels & Resorts Group to develop two U Hotels, one to open next year and the other in Phuket in 2011.

digitaljournal.com According to this site, Bangkok ''has seen its fair share of difficult situations over the years, from colonisation to child sex trade workers.'' Colonisation, eh? Er, well, not much research being done here. The article goes on ''Today Bangkok faces another struggle, 300 000 stray dogs roam the streets of the island nation capital.'' The island nation capital? Perhaps they have Thailand mixed up with Indonesia. Or maybe they are thinking about Bangkok sinking . . . The 300,000 figure might be right but you have to wonder where these people get their ideas and information.


Patong Beer Mat Aussie Denied Disneyland Trip
Latest Annice Smoel, who pleaded guilty to stealing a beer mat from the Aussie bar in Patong to conclude a nightmare holiday on Phuket, now says she is barred from the US.
Patong Beer Mat Aussie Denied Disneyland Trip

Woman Smuggled Heroin from Phuket: Police
Latest a woman arriving in Sydney on a flight from Phuket has been accused of smuggling heroin into Australia by police. They say she concealed packets of the drug internally.
Woman Smuggled Heroin from Phuket: Police

Phuket's Tourism 'Not Affected by Swine Flu'
Latest Swine flu is having no perceptible impact on tourism on Phuket, industry leaders say. Thailand is just one of 73 countries that have now reported outbreaks.
Phuket's Tourism 'Not Affected by Swine Flu'

Miss Poland Beauties Will Boost Phuket Tourism
Photo Album Contestants in the Miss Poland 2009 contest will spend two weeks in Phuket and Pattaya this October and promote holidays in Thailand while they have some fun.
Miss Poland Beauties Will Boost Phuket Tourism


MediaWATCH: Swine Flu 'Not Main Danger'
News Digest: Diseases carried by mosquitoes are more dangerous than swine flu; Fires causes alarm on two flights; Troubled south wins economic boost; Cllinton to visit.
MediaWATCH: Swine Flu 'Not Main Danger'

MediaWATCH: Shocked Carradine Family Call FBI
News Digest The family of actor David Carradine, shocked by a Thai newspaper, call for FBI help; corruption levels surveyed; Mexican shootout in Acapulco.
MediaWATCH: Shocked Carradine Family Call FBI

MediaWATCH: Stayput Monk Takes On US Law
News Digest A stayput monk fights the US Government; Mosque massacre as the Thailand PM talks peace in Malaysia; Karen flee Burma brutality; Pirate film for Phuket.
MediaWATCH: Stayput Monk Takes On US Law