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


newyorktimes.com: In what the NYT says is his first detailed public account of the turmoil that almost brought down his government, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva is quoted directly on topics including: security, ''I've been told to be more careful''; Phuket's Asean Plus Six, ''We'll have to work very hard to make sure that we learned the lesson of Pattaya''; On Thaksin, ''We have to treat him as we would any other Thai; as any other criminal''; On lese majeste, ''The law has been too liberally interpreted, and there has been no good standard for operations, and we're trying to get that right.''

The NYT says the PM ''took a technocrat's approach to the country's broad divisions.'' He also offered a vivid, firsthand account from the point of view of a prime minister trapped inside an armored limousine, looking out through the windows at an angry mob. ''They were after me,'' he said. And there's much more interesting detail in the NYT.

The Nation Channel: Police have arrested a man who killed his wife, her lover, the lover's 19-year-old son and wounded a Swedish tourist passerby in the process, in Bangkok's Khao San Road yesterday. The tourist, aged 21, is in a satisfactory condition in hospital with a bullet wound in her back.

The Nation: Columnist Thanong Khanthong speculates that PM Abhisit may not last beyond August or October as political pressure mounts. Khun Abhisit ''has to finish his important job of hosting the Asean Summit first''. ''For me, Abhisit is a prime minister of the future rather than the present. He has come to office too early, in the midst of a crisis in which power play is the name of the game. Abhisit has not been groomed for such crude power play. He has been a nice man who plays strictly by democratic principles. In fact, he is a novice among the tigers. We are beginning to see the shape of the Blue camp, which will contend for the premiership.''

arabtimesonline.com: The head of the World Health Organisation, Margaret Chan, told Britain's Financial Times that an apparent decline in mortality rates did not mean the swine flu pandemic was coming to an end. A second wave may strike ''with a vengeance.'' ''If it's going to happen it would be the biggest of all outbreaks the world has faced in the 21st century. We hope the virus fizzles out, because if it doesn't we are heading for a big outbreak. I'm not predicting the pandemic will blow up, but if I miss it and we don't prepare, I fail.'' She said the end of the flu season in the northern hemisphere meant any initial outbreak could be milder, but a second wave more lethal.

telegraph.co.uk London is Europe's dirtiest and most expensive city and also has the worst cuisine, according to a poll of travellers. The British capital was also considered to have the worst-dressed locals in a survey of 2376 European travellers by TripAdvisor. London was also reckoned to have the most tourist traps, but also the best free attractions, easily the best public parks and the best nightlife. Cleanest city was considered to be Copenhagen. Paris lost out to Venice as the most romantic.

Khaosod: Constant outbreaks of dengue fever in Pisanulok province have led health authorities to suggest that children who collect mosquito eggs be rewarded with ice cream. The province's governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan, served on Phuket until earlier this year.

Daily News: Airports of Thailand is attempting to stop illegal taxis from operating without meters. Tourists are generally overcharged by these drivers. Attention is also being paid to ''sitting guides'' who do not have the right paperwork. Good service guidelines are being handed out at Bangkok's international airport. Tourists can call a well-staffed trouble hotline: 1584

travelmole.com: Jumeirah, erecting a resort on an east coast island off Phuket, is delaying opening the first of six hotels in China. The 338-room hotel in Shanghai was to open later this year, but the date is now May 2010. Jumeirah manages 11 hotels around the world, with 14 more under construction. Gerald Lawless, group executive chairman, noted a 20 percent decline in room revenue for the first quarter in Dubai. ''Our 96.5 percent occupancy rate in April was phenomenal in the current situation,'' Lawless said. ''We are in the luxury segment where we are not expected to discount, but we have to be flexible, offer best available rates and work with Internet sites such as Expedia.''

traveldailynews.com: STR Global reports that in March the Asia Pacific region's occupancy dropped 14.4 percent to 60.6 percent; average daily rate declined 19.5 percent to US$117.46; and revenue per available room fell 31.1percent to US$71.14. Oversupply and the global economic slowdown wiping out gains made over the previous couple of years. China, India, and Singapore tumbled, with Vietnam falling 27 percent and Thailand down 36.5 percent. Australia dropped just 5 percent in RevPAR, the Philippines grew 4.7 percent, Indonesia 6.7 percent and South Korea 14 percent.

mirror.co.uk: England and Chelsea footballer Joe Cole is at the centre of a bitter property row over a luxury apartment complex he promoted that was never built. The Hua Hin country club was a venture of the Lersuang Group, a Thai property developer with offices in Bangkok and Phuket. German buyer Carmen Blomenthal said: ''Joe Cole trusted this company, so I was inclined to trust them. I'm doubtful I will get my money back.'' Another contact said he believed ''a Thai businessman was working on a rescue plan''. Despite leaving messages, the Mirror could not get a response from Lersuang.

Thai Rath: PM Abhisit will today officially launch a new study scheme to accellerate the advanced education of 20,000 poor Muslim students around the country. There were 11,000 last year who could not be helped, who will be helped this year by the Islam Bank.


Phuket Cruise Ship Check: Three Held in Flu Alert
Latest Health authorities on Phuket also have responsibility to check seaborne arrivals, with concerns about swine flu still riding high and three new quarantine cases in Thailand
Phuket Cruise Ship Check: Three Held in Flu Alert

Wanted: More Phuket Risk-Takers, and Money
Opinion The campaign on the Great Barrier Reef for ''The Best Job in the World'' would have worked ideally on Phuket. The island needs great ideas of similar quality, and financial support.
Wanted: More Phuket Risk-Takers, and Money

Phuket Begins Climb to Asean Summit Success
It's Official Ready, set, go. The race has begun to ready the island and its people for a Asean Plus Six summit, plus spinoff benefits. The island's profile and income should gain a boost.
Phuket Begins Climb to Asean Summit Success

Phuket's Screen Stars Join Britney, Victoria, Paris
Photo Album Becoming a star of the big screen at Slaughterhouse Intersection on Phuket can lead to good money and a bright future in international publishing.
Phuket's Screen Stars Join Britney, Victoria, Paris


MediaWATCH: 'White Shirts' Bangkok Street Protest
Latest A move to the middle begins with a Bangkok parade to end bickering; Call to extradite Thaksin; 'farcical' Thailand politics; Aussie holiday nightmare as guests demand money back.
MediaWATCH: 'White Shirts' Bangkok Street Protest

MediaWATCH: Sondhi on Military, Reds and Yellows
Latest A television mogul use his medium to explain an attempt on his life; swine flu now appears to be not as significant; Bankers seek an ATM fee cut
MediaWATCH: Sondhi on Military, Reds and Yellows

MediaWATCH: Sondhi Tells of Moment Shots Fired
Update Sondhi Limthong tell of the attack on him, and Thailand's PM hints broadly at an election if reconciliation goes well. More intense measures on ''Mexican human flu.''
MediaWATCH: Sondhi Tells of Moment Shots Fired