A new daily wrap of Thailand news from national and international media

The Nation Channel: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has lifted the state of emergency in Bangkok. Khun Abhisit imposed emergency rule in Bangkok and five surrounding provinces on April 12 after protesters stopped a summit of 16 Asean Plus Six nations in Pattaya and violence spread to the capital. Yellow shirt shooting victim Sondhi Limthongkul is due to leave hospital later today. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is to visit Thailand in July.

Kom Chad Luek: Police in every province of Thailand have been warned to look out for protests by their Bangkok commander. Police chiefs from many provinces, including Phuket, have been meeting in Bangkok. Information on the attempted assassination of yellow shirt leader Sondhi Limthongkul will be revealed at a media conference next week. Khun Sondhi says he can remember one shooter's face.

thephuketinsider.com: From Wall Street to Main Street everyone has felt the crunch and one of the new social phenomenons is ''luxury guilt.'' For those lauding lifestyles of the rich and famous, the new mantra is taking it behind closed doors and publicly putting on an austere face. Luxury hotel brands are registering a significant drop in occupancies and trading down.

Bangkok Post: Parliament hears increasing calls for an independent committee to look into the government crackdown on the Songkran street violence. Elephant exports will be suspended for at least five years until a new registration process is complete, says the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry. Better records on elephants born on farms are needed.

The Nation: Fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, reported to be in Dubai and/or Nicaragua, is now in Liberia, Africa, to explore Thai investment and cooperation, says Star Radio of Liberia. About 200 elephants roaming Bangkok streets will soon be embedded with microchips, which will alert relevant authorities as soon as the giant pachyderms step out of their designated areas.

Thai Rath: Red shirt leaders still maintain about 200 protesters died in the Bangkok Songkran Skirmish. They held a brief memorial ceremony at the main protest intersection in the capital. Young people in Thailand should love each other, the nation, religion and the King, says Army Commander in Chief Kanith Sapituk.

Matichon: PTT is looking for surveyors to hunt for oil off the coast of Thailand. One columnist says he cannot see any need for a change in the Constitution. Jamlong Dokpick says the chance has to take place in peoples' mindset first.

Washington Post: Thailand's ''besieged prime minister'' says he is prepared to lift a recently imposed state of emergency within days, but he ruled out holding early elections on grounds they risked triggering a new cycle of violence amid a breakdown of law and order in the country. ''The emergency decree will be lifted very soon, and protest demonstrations can resume. The only thing we will not allow is inciting violence and rioting.''

British Air Tax Increase Alarms Travel Industry
Latest An increase in air tax to counter global warming has alarmed airlines and tourism industry leaders in Britain. It will probably affect numbers coming to Thailand and Phuket.
British Air Tax Increase Alarms Travel Industry

PM to Boost Phuket Halal on the Beach
Latest The subtle influence of Phuket's Muslim community will become more evident, along with contributions from Indonesia and Malaysia, during a four-day science, trade and food fair
PM to Boost Phuket Halal on the Beach

Bangkok Rejects Bid for More Phuket Tuk-Tuks
Latest An attempt to add hundreds more tuk tuks to Phuket's odd mix of public transport has been turned back by the Transport Department. We can hear tourists sighing with relief.
Bangkok Rejects Bid for More Phuket Tuk-Tuks

Blockade Ends: Police Given Arrest Deadline
Latest Villagers have ended their protest blockade of a main road near Surin beach. The protest, over a fatal shooting, caused the postponement of a tourism summit nearby.
Blockade Ends: Police Given Arrest Deadline

Phuketwan MediaWATCH Thursday Update
Updates Liverpool are coming to Thailand, the Malaysian government is accused over people smuggling on the border with Thailand, and a red shirt warns of violence.
Phuketwan MediaWATCH Today's News Update

Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Wednesday News Update
Latest Interest centres on what the red shirts might do next, and the Asean summit appears to be almost certainly heading Phuket's way. A US film is banned, too.
Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Today's News Update

Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Tuesday News Update
Latest The focus is very much still on political outcomes and the Sondhi shooting but some police are finding time to visit Internet cafes to eyeball the violent games that young people play.
Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Today's News Update

Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Monday News Update
Introducing a new feature: a newsy wrap of the latest reports from around the national and local media. Look for it every day on Phuketwan
Phuketwan MEDIAWATCH Today's News Update