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


Bangkok Post Koh Phangan, long associated with wild Full Moon parties, is undergoing an image change to make the island a family destination. The monthly all-night Full Moon party on the Surat Thani island's Had Rin beach draws mostly foreign tourists and the event is synonymous with illicit drug use. However, moves are afoot to rebuild the island's image as a drugs-free haven for holiday makers, with drugs authorities, residents and tourism operators committed to the efforts.

Straitstimes.com Thailand's deputy prime minister told police on Friday to increase security for high-ranking officials after a small explosive was thrown into a former residence of a member of an anti-graft commission. Police believed Friday's pre-dawn attack was meant to threaten Vicha Mahakun, a member of the National Counter-Corruption Commission, and not to kill anyone, said Acting Police Commissioner police General Thanee Somboonsap.

afp Indonesia has detained 56 Afghan migrants off the eastern island of Lombok who were attempting to travel by wooden boat to Australia, a navy official says.''Our suspicion for the time being is they were trying to sail to Australia. They started their journey from Jakarta,'' he said, adding that they were all Afghan men.

channelnewsasia.com The Malaysian restaurant that recently won a landmark lawsuit against fast food giant McDonalds has big plans to expand.In 2006, the High Court ruled against McCurry and the letter ''c'' was dropped from its name. The restaurant then became known as M-Curry. But the couple refused to give up, fought back and won their appeal at the higher court.

asiatraveltips.com Laguna Phuket is to showcase its Chapel-on-the-Lagoon at the UK's National Wedding Show in Earls Court London on October 2-4 (stand B61). Wedding Show attendees will have the opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a dream wedding and honeymoon at Laguna Phuket, including a four-night stay in a Lagoon Villa at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket. ''Many British couples are opting for a cheaper, yet more luxurious destination wedding rather than the expensive traditional ceremony at home, which in these tough times are proving difficult to afford,'' said Christina Assmann, Laguna Phuket's newly appointed wedding services manager.

cnn.com A new generation of deep-sea submarines light enough to launch from a yacht could open up the ocean's depths to amateur explorers. The 'Deep Flight' winged submersibles are experimental prototypes designed to dive to depths of up to 37,000 ft - almost four times as deep as a giant squid dives - descending at 400 feet a minute.


Phuket Bans All Future Marinas, Private Piers
News Analysis In a dramatic reversal of policy, the Phuket Governor has banned the building of non government marinas and piers. It leaves some developers making broken promises.
Phuket Bans All Future Marinas, Private Piers

'Big Trouble' for JJ: Inside the Jet-Ski Scandal
Latest The producer who shot the series that focuses on the underbelly of Phuket's tourism troubles provides his own illuminating account of the filming and the fuss that followed.
'Big Trouble' for JJ: Inside the Jet-Ski Scandal

China Anger: Jet-Ski Scammers Told to Behave
Photo Album Phuket's Governor has told the island's jetski operators to clean up their act, or else. His plain speaking warning came as VIPs from China told Phuket to protect their tourists.
China Anger: Jet-Ski Scammers Told to Behave

British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff
Big Trouble Photo Album Phuket's jet ski scams are about to be highlighted on British television in a series on tourist police that shows a gun being used to intimidate royal marines.
British TV Captures Gun in Phuket Jet-Ski Standoff

China Visitor Bucks Jetski Bid for 50,000 Baht
UPDATE Phuket's governor tells tourist horror stories of jetski operators in Patong and makes it plain that the era of the scams and ripoffs is coming to a close.
China Visitor Bucks Jetski Bid for 50,000 Baht

British Tourist Hires Car in Patong, Vanishes
Latest Police are concerned for the safety of a British visitor who hired a car on Phuket and then vanished mysteriously, leaving the vehicle in Phang Nga Town. Blood was found on a seat.
British Tourist Hires Car in Patong, Vanishes

Chedi Phuket Goes DIY: Name Change Next?
Latest A 'divorce' after 14 years leaves the owners of the Chedi managing their own highly regarded resort . . . and there's a broad hint that the name might go eventually, too.
Chedi Phuket Goes DIY: Name Change Next?