independent.co.uk A domestic passenger plane that crashed into the hills in Pakistan's capital today was carrying 152 people, an official said.

bangkokpost.com The Thai government could join with the Chinese government to build the country's first high-speed rail network, says Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij. The two countries were looking to co-operate in a government-to-government joint venture to build a high-speed rail line from Bangkok to Rayong on the eastern seaboard, he said. [A Bangkok-Phuket high-speed rail link is also being suggested.]

afp European competition enforcers have cleared a merger between US carriers United and Continental that will create the world's biggest airline. The European Commission ''concluded that the transaction would not significantly impede effective competition'' in Europe, where the US airlines service a combined 35 destinations.


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

bangkokpost.com Thailand's tourism recovery will be delayed further to the second half of 2011 as Sunday's explosion in Bangkok has sparked new concern about political problems, according to the Thai Hotels Association. THA President Prakit Chinamourphong said: ''It's difficult to see Thai tourism back to normal in the fourth quarter of this year or even in the first half of 2011 because international tourists aren't confident enough to travel to Thailand. Many countries are still maintaining their travel advisory warnings about coming to Thailand, though the degree of warnings has been softened.''

natinmultimedia.com Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva paid a hospital visit to victims of the bombing attack. Abhisit went to meet the victims after he had returned around noon from his vacation on long weekend at Samet Island, Rayong.

xinhua PM Abhisit said the state of emergency's enforcement in Bangkok will continue to ensure public safety, the Thai News Agency reported. The premier's remark was made after the bombing incident outside a superstore that killed one person and injured several others. Concerned authorities have been ordered to extensively investigate the case in order to prevent the violence attack from renewing.

Associated Press A former Romanian diplomat went on trial in Bucharest for allegedly killing a man in a hit-and-run accident in Singapore, and testified that he had been set up by Singapore authorities. Silviu Ionescu, a former embassy attache, pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges including fleeing the scene of a crime. He is accused of hitting two pedestrians with his car in the early hours of December 15, then hitting and injuring a third person while driving away.

egovmonitor.com The European External Action Service, the new EU diplomatic corps, aimed at providing a single voice for the EU internationally was officially launched by member state foreign ministers in Brussels. ''It is historic to be able to witness the birth, at least at the decision level, of a European diplomacy,'' Belgian foreign minister Steven Vanackere, whose country holds the EU rotating presidency, said following the meeting. The External Action Service is meant to strengthen the EU's profile and influence around the world.

irishtimes.com Europe's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton is preparing to put her stamp on the nascent EU diplomatic service with the imminent appointment of its top management team and mission chiefs in 30 countries. The current round of appointments marks the first time that diplomats from member states can apply to lead EU delegations, filling ambassador-level posts that were previously the exclusive domain of European Commission officials.

msnbc.com.au Four of the world's 10 largest freshwater fish species - including a catfish that can reach more than two metres long - are threatened with extinction if hydropower dams planned on Asia's Mekong River go ahead, the World Wildlife Fund warned in a report. Of particular concern is the Mekong giant catfish, which is already listed as critically endangered. ''A fish the size of a Mekong giant catfish cannot swim across a large barrier (like a dam) ... to reach its spawning grounds upstream,'' said Dekila Chungyalpa, WWF's Greater Mekong Program director.

ft.com Cambodian police armed with riot shields moved in to break up a week-long strike triggered by the suspension of a union official at a Malaysian-owned garment factory. Union leaders said nine women were injured when more than 100 police tried to force 3000 female garment workers back into the PCCS Garment factory in northern Phnom Penh, which exports clothes for international brands such as Gap, Benetton, Adidas and Puma.

bloomberg Regular alcohol consumption provided protection against rheumatoid arthritis and its painful effects, UK researchers found in the first study to show the link in humans. Non-drinkers were four times more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis than people who drank alcohol on more than 10 days a month, according to the research published online by the journal Rheumatology.

voanews.com A Malaysian court fined 12 Muslims $320 each for parading a severed cow's head during a protest against the construction of a Hindu temple last year. The group marched the cow head to a government building where they stomped and spat on it - an offensive act to Hindus who consider the cow a scared animal.

seattletimes.com Craig Carr, 59, pleaded guilty in Seattle to sexual exploitation of a child on a January trip to Cambodia where he had sex with underage girls. Carr faces up to 30 years in prison, when he is sentenced in October. According to the US Attorneys Office, Carr paid $8000 for sex with the girls during a week-long trip to Cambodia. Carr reportedly told the person arranging the sexual encounters that he wanted the girls to be about 12 years old.

bbc.co.uk To outside eyes, Australian political leaders are being held to a ludicrously high standard. It brings to mind that hoary old adage about Louisianan politicians: that they could survive anything apart from being found in bed with a dead woman or a live boy. I suspect we are in for an ugly election campaign.



July 30 AustCham Thailand Sundowners at 4.30pm at Skippers, RPM. AustCham Thailand will host this Sundowners business networking session with a marine industry theme. Contact Harry Usher harry@ladypie.com 0812731740
August 5-8 Kite Jam, Surin beach
August 6-12 Andaman Motor Expo
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Central Festival Phuket Convention and Exhibition Center, Phuket City
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi