reuters A man in a wheelchair detonated a home-made explosive in Beijing airport on Saturday evening, injuring himself and sending smoke billowing through the exit area of the international arrivals section of Terminal 3.

bbc.co.uk Police have restored order after rioting broke out at an Australian-run immigration detention camp on the Pacific island state of Nauru. Reports said several buildings were set alight on Friday and the camp's medical centre had been destroyed.

watoday.com.auNo asylum seeker who comes by boat will ever be resettled in Australia under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's hardline rewrite of refugee laws. They will instead be sent to Papua New Guinea for processing and, if found to be refugees, will be resettled in the island nation.

businessweek.com A boat with 81 passengers that was stopped today off northwest Australia will be the first to face the government's new policy of refusing entry to refugees and sending them to neighboring Papua New Guinea.

bbc.co.uk A court has convicted five people of manslaughter over the deadly 2012 Costa Concordia shipwreck off Italy in which 32 people were killed. The trial of Captain Francesco Schettino has been adjourned until September 23.


PHUKET: The daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media. Beware of inconsistent imitations.

wsj.com The Bank of Thailand joined the Finance Ministry and International Monetary Fund in cutting the country's economic growth forecasts for this year, a reflection of how slow global demand is hitting Asia's export-oriented economies.

reuters Thailand's navy has denied a Reuters report that its personnel were involved in a lucrative smuggling and trafficking network that exploits minority Rohingya Muslims fleeing persecution and dire living conditions in Myanmar. On Friday, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered the Labor Ministry to crack down on those involved in human trafficking, but made no reference to the allegations made against the navy.

inquirer.net He's known as Thailand's jet-setting fugitive monk, and his story has riveted the country with daily headlines of lavish excess, promiscuity and alleged crimes ranging from statutory rape to manslaughter. Until a month ago, 33-year-old Wirapol Sukphol was relatively unknown in Thailand.

eturbonews.com Skal Thailand President Andrew J Wood: Thailand's tourism industry is enjoying record arrivals and I forecast that this good news will last for the foreseeable future subject to no natural calamities or political upheavals.

foxnews.com/afp ''There are a lot of people who get drugged here,'' said Wal Brown, an Australia volunteer with the Thai police who patrols the thronging streets of Patong on the island of Phuket, where crowds of tourists mingle with touts offering entrance to 'ladyboy cabarets' or photo ops with endangered animals.

nationmultimedia.com Facebook has become the most popular source of news for Thais, according to a survey on the popularity of traditional news sources versus online sources conducted by Bangkok University.

independent.co.uk Indonesian authorities are to ask a restaurant owner to explain his reasons for opening a Nazi-themed cafe that has sparked controversy among residents and tourists.

scmp.com A Chinese teenager travelling on the Asiana Airlines jet that crashed in San Francisco died from injuries sustained after being run over by a motor vehicle, most likely a fire truck at the scene.

huffingtonpost.co.uk In World War Two Kachin and Americans fought and died side by side defending freedom and democracy. We are dying again defending freedom and fighting for democracy. America, please don't abandon us in our hour of need. Now is not the time to reward Thein Sein by lifting yet more sanctions.

bangkokpost.com MK Restaurants Co expects to more than double its number of outlets to 1000 in five years despite fierce competition from new eateries.

AP Indonesia has confirmed it will stop issuing visas on arrival to Iranians after a growing number of them have been caught smuggling drugs or have used the country as a transit point before seeking asylum in Australia.

thestar.com.myThree beaches in Malaysia have recently made it to the top 50 beaches of the World's 100 best beaches survey conducted by international news network CNN.



scotsman.com Out in front at the halfway stage in the 142nd Open Championship is a 49-year-old pony-tailed Spaniard bidding to become the oldest winner in major history. Breathing down his neck are the world No. 1, an on-form Scot, an Englishman putting better than ever and an Argentinean who has missed eight cuts in this event.

watoday.com.au Awful batting contributed to the touring team being levelled for 128, Australia's lowest total at Lord's since 1968. Australia was 264 runs behind after the second day of the Second Test.

watoday.com.au Australia shot itself in its Achilles heel.

dailymail.co.uk Off-spinner Graeme Swann took his Ashes-best five for 44 on a humiliating day for the tourists.



Until July 21 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek

July 20-21 Toyota Motorsport Festival Phuket City

July 22 Arsarnha Bucha Day (Public Holiday)

July 22-24 Fifth annual Kathu Street festival. Opening night parade, 5.30pm

August 12 HM The Queen's Birthday

October 5-13 Phuket Vegetarian Festival

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

October 29-November 3 Womens' volleyball, Karon beach

November 17 Loy Kratong Day

November 24-December 1 Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest. Laguna Phuket

December 5 HM The King's birthday



January 9-12 Phuket International Boat Show, Royal Phuket Marina

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket