cnn.com ''The Army aims to maintain peace, order and public safety for all groups and all parties,'' a ticker running on the Army's television channel said. ''People are urged not to panic, and can carry on their business as usual. Declaring martial law is not a coup d'etat.''

wsj.com Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha issued a pair of statements at 3am saying that martial law was necessary across the country to address the worsening security situation in Thailand, which is bitterly divided between supporters of its populist government and its conservative opponents who have been massing on the streets for over half a year in a bid to topple the administration.

bangkokpost.com It's not a coup, the Army says, but it is martial law, invoked to restore order following months of anti-government protests. What's the difference? We'll soon find out.

bloomberg Thailand's baht dropped the most in two months as the army imposed martial law nationwide after months of political turmoil that hurt the economy and led to Yingluck Shinawatra being ousted as prime minister.


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



bbc.com The army in Thailand has announced the imposition of martial law amid political crisis ''to keep law and order''. The army has also granted itself wide-ranging powers to enforce its decision. The military said it had taken the action to preserve peace and order.

AP Thailand's army has declared martial law in a surprise announcement in Bangkok. It was not immediately clear whether a coup d'etat was underway. The announcement came about 3.30am.

xinhua Earlier report: The continued street protests by both pro and anti-government forces that could escalate into a bloody confrontation within the week have fueled speculations that the powerful Thai military may declare martial law in the Thai capital and outlying areas to prevent the situation from turning into a civil war.

bloomberg Thailand's political turmoil is wreaking greater damage on the economy than analysts had estimated, raising the stakes for leaders of the nation's two main political camps to reach an accommodation.

nbcnews.com The Justice Department filed criminal charges against five hackers in the Chinese military, accusing them of stealing American trade secrets through cyber-espionage. Each of the alleged hackers was hit with 31 criminal counts for a conspiracy that stretched back eight years, officials said.

latimes.com Chinese government officials strongly rebuked the US over its claims of cyber-spying by five Chinese military officers, saying the Justice Department indictment was based on ''fabricated facts'' and would jeopardize US-China relations.

dailymail.co.uk Hate preacher Abu Hamza has been found guilty of terrorism offences in New York. The Egyptian Islamic cleric, 56, who was extradited from the UK in 2012, looked straight ahead as the jury gave its verdict in a Manhattan court.

bbc.com The court heard the 56-year-old aided the kidnappers of 16 tourists in Yemen in 1998 and attempted to build a terror training camp in Oregon in the US. He now faces a possible life sentence.



straitstimes.com Tata Young was one of the most prominent pop stars to emerge from Thailand in the mid- to late 2000s but the 33-year-old has been concentrating on performing on home ground. In a telephone interview from Phuket, where she was on holiday. she said: "I was sick for a little while. I had hypothyroidism and I gained a lot of weight and it was tough to be in front of the camera. Although my confidence was always still there, I was easily tired. So I took a break, got myself together and finally now I'm well and fit. I feel healthy.''

couriermail.com.au Holiday snaps showed Bandidos bikies from Australia sunning themselves on beaches, by hotel pools and partying in bars and nightclubs in Phuket, recognised by international police agencies as a Bandidos' meeting point. Bogdan Cuic flew to Thailand a day after the 2012 shooting of Jei ''Jack'' Lee, 22, spending a week's ''vacation'' in the known Bandidos' playground before taking refuge in his family homeland, Serbia.

qz.com As a US Army Reserve Captain, I was assigned to Operation Cobra Gold, the largest Asia-Pacific military exercise, held in Thailand every year. One day, the major got wind that I wasn't sitting quietly doing nothing as he had been commanded to ensure. ''Stop being a pushy bitch! We don't want you here!'' he yelled in front of everyone. The next year I returned. Only this time I wasn't the only woman soldier.

andrew-drummond.com Wyn win: A British academic, who took on the cheating boss of Thailand's National Innovation Agency, has won a five year court battle which has now paved the way for prosecutions for corruption. Dr Wyn Ellis, who is in a witness protection program, is celebrating a victory after Thailand's Supreme Court ruled that he was acting in the public interest when he revealed that his Thai boss had plagiarised his work to gain a doctorate.

Thailand Update British migrant worker activist Andy Hall was interviewed by police for four hours and had his fingerprints taken as a fourth criminal defamation charge was laid against him by Natural Fruit. He is to face the public prosecutor on June 18.

Phuket Update Jungceylon says the Patong retail complex has gained a 20 percent increase in Q1 customers over 2013. The daily average now reaches 50,000 or 55,000, according to CEO Prawit Janyasittikul. Jungceylon forecasts a seven percent increase in annual profit to about 800 million baht.

telegraph.co.uk Ryanair, the self-styled ''ultra low cost carrier,'' unveiled its first fall in annual profit for five years as it cut fares to encourage customers on to its flights.



en.qantara.de Some analysts believe that the Sultan of Brunei's decision to introduce Sharia law is politically motivated. After all, Brunei's resources will dwindle in the future. Sharia, they say, could be a way for the ruler to preserve social cohesion in the face of possible unrest and secure his political legacy.

bbc.com Two of four ships evacuating Chinese workers from Vietnam are now returning home, Chinese state media say, after protests over a territorial dispute. More than 900 people boarded each ship at the Vietnamese port of Vung Ang following anti-China violence triggered by a row over the South China Sea.



afp Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal will take over as the new manager of Manchester United after the World Cup with Ryan Giggs as his assistant, the club announced.

afp Australian Adam Scott, 33, officially replaced Tiger Woods as world number one golfer Monday, ending the American's 60 week reign on the top of the rankings.

itv.com Jonny Wilkinson, 34, has announced his retirement from rugby after playing professionally for 17 years. In 2003, Wilkinson kicked a last minute drop-goal in extra time to seal England's World Cup victory over Australia in the final in Sydney.

theguardian.com Chris Cairns, the former New Zealand all-rounder, has released a statement reiterating his previous denials of any involvement in match-fixing, following a report that ''the net is closing'' around a big name in the game.



July 11 Arsanha Bucha Day

July 16-20 Phuket Race Week yachting, Cape Panwa

August 12 Queen's Birthday

September 24-October 2 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket

October 23 Chulalongkorn Memorial Day

November 6 Loy Kratong

November 14-21 Fourth Asia Beach Games, Phuket

December 5 King's Birthday

December 10 Constitution Day

December 25 Christmas Day

December 26 10th Anniversary, 2004 Tsunami

December 31 New Year's Eve