bbc.com A major West African airline has stopped flying to Liberia and Sierra Leone amid growing concern about the spread of the deadly Ebola virus. Asky said it took the decision to keep ''its passengers and staff safe during this unsettling time''.

What You Need to Know About Ebola
http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/what-is-ebola-what-you-need-to-know-about-the-deadly-disease-outbreak-in-west-africa/story-fneuzlbd-1227007143249


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



kyodo news The Thai unit of Japan's Toyota Motor Corp said that overall auto industry sales in Thailand in the first half of 2014 plunged 40.5 percent from a year earlier to 440,911 vehicles.

nationmultimedia;com The Oceanic Preservation Society has invited shark advocates to gather at Thai Airways check-in desks at airports worldwide next month to protest against what it calls a cruel shark-fin cargo policy. The campaign will be launched on August 10 in Bangkok, Singapore, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, London, Cape Town, Manila, Bali, Sydney and Perth airports.

bbc.com Parents in Thailand have a new ally in their quest to keep track of what their children are watching. The government plans to set up an internet network monitoring games shops. The system will connect CCTV cameras in video games shops with Google Maps so parents can watch their children.



Phuket Update Boats and jet-skis on Phuket will resume a search at first light today for visiting fisherman and musician Somchai Yung-Talay, 30, who was swept from rocks in high seas near Cape Promthep. His girlfriend raised the alarm.

Phuket Update Officers believe Senior Sergeant Rapiwat Kongchim, 42, jumped from police accommodation at Phuket City Police Headquarters in Yaowarat Road then, when he survived the fall without injury by crashing through a tree and a carport roof, later shot himself in the head with his service revolver. Investigators believe concern about a long-term illness tipped him over the edge. He leaves a wife and child.

scmp.com Beijing announced an official investigation into former security chief Zhou Yongkang, shattering the decades-old political taboo of not prosecuting the highest ranking Communist Party officials for corruption.

smh.com.au The etiquette of some mainland Chinese travellers overseas has again come under fire after a family allegedly allowed their child to defecate on the seat of a Delta Airlines flight from Beijing to Detroit. The resulting odor quickly filled the cabin, sending disgusted passengers into a fury. Chinese social network Weibo lit up and condemned the family for ''disgracing their nation.''

latimes.com Police shot and killed ''several dozen'' people in northwestern Xinjiang province during clashes on the eve of an important Muslim holiday, Chinese authorities confirm. Reporting of the incident was delayed almost 48 hours, and details remained vague.

bangkokpost.com Southern officials move to protect Thai-operated bus companies - and retaliate against Malaysia - by banning foreign buses beyond Songkhla starting Friday.

theage.com.au WikiLeaks has struck again, releasing the text of a secret court order that cannot be published in Australia. Founder Julian Assange argues that the suppression order, together with the Australian government's recent introduction of legislation to criminalise reporting on certain types of intelligence operations, is part of ''an increasing trend in Australia of suppressing press freedoms for the sake of politics.''

smh.com.au The Thai holiday island of Phuket is in the throes of a major facelift. Scores of beach restaurants, including several beach clubs, are disappearing. Despite this, a local hotelier (who wishes to remain anonymous) says locals believe that in the long-term it will be a win-win situation.

Krabi Update Respected hotelier Dalin Snidvongs Na Ayudhya has been appointed General Manager of luxury Thailand hotel and member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Rayavadee in Krabi.

thephuketinsider.com The 141 room Imperial Samui Beach Resort will be rebranded as a Sheraton in December of this year.

theguardian.com An animal protection charity is calling on tourists to turn down opportunities to take photos of themselves with wild animals, as a growing number of such images, including ''tiger selfies,'' surface online.

voanews.com Amnesty International says a team of four from its headquarters in London traveled to Thailand earlier this month to research the human rights situation following the May 22 coup and appreciated the willingness to answer questions.

bloomberg Shanghai's international airport announced 30 flight cancellations today as the Chinese military began exercises off the coast of the East China Sea.

thestar.com For the second year in a row a court has decided that a Canadian woman suffering from chronic pain can deduct the cost of spending the winter in a hot climate, allowing Trudy Tallon to claim a medical expense tax credit of almost $17,500 for her winter spent in Thailand and Indonesia in 2009. These expenses included flights, accommodation and meals for her and her husband.

afp Turkey's deputy prime minister has sparked an outcry by declaring that women should not laugh loudly in public.

traveldailynews.asia The new Best Western Patong Beach which will open in October is located close to the heart of Phuket's main tourist area, less than 1km from the famous white sands of Patong Beach and a multitude of bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.

belfasttelegraph.co.uk An unreleased version of one of the most celebrated songs in rock, Stairway To Heaven, is to come out later this year - after sitting in the vaults for more than 40 years.



cbc.ca The United States, the European Union and Canada all announced a tightening of sanctions against Russia over the continuing crisis in Ukraine and Russia's suspected involvement in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.



mmtimes.com The government of Burma (Myanmar) has cautioned a senior UN official over her use of the word ''Rohingya,'' warning that continued use of the term could hinder efforts to address humanitarian and rights issues in Rakhine State.

channelnewsasia.com The naval forces of Singapore and United States are carrying out joint exercises in the international waters of the South China Sea as part of this year's Exercise CARAT (Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training).



afp Liverpool announced the signing of 19-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille, but said they will loan him back to the French side for the 2014-15 campaign.



SPAIN'S La Liga side Almeria will take on Division One side Phuket FC on August 3 in a friendly at Phuket's Surakul Stadium.

August 11 Special holiday for Queen's Birthday

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



February 13-15 Phuket Yacht Show