News
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Biz Chat: Tips for establishing a start-up (part 3)
PHUKET: When it comes to starting your own business, it’s easy to get lost in the details. However, there are a few necessary steps you can’t let fall between the cracks. These are the last three crucial steps (see part 1 here and part 2 here). As a business owner (or prospective owner), you have to obtain the appropriate licences…
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Island View: If it ain’t broke, why fix it?
PHUKET: I have lived and worked in Phuket for quite a few years. I’m sure we all agree that driving on the island is one of the biggest challenges in our daily lives. Getting to work and making your way home each day is a matter of luck and skillful maneuvering, but I am not going to complain about any…
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Business Buzz: The power of groups and forums
PHUKET: One of the biggest business benefits of social media is creating a database of your perfect customers. Just imagine it: people asking to join your customer list, at no cost to you. While most people know all about Facebook fan pages, the ‘groups’ option remains a lesser-known factor. People have also probably heard of forums, but again they are…
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Environmentalists to build ‘love nest’ to breed rare birds
KRABI: The Wildlife Conservation Office plans to build a ‘house of love’ to breed rare birds that were recently discovered in Khaopra-Bangkham forest in Krabi. The birds, known as Gurney’s Pitta, had disappeared for many years prior to the most recent sighting of a female in April and another in May. “We have a male Gurney’s Pitta from the Klong…
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Water meter thefts on the rise
PHUKET: The Provincial Waterworks Authority (PWA) is warning islanders of a growing rash of thefts of water meters across the province. The thieves are most likely stealing the meters to sell them, or to exchange them with other meters and defraud the water authority, confirmed PWA Manager Pisak Chonlayut. “We’ve been receiving an increasing number of reports of meters disappearing…
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Palm nut producers feel squeeze, petition governor
KRABI: Palm nut producers in Krabi took a petition to the local Office of Commercial Affairs (OCA) on Wednesday, asking for government assistance in buoying the price of their product. OCA representative Barirak Chusit received requests from palm farmers, who took 10 trucks, carrying 500 tonnes of palm nuts, into the government-run Krabi Palm Oil Extraction facility. Palm farmers in…
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Finance: Runts rally amid mixed earnings season
PHUKET: As of the beginning of May, earnings season was in full swing, with the markets sending mixed messages to investors. So far, some big names like Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB) and Amazon.com (NASDAQ: AM- ZN), with the latter sometimes being a difficult stock to own given its ups and downs, have put in good earnings reports and have pretty…
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Country’s young swimming champs compete in Phuket meet
PHUKET: Young swimmers from across the country met to compete in a friendly inter-school contest at Thanyapura on June 11. The swim meet was the fourth session of the Thanyapura Open Swim League at the Olympic-sized swimming pool. Six teams of students aged 5-20 years old competed in various categories from St Gabriel’s College from Bangkok, the ISS Samui Sharks,…
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Rip current warning issued for Kata-Karon
PHUKET: Karon Municipality issued a rip current warning to all swimmers at Kata and Karon beaches yesterday. “Southwest winds are battering the island, causing strong waves, so we are warning beach-goers to be especially careful,” said Karon Mayor Thawee Thongcham. “We advise everyone to avoid swimming for their own safety. However, if anyone decides to enter the water, please follow…
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Sea gypsies sue Baron World Trade
PHUKET: More than 200 of Rawai’s sea gypsies are named as plaintiffs in a civil lawsuit against Baron World Trade Co Ltd, for allegedly blocking access to their sacred ceremonial grounds. The lawsuit, which was filed June 13, calls for 500,000 baht in reparations to the community, and is the latest development in the ongoing land feud between the sea…
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Phuket Gov joins Rawai Muslims for Iftar
PHUKET: Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, accompanied by other government officials visited a mosque in the Rawai village of Saiyuan on the evening of June 14. “We’re here to encourage and support local Muslims during Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which commemorates the first revelation of the Koran to the Prophet Muhammad, according to Islamic belief,” said Gov Chamroen.…
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Ancient city find in Cambodia rewrites history
CAMBODIA: Multiple, previously undocumented medieval cities not far from the ancient temple city of Angkor Wat have been discovered, The Guardian reported on June 11. The report said that these groundbreaking discoveries may completely change key assumptions about Southeast Asia’s history. Australian archaeologist Dr Damian Evans reportedly used airborne laser scanning technology to reveal the cities, which he dated at…
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Tour company director arrested, another on the run
PHUKET: Police arrested a senior director and shareholder of Tranlee Travel Co Ltd today for allegedly faking two Thai national ID cards used to register the company. Another director is on the run. “Kritchakorn Roongmongkolnam, one of the company directors, surrendered today. The other, named Weerachai Kampaiprapankul, is still on the run,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Saman Chainarong.…
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Murderer on the run after stabbing girlfriend’s lover
PHUKET: One man is dead after being discovered by his lover’s boyfriend on the second floor of the Irawadee condo in Kathu. Wachaya Thepsing, 29, fled to Trang province and alerted police there of the murder of her former lover. Kantang Police then contacted police in Kathu, informing them of Ms Wachaya’s report, said Lt Sawanya Eiattrong of Kathu Police.…
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Ladyboy romp ends with empty wallet
PHUKET: A Thai ladyboy was arrested early yesterday morning, after stealing money from a Singaporean tourist in Patong. Ng Wei Kiat, 31, met Tanakorn Jaiban, 25, on Bangla Road about 3am. “Mr Ng was reportedly interested in Ms Tanakorn, and they both went to have some fun in a hotel room on Phra Metta Road,” said Lt Col Weerapong Rakito…
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Gov urges sustainable building in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada praised Siam Cement Group’s (SCG) newest building in greater Bangkok, which incorporates the latest design concepts. The governor urged Phuket’s developers to follow suit, during the Phuket & Southern Thailand FM & Green Building Seminar held late last month. SCG, the largest cement supplier in Southeast Asia, moved into its new headquarters on its 100th…
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Opinion: Being a responsible pet owner
PHUKET: Boonsom Roongudom, 59, is a Phuket native. He received a veterinary degree from the Department of Livestock Development (DLD), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Mr Boonsom has been working as a veterinarian for the Phuket Municipality since 1980. Here, he talks about the on-going issue of abandoned cats and dogs in Phuket City and outlines his suggestions for a…
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Hungry python captured near Patong school
PHUKET: A three-meter-long python was captured near a school in Patong this morning. The snake was found with its head stuck in netting covering a chicken coop at 9:30am in Soi Phra Barami 6, next to Kalim school. The snake must have been trying to get at the chickens but it was too big to fit through the holes in…
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Safety regulations reviewed after fatal Phi Phi boat collision
PHUKET: Officials from the Phuket Marine Office (PMO) told the Phuket Gazette that the investigation into a fatal speedboat collision in Phang Nga Bay on June 8 (story here), may result in additional regulations for speedboat operators. Tanthai Wongsayree, an officer with the PMO, said that staff are in the process of reviewing the causes of the boat collision, which…
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Storms damage famous fossils in Krabi
KRABI: Geologists are seeking a solution to preserve one of Thailand’s largest fossil sites, after it was damaged by monsoon waves. Naturally-formed slabs of fossilized shells, believed to be about 75 million years old, at Fossil Shell Beach – locally known as ‘Susan Hoi’ – have broken off recently. The beachfront site in Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi…
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Another fill ‘n’ run incident in Krabi
Krabi: Police in Krabi are hunting for a motorist who allegedly sped away from a gas pump without paying, after filling his tank with 800 baht worth of fuel. Manida Boonthaworn, 26, the owner of the PT Petroleum gas station, last week filed a complaint at the Khlong Thom Police Station after reviewing CCTV footage. “The footage shows a silver-bronze…
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Samkong traffic to be redirected for underpass work
PHUKET: Both northbound and southbound lanes of the new Samkong Underpass are to be opened to traffic this Sunday, Phuket City Traffic Police has confirmed. “Motorists heading south for Central Festival should turn right at the Samkong Intersection, crossing over the underpass there, as they will not be able to turn right at the Darasamuth Intersection after entering the underpass,”…
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Island View: The perks of parking are ready to be reaped
PHUKET: Friends often whine to me about the traffic issues in Phuket Town, usually about how difficult it can be to get in and out of town during morning and evening rush hours. But I had no idea just how implausibly gridlocked the center of town can become, until I scheduled a lunch meet there. We were booked to meet…
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Phuket going ‘smart’ with B430mn initiative
PHUKET: The province is forging ahead to develop ‘smart city’ status with a 430 million baht initiative launched earlier this year. Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak gave the green light on March 21 to launch the pilot project. “The Thai government had been developing a smart-city concept, focusing on information-technology systems, which would become the foundation for the economy, society…
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Off-duty officers killed in Saturday shootout
PHUKET: Two police officers are dead following an off-duty shootout in Phuket Town in the early hours of Saturday morning. Col Peerayuth Karajedee of Phuket City Police reported that officers were arguing with each other outside the Huapan bar, near the Seahorse Circle in town. According to witnesses, Kathu police officer Lance Corporal Wongsathorn Theparan, 21, visited the venue with…
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Condo construction halted after deadly crane collapse
PHUKET: Police have ordered a halt to construction of an eight-story building near Phuket International Airport after a crane collapsed at the site yesterday, killing one construction worker and injuring three others. (story here) The crane collapsed at 9:30am at the construction site of The Terminal Phuket condominium. Sakoo police confirmed this morning that Mr Nikorn Tabtawee, 30, from Nakhon…
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Video Report: Surin reopens for 70th anniversary of HM King’s coronation
PHUKET: More than 5,000 people, including government officials, military officials and yellow-clad locals, poured onto Surin Beach for its grand reopening on the 70th anniversary of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s coronation yesterday. The beach’s reopening comes after the April demolitions of private structures, found to be illicitly operating on public land (story here). The renovated beach was renamed as ‘Rajabhakti…
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Truck driver charged for crushing 79-year-old to death
PHUKET: A 79-year-old motorcyclist was crushed to death when he collided with a garbage truck in Mai Khao yesterday. “The accident occurred near Baan Kor En School. The man’s motorbike was wedged under the front right wheel of the truck. His body was stuck to the back left wheel,” said Tah Chat Chai Police Deputy Superintendent Sarit Bootnongsaeng. Mee Doomlak,…
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Future of Brexit and British pensions
PHUKET: The possibility of the UK leaving the European Union is a subject of hot debate among the British. Most of the debate revolves around the implications for the future within the UK itself but not much is said of what kind of implications this could have on expats. For the most part, things will change very little either way…
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Breaking News: Man killed in crane collapse
PHUKET: One person is dead after a crane collapsed on a construction site near Phuket International Airport this morning. Officers from the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation are heading to the site. — Kritsada Mueanhawong
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