Month: November 2004

  • Phuket NewsCabinet approves B300m improvements at fishing port

    Cabinet approves B300m improvements at fishing port

    PHUKET CITY: The Cabinet has approved a plan to spend more than 300 million baht to improve Phuket Fishing Port in Tambon Rassada, and to build a seafood processing plant there.The proposal, drawn up by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, was approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday.The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives told the Cabinet that improvements would make…

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  • Phuket NewsStudent pharmacist dies from overdose | Thaiger

    Student pharmacist dies from overdose

    PATONG: Police believe that a 19-year-old pharmacology student on holiday in Phuket committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates in a hotel room in Patong.Alongkorn Pitaktrirat, of Nakhon Ratchasima, had been dead for around two days when his body was found on Wednesday at the Baan Bua Hotel, where he was staying.Pol Lt Padungpong Duksukaew, of Kathu Police Station, said that…

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  • Phuket NewsGovernor to appeal for homes to stay on state land | Thaiger

    Governor to appeal for homes to stay on state land

    PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Usawarangkura will ask the Cabinet to allow residents in Soi Kingkaew, near Koh Sireh, to keep their homes, even though government offices have long claimed that the houses have been built on state land.The Governor visited the soi on Tuesday with Phuket Provincial Office of Natural Resources and Environment chief Thongchai Saowapong. The inspection came after…

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  • Thailand NewsThinner can be a blast

    Thinner can be a blast

    SAMUT SAKHON: As any drug-taker driven to extremes by the government’s War on Drugs Part III can tell you, taking a few deep breaths of paint thinner can give you a buzz. The downside of breathing in thinners is that it may also knock your judgment a teeny bit off kilter, to the point where you forget that it can…

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  • Thailand NewsThe final upshot | Thaiger

    The final upshot

    BANGKOK: Police arrested a 27-year-old man after he was caught taking photos up a girl’s skirt at a motor show at Central Plaza on Phra Ram III Rd last month. Worakarn Jaruphat was collared by security guards after “Amp”, a young woman taking part in the Miss Motorshow Contest, grabbed his wrist when she felt something touch her legs. When…

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  • Phuket NewsB95m Ao Por marina plan unveiled | Thaiger

    B95m Ao Por marina plan unveiled

    PHUKET: Thailand’s largest construction company, Italian-Thai Development (ITD), is to invest 95 million baht in its first project in Phuket, a marina at Ao Por.The project will be handled by the Ao Por Pattana Co, a wholly-owned subsidiary of ITD.Project manager Akaraphan Suwanchot said the marina would be built near Ao Por pier, which is itself about to undergo complete…

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  • Phuket NewsAlleged jewel thief arrested in Koh Lanta

    Alleged jewel thief arrested in Koh Lanta

    KOH LANTA: Anthony “Dirk” De Weirdt, wanted for questioning in connection with missing jewelry worth an estimated 18 million baht, was arrested on Koh Lanta on Friday following a tip-off.De Weirdt, a Belgian who was formerly the factory manager of Bangkok’s CB Fine Jewelry, disappeared shortly after precious stones and other items were found missing from the company’s safe on…

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  • Phuket NewsWTO helps develop sustainable tourism | Thaiger

    WTO helps develop sustainable tourism

    PHUKET CITY: Developing tourism as a sustainable industry for Phuket was the topic discussed by World Tourism Organisation (WTO) adviser Hans Carl Jacobsen and local officials at a meeting today at Phuket Provincial Hall.Joining Mr Jacobsen at the seminar were representatives of the Office of Tourism Development and the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, as well as Phuket Governor Udomsak…

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  • Phuket NewsThai AirAsia launches Phuket-Singapore service | Thaiger

    Thai AirAsia launches Phuket-Singapore service

    PHUKET: Low-cost carrier Thai AirAsia, an associate carrier of Malaysian low-fare airline AirAsia, yesterday launched a daily, direct flight service between Phuket and Singapore, offering promotional fares as low as 1,200 baht for advanced ticket purchases made over the Internet.Flight FD 3028 departs Phuket at 9:30 am and arrives in Singapore at 12:10 pm local time. The return leg, Flight…

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  • Phuket NewsCouple die in bike smash | Thaiger

    Couple die in bike smash

    CHALONG: An American visitor from Bangkok and her partner have died in a motorbike accident at Chalong.Mary Susan Crosland, 52, and Cha Paen Anukul, also 52, were killed around 10 am on Tuesday, when the motorbike K. Cha was driving, with Ms Crosland riding behind, failed to take a curve near Chao Fa Thani village.The couple lived in Bangkok and…

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  • Phuket NewsTRT confirms parliamentary candidates

    TRT confirms parliamentary candidates

    PHUKET CITY: Thai Rak Thai (TRT) today confirmed that the party’s candidates for the general election, scheduled to take place by February 13 next year, will be Dr Sriyada Palimapan and Wisut Santikul.Dr Sriyada will contest District 1 (Phuket City and immediate area), while former Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Vice-President K. Wisut will contest District 2 (the rest of…

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  • Phuket NewsFast visas and work permits coming – Sipa | Thaiger

    Fast visas and work permits coming – Sipa

    PHUKET CITY: The man charged with transforming Phuket into a “cyber paradise” says procedures for fast-track visa and work permit approvals for foreign IT workers will be operational next month.Dr Manoo Ordeedolchest, President of the Software Industry Promotion Agency (Sipa), has announced that applicants will be able to apply to the Sipa office, which will then coordinate with the Board of…

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  • Phuket NewsPa Khlock people back new pier | Thaiger

    Pa Khlock people back new pier

    PHUKET: A small gathering of interested Pa Khlock residents today gave their backing to a proposal by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to build a new pier at Ao Por.However, the exact location has yet to be decided, and the land around all the possible sites is in private hands.Staff from the Marine Department gave a presentation on the…

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  • Phuket NewsAmlo land probe “still running’ | Thaiger

    Amlo land probe “still running’

    BANGKOK: Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) Deputy Secretary Pol Col Yuthaboon Disamarn has said he will return to Phuket to continue his office’s investigation into fraudulent land titles.Col Yuthaboon told the Gazette that he felt it was important that his department crack down on illegal land holdings, so that innocent people are not duped into buying government land.He said, “There’s no…

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  • Phuket NewsParadorn to return to Phuket

    Paradorn to return to Phuket

    PHUKET: Thai tennis superstar Paradorn Srichapan is due on Phuket later this month.Paradon, currently ranked 21 in the world, will be bringing the 2004 Paradorn Super Tour to the island’s Laguna Beach Resort on November 27 and 28.The tour, which features exhibition matches, tennis clinics and autograph signing sessions, starts in Bangkok on November 22 and moves to Nakhon Ratchassima…

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  • Phuket NewsCabinet to review B63bn Ao Phuket project | Thaiger

    Cabinet to review B63bn Ao Phuket project

    PHUKET: The Ao Phuket Project committee yesterday agreed to present to Cabinet for approval a plan to spend 63 billion baht on transforming Saphan Hin and Phuket Bay into a mega-development covering 2,216 rai.The 14-person committee, headed by former Phuket Governor Prof Yuwath Wuthimethee, met at the Governor’s office in Phuket City to review the plan by construction consultants BBMT…

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  • Thailand NewsThe hunt for Beer | Thaiger

    The hunt for Beer

    NATHON PATHOM: A gang of teenage thugs picked the wrong guy to attack and rob in the early hours of October 21. Their intended victim turned out to be an off-duty police officer with a loaded pistol. At 3:30 am, the four gang members were riding their motorbikes slowly along Rajamankha Rd in Nakhon Pathom municipality, waiting for a victim…

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  • Phuket NewsPolice probe death of Briton | Thaiger

    Police probe death of Briton

    PATONG: Police are investigating the death of a Briton, Stephen Harris, 46, born in Birmingham, whose body was found in his room at the Monte Carlo Hotel on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Rd on October 29 at around 1 pm.Speaking to the Gazette today, Pol Lt Col Boonlert Onklang of Kathu Police Station said that, according to a doctor who made an…

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  • Phuket NewsThird corpse found in “Burmese Cemetery’ | Thaiger

    Third corpse found in “Burmese Cemetery’

    RASSADA: The body of a murdered Burmese fisherman was found at the Rassada Port area on Friday, bringing the number of corpses discovered in what has been nicknamed the “Burmese Cemetery” to three in just two days.Pol Capt Kanuang Pitakkulthorn, of Phuket City Police Station, said he received a call from residents at the port informing him that a body…

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  • Phuket NewsCrackdown on illegal guides launched | Thaiger

    Crackdown on illegal guides launched

    PHUKET: The authorities in Phuket have started the high season by launching a crackdown on illegal foreign tour guides, particularly Koreans.The province’s Chief Administrative Officer (Palad), Vichan Busapavanich, told the Gazette the crackdown was in response to “many complaints” about foreigners taking jobs reserved for Thai people, especially foreigners working as tour guides.In the past there has been a shortage…

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