Year: 2008

  • Phuket NewsMysterious documentary filmed today in Phuket City

    Mysterious documentary filmed today in Phuket City

    PHUKET: At least four pairs of contestants taking part in a travel documentary are racing around Phuket using various forms of transport today. One of the challenges that faced the contestants was to pull each other through Phuket City in the midday heat using rickshaws as they searched for “King Rama V Park”. The contestants pictured here made “four wrong…

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  • Phuket NewsRage on the road turns fatal | Thaiger

    Rage on the road turns fatal

    PATONG: A hot-headed youth has been arrested after he shot and killed another man during an argument at a stoplight in Patong on Thursday morning. The victim was 32-year-old Kamjon “Neng” Pungprom. He died from a single gunshot wound to his abdomen. The shooting occurred at the three-way intersection along the new Phang Muang Road, not far from the Patong…

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  • Phuket NewsHigh-season tourism outlook bleak: PTA

    High-season tourism outlook bleak: PTA

    PHUKET CITY: Despite a large drop in fuel prices internationally, the outlook for this year’s high season for tourism remains bleak, a top tourism industry leader says. Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) Vice-President Bhuritt Maswongsa told the Gazette that current occupancy rates and bookings from now until the end of the year should result in an island-wide average occupancy rate of…

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  • Thailand NewsCurious cockroach gives traveler trauma | Thaiger

    Curious cockroach gives traveler trauma

    CHIANG MAI: At some point in their lives, most people are likely to have had some pretty unpleasant bus trips, whether on a crowded Greyhound Bus in the States or a steaming hot, jam-packed third-class “Orange Crush” hurtling though the Thai countryside. If you think your bus journeys have been hell, consider the case of one passenger from Khon Kaen…

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  • Phuket NewsTwo arrested in Phuket heroin mega-bust

    Two arrested in Phuket heroin mega-bust

    RASSADA (Kom Chad Luek): Police arrested a Thai man and a Taiwanese national along with 104 kilos of heroin at a house in the Phuket City Home residential estate yesterday afternoon, deputy national police chief Priewphan Damapong announced at a press conference in Bangkok yesterday. Speaking at the Royal Thai Police Drug Suppression Division headquarters on Viphawadee-Rangsit Rd, Gen Preowpan…

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  • Phuket NewsBrit arrested on drug charges | Thaiger

    Brit arrested on drug charges

    KATHU: The government’s 90-day “war on drugs” that started last week has claimed its first foreign casualty in Phuket: a middle-aged British man was caught in possession of ya Ice (crystal methamphetamine) and other narcotics with intent to sell. Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark identified the suspect as UK national Peter Neville, aged 45. Mr Neville was arrested at…

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  • Phuket NewsLocal Muslims begin sacred journey

    Local Muslims begin sacred journey

    MAI KHAO: Phuket Governor Preecha Ruangjan and other top officials attended a ceremony, on Sunday, at Phuket International Airport to send off some 250 local Muslims leaving to attend the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, local Thai-language news sources have reported. Also attending the farewell were Phuket Senator Thanyarat Atchariyachai, Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising and…

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  • Phuket NewsWar on drugs underway | Thaiger

    War on drugs underway

    BANGKOK (TNA): The government has launched a new round of drug suppression in a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat last Thursday. The 90-day “war on drugs”, which kicked off on November 3, is scheduled to last through till the end of January. In his speech announcing the crackdown, PM Somchai encouraged authorities to devote their full attention…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Carnival dates announced | Thaiger

    Phuket Carnival dates announced

    PATONG: This year’s Phuket Carnival will take place from December 15 to 20 at Patong Beach, some six weeks after the traditional starting date of November 1. Phuket Deputy Mayor Chairat Sukban said this year’s events will differ slightly from carnivals in past years, which have featured top rock acts including Modern Dog and even a performance once by the…

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  • Phuket NewsAmericans dominate beach volleyball final

    Americans dominate beach volleyball final

    KARON: In the final playoff of the Swatch FIVB Beach Volleyball 2008 tournament, Jennifer Boss and April Ross overcame fellow Americans Nicole Branagh and Tyra Turner to win at Karon Beach on Sunday. After two sets, the teams couldn’t be separated with Branagh and Turner winning the first set 21-18 and Ross and Boss the second 21-14. The final went…

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  • Phuket NewsDeadline for local ‘yellow pages’ listings | Thaiger

    Deadline for local ‘yellow pages’ listings

    PHUKET: Businesses wishing to appear in the 2009 Gazette Guide, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, have until 6pm on Wednesday, November 12, to enter (or update) their listings. Businesses entered after that date will appear in the Gazette Guide Online only – not in the hard-copy book for 2009. Listings, which are for Phuket Phang-nga, Krabi and Samui businesses only, can be…

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  • Phuket NewsUK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife | Thaiger

    UK cancels visas of Thaksin, wife

    BANGKOK (The Nation): The British Embassy has revoked entry visas of ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his wife Pojaman. The cancellations, which were decided while the couple were outside England, were notified to airlines yesterday. The decision was made by the United Kingdom Border Agency, and the notification email was signed by Bangkok-based Immigration Liaison Manager Andy Gray. The…

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  • Phuket NewsIsrair announces direct flights from mid-December | Thaiger

    Israir announces direct flights from mid-December

    PHUKET: Israeli airline Israir announced Wednesday that as of December it will begin operating two flights to Thailand, including direct flights between Israel and Phuket. Israel-based news service ynetnews.com reported that the flights, aboard Airbus A-330 planes, will be available during the height of Phuket’s high season: from December 15 to February 28. The flights will leave Israel on Sundays…

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  • Phuket NewsUrgent need for B Rh Negative blood | Thaiger

    Urgent need for B Rh Negative blood

    BANGKOK: Foreign Correspondents Club Thailand (FCCT) member and well-known local restaurateur Thomas McNamara is in critical condition and in need of blood type B Rh NEGATIVE. If you or anybody you know has this rare blood type, please contact Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok (Tel: 02-6671000) where Mr McNamara is being treated in Intensive Care Unit 526. A transfusion will help…

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  • Phuket NewsYoung Brit dies in mystery fall | Thaiger

    Young Brit dies in mystery fall

    PATONG: A young English tourist mysteriously fell from a building in Patong early Monday evening and died en route to hospital. Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnark identified the deceased from his passport as UK national Joseph John Nason, age 22. Mr Nason and a friend, aged 19, had just arrived in Phuket on a flight from Bangkok and were…

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  • Thailand NewsCobra cocktails, roadside rat-ions | Thaiger

    Cobra cocktails, roadside rat-ions

    SUPHANBURI: The sight of roadside stalls selling seasonal fruit, diesel-flavored roast chicken or other comestibles is a common one on any road trip in Thailand. Along the roads of Suphanburi, however, the offerings are a bit more exotic, with cobras and field rats the current hits.On October 27, Sala Phromphim, who owns five stalls selling the unusual delicacies along the…

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  • Phuket NewsPhupanee and Yunsuwan crash out of Phuket Open Volleyball

    Phupanee and Yunsuwan crash out of Phuket Open Volleyball

    KARON: Crowd favorites Orradee Phupanee and Aunchalee Yunsuwan of Thailand crashed out in straight sets (21-16 and 21-15), losing to the more experienced Swedish pairing of Tora Hansson and Camillia Nilsson yesterday in the Swatch FIVB Phuket 2008 Women’s Open volleyball tournament. The Swedes, seeded sixth, won the match in straight sets in just 27 minutes. At 16 years of…

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  • Phuket NewsBus crash claims 2, injures 30 | Thaiger

    Bus crash claims 2, injures 30

    MAI KHAO (NBT): A fully-loaded bus headed for Satun overturned and crashed at about 9 pm Sunday night, killing two people and injuring at least 30 more. The state-run Andaman News service reported that the accident occurred on the outbound lane of Thepkasattri Rd, in the Ban Maak Prok area of Mai Khao Village 1. Tah Chat Chai Police Superintendent Sakchai…

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  • Phuket NewsLaguna Phuket turns to China, Middle East as Europe stays away | Thaiger

    Laguna Phuket turns to China, Middle East as Europe stays away

    PHUKET: Laguna Phuket, the giant five-star resort complex on Bangtao Beach, Phuket, says it plans to look more and more towards China and the Middle East next year to compensate for a continuing plunge in bookings from European tourists. The operators expect the global financial crisis and domestic political unrest to continue affecting international arrivals next year, particularly Europeans, long…

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  • Phuket NewsStress taking a toll | Thaiger

    Stress taking a toll

    BANGKOK (The Nation): Heads of families or breadwinners in urban areas in Bangkok and 18 other provinces are suffering from stress due to political turmoil and economic woes, an Abac poll revealed yesterday. The poll was conducted from October 10 to November 1. Of 3,293 respondents surveyed, 59 per cent said they were ‘stressed out’ by the country’s ongoing political…

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  • Phuket NewsKajonkietsuksa School celebrates Halloween

    Kajonkietsuksa School celebrates Halloween

    WICHIT: Students and teachers of the Kajonkietsuksa School’s bilingual program today dressed up for a range of special Halloween activities being held at the school. These fun events are taking place before an abundance of parties all over the island this evening, including a ‘Sexy’, black-and-gold dress-up Hellfire event at the Watermark. What? Halloween gone sexy?

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  • Phuket NewsAlarm over HIV infection among gay men | Thaiger

    Alarm over HIV infection among gay men

    BANGKOK / PHUKET: While the overall figure for people living with HIV/Aids is declining, new infections among men who have sex with men have been increasing drastically during the past few years, causing grave concern at the Public Health Ministry. Dr Somchai Chakrabhand, Director General of the Disease Control Department, said yesterday that a recent survey of gay men across…

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  • Thailand NewsFlushed condoms trigger sewage catastrophe | Thaiger

    Flushed condoms trigger sewage catastrophe

    PATHUM THANI: Most people have been warned at some point not to flush condoms down the toilet for risk of blocking the outflow pipe and having a nasty overflowing toilet to deal with. But who has ever seen it actually happen? The management of one short-time hotel in Muang District discovered, to its chagrin, that a steady input of second-hand…

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  • Phuket NewsCentral gets its HomeWorks done

    Central gets its HomeWorks done

    WICHIT: After a year under construction, the 1-billion-baht HomeWorks home improvement mall opened its doors to the public for the first time on Saturday, October 25. Built by the CRC Power Retail Company Limited, one of the many arms of the massive Central Retail Corporation, the bypass road’s latest mega-retail outlet is located at the Darasamuth School Intersection, right across…

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  • Phuket NewsAOT launches “Lucky Flight’ promo at Phuket Airport | Thaiger

    AOT launches “Lucky Flight’ promo at Phuket Airport

    MAI KHAO: The Airports Authority Of Thailand (AOT) launched its three-day “Lucky Flight by AOT” promotion on Monday, when some of the 250 passengers arriving aboard Thai Airways flight TG 1205 won presents in a lucky draw held upon their arrival at 11 am. Manager magazine’s on-line Thai language news service quoted Phuket International Airport (PIA) deputy director Sucheeb Sansiripan…

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  • Phuket NewsThey’re here! Box Jellyfish found in Phuket waters | Thaiger

    They’re here! Box Jellyfish found in Phuket waters

    PANWA: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has issued an official warning following the collection of almost 40 box jellyfish in a trap in shallow waters, off Ao Nambor, on Phuket’s east coast. Some 38 of the jellyfish, which favor shallow brackish water, were recovered from a fish trap in a mangrove area on July 30. Eighteen more were found…

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  • Phuket NewsBig Buddha gets big bell

    Big Buddha gets big bell

    KARON: Work on the the enormous Buddha image in the Nakkerd Hills is now about 90% complete and a huge bronze bell was installed at the site to mark King Chulalongkorn Memorial Day on Thursday.The one-million baht bell, which weighs one metric ton, was a gift from the Rassada Cooperative Credit Union. Work on the image, officially known as Phra…

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  • Phuket NewsRegional haze pollution may diminish this year | Thaiger

    Regional haze pollution may diminish this year

    CHERNG TALAY: In one of his first official acts as Governor, Dr Preecha Ruangjan represented the province at a multinational meeting aimed at reducing forest fires and haze in the region. The gathering, the Sixth Meeting of the Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee (MSC) on Trans-boundary Haze Pollution, was hosted at the Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Resort on October 22. The…

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  • Phuket NewsMan suspected of journalist killing turns himself in | Thaiger

    Man suspected of journalist killing turns himself in

    NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A man wanted on suspicion of involvement in the killing of Matichon journalist Athiwat Chainurat handed himself in to authorities in Nakhon Sri Thammarat on October 22. Lamduan “Kop” Kaowsisot, 25, from Bang Khan District gave himself up to Amnuay Jaritngam, headman of Village 1, Tambon Ban Lamnao, Bang Khan District after learning that a warrant for…

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  • Thailand NewsCopulating couple cause culture shock | Thaiger

    Copulating couple cause culture shock

    UTTARADIT: Government officials in Uttaradit have been put on high alert after a teenage couple was caught having sex right outside the culture office in the Provincial Hall on the afternoon of September 20. On that day, the town was packed with people coming to watch a festival being held in Phraya Phichai Dap Hak Sports Stadium, opposite the hall.…

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  • Thailand NewsCruel cure for unlucky lad | Thaiger

    Cruel cure for unlucky lad

    SURIN: Sometimes, a cure can be worse than the illness. This was certainly the case for one young man who went to the local temple to perform a ceremony to ward off bad luck, but ended up dying after drinking “blessed water” prepared by the temple abbot. Twenty-three year old Bunyang Khreuaniam of Khwao Sinarin District on September 30 told…

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  • Phuket NewsPolice to launch traffic law crackdown | Thaiger

    Police to launch traffic law crackdown

    PHUKET CITY: In an attempt to reduce road accidents, Phuket Provincial Police have vowed to get tough on traffic violations under a new road-safety program, the state-run Andaman News service has reported on the NBT network. The National Police Bureau will reactivate a traffic and road safety center in a bid to stem the alarming number of deaths resulting from…

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  • Phuket NewsPreecha Ruangjan installed as new governor

    Preecha Ruangjan installed as new governor

    PHUKET CITY: Preecha Ruangjan took office as the new Phuket Governor at Provincial Hall on Monday. Gov Preecha, who comes to Phuket after serving as governor of his home province of Phichit, paid his respects to the statue of King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) in front of Provincial Hall, then accepted flower baskets from many top officials and department heads. Tomorrow,…

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  • Phuket NewsChai-Anan elected Kathu mayor | Thaiger

    Chai-Anan elected Kathu mayor

    KATHU: By exactly 1,000 votes, Chai-Anan Suttikun beat rival candidate Somkid Choosawat in the October 12 election for Mayor of Kathu, Phuket Election Committee (PEC) Director Supap Akkam has confirmed. Mr Chai-Anan, representing the Rak Kathu (Love Kathu) party, garnered 4,815 votes, while Mr Somkid from rival party Kathu Pattana (Kathu Development) secured 3,815 votes. The result makes Mr Chai-Anan…

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  • Phuket NewsMan charged with Tesco midnight robberies | Thaiger

    Man charged with Tesco midnight robberies

    TAH CHAT CHAI: Stepped-up security at the Tah Chat Chai police checkpoint has resulted in the arrest of a man wanted for stealing merchandise valued at more than 100,000 baht from the Tesco-Lotus store on the bypass road. At a press conference led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong on Friday, the suspect was identified as Manorom Aksorniem, from…

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  • Phuket NewsMan arrested for murder at Khao Khad Viewpoint | Thaiger

    Man arrested for murder at Khao Khad Viewpoint

    WICHIT: Phuket City Police took just 12 hours to arrest one man for the brutal stabbing and shooting murder of a bank employee on the night of October 12, but another key suspect in the case remains at large. According the the Phuket Provincial Police website, Phuket City Police Duty Officer Nanon Pitakkulthon was notified on October 13 that a…

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  • Phuket NewsTruck gone wild, but nobody hurt

    Truck gone wild, but nobody hurt

    PHUKET: A truck crashed through a roadside wall and careened down a steep embankment after its brakes failed this afternoon. No one was hurt in the accident, which occurred at about 5pm on Ake-Wanich Rd where nearby hillside land is being cleared for the construction of several apartment blocks.

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