Month: November 2012
- Phuket News
Second suspect arrested in Danish abduction, robbery
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested on Wednesday a second suspect associated with the abduction and robbery of a Danish woman in the designated Patong Safety Zone on November 26.Diana Muller, 37, reported that on November 26 at about 9:30pm she had been abducted, threatened at knife point and robbed by two men, Patong police said.She told police that the pair had…
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Phuket busts nab heroin, cocaine suspects
PHUKET: In a busy two days for drug law enforcement officers in Phuket, a woman was arrested in possession of cocaine at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday and five men with heroin were arrested at an address south of Phuket Town just 24 hours earlier. Lt Col Suthirat Tojumpa, chief of the Phuket branch of the Narcotics Control Board, told…
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Phuket Books: An English literary institution
PHUKET: The Man Booker Prize is a big thing for the Brits. The Americans used to have the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction till that turned insufferably stodgy and was eclipsed by the National Book Award. But it still does not compare to the Man Booker. A great deal of fanfare goes into announcing the long list of candidates, then the…
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Phuket Gardening: Floaters and Stalkers
PHUKET: As readers of last week’s column will have noted, there are, in essence, two kinds of aquatic plants: first, those that produce erect stems and flowers that keep only their roots in the watery element; and second, those with leaves and flowers that float, either with their foundations embedded in mud at the bottom, or, as in the case…
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Phuket truck powerless on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A 10-wheeled truck carrying more than 50 concrete power poles pitched while trying to climb Patong Hill this morning, causing a traffic tailback stretching about 1.5 kilometers.The mishap occurred at about 11:30am, while the truck tried to climb the steep incline on the western side of the hill in its bid to deliver the power poles to a construction…
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The Curious Case of the Invisible Crown Prince Paras Shah
PHUKET: Journalists trying to catch a glimpse of Nepal’s infamous former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, who was due to report to Phuket Provincial Court yesterday, were in for a long and ultimately fruitless wait.By midday, reporters who had been waiting since 9:30am, had still not clapped eyes on the former crown prince entering the court to report…
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World News: U.N. recognises sovereign state of Palestine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Palestinians win de facto U.N. recognition of sovereign state Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The 193-nation U.N. General Assembly yesterday overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on the world body to issue its long…
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Phuket Sports: Honors even with Anaz champs
PHUKET: This past weekend the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) had the opportunity to play two games against another touring team from Singapore, the ANZA Champs. The PCG were victorious on Saturday in the 30-over game, while the more social T20 game on Sunday was won by the ANZA team. After winning the toss, the visitors strode out to face the…
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Phuket van crash driver to face vehicular manslaughter charge
PHUKET: Police today confirmed they will charge the driver of the Phuket tour van involved in the accident yesterday morning that claimed the life of a 9-year-old schoolgirl with reckless driving causing death. Sub Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop told the Phuket Gazette this morning that Chalong Police officers were preparing their case against Tuan Russala Samae. However, Lt Kraisorn added,”We have…
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Thailand News: World Justice report ranks Kingdom 80th in serving civil justice
World Justice report ranks Thailand 80th in serving civil justice Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The World Justice Project (WJP) ranked Thailand 80th among 97 countries in delivering effective civil justice in its international Rule of Law Index 2012 report issued on Wednesday. However, despite the low ranking in dispensing civil justice, the report also recognized Thailand’s strong performance in the control…
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Thailand News: Biggest drug bust in Thailand’s recent history
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pattaya Police arrest Iranians in three hundred million baht drug raid Pattaya Radio 103FM / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The biggest drug raid in Thailand’s recent history took place in Pattaya City yesterday, in a three hundred million baht sting operation. This is without doubt the largest drug sting…
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Phuket Airport bus forced off the road by repairs
PHUKET: Concerns about whether or not the Airport Bus, which shuttles passengers to and from Phuket Town and Phuket International Airport, had shut down its services this week were answered today with the simplest of answers: one of the buses is off the road for repairs. “We normally have two buses serving the route between Phuket Airport and Phuket Town,”…
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Osotspa clan member alleges B293mn land swindle off Phuket
PHUKET: Saowanee Osathanugrah, a member of the famous Thai “Osotspa” family, has filed a complaint against her husband for allegedly trying to swindle her out of land on Koh Yao Yai, an island off Phuket, valued at 293 million baht. Osotspa Co Ltd, known worldwide for its M-150 and Shark energy drinks, last year reported a total operating income of…
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Phuket Marine Office splashes out B5.8mn on moorings
PHUKET: The Marine Department is spending 5.8 million baht on installing 300 moorings in coastal havens off Phuket in order to protect coral reefs.“We dropped 200 moorings in Chalong Bay on Saturday. They are available to use now, for free,” Phuket Marine Office chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut told the Phuket Gazette today.“We will drop another 100 moorings in Ao Por this…
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Phuket Sports: PIST hooks all as Sunshine Village cleans up
PHUKET: THE eighth Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament, held last weekend, produced a thrilling end to three great days, particularly for two teams. The Danish ‘Clean Team’ trailed by a minnow, which was required to catch ‘Team Captain Hook’ as the boats headed out under gray skies for the final day of competition. Ian Tubby, captain of Thai Two On, implemented…
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Phuket’s postponed “Andaman World Experience’ raises concerns
PHUKET: Uncertainty clouds the announcement of a firm date for the Andaman World Experience, postponed from November 9, as officials scramble to identify dates when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be available to attend. Chanchai Doungjit, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette that the festival would go ahead and that the schedule would…
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International Cricket: Ricky Ponting to end career
PHUKET: Australia’s Ricky Ponting announced his retirement from international cricket today, telling a stunned news conference he would be calling time on his glittering 17-year career after this week’s third test against South Africa. The former Australia captain has scored 13,366 runs in 167 tests – the second highest haul in the long history of the game – and stands…
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Girl, 9, confirmed dead in Phuket tour van crash
PHUKET: Phuket police have named the schoolgirl who died in the tour van crash this morning as Kulnaree Lattuada Lancini, 9 years old, a student at British International School (BIS). Chalong Police Sub Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop told the Phuket Gazette that Kulnaree died at the scene of head trauma. Kulnaree was in the rear seat of a pickup truck that…
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Two new Phuket police stations ready in December
PHUKET: Two new “temporary” Phuket police stations will open by December, ahead of permanent police stations that are slated for completion late next year. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat on Tuesday inspected the construction site of the new Wichit police station in Soi Na Sua on Chao Fa West Road. “On December 6, the two new police stations at…
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Phuket girl, 12, feared dead in tour van crash
PHUKET: A 12-year-old girl is feared dead after a Phuket tour van reportedly collided with a pickup truck near Chalong Temple on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong this morning. According to initial reports, two others were injured in the accident, which occurred at about 7 am. It is not known at this point whether the driver fled the scene…
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Phuket axe murderer out on bail until next year
PHUKET: The 15-year-old boy who confessed to killing his sleeping stepfather with an axe in August will appear before the Phuket Family and Juvenile Court on the morning of February 4 next year. A court official told the Phuket Gazette today that after his confession to Chalong Police on August 22, the youth was remanded in the custody of the…
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Deadline for listings in Phuket’s yellow pages
PHUKET: Businesses wishing to appear in the 2013 Gazette Guide Business Directory, Phuket’s ‘yellow pages’, have until 12 noon on Thursday, December 6, to enter (or update) their listings – that’s eight (8) days from now. Businesses not listed by that date will not appear in the directory until 2014. The 350-page book, with details of about 2,500 businesses serving…
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Thailand Futsal Premier League: Phuket United eye Colombian star
PHUKET: The island’s pro futsal club, Phuket United, are looking to sign Andres Reyes, one of the up and coming stars showcased at the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, held in Thailand earlier this month. Phuket United Assistant Coach Patt Srivijit told the Phuket Gazette that the team is planning to get in contact with Andres Reyes about a possible…
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Phuket History: Ancient air-con
PHUKET: Historic architecture is fascinating. Architecture surviving from a particular time in history can tell us a lot about that period. For example, the cultural influences of the period, the way people lived, their religious beliefs and a lot more. One of the most interesting aspects of historical architecture is the clever designs and features that are purposely built into…
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On The Menu: Very Versace
PHUKET: Versace is a name synonymous with quality and style and so it is with Le Versace restaurant lounge bar, which is perched high on the northern hills above Patong. This brand new venue officially opens next month, offering not only fine dining, but one of finest views of Patong available. Its not often I get to feel like a…
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World Golf: Long putter expected to be outlawed for 2016
PHUKET: With a widely expected ban on anchoring long putters likely to be announced by the game’s ruling bodies today, players have expressed sharply contrasting views ahead of this week’s World Challenge. While 14-times major winner Tiger Woods and putting supremo Steve Stricker are both in favour of such putters being outlawed, 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley says he…
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Loy Krathong Festival honors “Phuket yesteryear’
PHUKET: As communities across Phuket celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival tonight, residents in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, will be drawing to a close their three-day version of the festival. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut officiated at the opening of the Srisoonthorn festival, which this year also honors the area’s tin-mining history, at the Bang Maruan Lagoon – located next to the site of…
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World News: People’s Daily makes readers cry with Onion story
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China’s Communist Party newspaper falls for spoof news story Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The newspaper of China’s Communist Party yesterday reported on a spoof news article from The Onion which named North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as the sexiest man alive. It comes…
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Unbranded drugs suspected in British tourist death at Phuket resort
PHUKET: Police suspect unbranded drugs may have contributed to the death of a British tourist whose body was discovered in his resort guest room this morning in Phuket.The man, a 64-year-old British national, was found dead by his female companion in the couple’s room at a resort at Nai Thon Beach at about 9am, said Capt Prakorp Boonkwan of the…
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Phuket Lifestyle: Giving thanks to the goddess of water
PHUKET: Thailand is beginning preparations for Loy Krathong tomorrow, one of the most colorful Thai festivals. It is a time to give thanks to the goddess of water and seek forgiveness for past misdeeds. The festival always occurs on the evening of the full moon of the 12th Thai lunar month which this year falls on November 28. Loy literally…
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World News: Tests to check if Yasser Arafat was murdered using Polonium
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arafat’s grave opened for poison tests Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Forensic experts took samples from Yasser Arafat’s buried corpse in the West Bank today, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-to-trace radioactive poison, Polonium.Palestinians witnessed the funeral of their hero and…
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Phuket Pets: The power of your pet’s senses
PHUKET: Dogs inherited keen senses from their wolf ancestors, and its these attributes that enable them to play such a massive role in our lives. With their phenomenal sense of smell, dogs are being used to sniff out illegal narcotics, explosives – even pirate DVDs. Their sight and hearing capabilities help to assist the blind or deaf live more independent…
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Live Wire: Drilling down on landlines
PHUKET: Last week I talked about the general state of internet connections in Phuket. This week I want to drill down on landlines. I wish I could just point you to a web page that has all of the information about the various internet lines available on Phuket, and let you make a choice. Life isn’t that simple. You would…
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Murder fugitive Aldhouse to arrive in Phuket on Saturday
PHUKET: British national Lee Aldhouse, wanted in Phuket for the stabbing murder of former US Marine Dashawn Longfellow in August 2010, will be extradited from the UK and will arrive in Phuket on Saturday. Aldhouse, also known by his kickboxing nickname “The Pitbull”, will arrive at about 7pm, Chalong Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri told the Phuket Gazette today. Chalong Police…
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Phuket Sports: Westwood hopes to reproduce wow factor in Thailand
PHUKET: Lee Westwood wowed the crowds at the Thailand Golf Championship last year by flirting with a 59 in the first round of the Asian Tour event and the world number six would be more than happy with a similar start to his title defence. Westwood had virtually wrapped up the title at the halfway mark at Amata Spring Country…
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Phuket Poll: Bringing illegal taxis in from the cold
PHUKET: The Phuket authorities over the past year have taken a combination of measures to bring illegal taxis on the island under regulation. The latest move brought 50 airport taxis into the fold from a “co-operative” that was openly and illegally serving passengers at the airport. However, that move followed a mini-blitz in which 194 drivers were fined for being…
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Phuket Sports: Racing for Rich
PHUKET: They say tragedy brings people together in a meaningful way. This is the case with triathlete Richard Holland and his supportive friends. In the early hours of the morning on Thursday October 11, 2012, Rich (as he’s known to his friends) set out cycling in Dubai to train for the upcoming Laguna Phuket Ironman 70.3. What was supposed to…
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