Year: 2012

  • Phuket NewsPhuket elections: no alcohol sales in Chalong, Rassada

    Phuket elections: no alcohol sales in Chalong, Rassada

    PHUKET: Alcohol sales will be banned in Chalong and Rassada from 6pm today till midnight on tomorrow due to local elections to be held tomorrow in those Phuket subdistricts. Phuket Election Commission Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette that Chalong has two voting districts with 7,135 and 7,497 eligible voters, respectively. The mayoral candidates are Thanapong Koudom and Somran…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Gazette: Extra, Extra – Read all about it!

    Phuket Gazette: Extra, Extra – Read all about it!

    PHUKET: In this week’s Phuket Gazette, now on newsstands everywhere across the island, and tucked into the Nation newspaper for national distribution, we probe hard into the ongoing land investigations. We’ve also budgeted space for a financial breakdown of what recent Cabinet meetings have bestowed upon Phuket and the other important Andaman provinces. As always, we received our monthly letter…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket ‘Mobile Cabinet’ budget breakdown, by province

    Phuket ‘Mobile Cabinet’ budget breakdown, by province

    PHUKET: Cabinet approved a total of 628 million baht for 23 provincial projects in the five Andaman Coast provinces during the mobile cabinet meeting held in Phuket earlier this week. In addition to the regional and Phuket-based projects already reported, the breakdown for funding for four other Andaman Coast provinces was announced as follows: Ranong1. Sustainable water management project: 42.26…

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  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Copyright fraudsters on the prowl | Thaiger

    Phuket Business: Copyright fraudsters on the prowl

    PHUKET: Operators of entertainment establishments that utilize copyright protected songs should be wary of personnel claiming to be royalty collectors, a statement issued by the Department of Intellectual Property has warned. The warning, published last week on the Ministry of Commerce website, said that the department has recently received a number of complaints from establishment operators in Phuket, Pattaya and…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Google Street View launched for Phuket

    Phuket Gazette: Google Street View launched for Phuket

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Google Street View launched for Phuket PHUKET (The Nation): Six months after starting work on the project, Google Thailand yesterday officially launched the ‘Google Street View’ service in the Kingdom – the second country in Southeast Asia in which it is available, following Singapore. Street view…

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  • Business NewsPhuket Business: The European tourist market is dormant, but not done

    Phuket Business: The European tourist market is dormant, but not done

    PHUKET: Local officials and tourism industry representatives are optimistic about the revival of the European tourist market in the near future, following the recent success of a Phuket tourism promotion roadshow in Germany. The Internationale Tourismus – Borse 2012 (ITB 2012), one of the largest tourism trade shows in the world, was held in Berlin, Germany. Representing Phuket at the…

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  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Batik operations seek integration

    Phuket Business: Batik operations seek integration

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Industry Office (PPIO) recently led a seminar to reinforce the continued development and integration of the island’s high-potential Batik fabric industry. The industrial promotion event marked the beginning of the second consecutive year of efforts to develop local production, reinforcing momentum from the forming last year of the Phuket Batik Cluster. That initiative was marked by…

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  • Business NewsPhuket Business: Income tax filing: Part II

    Phuket Business: Income tax filing: Part II

    PHUKET: For anyone who generated income in Phuket or elsewhere in Thailand last year, regardless of where or how they were paid, the personal income tax filing deadline is March 31. However, since the last day of this month falls on a Saturday, the last opportunity to file on time will be Friday, March 30. In the first of two-article…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: F1; Premiership football; Rugby and international sports news

    Phuket Sports: F1; Premiership football; Rugby and international sports news

    Button dominates F1 openerPHUKET: Jenson Button of McLaren reveled in his “dream start” at e opening race of the 2012 Formula 1 season at the Albert Park Lake street circuit in Melbourne.Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull managed to gain second by making good use of the safety car on lap 37 to pit, and emerged ahead of Lewis Hamilton, who…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: 15,000 homeless, 2 dead in massive Mexican earthquake

    Phuket Gazette: 15,000 homeless, 2 dead in massive Mexican earthquake

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Government scrambling to assist the homeless from Mexican quake Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Two deaths were reported on Friday after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwestern Mexico on Tuesday, damaging tens of thousands of houses. The first victim, identified as Ernesto Bernal Ruiz, died…

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  • Phuket NewsSPORTS NEWS FLASH: Noppowan secures Phuket ITF final berth

    SPORTS NEWS FLASH: Noppowan secures Phuket ITF final berth

    PHUKET: Thailand’s stellar tennis talent Noppowan Lertcheewakarn defeated number four seed Reka-Luca Jani of Hungary to continue her fantastic run of form at the Phuket Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC). Having beaten the number one seed Erika Sema in the quarter final yesterday, and previously beaten the Hungarian, the 20-year-old…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Price rises beginning to bite in Thailand

    Phuket Gazette: Price rises beginning to bite in Thailand

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Survey shows Thais in the grips of widespread price increases Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Most respondents, 61 per cent, in a poll on the current cost of living in Thailand said they were not confident in the government’s measures to handle the country’s rapidly…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: Aviation deal between Israel and the EU expected to boost tourism

    Phuket Gazette: Aviation deal between Israel and the EU expected to boost tourism

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU and Israel reach comprehensive aviation deal Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The European Union (EU) announced yesterday that it has finalized negotiations on a comprehensive aviation agreement with Israel. Following eight rounds of negotiations since December 2008, the two sides have agreed to develop…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: Terrorist Mohamed Merah killed in ambush by French police

    Phuket Gazette: Terrorist Mohamed Merah killed in ambush by French police

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community French police kill gunman responsible for school massacre Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The French gunman behind Monday’s shootings at a Jewish school, and allegedly behind recent attacks against soldiers, was confirmed dead after several hours of confrontation with police forces, local authorities said Thursday.…

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  • Business NewsPrincess Yachts say ‘thank you’ in style

    Princess Yachts say ‘thank you’ in style

    PHUKET: Princess Yachts Thailand held a lavish ‘thank you party’ at Phuket Boat Lagoon on Thursday evening in conjunction with the launch of the Princess Yachts South East Asia network. The annual Princess Rendezvous started on the evening of March 22 before their cruise to Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island in Krabi on March 23. Hundreds of guests attended…

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  • Phuket NewsFC Phuket fired up for first home game

    FC Phuket fired up for first home game

    PHUKET: Final preparations for FC Phuket’s first home game in their Thai Yamaha League Division One campaign are underway at Surakul Stadium. Kick off is scheduled for 4pm on Saturday against Rajpracha FC from Nakhon Pathom province, who finished one place ahead of Phuket in eighth spot at the end of last season. Controversy surrounded their first meeting in February…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket limo driver found dead in rented room

    Phuket limo driver found dead in rented room

    PHUKET: An airport taxi driver and former volunteer member of the Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation was found dead in his rented room in Srisoonthorn subdistrict early yesterday evening. Thalang Police Duty Officer Somkhit Khaosang was notified of the death by neighbors at 7:20pm. At the scene, a rented room in Srisoonthorn Village 5, police found the body of 51-year-old Uthai Chuti-anan…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket landlord takes life by hanging | Thaiger

    Phuket landlord takes life by hanging

    PHUKET: A wealthy Phuket landlord took his life by hanging yesterday while his two sons were asleep upstairs, according to a local news report. Thalang Police duty office Somkhit Khaosang was notified of the death by a neighbor in a row of townhouses near the Heroines’ Monument at about 4pm, according to Siangtai Daily. When officers, led by Thalang Police…

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  • Phuket NewsDonald goes old school in PGA

    Donald goes old school in PGA

    PHUKET: The PGA tour this week hit the Innisbrook Resort in Florida. Rory McIlroy isn’t playing for the next few weeks meaning golf’s world number one spot was up for grabs. That brings us to former number one Luke Donald, whose golf swing now looks as if it’s in slow motion and he has clearly worked out it’s not all…

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  • Phuket NewsNoppowan powers into semi-final at Phuket ITF tourney

    Noppowan powers into semi-final at Phuket ITF tourney

    PHUKET: Thai tennis sensation Noppawan Lertcheewakarn upset the form books on Thursday by dismissing number one seed Erika Sema of Japan from the Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club on Phuket. Sema, ranked at 136 in the world, fought back in the quarter-final after losing the first set to the sixth-seeded, but…

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  • Phuket NewsEerie silence cloaks the Phuket death of a Swedish tourist

    Eerie silence cloaks the Phuket death of a Swedish tourist

    PHUKET: The death of a 35-year-old Swedish tourist, whose body was discovered in his hotel room at Kata Beach, has quietly surfaced on Phuket. The resort involved, the Swedish embassy in Bangkok and police have all confirmed that James Karlsson was found dead in his room at the Serene Resort last Wednesday. However, they have all declined to offer any…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Early execution of drug convicts

    Phuket Gazette: Early execution of drug convicts

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chalerm pushes for early execution of drug convicts PHUKET (The Nation): Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm today vowed to push for law amendments to have drug convicts executed 15 days after the Appeal Court’s verdict upholds the death sentence. He said he would propose an amendment to…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Drug-crime busters accused of possessing drugs

    Phuket Gazette: Drug-crime busters accused of possessing drugs

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Drug-crime busters accused of possessing drugs PHUKET (The Nation): Four drug-crime busters were arrested by fellow police after they allegedly made an arrest and seized drugs, but failed to report them to a supervisor, let the suspect go and kept the drugs, city police chief Pol…

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  • Phuket NewsFishermen found dead in Phuket estuary

    Fishermen found dead in Phuket estuary

    PHUKET: The body of a fisherman was found dead along the banks of a mangrove estuary on the west coast of Phuket yesterday. Cherng Talay Police were notified of the death by residents of Baan Layan at about 10am yesterday. At the scene, a muddy riverbank near the north end of Layan Beach, they found the body of 52-year-old Praphat…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: Asian economic news round-up

    Phuket Gazette: Asian economic news round-up

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Top Asean/EU trade officials to convene in Cambodia PHUKET (The Nation): The 2nd ASEAN-EU Business Summit will be held in Phnom Penh on April 1, to bring together entrepreneurs, private investors and public policy-makers from both the EU and ASEAN to address key issues related to…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observers

    Phuket Gazette: Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observers

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observersPHUKET (The Nation): Thailand has welcomed the Burmese government’s invitations for international representatives as observers for the parliamentary by-election on April 1. Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said that the move demonstrates Burma’s efforts to promote credibility of the upcoming…

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  • Phuket NewsMotorbike taxi driver dies in Phuket u-turn collision

    Motorbike taxi driver dies in Phuket u-turn collision

    PHUKET: A Phuket motorcycle taxi driver was killed instantly last night when he was hit full force by an oncoming car while trying to make a u-turn on Thepkrasattri Road. Thalang Police were notified of the accident at 9:20pm. Arriving at the scene, on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in front of the electricity substation in Ban Lipon, they found the body…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Eco-news for Thailand includes bad news for polluters

    Phuket Gazette: Eco-news for Thailand includes bad news for polluters

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suzuki launches Thailand-made eco car PHUKET (The Nation): Suzuki Motor (Thailand) yesterday launched a new version of its Swift compact model under a Thai government program to promote local manufacture of fuel-efficient vehicles. Suzuki Motor Corp’s Executive Vice President Toshi Hiro said three versions of the…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Thailand business news

    Phuket Gazette: Thailand business news

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Honda’s April restart means no plans for relocation PHUKET (The Nation): Honda Automobile (Thailand) will not relocate to Indonesia, as confirmed by its plan to resume operation at the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya province on April 1, said Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti. It was reported…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket Sports: ITF Phuket reaches finals stages

    Phuket Sports: ITF Phuket reaches finals stages

    PHUKET: Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewagarn exacted vengeance on Aiko Nakamura of Japan yesterday at the Chang ITF Pro Women’s circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club on Phuket.Noppowan lost to Nakamura in their first and only meeting five years ago in the Pattaya Open.Both are two-handed players and Noppawan was concerned going into the match that this aspect…

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  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette: Probe into Rangers’ ops; Sonthi faces tough question; Reconciliation

    Phuket Gazette: Probe into Rangers’ ops; Sonthi faces tough question; Reconciliation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rangers’ operations lawful: probe PHUKET (The Nation): The investigation into the shooting of a pickup in Pattani in January by Army paramilitary rangers, which left four villagers dead, has found the operation was lawful under the rules of combat engagement and called for compensation to all…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: US fighter crashes in Korea

    Phuket Gazette: US fighter crashes in Korea

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. fighter jet crashes in South Korea, pilot safe PHUKET (News Wires): The pilot of a U.S. fighter jet ejected safely yesterday before his aircraft crashed near a base in the western region of South Korea, military officials said. There were no injuries. The accident happened…

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  • World NewsPhuket Gazette: Bomb blast hits Indonesian Embassy in Paris

    Phuket Gazette: Bomb blast hits Indonesian Embassy in Paris

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bomb blast shocked embassy staff but there were no known injuries Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A bomb exploded near the Indonesian Embassy in Paris early yesterday morning, breaking windows and damaging cars but causing no casualties, officials said. It is unclear who was behind…

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  • Phuket NewsBudget breakdown; Phuket to get speed cameras, “monkey cheeks’

    Budget breakdown; Phuket to get speed cameras, “monkey cheeks’

    PHUKET: The mobile Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved 23 projects worth 628 million baht that can be developed immediately in five provinces along the Andaman coast, including a network of speed cameras in Phuket. For the 23 projects slated for immediate start-up, the Cabinet ordered that plans be hurriedly drawn up and presented to the Budget Bureau within two weeks,…

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  • Thai LifePhuket Lifestyle: Seven’s heaven for our Lady Pie

    Phuket Lifestyle: Seven’s heaven for our Lady Pie

    PHUKET: After last year’s successful involvement with the rugby world’s premier 7s tournament, Phuket’s Lady Pie can claim world renown and will once again fill more appreciative bellies with their themed and delicious fare at the 2012 event that starts tomorrow. Now in their sixth year of operation in Cherng Talay, Lady Pie owners Susan and Harry Usher are thrilled…

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  • Thai LifePhuket Lifestyle: Kids are doing it for themselves

    Phuket Lifestyle: Kids are doing it for themselves

    PHUKET: As part of its philosophy to teach young Thai students the importance of self-sufficiency and respect for the environment, the Yaowawit Boarding School and Lodge has developed a model agricultural project which demonstrates the fundamentals of independence for small farmers. Located in the middle of a Phang Nga jungle, far away from the glamor of international tourism or even…

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  • Thai LifePhuket History: The slow road to Bangkok

    Phuket History: The slow road to Bangkok

    PHUKET: Towards the end of the 18th century, trade and logistics was tough business. Phuket, or Junk Ceylon, during that time was rich in tin, a semi-precious metal that was highly sought after by European and Indian traders. Tin mining was therefore an important source of revenue for the island. Because tin mines in Junk Ceylon were considered government property,…

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