Year: 2012
- World News
Phuket Gazette: 77 kids rescued in major trafficking bust
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese security forces arrest hundreds, rescue 77 children in major trafficking bust PHUKET (News Wires): Chinese police have arrested more than 300 suspects during a nationwide investigation into four child trafficking rings, the government announced yesterday. More than 70 abducted children were rescued. China’s Public Security…
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Start your engines, the Phuket Invitational Car Rally is ready for road
PHUKET: Automotive tune ups underway, participants in the Phuket Invitational Car Rally are revving up for Sunday’s tour of the island which at the checkered flag will determine a top team of navigators, timekeepers and drivers. On Sunday March 11, this unique treasure hunt will start out from Chalong Pier Beer Garden at 10am. However, registration will begin at 9am…
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Phuket Bus Terminal 2 to open ‘after Songkran’
PHUKET: The Administrative Court in Nakhon Sri Thammarat has thrown out a complaint against work on the new turning in front of Phuket Bus Terminal 2, which the Land Transport Office now hopes to have in operation shortly after the upcoming Songkran holiday. Phuket Land Transport Office [PLTO] chief Teerayut Prasertpol told the Phuket Gazette he received a telephone call…
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Weird World News: Fox mugs man, kitesurfer stabs shark and nerds design robo-Cheetah
PHUKET: This has been a week of man taking on wild. From the cobbled and cold streets of England to the warm waters of the Red Sea and at a state-of-the art Massachusetts robotics lab, snarling and snapping animals coming face-to-face with man made headlines this week. Man ‘mugged’ by fox A BRITSH man claims he was mugged by a…
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Praying lizard crashes Buddhist ceremony
PHUKET: A NINE-INCH gecko is talk of the town in a village in the Northern province of Phayao this week – not for its size, which isn’t exactly unusual, but for its piety. On February 27, one of the village families invited a monk to their home to hold a Buddhist ceremony of renewal. The ceremony was interrupted halfway through…
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Phuket Heroines honored at “Battle of Thalang’ re-enactment
PHUKET: Those wanting to catch the re-enactment of the Battle of Thalang, from which the Phuket heroines “Jan” and “Mook” gained their fame, should clear their schedule from March 13 to 15. The official program of events for the annual celebrations will start on Sunday, but the re-enactment of the historic battle at Thalang Victory Memorial Field doesn’t begin until…
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Drug-dealing, sex-buying monk defrocked
PHUKET: A SEX-CRAZED monk in the Northern province of Lamphun has been defrocked and charged by police for allegedly selling ya bah (methamphetamine) to local teenagers. Phra Phichat In-wan of Wat Rongkutai in the province’s Maeraeng Subdistrict spent much of his drug profits on prostitutes that he had sex with on temple grounds, according to police. The disgraced clergyman kept…
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QSI Phuket Fun Run all set for go tomorrow
PHUKET: Athletes across the island and families who just like enjoying walks are getting ready for the Quality Schools International (QSI) Phuket 10th Annual Fun Run on Saturday, March 10, starting at 9am and jogging on to 1pm. The traditional 1km, 6km, 12km individual and team runs are ready for the off, while food, drink and games will also be…
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Finn tourist killed in crash on Phuket’s Big Buddha Hill
PHUKET: The Finnish Embassy today named 32-year-old Tuomas Johannes Mustonen as the Finnish tourist who died in a motorbike accident on Big Buddha Hill on Wednesday. Mr Mustonen’s body was found by police patrolling the area of the Big Buddha on the evening of Makha Bucha Day. “While on patrol, officers came across a Yamaha Fino motorbike. Nearby, they discovered…
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Royal Thai Consul honors Krabi efforts after Chinese tourist drowns
PHUKET: The action by authorities following the drowning of a Chinese tourist in Krabi’s Than Bok Khorani National Park has drawn praise from the Royal Thai Consulate in Chengdu City, China.Chengdu Consul-General Narumit Hinshiranan on Monday visited Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanon in person to express gratitude on behalf of the people of Sichuan province for the assistance given to relatives…
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Body lotion bust uncovers Phuket motorbike, drug gang
PHUKET: Two shoplifters apprehended at a Phuket 7-Eleven store were later found to be involved in the theft of seven motorbikes and were dealers of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), police announced yesterday. Staff at the 7-Eleven store near Phuket International Airport informed police that a man and woman were caught on the store’s CCTV system stealing items from the shop.…
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Phuket Gazette: Exotic wildlife worth Bt200m found
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Exotic wildlife worth Bt200m found PHUKET (The Nation): Thai police yesterday searched the Saraburi home of a former Chatuchak Market animal vendor and found 300 to 400 caged animals with an estimated black market value of 200 million baht. Pol Maj Gen Norasak Hemnithi, chief of…
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Phuket Gazette: Syria – First high-ranking official joins uprising
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria’s deputy oil minister defects from Assad PHUKET (News Wires): Syrian Deputy Oil Minister Abdu Hussameddin yesterday announced his defection from the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, becoming the first high-ranking civilian official to join the uprising which began a year ago. Hussameddin, 58, appeared in…
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Phuket Gazette: British Royal Navy submariner charged with ‘leaking’ secrets
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Leaky submarine’?: British Royal Navy crewman charged with communicating secrets PHUKET (News Wires): A British Royal Navy submariner was arrested in southwestern England earlier this week and is being accused of leaking classified information, police said on Thursday. He has been charged with breaching the Official…
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Phuket gears up for PIMEX 2012
PHUKET: The Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX), to be held March 29 to April 1 at the award-winning Royal Phuket Marina, is set to showcase top global boat brands. The leading consumer boat show in Asia, PIMEX has the largest in-water boat display. More than 50 boats representing the leading boat brands from around the world, will be on display.…
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Phuket tourist electrocution brings probe, safety blitz
PHUKET: The electrocution of 45-year-old Russian tourist Fedor Samsonov at a high-end Phuket resort last night has prompted an investigation by police and a full-scale safety inspection of the resort’s electrical system. “This is very tragic and we feel very much for the family,” said Lars Ydmark of resort management company Tri-Asia, which manages the Dewa Karon Beach Resort. The…
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Phuket sports: Krabi put their talons into FC Phuket
PHUKET: FC Phuket suffered a 1-2 defeat to fellow Division 1 rivals, Krabi FC in a charity match played at Surakul Stadium yesterday evening. In essence a derby game, it was the Southern Sea Kirin’s fourth of the 2012 pre-season schedule so far. Proceeds of the ticket sales will be used to help return former Phuket player Camara Ahmed back…
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Phuket Crime: Dokset DNA results show human skull hit with heavy object
PHUKET: Preliminary results from forensics tests conducted on remains found at the home of Norwegian Stein Dokset have found that they are those of a human female. They have yet to be confirmed as those of Rungnapa Suktong, however, the Phuket Gazette has been told. The remains were found in the locked basement bathroom at Mr Dokset’s luxury villa in…
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Phuket Gazette: Four Troops killed in Thai bomb attack; Quick probe into criminal cases crucial
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four troops killed, another injured in Narathiwat bomb attack PHUKET (The Nation): The unit was returning home after providing security to Buddhist devotees and monks at a temple in the evening of Maka Puja Day when the explosion occurred at 10:40pm yesterday. The explosion occurred on…
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Wet Phuket: blame La Niña
PHUKET: Unseasonably heavy rains along the Andaman coast are the result of the La Niña effect, a forecaster at the Southern Meteorological Center at Phuket Airport has confirmed. The forecaster, asking that his name not be used, told the Phuket Gazette that this was the second year running that La Niña had brought heavy rainfall during what are typically Phuket’s…
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Phuket workers have new hospital option under social security
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital is accepting applications from workers who want the new hospital to be their primary healthcare provider under the Social Security insurance scheme. The OrBorJor hospital, located on the east side of Phuket Town, has been actively courting new patients since its opening in May last year. Darawan Jinda, who heads the hospital’s…
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Phuket lifestyle: Keeping an ‘i’ on the prize
PHUKET: The requirements for getting hired as a foreign teacher in Thailand are incredibly low. Degrees and TEFL certificates are bandied about but not truly required in many schools. With Thailand’s low standards come low salaries, lower expectations and the profession’s ugly stereotype: the backpacker teacher. Typically transient, the backpacker uses his or her classroom as a means to a…
Read More » - Property
Phuket property: The hotel owners’ great debate: Is it better to buy or to build?
PHUKET: Decisions, decisions. Our lives often revolve around them like a lotus in a whirlpool. In through the ‘out’ door and out through the ‘in’. Or just ‘smash and grab’ like some random jewelry heist. But wait, we have a topic, and rolling into 2012 it has never been more relevant. Hotels coming into the market place in Phuket have…
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Phuket property: Creating a Scene on Rawai’s coast; UK’s leading travel agent inspects Kata Group
PHUKET: The Scene recently launched its new show house in Rawai with a concept based on functionality and modern design that compliment the attractive surroundings. The development is constructed and managed by The Fortress Real Estate group, who specialize in creating resorts and contemporary villas around Phuket island. The group, which has its own team of construction engineers and after…
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Phuket lifestyle: Making a dog’s dinner of it
PHUKET: A while back I wrote an article on the benefits of a raw diet for your dogs and while the debate still rages among veterinarians, food manufacturers and the dogs themselves – I thought I’d leave that to one side and focus on some of the dog foods now available here in Phuket. The variety of commercial dog foods…
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Immigration tops list of “most worn-out complaint’ in Phuket poll
PHUKET: Griping about immigration requirements is overwhelmingly the topic readers are most tired of hearing foreigners in Phuket complain about, according to the most recent Phuket Gazette Readers’ Poll. A total of 1,982 readers took part in the poll, which ran from February 17 until this morning. Readers were asked: “Which of the following topics are you most tired of…
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Phuket Gazette: Huge solar storm to hit Earth
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Huge solar storm to hit Earth – could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation systems and plane routes PHUKET: The BBC has reported a strong solar storm is expected to hit Earth shortly, and experts warn it could disrupt power grids, satellite navigation systems and plane routes.…
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Phuket Police to start patrols with the “All Blacks’
PHUKET: Phuket Police will soon be patrolling the streets of Phuket in brand-new all black Mazda2 cars. The 10 new patrol cars were bought with 5.9 million baht provided by Royal Thai Police headquarters in Bangkok, said Phuket City Police administrator Charturong Laddayam. “The new patrol vehicles are expected to improve our international image and help our relations with tourists,”…
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Phuket lifestyle: Breaking the school barrier
PHUKET: Seven intrepid stand-up paddlers will take to their boards on March 13 to navigate the 90 miles around Phuket over five days. The circumnavigation of Phuket is to raise funds to build a school for impoverished children in the Rassada Port area, on the east side of Phuket Town. The port area is well known as one of the…
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Phuket Gazette: Seventh person executed in the US this year
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Texas executes man for killing estranged wife, her boyfriend PHUKET (News Wires): A Texas man was executed yesterday for murdering his estranged wife and her new boyfriend in the Houston area in September 2001, officials said. He is the seventh person to be executed in the…
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Phuket Gazette: Expert says Western lifestyle spawns ‘global public health disaster’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN expert says globalization of Western lifestyle spawns ‘global public health disaster’ PHUKET (News Wires): A United Nations independent expert on Tuesday said an international public health disaster persists as undernourishment and overweight problems have spawned from the globalization of western lifestyles. UN Special Rapporteur on…
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Phuket Gazette: Thai women courted; Hopewell back in public eye; PM in Japan;
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pheu Thai, Democrats take different paths in wooing women voters PHUKET (The Nation): Both parties cite the importance of women, their roles in taking care of families and their forming a key part of the workforce. As the world celebrates International Women’s Day today, the two…
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Phuket Gazette: Bomb kills six British servicemen
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Roadside bomb kills 6 British troops in southern Afghanistan PHUKET (News Wires): Six British service members were killed on Tuesday when insurgents detonated a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan, Britain’s Ministry of Defense confirmed yesterday. It is the worst day for British troops in Afghanistan since…
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Phuket Convention Center project up in the air – again
PHUKET: Efforts to build a world-class convention and exhibition center in Phuket remain mired in red tape, and a recent visit to the proposed project site by two Government advisers raises little hope that the work will begin any time soon – if ever. The latest twist in the decades-old saga came with a visit to the proposed project site…
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Phuket Gazette: Earthquake threat for Japanese nuclear plant
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fault under Japanese nuclear plant could trigger powerful earthquake PHUKET (News Wires): A fault under the reactors of a nuclear power plant in southwestern Japan could trigger a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of up to 7.4 on the Richter scale, experts warned yesterday. The Urasoko…
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Phuket Gazette: Don Mueang; Yala bombing; Sex ‘trade’ not ‘traffic’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Passengers give top marks to Don Mueang restart PHUKET (The Nation): According to a survey conducted by The Nation, only budget airline Nok Air was in operation at the airport. Passengers said they found the service convenient. Security guards said there had been no disruption since…
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Phuket lifestyle: Diving without water
PHUKET: Divers take water for granted, be it mucky water, cold water, beautiful Phuket water or even pool water. We presume there will be water when we dive. So my last dive, a “dry” dive at 18 meters in a sub-aquatic safety services (SSS) recompression chamber, was a novelty. Recompression chambers, also known as hyperbaric chambers, have been used to…
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