Year: 2013
- Phuket News
Phuket Vegetarian Festival sends hotel occupancy soaring
PHUKET: Occupancy at beach and Phuket Town hotels during the Vegetarian Festival is at 85 per cent or higher, said Governor Maitri Inthusut. As he took part in festivities at the Tha Rua shrine yesterday, the governor noted that hotels along parade routes in Phuket Town were fully booked. Even hotels not on the parade routes – those at island…
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Fewer Phuket Vegetarian Festival mediums in hospital, so far
PHUKET: Six ma song (spirit mediums) have been admitted to hospital for wounds incurred during this year’s Phuket Vegetarian Festival, and three people have been admitted for injuries sustained from firecrackers.Most of the ma song taken to hospital had injuries to their tongue or cheek, explained Kajornsak Kaewjaras, chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO).“We took them all…
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Phuket Events: Filling the gap
PHUKET: One basic need we share as humans, besides the bare necessities of food and shelter, is to tell and to hear stories – we all need some culture, some entertainment and fun to make our lives complete. In Phuket the shelter and food part are well taken care of, but the culture part sometimes seems to be a bit…
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Phuket Gazette World News: US credit default talks begin; West eyes modernizing nukes; German bishop scandal goes to Pope
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Western powers talk nuclear disarmament, upgrade what’s left Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The world’s stockpile of nuclear weapons is a quarter of the size it was at its Cold War peak in the 1980s – but the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain are all considering…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: PM seeks Japanese transportation deal; People’s Army on the move; Thaksin no terrorist; Floods not a crisis
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM seeks Japanese role in Bt2-tn transportation project The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has invited Japan Inc to take part in Thailand’s Bt2-trillion transportation development project.She also proposed to Myanmar to jointly develop a “trilateral highway”, creating land bridges between India, Myanmar and…
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Phuket teens arrested for dangerous use of firecrackers
PHUKET: Phuket City Police say they have arrested at least 13 teenagers for endangering people by throwing firecrackers into the dense crowds lining the streets for the Vegetarian Festival, now in the sixth day of this annual nine-day event. “I assigned three undercover police teams to patrol Phuket Town, focusing specifically on where we had received complaints about teens using…
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Tourist Police officer stripped of badge over double-homicide shooting
PHUKET: A Phuket Tourist Police officer has been kicked off the force as the prosecutor moves forward in charging him over a double-homicide in a drug-den shootout in March. Pinchai Piyadilok, 34 at the time of the shooting, lost a leg as a result of wounds sustained in the gun battle that left Saran Chaithum, 26, and Chalermpol Tripuk, 26,…
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Thalang traffic police to crack down on convenience store parking violators
PHUKET: Traffic police in Thalang today confirmed that they will crack down on motorists congesting the roadways around 7-Elevens and other small convenience stores in the Phuket district within the coming weeks. “In the next two weeks, my team and I will talk to branch managers at 7-Elevens and other small convenience stores, and ask them to announce to their…
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Officials set sights on Patong water gate
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) will spend over 19 million baht on a water gate to help alleviate flooding in Patong.The news came at a meeting on Tuesday between PPAO President Paiboon Upatising and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut to discuss strategies to prevent flooding in Phuket.The areas of top concern discussed in the meeting were Patong, Sri Soonthorn…
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Armed man robs 7-Eleven, last seen heading for Wat Chalong
PHUKET: An armed robber made off with 1,000 baht from a Chalong 7-Eleven convenience store early Tuesday morning. The robber fled on a motorbike and is now the subject of a Chalong Police search. The thief entered the 7-Eleven at the entrance to Soi Mae Aum Phan, a few meters in front of the popular Phuket expat shopping mall HomePro…
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Construction worker shocked by high-voltage line
PHUKET: A Myanmar national welding on top of the police box at the Kalim junction in Patong at about 6pm yesterday was shocked by a jolt from a high-voltage line, but not fatally injured.When the back of Aung Naing’s welding rod touched a tree that was in contact with the high voltage line, he received an electric shock that sent…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Caribbean Cocaine Cowboys on the rise; US slashes Egypt aid; Nigeria raids suicide vest factory; Landslide win in Azerbaijan election
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Caribbean drug trade rises under new generation of ‘Cocaine Cowboys’ Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Caribbean is becoming a hot spot again for drug smuggling into the United States as a new generation of “Cocaine Cowboys” plows the seas in fast boats in search of easy entry…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Tourists escape bus crash; ISA invoked in Bangkok; Suspect arrested for Brit murder; ATM attacks in South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ISA invoked ahead of visit by Premier Li The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The government yesterday decided to impose the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Dusit, Pomprap Sattru Phai and Phra Nakhon districts of Bangkok until October 18 as 200-300 protesters continued to rally outside Government House.The…
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Phuket prepares for Eid al-Adha celebration
PHUKET: Preparations are underway for one and all to join the “Festival of the Sacrifice” activities to be held at the Muslim Wittaya Phuket School in Koh Kaew on October 15. The auspicious date of October 15 has been designated as the Islamic celebration of Eid al-Adha, according to esteemed elders, Islamic scholars and astrologers of the Central Islamic Council…
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Storms and rain set to continue until Sunday
PHUKET: Phuket and surrounding Andaman Coast areas are set for more rough weather, the Thailand Meteorological Department (TMD) has warned. According to the TMD, which issued its warning at 10am yesterday, the storms will continue until Sunday, when blue skies and the sun are due to make a welcome reappearance. Boat-owners and other seafarers need to exercise extra caution, as…
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Officials complete Kamala flash-flood cleanup, but warn of more flooding
PHUKET: Officials at Kamala Beach have completed their mop-up operation after the town was struck by a flash flood on Sunday, but have warned residents that more flooding may be on the way.“More than 20 homes were flooded by mud and water, but now the situation is back to normal,” said Krittkraisee Khieowan, Chief Administrative Officer at the Kamala Tambon…
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Meth arrests lead to prison drug lord
PHUKET: The trend for local drug dealers to source their product from a kingpin operating out of a maximum-security prison was evident again this week as Crime Suppression Division (CSD) officers in Phuket arrested two suspects found in possession of 2,336 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) in raids north of Phuket Town on Monday. Undercover police learned of a dealer…
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Phuket Governor stages “3K Police’ tour
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday conducted an inspection tour of police stations at three key tourism beach areas – Patong, Kamala and Karon – as part of his campaign to promote Phuket as a safe holiday destination.Joining the governor on his tour was Kathu District Chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol.Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan, who formally heads Kathu Police Station, reported…
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Hit-and-run bus-driver turns himself in
PHUKET: The driver whose bus struck a Myanmar national crossing Thepkrasattri Road, killing her instantly last Thursday, turned himself in to the police a few hours after the accident. “Hours after the event, (story here) the bus driver, Natthanapong Jithang, 33, surrendered at Thalang Police Station,” Kittipoom Tinthalang of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette today. Mr Natthanapong told…
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Huge Phuket python caught seeking shelter
PHUKET: A man checking his house for leaks during heavy rain in northern Phuket this morning spotted a huge python near the back of the house, trying to get in.Chokdee Inklub was checking every room of his home at Baan Yid, in Mai Khao, to ensure water was not damaging his furniture or posing a danger near exposed power sockets.When…
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Rain fails to dampen Phuket Vegetarian Festival spirit
PHUKET: The Phuket Vegetarian Festival street processions continued yesterday under a steady drizzle and leaden skies, but the inclement weather barely dampened the enthusiastic spirit of both participants and observers. The procession by devotees from Samkong Shrine wound its way through Phuket Town in the morning rain, with some 2,000 spectators lining the route to watch ma song (spirit mediums)…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Higgs boson, key to the universe, wins Nobel physics prize
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Higgs boson, key to the universe, wins Nobel physics prize Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Britain’s Peter Higgs and Francois Englert of Belgium won the Nobel Prize for physics on Tuesday for predicting the existence of the Higgs boson particle that explains how elementary matter attained the mass…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Bangladesh garment factory blazes; Turkey lifts headscarf ban; Italy seeks EU help after boat tragedy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Turkey lifts generations-old ban on Islamic head scarf Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Turkey lifted a ban on women wearing the Islamic head scarf in state institutions on Tuesday, ending a generations-old restriction as part of a package of reforms the government says are meant to improve democracy.The…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Riot forces on alert at Govt House; Fears of Bangkok floods rise; Old bangers ban just an idea; School tablets bust
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police and riot forces on alert at Govt House The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Government is concerned that protesters from 56 organisations camped out at Rangsit University may widen their activities and get out of control, the National Security Council secretary-general said yesterday. “Around…
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As AoT and Airport bus company trade barbs, tourists take taxis
PHUKET: As Airports of Thailand (AoT) and the Airport Express bus company trade blame for the lack of passengers on the Airport-to-Patong bus, tourists continue to find it difficult to locate the bus stop. The most common complaint voiced by visitors is the lack of information both at Phuket International Airport and on line. “It took me 20 minutes to…
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Exploited lizard puts rainy-day tout in hot water
PHUKET: Non-stop rain in Patong could not stop an iguana tout from offering tourists photo opportunities with his captive reptile, a protected species. However, his persistence paid no dividends. Kathu District officers arrested the tout yesterday afternoon on Patong’s Phang Muang Sai Kor Road.“Ruonkimlhee Unruean, 46, from Patong, was caught with the iguana in front of One Tambon One Product…
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Phuket tour operators targeted for damaging reefs
PHUKET: Officials have sworn to take action against boat operators dropping anchor on live corals in popular Phuket day-trip destinations such as Koh Racha Yai, after a video showing an anchor destroying the fragile marine environment surfaced online last week. “I was notified by the Go Eco Phuket team about the problem. I will issue a letter to all boat…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Cell traffic and disease research wins Nobel Prize; World Bank to slash budget; Argentina’s Fernandez to undergo brain surgery
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Work on ‘cell traffic’ and disease wins Nobel prize Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Three U.S.-based scientists won the Nobel medicine prize on Monday for plotting how vital materials such as hormones and brain chemicals are transported within cells and secreted to act on the body, giving insight…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Floods rage in Isarn; 17 killed in pickup crash; Hmong Bt344mn drug bust; Supercar probe stalls
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lack of water-drainage options blamed for Isarn inundation The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Royal Irrigation Department is blaming the raging floods in the East on the lack of water-drainage options. Many areas in the region have been under water for more than a month…
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Video Report: Sea turtles beach in Phuket with propeller, fishnet injuries
PHUKET: Two injured Olive Ridley sea turtles washed up on Phuket’s west coast yesterday.One of the two turtles, a male between 15 and 20 years old, was found on Patong Beach with leg and head injuries inflicted by a boat propeller.The other turtle, a female between five and 20 years old, was found earlier that day at Nai Harn Beach.…
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Phuket floods clear, but landslide strikes afore severe weather warning
PHUKET: Minor flooding from heavy rains across Phuket over the weekend has now drained, leaving roads clear and island residents to resume their daily business, officials have reported. The news comes after deluges flooded main roads in Phuket Town – notably Phuket Road, Montri Road and Rassada Road, all in the heart of the Phuket Old Town quarter, where water…
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Phuket FC narrowly conquer Saraburi’s Warlords
PHUKET: Phuket FC fans, players and coaching staff are all able to rest a bit easier now that the club has ended a two-month winless run, having prevailed at home 1-0 over the Gulf Saraburi “Warlords” last night at Surakul Stadium.Prior to last night’s win, the Islanders’ last triumph was on August 11 when they downed Nakhon Pathom 2-0, also…
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No seat belts worn, but no fatalities after van flips twice
PHUKET: Six relatives, including three children, escaped serious injury when the van they were in flipped twice before coming to rest on Thepkrasattri Road in Mai Khao yesterday afternoon.None of the adults or three children, aged 8 to 11, was wearing a seat belt when the van slid on the rain-slippery road and hit the median at a curve in…
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Helmetless motorbike driver dies on deadly Phuket road
PHUKET: A helmetless man died of head injuries last night after his motorbike collided with a SUV being driven at high speed on Pa Khlok Road near the Heroines’ Monument (map here). “The body of Prasit Munmai, 50, was lying face down on the road near his motorbike when we arrived,” said Kittipoom Tinthalang of the Thalang Police. “Mr Pasit…
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Tanker truck vapor prompts Phuket scare
PHUKET: A tanker truck parked roadside with vapor pouring from its pressurized tank full of oxygen sent Phuket residents into a state of high alert last night. The 18-wheeler remained parked in front of the Thalang Museum, near the Heroine’s Monument (map here), with its engine running because residents hesitated to approach it for fear it would explode. “The truck’s…
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Phuket Airport bus service still struggling
PHUKET: The airport bus service continues to operate at a loss, mainly due to management and marketing problems, its owner has told the Phuket Gazette. The buses, which travel from Phuket International Airport to Patong, have been carrying six to eight passengers each morning and about 12 to15 in the afternoons, company owner Prakob Panyawai said. “We have not been…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Cameron in battle over EU referendum
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityPHUKET: British Prime Minister David Cameron’s control over his own party looks set to be challenged after a rebel lawmaker on Sunday launched a campaign to bring forward a planned referendum on European Union membership to next year.The move sets up a parliamentary showdown between rival factions of…
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