Month: January 2014
- Pattaya News
Phuket Property: Building materials index “unrealistic’
PHUKET: Provincial authorities seek a revision to the central price index for construction materials, pointing to outdated and inaccurate value estimations for building supplies imported to the island. Meanwhile, the Revenue Department reported collecting 9.6 billion baht in tax revenue in Phuket in 2013, exceeding their target by 5%.The economic issues headlined the agenda at the latest Phuket meeting of…
Read More » - Business News
Phuket tourism market eyed for semi-submarine pilot
PHUKET: Looking to build on its recent successful launch in Malaysia, one Korean marketeer is now eying the Phuket and Phang Nga marine leisure markets for its simple yet innovative semi-submarine vessel.“The Penguin” was one of several interesting marine products that stood out at this year’s Phuket International Boat Show (see page 44 for more details about the event); To…
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The year of the wood horse: Chinese New Year 2014
PHUKET: Tomorrow, January 31, some 1.3 billion Chinese in China and another 50 million ethnic-Chinese around the world will bid farewell to the year of the snake, and welcome the “invisible moon” that signals the official start of a new year – the year of the horse. Lunar New Year Starting today and tomorrow, festivities for the Chinese New Year…
Read More » - World News
Phuket Gazette World News: High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Wanted: Chief executive to run city of two million, seat of government, top global tourist destination and fashion capital. Relevant experience appreciated. Men need not apply.Paris elects a new mayor this spring who…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Anyone wishing to buy an EU passport from Malta must first live in the island nation for a year, the European Commission and Malta agreed on Wednesday, curtailing its contentious plan to sell EU…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. readies financial sanctions against Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. readies financial sanctions against Ukraine Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Obama administration is preparing financial sanctions that could be imposed on Ukrainian officials and protest leaders if violence escalates in the political crisis gripping Ukraine, congressional aides said on Wednesday.Congressional aides, who asked not to be…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Election standoff begins; Police deployed; Reds rile rice farmers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suthep threatens election day shutdown The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the ongoing anti-government protest, yesterday threatened to bring Bangkok to a “complete shutdown” on election day, while half of the 400,000-strong national police force is expected to be deployed to maintain law and…
Read More » - Business News
Phuket Chinese New Year: fruit up 30%, no change in meat, vegetables
PHUKET: Produce shoppers did not seem deterred by the 30% annual increase on fruit prices ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations, a visit today to one of the Phuket’s main fresh markets revealed. Meanwhile, no significant annual change was observed in the price of most vegetables and two staple meats – chicken and pork. Earlier today, the Gazette visited…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Hero: Two years at the top
PHUKET: A team of young dancers from the Ban Bangneaw Municipal School in Phuket Town won the national finals of the “To Be Number One” Teen Dancersize Competition held in the events arena at The Mall Bangkapi in Bangkok on January 26 and 27. Competing in the Junior Division for students aged 6 to 9, the HERO team wowed the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Old Town Festival to begin next week
PHUKET: The annual three-day Phuket Old Town Festival will kick off on February 7 with a parade to celebrate the unique culture of Phuket’s residents. Events will be held along Thalang Road, Soi Rommanee and Krabi Road – the heart of the Phuket Old Town area, explained Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana. “The main purpose of this festival is to…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Police vow to protect voters, despite manpower shortage
PHUKET: Despite a shortage of officers, the Phuket Provincial Police have vowed to protect voters from any violence on election day with a special task force. The group of 41 officers will be made up of five fast-response inspectors, 18 undercover officers and 18 officers on standby. “Officers manning the polling stations have been instructed not to interfere with peaceful…
Read More » - World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday while deputies loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich, acting to calm violent street protests, back-tracked and overturned anti-protest laws they rammed through parliament 12 days ago.The first…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Poll set for Sunday amid fears of further violence; Man shot, gunman caught; Reds to rally nationwide
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Poll set for Sunday amid fears of further violence The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The decision to go ahead with the February 2 election would only mount pressure on the caretaker government because it would provide “ammunition” to the protesters, a leader of the People’s Democratic for…
Read More » - Phuket News
Mission to replace detached tsunami warning buoy departs from Phuket
PHUKET: A 10-day mission departed from Phuket late yesterday to replace a tsunami warning buoy in the Indian Ocean. The original buoy was severed from its anchorage months ago (story here). National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) Chief Somsak Khaosuwan chaired the mission launch, which is to be carried out by experts on board the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center research…
Read More » - Phuket News
B12mn canal extension project to begin in March
PHUKET: A 12-million-baht project to dredge the Koh Kaew Canal and deepen the existing approach channel from Phang Nga Bay will begin in March.The six-month project was approved at a public hearing led by Governor Maitri Inthusut at the Royal Phuket Marina last Thursday.“Our officers found that the canal is not deep enough for big boats or yachts and could…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Police rescue hundreds of Rohingya in raid on suspected traffickers’ camp
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai police rescue hundreds of Rohingya in raid on suspected traffickers’ camp Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Thai police have rescued hundreds of Rohingya Muslims from a remote camp in a raid prompted by a Reuters investigation into human trafficking, police officials said on Monday.Police detained 531 men,…
Read More » - Entertainment
London’s Fab BEATLES ready to play in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket isn’t exactly famous in the music world. The island doesn’t really boast any world-renowned acts and the occasional musical tour that does find its way here is usually electronic or just a “well-known” DJ. But music lovers in Phuket are in for a special treat. Following their enormously popular, sold-out ABBA Forever concert, promoter Events International has lined…
Read More » - World News
Phuket Gazette World News: US, UK spy agencies schemed data raids from Angry Birds, smartphone apps
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S., British spy agencies exploit ‘leaky’ apps for intel: report Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.S. and British intelligence agencies have plotted ways to gather data from Angry Birds and other smartphone apps that leak users’ personal information onto global networks, the New York Times reported on Monday.It…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Sri Lanka says international war crimes probe would bring chaos
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sri Lanka says international war crimes probe would bring ‘chaos’ Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: An international inquiry into war crimes in Sri Lanka would bring “chaos,” and the government’s national reconciliation process must be given several more years to work, a top aide to Sri Lanka’s president…
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Phuket Gazette World News: World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2bn in aid
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2 billion in aid Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The World Bank on Monday warned Myanmar against corruption as it unveiled a $2 billion aid package designed to provide better health care and improve supplies of electricity.Despite the country’s…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Protesters mourn Suthin, murder witness steps up; Election date looms; Rice corruption plagues Yingluck
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt may let EC decide election date The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The caretaker government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.A source in the…
Read More » - Phuket News
US embassy consular outreach clinic in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Le Meridien Hotel in Karon on January 29. Consular staff will be available from 8am to midday to provide the following services: • Passport renewal applications (US$110 or 3,410 baht for adult passports, US$105 or 3,255 baht for a minor’s passport). • Notarial Services…
Read More » - Phuket News
Three arrested for role in fatal Phuket bag-snatch, one still at large
PHUKET: Phuket Police have arrested three of the four suspects involved in the fatal stabbing of bag-snatch victim Dithchart Insom, who was killed on December 16 (story here). One suspect is still at large. Police were put on the killers’ trail after interrogating one of their friends who witnessed the killing, named by officers only as “Jib”. On January 22,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket lucky license plate auction pulls up short of the mark
PHUKET: The Phuket Lucky License Plate Auction fell short of a 30-million-baht goal this year (story here) with bidders handing over just 23mn baht for road-safety campaigns and traffic-victim rehabilitation programs. The two-day auction organized by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) was held at the Phuket Merlin Hotel (map here) on Saturday and Sunday. More than 300 license plates…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket Town to enjoy Chinese acrobats, but no fireworks for Year of the Horse
PHUKET: A troupe of 50 acrobats from China will headline the entertainment in Phuket Town to usher in Chinese New Year this Friday. The Henan Acrobatic Troupe will perform nine chapters of their “Chinese fairy tale” repertoire, explained Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising. “They will also perform other splendid shows, but there will not be a fireworks…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Chalerm gives protesters 72 hours to quit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chalerm tells protesters to leave govt offices in 72 hours or face arrest The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, the director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), today issued an ultimatum to protesters to halt their siege of government offices…
Read More » - Phuket News
Lone voter casts ballot in Phuket poll shutdown
PHUKET: Phuket protesters arriving late to shut down the polling station in Thalang yesterday resulted in one lone voter casting a ballot in the advance voting for the February 2 national election. “We cannot reveal who that person was, but he arrived and voted before the protesters turned up at about 9:30am,” said polling station chief Chaiya Khamsaad. Once the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket FC down Brunei DPMM for pre-season hat-trick
PHUKET: The new-look Phuket FC “Ronins” continued their perfect pre-season form, downing Malay and Singapore League contenders Brunei DPMM FC 2-0 in a friendly match last night at Surakul Stadium. The friendly match is part of a three-team “Saksee Cup” which will conclude this afternoon with a match between Phuket FC and Thai Division Two contenders, Nakhon Si Heritage from…
Read More » - World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Syrian government to allow women, children to exit war zone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria talks bring offer of exit from siege of Homs Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Syrian government offered to let women and children leave the besieged city of Homs on Sunday as negotiators from the warring sides discussed humanitarian gestures on a second day of face-to-face talks…
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Phuket Gazette World News: At least 21 people dead after Indian tourist boat capsizes
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 21 people dead after Indian tourist boat capsizes Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: At least 21 people died after a boat carrying Indian tourists capsized off India’s Andaman Islands, officials said on Sunday.“A boat with some 40 odd people sank earlier today,” Anand Prakash, Chief Secretary…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Police name gunman in Maryland mall shooting; motive still unclear
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police name gunman in Maryland mall shooting; motive still unclear Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A gunman who shot and killed two people at a Maryland mall was a 19-year-old who lived with his mother in a nearby Washington suburb and arrived at the shopping centre in a…
Read More » - World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Tunisia approves new constitution, appoints government
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tunisia approves new constitution, appoints government Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Tunisia’s national assembly approved the country’s new constitution on Sunday in one of the final steps to full democracy three years after protests erupted into an uprising that toppled autocrat Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali.Just before the constitution’s…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. carries out air strike in Somalia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. carries out air strike in Somalia targeting militant suspect Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.S. military carried out a missile strike in Somalia on Sunday targeting a suspected militant leader with ties to al Qaeda and al Shabaab, a U.S. military official told Reuters, speaking on…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Quebec premier vows ‘never again’ after 32 die in senior residence fire
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Quebec premier vows ‘never again’ after 32 die in senior residence fire Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Quebec Premier Pauline Marois on Sunday said a fatal fire in a seniors’ residence was “unacceptable” but stopped short of saying her government would make sprinklers mandatory in homes for the…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Anger, violence rock voting in capital; Poll blockades across South; Northern snow just frost
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anger and violence rock voting in capital The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Advance voting for the national election was disrupted yesterday by violence, with the murder of an anti-government protest leader and a dozen people injured. This includes voters who wanted to cast ballots.Police have said they…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket landlord, son, slain in lease dispute
PHUKET: A Phuket landlord and her son were gunned down in front of their family home in Thung Thong yesterday afternoon amid a heated a dispute over continuing a lease for a local curry shop that sold sugarcane juice. Police arrived at the scene (map here) at about 4:30pm to find Boonlet Thanom-anantakun, 42, standing next to the house with…
Read More » - Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Anti-Thaksin protest leader slain in public shooting
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anti-Thaksin protest leader slain in public shooting The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Suthin Taratin, one of leaders of People’s Army to Overthrow the Thaksin Regime, was killed by a gunshot to the head as he was leading a blockade at an advance polling station in Bangkok’s Bang…
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