Month: February 2014
- Phuket News
German victim in Phuket ultralight crash believed drowned
PHUKET: Phuket Police believe the German man whose ultralight crashed on Wednesday (story here) drowned after his flying boat plunged into the sea. Chalong Police Investigator Patiwat Yodkwan named the crash victim as 64-year-old Georg Erwin Bach. “When police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, Mr Bach had already been brought ashore by staff at a nearby resort,” Maj…
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Beatle Mania: Phuket, are you ready for tonight?
PHUKET: Preparations are complete for what looks set to be a fantastic show tonight and tomorrow night when the curtains open on the fabulous Beatles tribute band at 7pm, in the grand marquee at the Phuket Boat Lagoon. The seated tickets (1,500 baht) are completely sold out for both nights, and the lounge tickets for this Gazette Headline Event are…
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Southern blockades didn’t affect Phuket goods: DIT Chief
PHUKET: The island’s market for consumer goods and fresh produce has not been affected by the political turmoil in and around Bangkok, the head of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Phuket office has assured. “I’m not aware of any shortages on the island, so there should be no reason why goods in Phuket would be any more expensive than…
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Urgent call for O-negative blood to save Norwegian man
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center is calling for urgent donations of O-negative blood in order to save the life of a Norwegian man in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Bangkok Hospital Phuket. “The hospital said they need three units of O-negative to save the patient’s life,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette this afternoon. “We have…
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Phuket Gazette World News: EU lawmakers push to bolster rights of stranded air travellers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU lawmakers push to bolster rights of stranded air travellers Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The European Parliament has called for stricter rules to make it easier for stranded air passengers to claim compensation from their airlines.The lawmakers’ vote on Wednesday takes Europe closer to tightening rules on…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Bahrain toughens penalties for insulting king
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bahrain toughens penalties for insulting king Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The king of Bahrain has approved a law imposing a jail sentence of up to seven years and a fine of up to 10,000 dinars (16,276.64 pounds) for anyone who publicly insults him.King Hamad’s measure highlights the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Scathing U.N. report demands Vatican act against child sex abuse
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Scathing U.N. report demands Vatican act against child sex abuse Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The United Nations demanded on Wednesday that the Vatican “immediately remove” all clergy who are known or suspected child abusers and turn them over to civil authorities, in an unprecedented and scathing report.The…
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Governor picks up trash, pushes for cleaner Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut picked up trash on Thepkrasattri Road yesterday morning as part of a lead-up to Civil Defense Volunteer Day on February 10. A group of about 200 people, including Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada and Phuket Provincial Employment Office Chief Yaowapa Pibulpol, as well as government officers and volunteers fanned out on both sides of the road…
Read More » - Cannabis News
Two clipped in Phuket beauty salon with over 90kg of marijuana
PHUKET: Police seized 92kg of marijuana at a beauty salon in Thalang yesterday in a sting operation that netted two men also found in possession of a grenade, an illegal handgun and a cache of ammunition. Netithorn Waddina, 49, from Nakhon Pathom, and Suriya Chuayjuan, 34, from Songkhla, were arrested at about 5pm after undercover police arranged to buy 30kg…
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Phuket’s X-Terminal successfully inaugurated
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport’s X-Terminal saw its first successful charter flight depart for China yesterday. “The check-in system for the flight went well. Passengers checked in at the X-Terminal, then took the shuttle to the main terminal to clear Immigration and Customs,” Director of Phuket International Airport Pratuang Sornkham told the Phuket Gazette. Jet Asia Airways provided the flight, JF840,…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. warns airports over toothpaste bombs
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. warns airports over possible bomb ingredients in toothpaste tubes Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The United States issued a warning on Wednesday to airports and to some airlines flying to Russia for the Olympics to watch for toothpaste tubes that could hold ingredients to make a bomb…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Farmers maintain blockades; Student tablet scheme fails; Thai in mysterious South African death
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Defiant farmers maintain blockades, draw up petition The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: While one group of rice farmers today brings tractors and trucks to rally outside the Commerce Ministry in Nonthaburi – to pressure for long overdue payments from the rice-pledging scheme – another group from the…
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Illegal wildlife vendors netted at Phuket’s Wat Chalong Fair
PHUKET: Wildlife preservation officers and Marine Police last night arrested three people and seized more than 300 items of jewelry made from coral and the shells of the endangered Hawksbill turtle. Tanet Munnoy, chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Phuket office, led the raid at the temple grounds after his office received a tip-off from people…
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BREAKING NEWS: Foreigner dies in Phuket ultralight crash
PHUKET: A foreigner died after his ultralight flying boat fell from the sky off the east coast of southern Phuket this afternoon.Staff at a nearby resort in Rawai who witnessed the accident reported hearing an explosion from the machine’s engine before watching in horror as the craft plummeted into the water about 500 meters from the shore.Resort staff scrambled a…
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Phuket honeymooner partially paralyzed as speedboat tackles rough waters
PHUKET: A Swedish honeymooner in Phuket was partially paralyzed from a fall as her speedboat to Phi Phi Island tackled choppy waters last month.“I still have pain in my back. I can move my legs a little bit, but I cannot move my feet at all,” Karin Josefsson said. “My husband also hurt his back, but not severely.”Mrs Josefsson and…
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Police seek arrest warrant over brutal slaying of Phuket teen
PHUKET: Wichit Police will seek an arrest warrant this week for the prime suspect in the brutal murder of Phuket teenager Pawarisorn Sae-Ung. The charred body of Mr Pawarisorn, 16, was found dumped beside Muang Chaofa Road (map here) on December 6. He had been stabbed multiple times, his throat had been slashed and his body set alight (story here).…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Georgia says Russian pressure will not divert it from EU goal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Georgia says Russian pressure will not divert it from EU goal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Georgia is determined to sign a trade and cooperation agreement with the European Union by August and will not be pushed off course by Russian pressure as Ukraine was, Georgian Prime Minister…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Iran nuclear deal ‘not perfect’ but buys time – U.S. official
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran nuclear deal ‘not perfect’ but buys time – U.S. official Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: An initial agreement to curb Iran’s nuclear program was “not perfect” but bought time to try to secure a comprehensive deal, U.S. officials said on Tuesday in response to sharp criticism from…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Scotland becomes 17th country to approve same-sex marriages
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Scotland becomes 17th country to approve same-sex marriages Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Scotland voted overwhelmingly on Tuesday to allow same-sex marriages, becoming the 17th country to give the green light to gay marriage despite opposition from its main church organisations.The Scottish government, which will hold a referendum…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice farmers to block all major roads; Yingluck richer by the millions; Democrats move for court coup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Farmers to block all main roads across country tomorrow The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Rice farmers plan to scale up their protests against the government by closing all main roads in the country tomorrow.With their days-long blockade of roads in Ratchaburi having little impact, rice farmers in…
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Getting down and dirty at the Rawai motocross track
PHUKET: Driving a car or riding a motorcycle around Phuket, one will quickly come to grips with the “rules of the road”. It can often make you wonder if you made a wrong turn and ended up on a racetrack. However, if you do indeed feel the need for speed there is a place where you can let loose and…
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Malaysia Airlines inaugurates Kuala Lumpur-Krabi flights
PHUKET: Malaysia Airlines flight MH770 made its inaugural flight from Kuala Lumpur to Krabi yesterday, initiating a four-times-a-week service between the two destinations. The new B737-800 flights will operate on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, departing from Kuala Lumpur at 2:55pm (local time in Malaysia) and departing from Krabi at 5:20pm (local time). “Last year more than 90,000 tourists from…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Real Estate Show kicks off tomorrow
PHUKET: Looking to lease, buy and/or invest in Phuket or Phang Nga property? Don’t sign that contract just yet! The Phuket Real Estate Association (PREA) will launch the “Phuket Real Estate Show 2014” tomorrow, January 6, in the Grand Hall on the first floor of Central Festival Phuket.The week-long, annual exhibition gets underway at 3pm and will conclude on Wednesday,…
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Phuket protesters ignore Chalerm’s order to open government offices
PHUKET: Phuket protesters stand united in defying an order from Bangkok to re-open all government offices on February 6.Chalerm Yoobamrung, caretaker Labor Minister and director of the Center for Maintaining Peace and Order, issued the order yesterday.“I don’t care what Chalerm said, we are not under his control,” said Phuket protest leader Amnuay Kumban this morning.“We will maintain our blockade…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Smuggling, fraud cost Philippines US$25.8 billion in 2011, study says
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Smuggling, fraud cost Philippines $25.8 billion in 2011, study says Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: More than $410 billion in illicit money crossed the borders of the Philippines from 1960 to 2011, with customs fraud related to imported goods surging in recent years, according to a study released…
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Phuket Gazette World News: France’s Hollande retreats on family policy after protests
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community France’s Hollande retreats on family policy after protests Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: France’s Socialist government dropped plans on Monday to update family law this year after huge weekend protests by conservatives against gay-friendly reforms they say harm traditional families.The government tried on Monday to reassure the protesters,…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Highway blockade holds fast as economy braces for B240bn hit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Desperate farmers seek help from King to get rice-scheme payments The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Farmers will appeal to His Majesty the King on Thursday over their plight resulting from overdue payments owing from the rice-pledging scheme. A farmer leader, Prakasit Jaemjumrat, said the group…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Election prelims show no change – Pheu Thai stays; Shots both ways at Lak Si; Yingluck legal battle begins
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pheu Thai stands to win about 300 seats: source The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Pheu Thai Party is expected to win at least 300 MP seats even though each candidate has won fewer votes than in the past, a party source, who asked to be named, said.The…
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Phuket media blackout on Hungarian execution case
PHUKET: Moshe David was in court today for the execution of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Phuket in 2012 (story here). The judge ordered a media blackout on reporting evidence presented at the case, which started at 2pm at Phuket Provincial Court. The judge asked for the blackout to…
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March 30 eyed for Phuket alcohol ban
PHUKET: If alcohol bans during the past two weekends for the national election weren’t enough, the Election Commission of Thailand today revealed that another is on its way, most likely on March 30. Election Commission Secretary-General Puchong Nutrawong explained to Phuket Gazette partner newspaper The Nation that the current term for senators will expire on March 3. The regular end…
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Phuket songtaew driver returns ticket home to forgetful Finnish tourist
PHUKET: A Phuket public bus driver saved the day for a Finnish tourist who left behind an important bag in a songtaew this morning.Kamala bus driver Kiattisak Hoksad found tourist Sami Oskari Lyytinen’s bag – containing a passport, a plane ticket to Finland and some cash – in the back of his songtaew at about 11:30am today. He immediately reported…
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Rice farmer protest closes Phuket highway to Bangkok
PHUKET: The main highway linking Bangkok to Phuket and the rest of Southern Thailand has been closed by rice farmers protesting the government’s failure to pay for rice produced and delivered under the controversial rice-pledging scheme. The blockade is in effect on Petchkasem Road in Ratchaburi, about 100km west of Bangkok. State news agency MCOT reported that the farmers staging…
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Phuket boy drowns after chasing kite into sea
PHUKET: A 9-year-old boy died after being pulled unconscious from the sea in northern Phuket yesterday. Noppadol Kerdsin had been flying a kite on Bang Duk beach at Tah Maphrao Bay (map here) with friends when the line snapped and his kite fell into the sea. Noppadol, who could swim, went into the water to retrieve it, but was repeatedly…
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Body of Phuket fisherman’s son, lost at sea, washes ashore
PHUKET: The body of a mentally-handicapped man who was knocked off a Phuket longtail boat by a large wave on Friday was found washed ashore yesterday. Jirawat Srisomporn, 27, who had been on the boat with his father, a fisherman, could not swim. After he fell into the sea between Rang Yai Island and Maphrao Island, off the east coast…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dead of suspected drug overdose
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman dead of suspected drug overdose Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Philip Seymour Hoffman, one of the leading actors of his generation, who won an Academy Award for his title role in the film “Capote,” was found dead in his Manhattan apartment on Sunday in…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Diver dies during Costa Concordia salvage works
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Diver dies during Costa Concordia salvage works Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A Spanish diver died on Saturday during work to salvage the Costa Concordia cruise liner, which capsized off the Italian island of Giglio two years ago, the company in charge of the salvage work said.The diver…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Scores dead as Syrian forces drop ‘barrel bombs’ on Aleppo
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Scroes dead as Syrian force drop ‘barrel bombs’ on Aleppo Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syrian military helicopters dropped more improvised “barrel bombs” on the northern city of Aleppo on Sunday, a monitoring group said, bringing the death toll to at least 83 people in the latest episode…
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