Month: June 2014
- World News
Malaysia MH370 passengers likely suffocated, Australia says
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia MH370 passengers likely suffocated, Australia says Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The passengers and crew of the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 most likely died from suffocation and coasted lifelessly into the ocean on autopilot, a new report released by Australian officials on Thursday said.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Officials plan future for Phuket’s beaches
PHUKET: Top officials from Phuket’s most popular beach towns gathered at Provincial Hall today to sift through the sands and dream up a new look for the island’s coastline. “We will clear all beach chairs, umbrellas and establishments that do not meet provincial standards from all of Phuket’s beaches,” said Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who spearheaded the meeting. Provincial…
Read More » - Opinion
Protecting Phuket’s image, day and night
Sopon Keamkan, 43, a native of Trang, is Acting Chief of Phuket’s Public Relations Department. He has a master’s degree in Political Science from Ramkhamheang University and has worked in the island’s PR Dept for more than 15 years. During that time, he and his colleagues have received numerous national-level awards for their work. Here, he talks about how he…
Read More » - Phuket News
Muslims to sweep Phuket skies for Ramadan crescent moon
PHUKET: Phuket Muslims will scour the skies tomorrow evening for the first signs of a crescent moon, and if they find it, the fasting month of Ramadan will begin. “We have 56 mosques in Phuket, and I have asked all members to participate in looking for the moon on Friday evening starting at 5pm,” said Komon Doomluck, Phuket Islamic Committee…
Read More » - Phuket News
Breaking News: Phuket taxi mafia kingpin suspects out on bail
PHUKET: Karon’s “Big Four” taxi mafia kingpin suspects have all been released on court bail, despite Phuket police insistence that they were all to be denied bail (story here). The four high-ranking officials – Kata-Karon Deputy Mayors Ithiporn Sangkeaw and Sompong Dabpetch, Director of the Kata-Karon Municipality Engineering Division Wanchai Sae-Tan and the Kata-Karon Municipality Chief Administrative Officer Weerasak Anekwongsawat…
Read More » - Phuket News
Long-term Phuket Police volunteer passes away
PHUKET: Swedish expat Lars Goran Dikander, 66, passed away on Monday in Chon Buri surrounded by his family. He will be missed by many, said Wal Brown, head co-ordinator of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 volunteers on the island. “Lars had been here [in Phuket] and helping people for years – since the tsunami,” Mr Brown noted. “He was…
Read More » - Cannabis News
One Phuket post office, seven boxes, two days, eight drug arrests
PHUKET: Police arrested eight men over a two-day period as they collected boxes containing kratom from a Phuket post office. Suspicions were aroused when seven well-wrapped boxes, all the same size and all about the same weight, arrived on the same day from Bangkok. “One of the staff at the Phuket Post Office notified us and we sent plain clothes…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket cobra caught napping in the shade
PHUKET: A man sweeping in front of his house in Rassada, north of Phuket Town, yesterday afternoon stood and watched as a brazen three-meter cobra slithered out from under a bush to rest in the shade on his front porch. Rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation, who are well practiced in catching and releasing snakes found near homes throughout Phuket,…
Read More » - Phuket News
New Catholic church soon to be consecrated in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: Less than a year after construction work began, the new Catholic church in Cherng Talay will be consecrated on July 6. “At times we thought we needed a miracle but we are there now. We began construction in September last year and in a few short weeks St Joseph’s Church Cherng Talay will be consecrated and open for all,”…
Read More » - Phuket News
Bite set to eat into Suarez’s sponsorship cash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bite set to eat into Suarez’s sponsorship cash Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Luis Suarez risks losing lucrative commercial deals following his bite on a World Cup opponent, with poker brand 888 saying on Wednesday it was reviewing its sponsorship agreement with the Uruguayan. Suarez, who plays for…
Read More » - World News
Nigerian capital shopping district blast leaves 21 dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 21 killed in rush-hour blast in Nigerian capital Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 21 people were killed and 17 injured when an explosion tore through a crowded shopping district in the Nigerian capital Abuja during rush hour on Wednesday, a police spokesman…
Read More » - Thailand News
NBTC targets huge Cookie Run phone debt
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NBTC targets huge Cookie Run phone debt The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) is considering enforcing monthly debt limits for bills incurred by playing online games. No matter how cute and innocent Cookie Run characters may look, it was…
Read More » - Thailand News
Myanmar men arrested over body in taxi murder
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar men arrested over body in taxi murder The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two Myanmar nationals have been arrested for allegedly killing a fellow citizen, whose body was found in a large bin in the boot of a taxi in Samut Sakhon’s Muang district. Police…
Read More » - Thailand News
NCPO tightens grip on media
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NCPO tightens grip over media The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has assigned agencies to look into information disseminated to the public via different kinds of media. They have been instructed to further understanding by the public about…
Read More » - Thailand News
Motorists violating road laws face harsher action
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Motorists violating road laws face harsher action The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Motorists are to face tougher enforcement of traffic laws including traffic-fine collection, with the planned introduction of an e-ticket system and driving licence suspension for repeat offences. Deputy Metropolitan Police Commissioner Maj-General Adul…
Read More » - Thailand News
Fugitive Russian mafia boss to be extradited
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fugitive Russian mafia boss nabbed in Chon Buri to be extradited The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai authorities are preparing to deport a Russian mafia boss whose name has been linked to more than 60 kidnapping and murder victims. Alexander Matusov, 52, was arrested in…
Read More » - World News
Egypt defends itself at U.N. over jailing of journalists
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt defends itself at U.N. amid outcry over jailing of journalists Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Egypt defended its judicial system at the United Nations on Wednesday amid a global outcry over the jailing of Al Jazeera journalists, telling diplomats and reporters that it respects the…
Read More » - Business News
Local gelato producers serve up the good stuff
PHUKET: In the high season, more than 4,000 scoops of gelato and sorbet – chocolate, licorice, durian, rice and wasabi flavors among them – are produced every day on Phuket by local ice cream makers. Though that’s nearly 10,000 kilograms a month, and does not include sales by big players such as Haagen Dazs and Movenpick, there is still room…
Read More » - Phuket News
Murray eager to extinguish Blaz in round two
PHUKET: Andy Murray will take a trip into the unknown against Slovenian world number 92 Blaz Rola as he continues the defense of his Wimbledon title in the second round on Wednesday. After overcoming his first-day nerves and David Goffin on day one, Murray will be back to face the little-known Rola – and surprisingly the British hero has been…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket deputy mayors surrender to face taxi-mafia abuse of power charges
PHUKET: Four high-ranking officials, including two deputy mayors, have surrendered to police to face abuse of power charges in Phuket’s ongoing campaign to rid the island of taxi-mafia operators. Kata-Karon Deputy Mayors Ithiporn Sangkeaw and Sompong Dabpetch surrendered themselves at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town. Director of the Kata-Karon Municipality Engineering Division Wanchai Sae-Tan and the Kata-Karon Municipality…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police ready to take down high-ranking Karon officials in Phuket taxi-mafia raid
PHUKET: A large task force of police officers is marshalling at Phuket Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town, ready to deploy to Karon, to arrest at least four top-ranking officials today for their roles in supporting mafia-style taxi operators. Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin, Deputy Commander of Royal Thai Police Region 8 division who is spearheading the Phuket taxi mafia takedown,…
Read More » - Thai Life
Sexy Stomach Part 1: From slouch to sexy
PHUKET: To start with, I’d like to debunk the myth known as “spot reduction”. It doesn’t exist. You can’t lose belly fat by doing sit-ups; you can’t reduce the fat around your legs by doing squats; and you can’t reduce fat around your chest by hitting the bench press. If you want to reveal that six pack, you’ll need to…
Read More » - Thailand News
Fishery industry invites supply-chain inspection
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fishery industry invites supply-chain inspection The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Thai fishery industry yesterday invited non-governmental organisations and private firms, as well as international government agencies, to inspect their plants and supply chains, insisting that the industry has strongly opposed forced labour. “We dare…
Read More » - Thailand News
Rice kingpin gets six years in jail for B200mn fraud
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rice kingpin sentenced to six years in jail for B200mn fraud The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Samut Prakan provincial court yesterday sentenced a rice businessman reportedly close to former PM Thaksin Shinawatra to six years in jail and fined him Bt12,000 after finding him…
Read More » - World News
Russia’s Putin renounces right to send troops to Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russia’s Putin renounces right to send troops to Ukraine Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: President Vladimir Putin asked Russia’s upper house on Tuesday to repeal the right it had granted him to order a military intervention in Ukraine in defence of Russian-speakers there, the Kremlin said…
Read More » - Phuket News
Suarez faces another ban after biting Italian defender
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suarez faces another ban after biting Italian defender Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Uruguay striker Luis Suarez looks almost certain to be banned from the World Cup for the second successive tournament after he bit Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini on the shoulder during his team’s 1-0 win…
Read More » - Phuket News
Colombia crush Japan 4-1 and next face Uruguay
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Colombia crush Japan 4-1 and next face Uruguay Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Colombia striker Jackson Martinez scored twice as they thrashed Japan 4-1 to maintain their 100 percent record and claim top spot in Group C on Tuesday to set up a mouthwatering second-round clash…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket visa runners caught in “cash only’ immigration scare
PHUKET: A van full of foreigners returning to Phuket from a visa run to Penang were delayed at the Malaysian border for more than two and a half hours today as Thai immigration officers demanded that they all present large amounts of cash to confirm that they each had enough money to fund their stay in Thailand. Any foreigners who…
Read More » - Phuket News
New crowd-sourced data shows Phuket yacht sighting, MH370 flight path correlate
PHUKET: Crowd-sourced research plotting the projected flight path of missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 by using data from Inmarsat satellites may have confirmed that a British woman sailing from India to Phuket spotted the ill-fated flight over the Andaman Sea. British sailor Katherine Tee, 41, was sailing from Cochin, India to Phuket with her husband when on March 7 she…
Read More » - Phuket News
Officers pull down last illegal taxi stand in Patong
PHUKET: Armed soldiers were on guard as Phuket officers pulled down the last illegal taxi stand in Patong this afternoon. The taxi shack, in front of the Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa, had escaped destruction when 12 other stands were demolished on June 6 (story here). Drivers asserted that it had been in position for more than 30 years and…
Read More » - Phuket News
Hazardous rip currents force closures of popular Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Dangerous rip currents at Kata and Karon have forced lifeguards to rope off sections of the beaches in an effort to keep swimmers from entering the most hazardous areas of surf today. “Nobody should swim in the sea right now, the water is extremely dangerous,” Uten Singsom, Kata-Karon chief lifeguard, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. Other areas of…
Read More » - Phuket News
Krabi nursery school invaded by mysterious, smelly, burning bugs
PHUKET: An attack of mysterious bugs at a Krabi nursery school has frightened teachers and students and may cause the students to be moved out. The black bugs, about one centimeter long, have a putrid smell and cause a burning sensation when touched, Piyawan Chamnongrak, a teacher at the school, told the Phuket Gazette. “They appeared yesterday afternoon, from where…
Read More » - Thailand News
Fish companies to defend themselves from slavery reports
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fish companies to defend themselves from slavery reports The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Eight seafood and fishery associations will today reveal their action plan on labour conditions and send a decisive message against the United States’ decision to downgrade Thailand to “Tier 3” in its…
Read More » - World News
Sudan court frees woman sentenced to death for changing faith
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sudan court frees woman sentenced to death for changing faith Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A 27-year-old woman who was sentenced to death in Sudan last month for converting to Christianity from Islam was freed on Monday after what the government said was “unprecedented” international pressure.…
Read More » - World News
Major quake hits off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Major quake hits off Alaska’s Aleutian Islands Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck deep under the ocean floor near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, triggering shaking that could be felt for vast distances and briefly prompting a tsunami warning, the National Tsunami Warning Center…
Read More » - Phuket News
Neymar inspires Brazil, Dutch storm on at World Cup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Neymar inspires Brazil, Dutch storm on at World Cup Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Brazil’s poster-boy striker Neymar fulfilled a nation’s expectations to score twice in a 4-1 destruction of Cameroon on Monday while the Netherlands again showed their potential to win the World Cup with…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket police slap seahorse, illegal coral vendor with conservation lesson
PHUKET: A vendor selling several pieces of illegal black coral jewellery in a Sea Gypsy village in Phuket was given a stern warning and a lesson on conservation Saturday afternoon. “We got a tip-off about the vendor near Rawai Pier, and asked Chalong Police officers to check it out,” Tanet Munnoy, chief of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources…
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