Month: September 2014

  • Phuket News

    Property owners charged for Phi Phi beach encroachment

    PHUKET: Two property owners have been charged with encroaching on national park land on the popular party island of Phi Phi following a mass inspection of beach properties there last week. On September 3, 60 national park officers took to Phi Phi beaches to talk with seaside vendors and inspect buildings suspected of encroaching on national park land (story here).…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket Police arrest “spat on, shot back’ suspect

    PHUKET: The man wanted for shooting dead his “friend” in a drunken spat early yesterday morning has been arrested. Acting on a tip-off, a team of Thalang Police officers led by Lt Col Pisit Chunpet raided a house in Nabon, Wichit, at 7:30 last night. At the scene, officers arrested Ong-art Meepap, a 37-year-old cement truck driver from Sakon Nakhon.…

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  • Phuket News

    Belinda Granger to complete her dozen at 21st Laguna Phuket Triathlon

    PHUKET: She’s the darling of global triathlon who has charmed her many fans with a string of gutsy achievements during a 20-year career that has earned her over 15 Iron-distance Championship titles. But despite these legendary triumphs on triathlon courses worldwide, Australian Belinda Granger rates Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) – the “Race of Legends” – as her all-time favorite. And…

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  • Phuket NewsPhuket under flash-flood and heavy rains alert | Thaiger

    Phuket under flash-flood and heavy rains alert

    PHUKET: People living in low-lying areas of Phuket should prepare for potential flash-floods due to heavy monsoon rains, the local Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) office has warned. “We are on alert for potential emergencies over the next 24 hours. Any serious flooding should be reported to us immediately so that we can provide immediate assistance,” said DDPM-Phuket…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket beach vendors seek help from Governor

    PHUKET: Hundreds of beach vendors today presented a formal letter to Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, demanding fair treatment and requesting that the complaint be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The group, led by Palat Jantarasopin, leader of the Tourism Service Operators Club and beach vendor Chakkarin Charoenjit, outlined nine key requests to facilitate vendors to…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket Governor inks B500mn contract to build new Provincial Hall

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today signed a 449.9-million-baht contract to begin construction of the new Phuket Provincial Hall. Governor Maitri inked the contract at 2pm, signifying that Chun Eiw Team Ruamka Ltd Partnership may commence construction at the 50-rai site on Phang Muang Sai Kor in Wichit. The construction firm has 995 days to complete the project. The original…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket Russian woman fights death-penalty drug charge in Vietnam

    PHUKET: Friends and family of Phuket expat Maria Dapirka are fighting to prevent a possible death penalty for the Russian after she was arrested in Vietnam for attempting to smuggle in nearly 3 kilograms of cocaine in her carry-on luggage. Ms Dapirka, 28, who had been living in Rawai, at the southern end of Phuket, was detained in Ho Chi…

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  • Business News

    Qatar Airways to start non-stop services from Doha to Phuket

    PHUKET: Qatar Airways will boost services to Thailand with the introduction of non-stop flights to Phuket from October 26. The airline currently serves the Doha-Phuket route daily via a linked service through the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur. “The start of non-stop services from Doha to Phuket offers travellers from around the world access to the popular tourist destination in a…

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  • Phuket News

    Man kills friend after drunken spat

    PHUKET: A man shot dead his friend this morning in a fit of rage following a drunken argument that turned deadly. The victim, 38-year-old Smingdam Phollawong, a rubber plantation worker from Mukdahan, was found lying dead in front of the suspect’s house, with a fatal gunshot wound to his left shoulder, Thalang Police Superintendent Sirisak Wasasiri told the Phuket Gazette.…

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  • Business News

    Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket named one of AsiaRooms.com Top Rated 2014

    PHUKET: Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket has been named the “Top Rated 2014” by AsiaRooms.com, the online travel accommodation website. In order to be certified, a hotel must receive an average review score of 80per cent based on five criteria including customer service, cleanliness, quality of rooms, quality of food, family friendliness and value for money. The resort averaged a score…

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  • Thai Life

    French naval traditions meet Italian design in the Monte Carlo 76

    PHUKET: There are hundreds of boats docked at marinas in Phuket, some big and some small, some flashy and some more subdued. But if you find yourself walking down one of the piers and come across a Monte Carlo yacht, you’re guaranteed to stop and stare… And start dreaming. There is something about those curves, the sophisticated lines. They exude…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket firefighters “sink’ fire-ravaged fishing boat

    PHUKET: Firefighters breached the hull and partially sank a Taiwanese fishing boat off Phuket’s Saphan Pla Pier in Rassada late last night to stop flames from spreading to other vessels. The fire teams arrived after midnight to find smoke billowing from the boat, which was moored close to the pier. “We believe the fire broke out in the engine room,”…

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  • Phuket News

    Education, disaster relief in Phuket not to be sacrificed for underground cables, Patong councilor says

    PHUKET: One of the 14 Patong Municipality councilors who on Friday voted against a project to bury the power cables along the beachfront road has come forward to explain the decision. “The council supports the project, but we will not sacrifice the town’s kindergarten-expansion plans or disaster-relief fund in order to beautify the Patong beachfront,” councilor Weerawit Krueasombut told the…

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  • Phuket News

    Police, Navy get tough on illegal Phuket taxi drivers

    PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy and Patong Police have teamed up to take down any illegal taxi drivers found operating in Phuket’s premier party town. “We have arrested 13 illegal taxi and tuk-tuk drivers so far. There will be more to come,” Patong Police Traffic Inspector Ekkarat Plaiduang told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “We made the first five arrests…

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  • Property

    A journey back to our old town

    PHUKET: One of my earliest memories of theater is the three-act play Our Town by Thornton Wilder. It’s simple, direct and economical in its depiction of life, love and death in a small town. One of the most notable facts about the play is how the author used metatheater. Metatheater is a technique often used in narrative forms, which can…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket officials to face charges for Freedom Beach land titles

    PHUKET: The Royal Forestry Department (RFD) will press charges against at least seven officials for illegally issuing land titles for plots at Phuket’s Freedom Beach. “Seven officers were involved in issuing land titles for plots within the protected forest at Freedom Beach,” said Cheewapap Cheewatham, the former Sirinath National Park chief who now serves as director of the RFD’s Forest…

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  • Phuket News

    Cilic crushes Nishikori to claim US Open title

    PHUKET: Croatia’s Marin Cilic swept past Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3 to win the US Open on Monday and reach the pinnacle of the sport one year after a doping ban kept him out of the year’s final grand slam. The big-serving Croatian overwhelmed a weary Nishikori in one hour, 54 minutes to clinch a ruthless victory and deny…

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  • Thailand News

    Firm faces probe after sex killing by guard

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Firm faces probe after sex killing by guard The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police will investigate a firm that provided security guards to a Bangkok condo project after one of its guards was charged with sexually molesting and killing a four-year-old girl last week. The…

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  • World News

    UK’s Prince William and wife Kate thrilled at second baby news

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UK’s Prince William and wife Kate thrilled at second baby news Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain’s Prince William said on Monday he and wife Kate were thrilled to be expecting their second baby, after news of the pregnancy was released early because the Duchess had…

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  • Phuket News

    Teen lucky to be alive after premature birth, says Phuket doctor

    PHUKET: A teenager was rushed from a Phuket worker’s camp to hospital this morning with serious blood loss after giving premature birth to a baby girl, who was found dead at the scene. Myanmar national Zar Ni The, the 19-year-old wife of one of the migrant worker, went into labor prematurely at a Phanason Parkville estate worker’s camp on Sri…

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  • Phuket News

    Body found off Phuket beach by jet-skiing tourists

    UPDATE: After this initial report was posted online, the Gazette was informed that one of its own editors, Jeremie Schatz, enjoying his time off, discovered the body while surfing with a friend. It was Jeremie and his surfing buddy who pulled the body to shore. PHUKET: An unidentified body was found floating in the ocean off Phuket’s west coast by…

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  • Phuket News

    Moshe David gets life for Phuket murder of Hungarian businessman

    PHUKET: Hungarian-Israeli dual national Moshe David was today sentenced to life in prison for the gruesome murder of Peter Reisz in Phuket in 2012. The life jail term was handed down by the Phuket Provincial Court early this afternoon. Mr David earlier confessed that he killed Mr Reisz in a fit of rage after Mr Reisz had allegedly swindled him…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket yachts ordered out of Ao Yon Bay

    PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office has ordered all yacht owners with vessels moored in Ao Yon Bay to move them to other anchorages in Phuket or face six months in jail. Local Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut admitted to the Phuket Gazette this morning that he had signed the order a full three weeks ago, on August 18, and gave…

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  • Phuket News

    Thai Navy deploys warship to rescue Phuket fishermen

    PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy base in Phuket deployed the HTMS Chonburi to rescue six fishermen after their longtail boat engine stalled and their anchor rope broke in strong waves off Koh Mai Thon yesterday. Lt Cdr Natthanai Lekjaikla, captain of the HTMS Chonburi, explained that the Navy was notified of the men’s predicament at about midday. “We kept in…

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  • Phuket News

    Unidentified body found in Phuket Town canal

    PHUKET: Police are working to identify a dead body found floating in a canal near the Waste Incineration Power Plant and Landfill at Saphan Hin, on the outskirts of Phuket Town yesterday morning. Local villagers alerted the police of the discovery at about 7:30am. “We believe the man had gone fishing and fell into the water without anyone noticing. It…

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  • Thai Life

    Phuket Gardening: Papering Over the Cracks – plants to cover the ground

    PHUKET: In my humble opinion, the two best ground cover plants are purple leaved spiderwort (tradescantia spathaceae) and purple heart or purple queen, now known botanically as setcreasea pallida. Naturally there are many other choices for the tropical gardener. For instance, I use pandanus pygmaeus as an edging plant: grass-like in appearance, it is very tough, grows in clumps and…

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  • Phuket News

    Williams beats Wozniacki for 18th grand slam title

    PHUKET: World number one Serena Williams swept past good friend Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark 6-3 6-3 in the US Open final on Sunday to move into the record books with her 18th grand slam title. The third straight and sixth overall US Open crown for the 32-year-old American, her 18 career slams put her into a tie with Chris Evert…

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  • Thailand NewsStudy exposes scams in stream of stolen cars crossing from M’sia | Thaiger

    Study exposes scams in stream of stolen cars crossing from M’sia

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Study exposes scams in stream of stolen cars crossing from M’sia The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla sees up to Bt300 billion in border trade per year – but it is also a top entry point for smuggled goods and…

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  • Thailand News

    Guard held for murder of 4-year-old girl in Thon Buri

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Guard held for murder of 4-year-old girl in Thon Buri The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting and killing a four-year-old girl in Thon Buri in Bangkok. The girl went missing in her neighbourhood on Wednesday and was…

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  • Thailand News

    Sukhothai and Ayutthaya hit hard by floods

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sukhothai and Ayutthaya hit hard by floods The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Flooding in Sukhothai and Ayutthaya remains critical with hundreds of homes inundated, while a flash flood hit Chiang Rai’s Muang and Mae Sai districts yesterday morning. Meanwhile, ML Sukhumbhand Paribatra, who resumed as…

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  • World News

    Arab League vows to confront Islamic State, join international efforts

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arab League vows to confront Islamic State, join international efforts Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Arab League foreign ministers agreed on Sunday to take all necessary measures to confront Islamic State and cooperate with international, regional and national efforts to combat militants who have overrun swathes…

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  • Phuket News

    Police take down armed teens for Phuket Town street shootings

    PHUKET: Police have arrested two teenagers, and expect to soon take into custody a third suspect, for shooting into a shop and then a family home in Phuket Town late Tuesday night. Butrprom Choopeng, 18, was arrested yesterday at a house in Bangthong village in Kathu. He was found in possession of a homemade .22-caliber handgun with one round of…

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  • Phuket News

    Phuket airport taxi driver charged with reckless driving

    PHUKET: A taxi driver based at Phuket International Airport has been charged with reckless driving causing injury after slamming into a motorcycle with a sidecar late last night. The accident occurred on Thepkrasattri Road, about 800 meters north of the Keha housing estate in Thalang, just after midnight. Taxi driver Jeerasak Kakate, 46, said he could not avoid hitting the…

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  • Hua Hin News

    Chinese tourist dies after day trip to Phi Phi Island

    PHUKET: A Chinese tourist has died after being pulled unconscious from the water during a day trip with friends from Phuket to Phi Phi Island yesterday afternoon. Tour staff spotted Wang Yuhua, 61, floating face down in the water, prompting the boat crew to quickly recover her from the water and speed her to Phi Phi Hospital. Ms Wang was…

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  • Thailand News

    Customs staff face probe over 500 ‘missing’ cars

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Customs staff face probe over 500 ‘missing’ cars The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two officials from the Customs Department have been moved to inactive positions pending investigation into their role in the disappearance of some 500 luxury vehicles that went missing from the customs’ bonded…

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  • Thailand News

    NACC stands by case against Yingluck, asks if all files read

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NACC stands by case against Yingluck, asks if all files read The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Panthep Klanarongran, chairman of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), reiterated yesterday that former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra had been derelict in her duty, which led to huge losses in…

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  • Thailand News

    Sukhothai fights flood, as barrier on Yom breaks

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sukhothai fights flood, as barrier on Yom breaks The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Floods have wreaked havoc in 25 provinces and claimed eight lives over the past two weeks. Five of the flood-hit provinces – Sukhothai, Nan, Chaiyaphum, Tak and Nakhon Sawan – are still…

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