Month: November 2014
- Thailand News
Four dead, 47 injured in Ayutthaya crash; Four dead as train hits car in South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four dead, 47 injured in Ayutthaya crash; Four dead as train hits car in South The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday confirmed that it would take care of officials who were injured in a road accident yesterday in Ayutthaya’s Bang…
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PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: During the prime minister’s first visit to the Northeast, five student activists yesterday stole the show by making their way to the front of the stage and launching a protest against…
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Phuket woman in “miracle’ survival of juggernaut hit-and-run
PHUKET: A 55-year-old woman’s escape from serious injury has been hailed as a miracle after her motorcycle with sidecar (saleng) was struck by an 18-wheeled semi-trailer and dragged 20 meters along Thepkrasattri Road before the saleng was struck by a second vehicle. Wanna Damnadee, 55, was admitted to Thalang Hospital late yesterday afternoon with minor scratches and a swollen left…
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Asian Beach Games: Thailand lands 12 of 14 gold in single day
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand flexed their muscles to haul in 12 of the 14 gold medals up for grabs yesterday to stay atop the overall standings with 60 medals – including 25 gold – in the 4th Asian Beach Games being hotly contested in Phuket. Thailand made a clean sweep of both golds on offer in the beach petanque yesterday, with…
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Phuket police break open multi-million-baht drug network
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police yesterday presented four suspects arrested for dealing millions of baht of drugs that were delivered from Bangkok by bus. Presented as evidence at a press conference today were more than 19,000 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 120 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), as well as two illegal firearms and two cars. Phuket Provincial Police…
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Inheritance tax of 10% on estates over Bt50m approved
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Inheritance tax of 10% on estates over Bt50m approved The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday gave the nod to a draft bill for the country’s first-ever inheritance tax. “The tax will be a form of income distribution,” Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after…
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Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Activists called yesterday for the Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped, ahead of the final decision today on the project’s Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report. Sasin Chalermlarp, chief of the…
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Criminal case against Yingluck ‘a step closer’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Criminal case against Yingluck ‘a step closer’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The move to get ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra to stand trial in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions – for alleged negligence to stop corruption and massive losses in the…
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Land offices most corrupt, police second: academic survey
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Land offices most corrupt, police second: academic survey The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Land office is the most corrupt agency in the Thai bureaucracy, while police are ranked second in this dubious list where households needed to make illegal payments to facilitate their service,…
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Obama to ease immigration rules on millions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama to ease immigration rules on millions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama is poised to give relief from deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or of permanent legal residents, according to a source familiar with White…
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Asian Beach Games: Thai gold rush adds to medal tally
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand today extended their lead in the medal tally standings in the Asian Beach Games being contested in Phuket, bringing home at least five more gold medals in the day’s events. Thailand closed the day with 58 medals (24 gold), while nearest contender Japan is in second place with 12 medals (6 gold). Getting off to a good…
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Phuket beach town leaders shine light on umbrella rumor
PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada today re-confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that tourists are not allowed to bring their own umbrellas or sun loungers to Phuket beaches. The confirmation from one of the island’s top-ranking officials follows a news report claiming that the ban – made public by a Gazette report on Saturday (story here) – had been lifted. “I…
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Man killed while electrofishing in Phuket pond
PHUKET: A man was found dead in a Phuket pond this morning after he was killed while electrofishing. Suchart Chanaprasit, 36, was found dead at about 8:45am with the electric cable still in his hand, Capt Wittaya Sincharoen of the Thung Thong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “He was still gripping the electric cable he had been using to stun…
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Asian Beach Games: Muay Thai masters target medal takedown tonight
PHUKET: The opening rounds of the Muay Thai competitions for the Asian Beach Games get underway on Patong Beach, near the end of Soi Bangla. At 5pm, Hoang Duc Le of Vietnam will enter the ring to take on Eugene Tan of Singapore in Bout 1 of the quarterfinals of the Men’s 48kg-Light Fly division. Meanwhile, Chan Kai Tik from…
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Phuket beefs up Ebola security with specialized laboratory
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital has opened the first Designated Receiving Area (DRA) in Southern Thailand in response to the recent Ebola outbreak worldwide and the increasing number of visitors to the island. The DRA is a laboratory fully-equipped to quickly and accurately diagnose patients who show symptoms of highly infectious diseases, such as the Ebola virus. “This outbreak has alarmed…
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Phuket roof painter seriously injured after electric shock, 10-meter fall
PHUKET: A man is in serious condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital after he suffered an electric shock while painting a roof and fell 10 meters to the ground in Karon yesterday. Jakkapon Limmui, 26, was first rushed to Patong Hospital to receive treatment for serious injuries sustained in the accident, which occurred at a building on Patak Road near Karon…
Read More » - Business News
What to do when interest rates rise
PHUKET: IT IS widely believed that history does indeed repeat itself. What was true in the past is most likely to be true today and in the future. Sure, the events and names of companies change, but general economic principles will apply. When it comes to investing, one of the most important things for investors to understand is long-term interest…
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Drunk man stabs himself, calls for mother
PHUKET: An unemployed Phuket man stabbed himself with a kitchen knife several times last night after a bout of heavy drinking with a group of friends. The incident occurred at the Karn Keha housing estate in Rassada at about 7pm, Lt Preecha Rakjan of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “We received a call and arrived on the scene…
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Bull elephant beats handler to death in Phuket
PHUKET: A bull elephant beat his handler to death as the man attempted to unchain the animal to carry tourists visiting a Phuket elephant camp today. The 23-year-old elephant, Plai Por, was allowed to carry tourists at Phuchada Safari in Rawai yesterday, but was showing signs of musth, so was then locked up, Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijun of Chalong Police told…
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Phuket Town snatch thief caught within two hours
PHUKET: Police arrested a man who caused a woman to crash her motorbike after he ripped a gold necklace off her neck on the outskirts of Phuket Town yesterday. Pongchai Wongwan, 29, was caught walking around Koh Sireh, on the east side of Phuket Town, after selling the necklace to a gold shop for 16,200 baht. Police caught up with…
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Ministry promises to mount garbage blitz
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ministry promises to mount garbage blitz The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will eradicate 11 million tonnes of garbage in six provinces under a pilot project that began in August, it has been claimed. The provinces – Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom,…
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Asian Beach Games: Thailand leads medal charge
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand plundered more gold in the 4th Asian Beach Games yesterday, sealing crucial victories to maintain their commanding lead in the medal tally. Despite another searing day in the seaside resort, crowds of Thai spectators and tourists braved the sun to watch the fun-packed competition on Phuket’s beaches and venues at Karon, Patong, Nai Yang and the Saphan…
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Arrest warrant sought for American man over missing body parts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arrest warrant sought for American man over missing body parts The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An arrest warrant will be issued for an American man who allegedly tried to courier human parts to the US. He faces charges of theft, possessing stolen items and falsely…
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9 Army officers dead in chopper crash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 9 Army officers dead in chopper crash The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: All nine Army officers, including Maj-General Songphol Thongjeen, a deputy commander of the Third Army Region in the North, were killed in a helicopter crash yesterday evening in Phayao. Two bodies fell into…
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Isolated at G20, Putin shows he will do it his way in Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Isolated at G20, Putin shows he will do it his way in Ukraine Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: It may have looked in the West like Russian President Vladimir Putin fled this weekend’s G20 summit early with his tail between his legs after being berated over…
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Human-trafficking gang arrested attempting to smuggle illegal workers into Phuket
PHUKET: Three human-trafficking suspects were arrested yesterday trying to smuggle 19 illegal Myanmar workers into Phuket. The men – all Thai nationals – were apprehended at 2am near a checkpoint north of the island in Takuapa, Phang Nga province. The 19 illegal workers, brought from Ranong, included nine men and 10 women. “We questioned the driver of the pick-up truck,…
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Phuket van driver returns cash-stuffed laptop case to Russian
PHUKET: A van driver returned almost 5,000 euros cash to a Russian tourist who forgot his bag full of valuables after arriving in Patong from Phuket International Airport last night. “I saw that he had left his computer bag in the back of the van, so I contacted my company’s headquarters right away,” 32-year-old Kritsana Buaked told police when he…
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Phuket Police call for priority for Asian Beach Games buses
PHUKET: Police are calling for motorists driving over Patong Hill to give extra room to buses carrying Asian Beach Games athletes, officials, support teams and spectators, as such buses have been given immunity to the large-vehicle ban on the deadly road during rush hours. A bus crash that killed two tourists and injured many more last year (story here) led…
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Phuket Immigration warns of Education Visa crackdown
PHUKET: Any foreigners staying in Phuket on an education visa but do not attend classes will have their permits to stay revoked and they will be deported, the Phuket Immigration chief warned today. “We are now keeping a close eye on people staying on education visas,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykij. “We have to make sure that those people…
Read More » - Entertainment
Henning Mankell lets down readers with ‘A Treacherous Paradise’
PHUKET: I picked up Henning Mankell’s A Treacherous Paradise (Knopf, New York, 2013, 360pp) because I was interested in reading a novel about Mozambique. It was only later that I learned that Henning Mankell is part of a coterie of Swedish crime writers who have recently attained international popularity. His Detective Kurt Wallander mystery series has been translated into 40…
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Phuket finance: Staying the course
PHUKET: Retirees have really been given a raw deal by the global financial system ever since the big banks created the mess that led to the financial crisis in 2008. Since then, the banks have been bailed out and the economy has been on life support, at the expense of those trying to live on the fixed income they worked…
Read More » - Property
Property: Conundrum of Phuket’s luxury landscape
PHUKET: In the travel and lifestyle industry, certain words are overused to the point where they become little more than verbal gloss; shiny adornments designed to entice people to part with more cash than they would normally choose to spend. The word boutique is one such term, now applied with abandon to everything from a modest eatery to a six-star…
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Fire at Toyota showroom in Phuket causes B100k damage
PHUKET: A fire that broke out in the main workshop at the Toyota showroom on the Dowroong intersection, south of Phuket Town, yesterday afternoon caused more than 100,000 baht in damage. “Luckily no-one was injured in the blaze,” said Lt Kraisorn Pakaaree of the Phuket City Police, who was notified of the fire at 2:50pm. Firefighters soon arrived and attempted…
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Elephant tramples handler to death, runs into jungle with Russian tourists
PHUKET: An 18-year-old bull elephant trampled his handler to death and ran off into the jungle with a Russian mother and daughter still on top during a jungle trek in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, yesterday. The elephant, named Meaw, ran for three kilometers after killing his mahout, Suk Sapmak, 60, before officers were able to subdue him with tranquilizer…
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More than B120mn set aside to improve Phuket’s waste problem
PHUKET: Officials have revealed a 127-million-baht budget to improve Phuket’s environment with plans to destroy nearly one million tonnes of trash at the landfill in Saphan Hin and overhaul the island’s drains. Governor Nisit Jansomwong led a meeting at the landfill and incinerator site at Saphan Hin last week to discuss ways to relieve the overwhelmed site where trash has…
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Asian Beach Games: Minister Kobkarn eyes Thailand to host World Beach Games
PHUKET: Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul has revealed that hosting the 4th Asian Beach Games in Phuket may be a precursor to Thailand having the potential to soon become a candidate country for hosting major sports competitions that will help boost tourism. “In the ANOC [Association of the National Olympic Committees] General Assembly in Bangkok earlier this month, a…
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US man probed over parcels containing human parts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US man probed over parcels containing human parts The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A heavily-tattooed California man has been questioned and temporarily released after the grisly discovery of a part of a baby’s head, a baby’s foot, a heart and other human body parts in…
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