Year: 2014
- Phuket News
Laguna Phuket bestowed award from HRH Sirindhorn for Red Cross blood donations
PHUKET: Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, as the executive vice-president of the Thai Red Cross Society, has awarded a Certificate of Honor to Laguna Phuket in recognition of its long-term contribution and commitment to the Red Cross blood-donation program. Since 2003, Laguna Phuket has donated 1,376,550cc of blood from 3,059 associates who have participated in the resort’s quarterly…
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Phuket beach club dodges demolition, pending appeal
PHUKET: The local contingent of the Royal Thai Army yesterday called for the demolition of a Phuket beach restaurant to be halted while the owner’s appeal is heard in court. The Beach Club restaurant and the Baan Bussaba Massage & Beauty venue at Nai Yang Beach were both targeted for demolition under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO)…
Read More » - Thai Life
A Phuket Shoppers’ Paradox – Discounts: Friend or foe?
PHUKET: My family grew up in the world of marketing. My dad was the president of a marketing subsidiary of Time Inc and my brother has, for many years, run Growth Engine, a successful creativity and innovation marketing consulting agency in the US. Although I’ve never been directly involved in marketing, I’ve always been interested in trying to understand what…
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Formula One heads to Brazil
PHUKET: Austin was a great race for Mercedes. Hamilton, passed Rosberg while he was taking a nap, and Ricciardo had a great race for Red Bull. So its on to Interlagos, located in São Paulo between two lakes, in the slums of Cidade Dutra. The track was inaugurated in May 1940. The first real F1 Brazilian GP was held at…
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Phuket hotel staffers test positive for drugs in crime sweep
PHUKET: Patong Police raided the resort town for drugs this week as part of a Loy Krathong festival crime sweep, busting three for possession of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and conducting random drug tests on hotel staffers. Officers conducted random drug tests on 144 employees of Avista Hideaway Resort and Spa near Tri Trang Beach, at the request of the…
Read More » - Thai Life
Phuket Boating: Cruising like a missile
PHUKET: Range to target: under 3,500 nautical miles. ‘Aye aye, Sir,’ says your skipper and you’re underway. With a long-range cruising capability of 2,000nm at 11 knots, or 3,500nm at 8 knots, the Princess 88 Motor Yacht defines the luxury nautical version of the “great escape”. Having a non-stop range of more than 6,400km in a single trip – about…
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Koh Tao suspects to be indicted by end of month
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Koh Tao suspects to be indicted by end of month The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thawatchai Siangjaew, deputy director general of Regional Public Prosecution 8, announced yesterday that prosecutors should be able to indict two Myanmar men charged with the murder of two Britons on…
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‘Cannibal’ tries to eat woman in British murder case
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Cannibal’ tries to eat woman in British murder case Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: British police confronted a man trying to eat the eyeball and face of a woman and used a stun gun on the cannibal who later died, local media quoted witnesses as saying.…
Read More » - Thailand News
Prosecutors, anti-graft agency still at odds over Yingluck case
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prosecutors, anti-graft agency still at odds over Yingluck case The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The anti-graft agency and public prosecutors failed for a third time yesterday to reach agreement on whether a criminal case should be filed against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra in relation…
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Phuket officials play down rumors of foreign-teacher crackdown
PHUKET: Immigration and education officials doused rumors today that have been swirling around the Phuket foreign-teacher circles about a possible crackdown on teaching requirements and work permits. Chalam Attatham, director of the Phuket Primary Educational Service Area Office, confirmed that there would be no such crackdown on foreign teachers, and that all policies and requirements remain the same. “I have…
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Phuket warned of heavy rain, flash floods for the weekend
PHUKET: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket office has issued a weather warning ahead of expected heavy rains and possible flash floods this weekend. “We received an official weather report from the Thai Meteorological Department [TMD] today, which forecasts increasingly heavy rainfall by this weekend,” said Santhawat Riwleung, chief of the DDPM Phuket office. “Please be prepared…
Read More » - Thai Life
Chasing vampires, running from zombies at Thanyapura Neon Night Run
PHUKET: Nothing provides better motivation to run fast and far than a bunch of bloodthirsty zombies chasing you, does it? Those who showed up at Thanyapura on November 1, could check the effectiveness of this motivational technique for themselves. With a bunch of zombies as well as vampires, witches, ghosts and other creepy creatures hunting the sport center’s grounds, the…
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Phuket worker seriously injured by electric shock, fall from building
PHUKET: One man is in critical condition at Vachira Phuket Hospital after he and a co-worker suffered severe electric shock and fell two stories from a building they working on in Patong this morning. Both men, whose identities have yet yet to be confirmed but are believed to be Myanmar nationals, were rushed to Patong Hospital after the accident. “We…
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Firecrackers and fragrances: Brilliant colors and strong scents hold their own in any Phuket garden
PHUKET: One shrub I have consistently failed to mention in dispatches is the firecracker flower. In part, that omission relates to its tongue-twisting Latin name (crossandra infundibuliformis). However, the main reason is that not only is it absent from my garden, but I have rarely seen the shrub in Thailand. Despite its small stature (up to four feet) it’s a…
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Phuket celebrates Loy Krathong in full splendor
PHUKET: Saphan Hin in Phuket Town played host to swarms of island residents and top-ranking officials wanting to take part in Loy Krathong or “Festival of Light” celebrations last night. Students from Phuket City Municipality, dressed to the nines in traditional Thai garb, paraded to Saphan Hin, where festival-goers had gathered to release their krathong into the water. Phuket Governor…
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Phuket underpass will not open in time for Beach Games
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office director has admitted that the underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection will not be complete in time to welcome the expected massive influx of tourists for the Asian Beach Games next week. He did, however, vow that the underpass, located beside the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall on the bypass road, would be complete by the…
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Phuket Health: Is OJ a murderer?
PHUKET: Do you like to start the day here on our tropical island paradise with a glass of orange juice? Before you reach for a glass, here is some food for thought. New research contends that a glass of fruit juice increases the core blood pressure. Oh, and yes, it makes you fat. Researchers from Swinburne University in Australia recently…
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Danish fugitive expat arrested in Phuket for B45mn tax-evasion case
PHUKET: A Danish expat has been arrested in Phuket on an international arrest warrant for tax evasion involving more than 8 million Danish kroner (about 45mn baht). Phuket Immigration Police received an order from the Thailand Immigration Bureau headquarters in Bangkok on October 28 to track down and arrest Peter Jensen, 48, as he was wanted by Interpol on an…
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Phuket jet-skis to stay despite week of lethal danger, confirms Marine chief
PHUKET: Jet-ski operators will continue renting out their machines to tourists on the island’s beaches despite mishaps, injuries and the death of a Russian tourist killed in a jet-ski accident this week. Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut announced the news on Tuesday, when he explained to Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong that jet-ski operators could stay as long as they…
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Video report: Phuket realtors align strategy with market slowdown
Among the seminar’s speakers were representatives of respectable developers such as Sansiri and The Mall Group’s Supaluck Umpujh. PHUKET: Realtors throughout Phuket are re-aligning their strategies to counter the slowdown in market activity this year, which has been attributed to saturation. Thanusak Phungdet, president of the Phuket Real Estate Association (PREA), revealed the news after the PREA property seminar in…
Read More » - Thailand News
Court extends detention of Koh Tao suspects
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Court extends detention of Koh Tao suspects The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The 12-day detention period for the two Myanmar suspects held for the Koh Tao murders was extended for a fourth time and their indictment is expected to be due before the end of…
Read More » - Bangkok News
50 Bangkok police chiefs face probe
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 50 Bangkok police chiefs face probe The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The chiefs of 50 metropolitan police stations and a large number of senior officers face disciplinary investigation following allegations that they unlawfully benefited from advertisers who put up many signboards at Bangkok intersections without…
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Govt may lift martial law in certain provinces
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt may lift martial law in certain provinces The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said yesterday that the government would consider lifting martial law in some provinces to boost the country’s economic recovery and bring back tourists. Financial authorities have predicted…
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US commission urges Obama to meet persecuted Rohingya in Myanmar
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US commission urges Obama to meet persecuted Rohingya in Myanmar Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A U.S. government agency called on President Barack Obama on Thursday to meet with Rohingya Muslims and other minorities when he visits Myanmar this month and to press the government to…
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Jet-skis in Phuket must go – for good
PHUKET: The Gazette joins its online readers in expressing outrage at the recent announcement by the Marine Office that jet-ski rental operators will be allowed to remain on island beaches (story here). The dumbfounding news comes despite a woman being run over by a jet-ski trailer on Kata Beach (story here), children nearly being hit by a jet-ski at Surin…
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Phuket butcher robs 7-Eleven at knifepoint
PHUKET: A local butcher robbed a 7-Eleven of 1,000 baht at knifepoint early yesterday morning, then used the stolen cash to pay for a prostitute, a deputy commander of the Phuket Provincial Police revealed today. Wichit Police received a report from the Tung Charoen 7-Eleven branch at about 4:20am. “There were three staff working at the time of the robbery,…
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Seedlings project offers opportunities to underprivileged Phuket youth
PHUKET: The Banyan Tree’s Seedlings program has finally sprouted in Phuket, with 15 underprivileged local youths receiving skills training to take into the workplace. The Banyan Tree launched the group-wide corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative in 2007 as a way to “support enhanced long-term prosperity within communities”. “Creating a giving culture is more than just giving money, it’s about giving…
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Preventing a dolphin disaster in Phuket
PHUKET: My name is Lou. I am 10 years old and I am passionate about dolphins. I have been working on a “passion project” about dolphins with Vicki from the Dolphin Project and Gecko Community Phuket. Do you know what is happening in Taiji, Japan at this moment? Dolphins are being captured in a small bay called “The Cove”. The…
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Stay safe for Loy Krathong, say Phuket police
PHUKET: Region 8 Police have issued a warning that they will be out in force to maintain law and order, amid safety concerns for tonight’s Loy Krathong celebrations in Phuket. “Please make sure you lock up your house properly and do not take many valuable items with you in case criminals are looking to take advantage of festival-goers,” said Region…
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Video Report: Thai Tourism and Sports Minister names Phuket as the next sports tourism hot spot
Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, 54, is the Tourism and Sports Minister of Thailand. She was appointed by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha in August. She studied in the United States, graduating from Rhode Island School of Design. Before becoming minister, Ms Kobkarn was a chairperson at Toshiba Thailand. Here, she expresses excitement for the upcoming 4th Asian Beach Games and hopes that the…
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Video Report: Chang ITF Pro Circuit women’s tournament
PHUKET: The International Tennis Federation (ITF) brought some serious tennis to Phuket recently, as young hopefuls gathered at Thanyapura looking to drive up their rankings, in the hopes of one day qualifying to compete against the big boys and girls at Wimbledon and elsewhere on the pro circuit. The second Chang ITF Pro Circuit women’s tournament ended at Thanyapura on…
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SAT expects Thais to take first at Asian Beach Games
PHUKET: The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has revealed that it expects Thai athletes to claim 44 of 51 gold medals at the 4th Asian Beach Games, which begin in Phuket on Novmeber 14. The Sports Reporters-Photographers Association of Thailand recently held a “Meet the Press” conference to review Thai athletes’ preparation and assess their chances at bringing home gold…
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Phuket Immigration chief dodges long queue queries
PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration chief has avoided answering questions regarding complaints from foreigners about slow service and long queues spilling out of the office in Phuket Town, with some foreigners having to return over several days in order for their applications to be processed. One foreigner reported to the Phuket Gazette that he arrived at the office in Phuket Town…
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Phuket dominates international Petanque Challenge
PHUKET emerged as the clear winners of the Phuket-Dubai-France Petanque Challenge held at Saphan Hin last weekend, winning 52 of its games. Six pairs from each team played 12 opponents – six from each side – for a total of 108 matches throughout the two-day tournament. France came second, winning 32 games, and Dubai came third, with 24 victories. The…
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Youth dinghy sailors head for King’s Cup showdown
PHUKET: A fleet of 25 Optimist and seven Laser dinghies set sail off Cape Panwa last weekend as the Phuket Dinghy Series 2014 got underway, ahead of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta to be held in December. Racing began in front of the Sailing Club of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command Base at 11am, with breezes of eight…
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Phuket looks to “Beach Police’ to serve and protect tourists
PHUKET: The island’s top-ranking police officer is forming a new division of “Beach Police” officers to patrol Phuket’s popular shores. “We are now working on setting up Beach Police squads for every beach in Phuket,” Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit told the Phuket Gazette. “The officers will have their own uniforms – shorts with short-sleeved shirts – so beach-goers can…
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![The Mall Group forges ahead with B20bn baht Phuket project [video] | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAyNzYgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
The Mall Group forges ahead with B20bn baht Phuket project [video]
Phuket Today talks with the Mall Group’s Vice-Chairwoman Supaluck Umpujh. PHUKET: Not concerned about the current economic slowdown and full of hope about the changes that Phuket is undergoing, the Mall Group will drive forward with its plan to invest as much as 20 billion baht in a new, multi-purpose retail and entertainment center in Phuket. Speaking during a recent…
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