Year: 2014
- Phuket News
Video Report: Pony Up – Phuket marine conservationists launch international seahorse specialty course
PHUKET: Marine conservationists in Phuket today announced the international launch of a seahorse diver specialty course to promote accurate crowdsourcing as Thailand, and the rest of the world, attempts to protect endangered populations. The Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) course will teach student divers the basics of seahorse biology and conservation, how to identify and search for seahorses and…
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Excuse Buster: Sleep tight and lose weight
PHUKET: Very often people come to me asking for a “revolutionary” exercise and diet program. Success however, doesn’t result from a trendy new work-out routine, but from getting the basics right – and sleep is one of those basics. To all you late night owls out there, I’m talking to you! Sleep plays one of the most profound roles in…
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One-stop center for migrant worker registration to open in Phuket this month
PHUKET: Migrant workers living and working illegally on Phuket may be able to become fully legal and registered by the end of the month, confirmed the island’s employment office chief yesterday. “We expect illegal workers to be able to register at Phuket’s one-stop center by the end of the month. All application processes and procedures will be completed in one…
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Disabled Australian cyclists end week-long tour in Phuket
School staff prepare pandan leaf handicrafts as gifts for the cyclists. Photo: Jeremie Schatz PHUKET: After a week of riding and more than 600 kilometers, a group of 21 cyclists from the Disability Sport and Recreation (DSR) initiative completed their journey from Surat Thani to Phuket Panyanukul School in Pa Khlok on Monday afternoon. The Victoria, Australia-based group, dubbed CyclePower,…
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Pipe to bring water to Phuket from mainland takes another step toward reality
PHUKET: A pipe that would supply Phuket with water from the mainland came a step closer to reality yesterday with the conclusion of the feasibility study and second public hearing. “With the feasibility study completed, the next step is to run an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and get approval, then we can determine the budget,” said Chamnian Muangchan, director of…
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Phuket to be waste management model for nation
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy has vowed to find a budget to fix Phuket’s third incinerator, broken since 2012, and make the island a model of garbage management for other provinces to follow. Royal Thai Navy Commander Narong Pipathanasai made the pledge after touring the island’s waste facility at Saphan Hin on Monday. On a similar tour in March (story…
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Phuket dog turns in fugitive
PHUKET: An astute dog led police to arrest a fugitive who had escaped from a Phuket police pick-up truck yesterday as it was stopped at a red light (story here). About 7 hours after 22-year-old Boonrit Boontang, arrested for motorbike theft, escaped from police custody while being transferred to Phuket Provincial Court, a barking dog gave up his hiding spot.…
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Ukraine says Malaysian airliner shot down, 295 dead: agency
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine says Malaysian airliner shot down, 295 dead: agency Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Malaysian airliner was shot down over eastern Ukraine by militants on Thursday, killing all 295 people aboard, a Ukrainian interior ministry official was quoted as saying by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. The…
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Go north to Mai Khao and the Sarasin Bridge
PHUKET: The Mai Khao region in Phuket’s northwest has long been home to breeding Andaman sea turtles, not to mention an abundance of other species of flora and fauna, although Homo Touristicus remained noticeable by their absence until quite recently. Nowadays, that’s all changed, as a gathering influx of both tourists and residents flood this formerly quiet corner. The opportunities…
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Knife-wielding bag snatcher bagged by Phuket police
PHUKET: Police snared the knife-wielding thief who threatened and robbed a Chinese couple last night at Karon View Point in just over 24 hours. “We were notified about the attack at about 10:30 yesterday morning,” said Lt Col Ason Jiraksa of the Karon Police. “The victims said the man threatened them with a knife, snatched the woman’s bag and then…
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Phuket officials board fishing vessels to check for human trafficking victims
PHUKET: Officials stepped off Phuket to spot-check five fishing vessels this morning as Thailand ramps up its efforts to stifle human trafficking. “We came out to the boats to ensure that there were no trafficking victims on fishing boats in the province. We also talked with the fishermen to establish whether or not they were being treated fairly by their…
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Thai MICE sector secures major international events
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai MICE sector secures major international events Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Thailand and Convention Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) has announced that the country will play host to several major international MICE events (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions), including the 74th “FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical…
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Be alert, Phuket: Traffic violation clampdown begins today
PHUKET: Police officers throughout Phuket are ready to dish out fines for motorists who violate traffic laws as part of a nationwide crackdown on road safety starting today. The Royal Thai Police identified 199 intersections throughout the country known for being traffic-heavy and dangerous, three of which are in Phuket, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen yesterday. They…
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Phuket police hunt handcuffed thief who fled from police vehicle at red light
PHUKET: A handcuffed man left behind only his slippers today when he jumped from a police pick-up truck while it was stopped at a red light. Boonrit Boontang, 22, who has been evading police since his escape, had been arrested on July 15 for stealing a motorbike. He was being transferred to Phuket Provincial Court at about 11:30am when he…
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Phuket bound bus kills three in Krabi
PHUKET: Three people died and 10 were injured in Krabi when a pick-up truck rammed another truck, sending it into the path of a bus last night. The accident occurred as a Mazda pick-up was approaching a u-turn near the Makro store on the Krabi-Ao Luek Highway at 8:30. “Witnesses said that the Mazda was going slowly into the u-turn,”…
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Phuket Raceweek: Foxy Lady too hot to handle
PHUKET: Bill Bremner’s Foxy Lady VI scored two firsts in the opening day of racing in the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek Regatta, which began today off the east coast of Phuket. Peter Ahern’s TP52 Oi! cut a clear lead from the fleet from the outset, but a spinnaker error at the leeward mark handed the advantage to Foxy Lady,…
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Phuket Raceweek: Fast boats, slick crews to make most of blustery weather
PHUKET: The shift to heavy weather this week has set the scene for dramatic racing off Phuket’s east coast as a fleet of 36 yachts compete in this year’s edition of the renowned Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek Regatta. Racing began today following last night’s gala opening party. Setting the courses over the next four days is Simon James, who…
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Italian couple return home to find Phuket rental house on fire
PHUKET: A short circuit started a fire in the Cherng Talay rental house of an Italian couple yesterday, damaging their bedroom. Antonino Raneri, 54, and his wife Claudia Crescini Laffranchini, 56, were out when the blaze started on Soi Bangtao 11. “At about 5pm my wife and I came home and saw smoke coming from the house,” said Mr Raneri.…
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Phuket python magnet catches third snake seeking shelter
PHUKET: An unlucky resident in northern Phuket suffered deja vu early this morning as he discovered that a two-meter-long python had taken cover from the rain in his chicken coop. At about 1:30am, Chokdee Inklub heard his chickens crying loudly so he went out to investigate. “I found a snake in the coop,” said Mr Chokdee. Rescue workers from the…
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Libyan air controllers strike to protest airport shelling
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Libyan air controllers strike to protest airport shelling Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Air controllers in western Libya have gone on strike to protest the shelling of Tripoli’s main airport, halting flights in much of the oil-producing country, a government official said on Thursday. The strike puts pressure…
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Shelling kills four boys on Gaza beach; Israel, Hamas set five-hour truce
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Shelling kills four boys on Gaza beach; Israel, Hamas set five-hour truce Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Israeli shelling killed four Palestinian boys on a Gaza beach on Wednesday, an incident the military called tragic, and Israel and Hamas said they would cease attacks for five…
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Nepal ex-prince arrested for drugs in Thailand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal ex-prince arrested for drugs in Thailand The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former Nepalese crown prince Paras Shah has been arrested on drugs charges in Thailand for a second time and could face up to five years in prison, police said Wednesday. Shah was arrested…
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Kata-Karon mayor denies five more charges in connection to Phuket taxi mafia
PHUKET: Police have slapped five more charges on Tawee Thongcham, mayor of Phuket’s tourist-popular beach area Kata-Karon, for his alleged connection to the powerful taxi mafia in the area. Mr Tawee has denied all charges. “Mr Tawee has been charged with the same thing as before, which is conspiracy and the aiding of illegal activities carried out by criminal associations,”…
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Retirement is all about safety first
PHUKET: I cannot even begin to tell you the horror stories I hear from many expats I meet. Unfortunately, they’re coming to see me too late or have not been reading my columns. The first thing that many Americans or Europeans think when they move to Thailand is how cheap it is to live here. We got a lot more…
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Amari appoints new AGM based in Patong
PHUKET: ONYX Hospitality Group, which operates the well-known Amari hotel brand, has announced a restructure of its key hotel and corporate operations roles in Thailand. As part of the restructure, ONYX has promoted their talented hospitality professionals Pierre-Andre Pelletier and David Cumming to the positions of Vice President Area General Manager for Southern Thailand and Bangkok, respectively. Both veterans in…
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Islands off Phuket’s east coast next up in beach cleanup
PHUKET: The islands of Koh Naka Yai and Koh Naka Noi are the next targets in the great Phuket beach cleanup, which has now spread to sands on and off the island’s east coast. Officials planned to visit the islands this afternoon but were informed by a local official that residents there had started clearing illegal beach structures on their…
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Grand Mercure Phuket Patong sets its sights high
PHUKET: After 13 years in the Kingdom, 36-year-old Sebastien Tronchet has risen from hotel intern to general manager overseeing the pre-opening, opening and operation of the Grand Mercure Phuket Patong. Like many general managers, Sebastien began in food and beverage (F&B) and quickly ascended the ranks. “I’m lucky to come from a little province in the South of France. We…
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Southeast Asia surgeons gather for breast augmentation seminar
PHUKET: Bangkok-Phuket Institute of Cosmetic Surgery (BPICS) hosted a breast augmentation seminar and live surgery on July 4 in Samkong. “We invited our colleagues from Hong Kong and from ASEAN countries Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam,” said Institute Director Dr Witoon Wisuthseriwong, who has more than 13 years experience working at Bangkok International Hospital Phuket. About 50 participants had the…
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Phuket shop owners helpful in clearing Phuket east coast beachfront
PHUKET: The clearing of Phuket’s beaches reached the east coast today as officers helped Ao Por locals dismantle shacks, sun shades and stalls set up along the beachfront. “We had about 70 people on our task force including Navy personnel and staffers from the Pa Khlok Municipality, as well as officers from the Thalang Police Station and Marine Office,” said…
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Taxi finder site seeks to improve user experience
PHUKET: In the midst of the flurry of fanfare regarding the NCPO’s crackdown on Phuket’s illegal taxis and taxi mafia (story here), a small family business called Travelsnooper Co Ltd has created a website that they hope will help all. The new website, called taxithailand.info and available in English and Thai, is aiming for a target audience that includes hotels,…
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Bondi Bar Bashers impress with victory over Village
PHUKET: In the second round of the Outrigger T20 competition, the Village played Bondi Beach Bashers in what promised to be an exciting game with The Village welcoming back a few of their previous stars. The Village won the toss and elected to bat, however, they got off to a shaky start, losing both their opening batsmen in the first…
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Police reforms cause a stir
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police reforms cause a stir The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: National police reforms introduced by the National Council for Peace and Order have already started creating ripples spreading far and wide, and also in the political arena. Though several senior police officers and academics have…
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Thousands flee as typhoon batters east Philippines, heads to Manila
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands flee as typhoon batters east Philippines, heads to Manila Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands of people in the Philippines fled from their homes on Tuesday as the strongest typhoon to hit the country this year made landfall, toppling trees and cutting power as it…
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Death toll from West Africa Ebola outbreak jumps to 603
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Death toll from West Africa Ebola outbreak jumps to 603 – WHO Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The death toll from an Ebola outbreak in West Africa has spiked to 603 since February, with at least 68 deaths reported in the last week alone, the World…
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Parents of children killed in city grenade attack forgive suspects
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Parents of children killed in city grenade attack forgive suspects The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The parents of two children killed in the M79 grenade attack on an anti-government rally in Bangkok’s Ratchadamri area in February said yesterday that they forgave the four suspects prostrating…
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BRICS set up bank to counter Western hold on global finances
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community BRICS set up bank to counter Western hold on global finances Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Leaders of the BRICS emerging market nations launched a $100-billion (58.32 billion pounds) development bank and a currency reserve pool on Tuesday in their first concrete step towards reshaping the…
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Israel targets top Hamas leader as cease-fire collapses
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Israel targets top Hamas leader as cease-fire collapses Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Israel resumed its air strikes in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday a day after holding its fire in deference to an Egyptian-proposed cease-fire deal that failed to get Hamas militants to halt rocket…
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