Month: March 2015
- Thailand News
Immigration police round up foreign fugitives
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Immigration police round up foreign fugitives The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Immigration Police have rounded up four foreign fugitives – three Americans wanted for fraud and theft, and a Finn sought for child sexual abuse – as well as a clutch of Somalis. Immigration Bureau…
Read More » - Thailand News
Haze worsens with highest ever reading at Doi Saket
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Haze worsens with highest ever reading at Doi Saket The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The haze in Northern Thailand worsened yesterday with Chiang Mai’s Doi Saket district reporting the highest amount of particulate matter (PM10) at 369 micrograms per cubic meter of air. This was…
Read More » - Thailand News
We will try to cut use of military courts: Prayut
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community We will try to cut use of military courts: Prayut The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: IN reaction to growing opposition, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday he would try to reduce the use of military courts for trials involving civilians held under martial law…
Read More » - World News
Netanyahu claims victory in Israel election
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Netanyahu claims victory in Israel election Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory in Israel’s election after exit polls showed he had erased his center-left rivals’ lead with a hard rightward shift in which he abandoned a commitment to negotiate a Palestinian…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket police warn of lid robberies by Mercedes-Benz hopefuls
PHUKET: Police have issued a security warning to convenience store staffers after dozens of Ichitan drink lids – which are part of a promotion to win a free Mercedes-Benz – were stolen from a SuperCheap in Rawai. The warning follows a Facebook post by an employee named Joy Hudrudchai that complained about lids of Ichitan and Yen Yen drinks being…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police hunt mysterious Brit burglar Charlie Machin
PHUKET: Police are trying to track down a foreign thief, believed to be a British expat, who is wanted for robbing a Swedish man’s home of about 200,000 baht in valuables in Kata. Known so far only by his alias “Charlie Machin”, the suspect is known to frequent bars in Bang Tao and Rawai. “At this stage, all we know…
Read More » - Food
From brunch to beach: Nikki Beach Club’s Amazing Sunday Brunch
PHUKET: At the end of most Sunday brunches, as the meal winds down and champagne diminishes, you start to think about the day ahead, and how to make the most of it, so the impending doom of an inevitable Monday doesn’t seem so bad. The focus of the event is often only the food – as delicious as it may…
Read More » - Thai Life
Island Fever: Life after nut rage
PHUKET: We live in a complicated day and age. With our lives revolving around “selfies”, our very existence is punctuated by snapshots expressing extreme delight. Sadly, most of these moments seem to occur only in cyberspace. One recent event that is testament to how quickly our world can about-face is the Korean Air “nut rage” incident involving Heather Cho, a…
Read More » - Thai Life
BISP’s “Three Artsketeers’ put artwork on display
PHUKET: For most, art is just a break, a temporary escape from the daily routine, but three British International School Phuket (BISP) IB Visual Arts students want to make it the theme of their lives. In fact, thanks to their own determination and the support of their school, they are already on the right path with the upcoming BISP 2015…
Read More » - Property
Phuket Pads: Kathu – A golfer’s paradise
PHUKET: Kathu, in the center of Phuket, has a number of advantages over other locations on the island when it comes to residential property. Its central location means that it’s as easy to get to Patong on the west coast, as it is to visit Central Festival shopping mall, or Phuket Town on the east side. It’s also within easy…
Read More » - Business News
Villa Market opens Boat Lagoon branch
PHUKET: The doors to Villa Market’s third branch on the island open on March 20 with the Grand Opening Ceremony in Boat Lagoon taking place on March 27. The grand opening, organized by Kanittha Prasopsirikul from ‘By Kanittha’, will be the highlight of the Boat Lagoon’s monthly Lighthouse Market, which offers a variety of vendors the opportunity to showcase their…
Read More » - Chiang Mai News
Flights to Chiang Mai disrupted as smog levels soar in North
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Flights to Chiang Mai disrupted as smog levels soar in North The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The volume of tiny dust particles in the upper North rose beyond the safety level again yesterday and poor visibility reportedly prevented at least four flights from landing at…
Read More » - Thai Life
Thinking Green: Striking a beach balance
PHUKET: “We need chairs,” are the plaintive cries in the press, demanding a return to the old model of endless rows of deck chairs and umbrellas. Meanwhile, the vendors are crying, “Our businesses have been hit badly.” And at the same time, environmentalists are claiming, “Our natural treasures are being directly influenced by coastal law enforcement, pollution, construction, density of…
Read More » - World News
New York tycoon charged with murder after movie confession
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New York tycoon charged with murder after movie confession Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: New York real estate scion and accused murderer Robert Durst’s bathroom muttering that he “killed them all” would likely be admissible evidence in a murder trial, legal experts said on Monday. Durst,…
Read More » - World News
Malaysia arrests Anwar’s daughter for sedition
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia arrests Anwar’s daughter for sedition Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysian police arrested opposition politician Nurul Izzah Anwar, daughter of jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, for sedition on Monday, prompting the U.S. State Department to express concern over the freedom of expression in Malaysia. The…
Read More » - Thailand News
Underboob selfies ban brings threat of jail
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Underboob selfies ban brings threat of jail Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand’s military government warned women on Monday against posting ‘selfie’ photos of the lower half of their breasts – a social media trend that has gone viral – saying their actions could violate the…
Read More » - Chiang Mai News
Phuket flight denied landing as smog shrouds Chiang Mai
PHUKET: A flight from Phuket was forced to abort landing at Chiang Mai International Airport today after smog reduced visibility over the northern city to 800 meters, reported The Nation. Air Asia Flight FD3161 departed Phuket on time at 10:35am, but was unable to make its scheduled landing at Chiang Mai at 12:30pm for safety reasons. Bangkok Airways Flight PG241…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket sailors warned of falling space-launch debris
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy issued a warning today for ships to steer clear of an Indian Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) debris-fall zone in the Andaman Sea between March 9 and April 8. The area marked in the warning, about 400km northwest of Phuket, is within the following coordinates: 9°15’00″N 94°45’00″E10°05’00″N 95°05’00″E9°45’00″N 96°00’00″E8°55’00″N 95°40’00″E “All ships, please be careful…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket taxi slams into power pole
PHUKET: A taxi driver who crashed into a power pole after dropping his passengers off at Phuket International Airport earlier today has been charged with reckless driving. Pongsatorn Suwanurak, 27, told police that he fell asleep at the wheel while he was returning to Phuket Town at about 10:15am. Rescue workers arrived at the scene, on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket masseuse suicide sparks manhunt for brutal boyfriend
PHUKET: Police are looking for a man wanted for beating his masseuse girlfriend who was found dead by apparent suicide in Phuket Town yesterday morning. Friends discovered the body of Taweepat Boontawee, 33, at her apartment at a four-story complex on Phun Pol Road Soi 7. She was found hanged by a bathrobe sash tied to a light fitting. “The…
Read More » - Phuket News
Experienced diver’s death at Similans baffles park officials
PHUKET: Officials have yet to learn what was the catalyst for the death of an experienced diver who fell unconscious during a mass-diving volunteer project at the Similan Islands on Saturday. Suthat Suktuk, a 45-year-old businessman from Songkhla province, went into shock while diving beyond recreational depths to 47 meters at a site south of Koh Miang, also called Koh…
Read More » - Phuket News
German expat on top after robbed over iPhone sex swap
PHUKET: Two women have been charged for robbing a German expat after he allegedly reneged on a deal to buy one of them an iPhone and clothes in exchange for sex. Rattriya Sirijumpa, 25, and Nongluck Homhuan, 26, were arrested at Tina Salon in Thalang on Saturday, after police spotted the German’s stolen car in front of Ms Rattriya’s salon.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Spanish sailor recovering in Phuket after attempted suicide
PHUKET: A Spanish national working on an Indonesian fishing boat is recovering in Phuket International Hospital after slashing his arms yesterday morning. Phuket Marine Police were notified of a medical emergency on the fishing boat Taishan, moored near Koh Tapao Noi, at about 2am. “The original report we received said that the man had cut off his own arms,” Phuket…
Read More » - World News
Aid teams report devastation and death after Vanuatu cyclone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Aid teams report devastation and death after Vanuatu cyclone Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Early reports from the outer islands of Vanuatu on Monday painted a picture of utter destruction after a monster cyclone tore through the South Pacific island nation. Authorities in Vanuatu were struggling…
Read More » - Pattaya News
Mastermind of court attack reportedly in Australia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Mastermind of court attack reportedly in Australia The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police will seek the extradition of a man suspected of masterminding the hand-grenade attack on the Criminal Court last week, who is also wanted for allegedly committing lese majeste and failing to report…
Read More » - Thai Life
Looking Back: Kedah state’s magical history
PHUKET: The Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa is an ancient book which chronicles the history of the Kedah state. Kedah is a Malaysian state bordering the south of Thailand. As recently as a century ago, the sultanate was in fact a tributary state of Siam. Sometimes referred to as The Kedah Annals, the Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa was translated by Lt Col James…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Always put safety first
Jetsada Chanpen, 27, from Ranong, has been a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker for eight years. Last year, he almost lost his life doing what he loves. On March 26, Jetsada was the first to respond to an accident in which four workers had passed out in a sewer in Phuket Town. Wasting no time, he plunged into the sewer to…
Read More » - Thai Life
Gardening: A shrub with no enemies – allamandas
PHUKET: It’s astonishing what one can learn by watching Mother Nature at work. As readers know, my garden has long been plagued by hawk moth caterpillars, but what is fascinating is that these voracious munchers have a distinct pecking (or should I say munching) order. Their diet, in strict order of preference, is tabernaemontas, then periwinkles, next adeniums and then…
Read More » - Opinion
Opinion: Promote the sport of jet-skiing in Phuket
PHUKET: Jet-skiing is a sport. It’s a real sport that deserves a great deal more respect than it is given in Phuket. Banning Phuket as a water-sport tourism destination for jet-skiing is ridiculous. Banning the current operations and tourist hooligans allowed on them, however, is understandable. Given the history of violence, death and extortion via the well-protected jet-ski operators it…
Read More » - Business News
Finance: Making realistic retirement assumptions
PHUKET: The first step when making a retirement plan is to have realistic assumptions about your retirement. Unfortunately, I have found that many of my clients, regardless of whether or not they are expatriates – still working or already retired – have at least one or more of the following unrealistic retirement assumptions: I will retire some place cheaper: Retiring…
Read More » - Phuket News
Krabi coal plant Environmental Impact Assessment rejected
PHUKET: THE Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the Klong Rua coal seaport and coal-fired power plant project in Krabi was rejected last week amid pressure from the Protect Krabi Network. The panel of experts reviewing the report said that it was misleading and incomplete. However, members of the Protect Krabi Network were not pleased with the result, as their…
Read More » - Phuket News
Millions of Krabi crabs to host eco-tourists
PHUKET: Krabi officials are moving to create a new eco-tourism destination out of a Krabi tidal plane that millions of tiny orange-clawed crabs call home. Locals were amazed to see a horde of crabs suddenly appear and migrate across the sands of Ao Tang Len at low tide, prompting them to notify Ao Luek district officials last week. “The stretch…
Read More » - Phuket News
Bay Regatta a sailing success – results
PHUKET: The 18th Bay Regatta set sail on the morning of March 5, after an opening night party and buffet the evening before at the Chandara Resort & Spa at Ao Po. The 29 racing yachts, carrying over 200 competitors, flew the flags of 11 nations. Affectionately known as the ‘Fun Regatta’ to all participants, countries represented included Thailand, the…
Read More » - Phuket News
Opinion: Phuket – ATM skimmers’ paradise island
PHUKET: Despite efforts nationwide to upgrade automatic teller machine (ATM) card technology to make it more secure, the arrests of three groups of international ATM-card skimmers in Phuket in a week demonstrates that ATM fraud is rampant on the island. ATM users – which includes just about everyone with a bank account – should continue to exercise a great deal…
Read More » - Phuket News
Tourist fined for washing feet in public sink
PHUKET: A Chinese woman was fined for washing her feet in a public sink on Phi Phi Don yesterday, following a recent change in policy on the tourist-popular island. Within half an hour of officers posting a “no foot washing” warning sign at the public restroom, the tourist, who police declined to name, started washing her feet in the sink.…
Read More » - Phuket News
Chilean consulate opens in Phuket
PHUKET: Chile opened up a consular office in Phuket yesterday to serve Chilean citizens in southern Thailand. Chilean Ambassador to Thailand Javier Andrés Becker-Marshall announced the opening of the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Chile at the Phuket Merlin Hotel – where the new office is located. The consular office will be headed up by Chilean Honorary Consul Nantana…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket beach vendors crash land inspection
PHUKET: A group of about 30 beach vendors interjected themselves into an inspection of Kamala Beach yesterday to submit a complaint letter to the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice, who was visiting Phuket for a property development investigation. Deputy Permanent Secretary of Justice Dussadee Arayawuth came to the island to inspect four of 20 land plots believed to have been…
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