Year: 2015
- Property
Chinese funds trickle down to Phuket
PHUKET: The expected rush of Chinese money to overseas safe-haven properties after the recent crash of Shanghai’s stock market is an unlikely surge for this popular resort island, which will continue attracting some of the outflow, but less than what people might expect, Robert Collins, managing director of Savills (Thailand), says. It is clear that Thailand is not the preferred…
Read More » - Phuket News
Direct Phuket-Hainan flights tabled to boost tourism
PHUKET: Direct flights to Phuket from the island’s sister province in China were tabled this week during an official Hainan tourism fact finding mission in Thailand (story here). The plan was announced as officials marked the 10-year anniversary of Phuket and Hainan becoming ‘sister cities’, said Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. “The direct flights will be good for both provinces’ tourism…
Read More » - Business News
Business Buzz: The benefits of websites
PHUKET: Almost every business has a website now, but what are the real reasons for having one and are people using them effectively? When I ask many business owners, they often reply that they need one because everyone else has one. But do most people really understand the reasons a website is so important and how they can add real…
Read More » - Phuket News
Phuket police officer found shot in head
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a fellow officer who was found in his home with a gunshot wound to the head and a 9mm handgun still in his hand. “When we arrived at the scene yesterday, we had to break down the door, as it was locked from the inside,” explained Lt Peerasit Nhupayan of the Cherng Talay…
Read More » - Business News
Finance: Get smart with cyber security stocks
PHUKET: The recent New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) trading halt triggered a brief rush into cyber security stocks on renewed fears of yet another serious hack attack. While that incident was apparently caused by a computer malfunction, it shows just how jumpy investors are when it comes to the possibility of a new high-profile hack similar to the one that…
Read More » - Phuket News
World number 45 golfer swings by Laguna Phuket Golf Club
PHUKET: Prominent golfer, current Asian Tour Order-of-Merit leader and world number 45 golf player Anirban Lahiri recently visited Phuket, where he conducted a golf clinic and played nine holes with three young and promising island-based golfers at Laguna Phuket Golf Club. On the way to the US Open in Seattle, Mr Lahiri stayed at Laguna Phuket’s Banyan Tree Resort and…
Read More » - Phuket News
Chinese to “hack’ Phuket tourism industry
PHUKET: The Provincial Communist Party chief for Phuket’s sister province in China arrived in Phuket this week with hopes of ‘hacking into’ the secret to the island’s strong tourism sector. “Hainan officials are here on a fact finding mission to better understand exactly why Phuket hosts so many tourists from so many countries, while Sanya of Hainan is only playing…
Read More » - World News
Eleven Colombian military personnel killed in plane crash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Eleven Colombian military personnel killed in plane crash Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Eleven Colombian military personnel were killed on Friday when their transport plane suffered engine failure and crashed in the northern province of Cesar, killing all on board, according to a statement from the…
Read More » - World News
Donald Trump’s companies have sought visas to import at least 1,100 workers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Donald Trump’s companies have sought visas to import at least 1,100 workers Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET:Donald Trump is staking his run for U.S. president in part on a vow to protect Americanjobs. But this month, one of his companies, the elite Mar-a-Lago Club resort in…
Read More » - World News
Former CEO of collapsed Mt. Gox bitcoin exchange arrested in Japan: reports
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former CEO of collapsed Mt.Gox bitcoin exchange arrested in Japan: reports Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Mark Karpeles, the former head of defunct bitcoin exchange Mt. Gox, was arrested on Saturday in connection with the disappearance of hundreds of millions of dollars worth of the virtual…
Read More » - World News
China official manufacturing PMI falls to 50.0 in July, below forecasts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China official manufacturing PMI falls to 50.0 in July, below forecasts Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Growth in China’s vast manufacturing sector stalled in July, missing market expectations for slight growth, an official survey showed on today. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) stood at 50…
Read More » - Phuket News
Drive at your own risk
PHUKET: Confronted with a never-ending array of road-construction projects from multi-million-baht underpasses to reparation of enormous potholes, drivers travelling on Phuket’s roads – some of the most dangerous in the world – do so at their own risk, confirmed officials this week. The issue of road construction safety measures was thrown into sharp focus after a Phuket lawyer flipped his…
Read More » - Cannabis News
Opinion: Packed prison
PHUKET: Credit is owed to the government for finally coming through with funding to build a much-needed and long overdue new prison for Phuket. It is well known that the existing Phuket Provincial Prison is dangerously overcrowded. With a maximum capacity of just 800, the 115-year-old facility currently holds more than 3,000 inmates – a recipe for disaster if ever…
Read More » - Phuket News
Region 8 Police headquarters to open in Phuket Monday
PHUKET: Despite some protest, the Region 8 Police Headquarters will be partially operational in Phuket on Monday. “There are several systems that need to be put in place, until they are up and running in Phuket, we will also be operating out of our Surat Thani office,” said Region 8 Police Commander Decha Budnampeth. The move of the regional police…
Read More » - Thai Life
Excuse Buster: Shaping up gluteus maximus
PHUKET: I Swore I’d never write an article with topics as generic and common as ‘bigger biceps’, ‘five fat-burning secrets’ or ‘get quads of thunder’. I hate these types of articles. They are often 2,000 words and harp on about exercises that have been around for years, but are renamed and tweaked so that they are perceived as a brand…
Read More » - Phuket News
B500k stolen from temple during Buddhist holiday
PHUKET: About 500,000 baht designated for temple repairs was stolen from an abbot’s residence during the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha yesterday. This is not the first time that Phra Khru Pothipanyakorn of Wat Suwan Khiri Wong had a large sum of money taken from his living quarters. About two years ago, 200,000 baht was stolen without a trace, Lt…
Read More » - Phuket News
12-year-old girl killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: An 18-wheeled truck hit and dragged a 12-year-old girl to death after she fell off the back of her mother’s motorbike this morning. Vassana Kaewkumpa, 40, screamed for the truck driver to stop as it continued down the southbound lane of Thepkrasattri Road just past the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint, explained police. “Ms Vassana found the body of her…
Read More » - World News
WRAPUP 5: Plane debris on remote island points to breakthrough in MH370 mystery
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community WRAPUP 5-Plane debris on remote island points to breakthrough in MH370 mystery Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Plane debris washed up on the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean is almost certainly part of a Boeing 777, a Malaysian official and aviation experts said,…
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Boy drowns off Koh Sireh
PHUKET: A 13-year-old boy drowned off Koh Sireh yesterday after his friends were unable to save him and did not report the incident to adults or authorities for nearly three and a half hours. Payu Pairiron, a student at Baan Koh Sireh School, drowned at about 1.30pm after becoming too tired to swim back to the floating walkway. “We started…
Read More » - World News
Three more ‘Game of Thrones’ seasons likely, HBO says
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Three more ‘Game of Thrones’ seasons likely, HBO says Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: HBO’s most-watched series, the medieval fantasy drama “Game of Thrones,” will likely continue through three more seasons, a network executive said on Thursday, as he defended the show’s gritty violence. The sixth…
Read More » - World News
Taiwan students storm education ministry compound in textbook protest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taiwan students storm education ministry compound in textbook protest Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hundreds of Taiwan students stormed the ministry of education compound early on Friday,after one committed suicide earlier in the week, intensifying anti-China protests over textbooks they say are aimed at promoting Beijing’s…
Read More » - World News
Hunting club that suspended U.S. hunter donates to top lawmakers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hunting club that suspended U.S. hunter donates to top lawmakers Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A hunting club that suspended a Minnesota dentist who killed Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe has given money to the campaigns of numerous U.S. politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell…
Read More » - Phuket News
New taxi queues announced for Phuket
PHUKET: More than a year after the National Council for Peace and Order made a sweeping effort to remove illegal taxi stands from Phuket, the provincial government has announced a plan to establish legal taxi ranks at ten locations throughout the island. “The move to establish the taxi stops at some schools, hospitals and police stations on the island goes…
Read More » - Phuket News
Cheap tuk-tuk plan rolls forward
PHUKET: Yellow-roofed tuk-tuks costing a flat fee of 30 baht are on the road to Phuket Town in order to lessen congestion and provide affordable public transport in the area, explained Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. “There will be 87 tuk-tuks registered under the 30-baht flat-fee program. They will only be able to operate in Phuket Town toward Bang Khu intersection…
Read More » - Phuket News
Police bust bar for hookahs, selling to minors
PHUKET: Raids on nightlife venues in Phuket continued last night, with police seizing 40 hookahs used for smoking shisha and catching eight underage drinkers. “We received a tip-off about a specific venue serving alcohol to minors, as well as providing shisha, a flavored tobacco product that is illegal to import into Thailand,” explained Aroon Sing-in of the Phuket Provincial Office,…
Read More » - Phuket News
Laid-off tailors file formal complaint against Patong exporter
PHUKET: Ten tailors who were recently laid off by a suit exporting company in Patong filed a complaint against their former employer at the Damrongtham Center (ombudsman’s office) on Tuesday. “We have worked for the John Tailor Ltd company for about three years now. We signed a contract when we started working for them. Our pay was determined by how…
Read More » - Phuket News
Cabinet nod for upscaling Phuket port
PHUKET: Phuket’s goal of becoming the regional maritime hub has shifted into high gear after the Cabinet agreed to expand the island’s deep sea port to accommodate larger cruise ships. The National News Bureau of Thailand reported yesterday that the Cabinet has given the green light to improve Phuket’s Deep Sea Port, and is considering the construction of a similar…
Read More » - World News
Lithium find in exploding star could help solve astronomy puzzle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lithium find in exploding star could help solve astronomy puzzle Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Astronomers have discovered lithium in a type of stellar explosion known as a nova for the first time, a find that helps clear up a longstanding mystery in astrophysics about the…
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BISP student takes 3rd at golf Teen World Championship
PHUKET: British International School Phuket (BISP) student Mark Luangnitikul came in third place at the golf Teen World Championship 2015 held on Pinehurst course in North Carolina, in the United States of America. More than 500 players from 34 countries competed on courses that have crowned some of golf’s greatest champions. “We are very proud of Mark for taking third…
Read More » - World News
FACTBOX: U.S. Export-Import Bank moves closer to liquidation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community FACTBOX-U.S. Export-Import Bank moves closer to liquidation Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hopes for a quick revival of the shuttered Export-Import Bank were dashed on Tuesday as the U.S. Congress moved toward a short-term extension of highway funding without a provision to renew the trade bank’s…
Read More » - World News
INTERVIEW: Australia happy with Pacific trade progress, draws line on sugar
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community INTERVIEW: Australia happy with Pacific trade progress, draws line on sugar Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Australia is pleased with discussions with Pacific Rim trading partners on resolving disputes with foreign investors but will not agree to a regional trade pact unless it wins more access…
Read More » - World News
China stocks fall for fourth day but declines ease, Hong Kong shares up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China stocks fall for fourth day but declines ease, Hong Kong shares up Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China stocks fell for a fourth day on Wednesday but losses were more subdued than earlier in the week after Beijing reiterated its determination to stabilise its wild…
Read More » - Phuket News
Raid nets six rigged metered-taxi drivers
PHUKET: Six metered-taxi drivers were caught and charged for using tampered meters in a swoop initiated by the Phuket Land Transport Office on Friday. “We mounted the raid after many complaints were filed by both tourists and locals about high fares being charged for metered taxis in Phuket,” said Phuket Land Transport Office [PLTO] Chief Teerayout Prasertphol. The six drivers…
Read More » - Thailand News
Copyright law to ban internet plagiarism
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Copyright law to ban Internet plagiarism The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Social network scribes should be wary of a new intellectual property law due to take effect on August 4 that outlaws the copying of other people’s work and using it for commercial purposes, deputy…
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Provincial officers raid Phuket nightlife venues
PHUKET: A raid by provincial officers on the island’s popular nightlife spots found one Phuket Town bar to be operating as a nightclub without permission last night. Parkpoom Intarasuwan, Phuket provincial chief administrative officer (Palad), led a team of military personnel, police, district officers, excise officers, and other relevant officials to check 10 nightlife venues in the Phuket Town area,…
Read More » - Food
Planting seeds to grow a community
PHUKET: Late last year Laguna Phuket Resort announced the launch of a new program aimed at helping underprivileged youth, under the slogan ‘Plant A Seed, Change A Life’. The ‘Seedlings Phuket’ initiative includes a nine-month food and beverage training program specializing in career and personal development at Banyan Tree Phuket Resort, with an additional nine-month work experience at the newly…
Read More » - Thai Life
On Deck: When only Thai quality will do
PHUKET: Back in the pre-iPhone days when you went shopping for clothes and the label said ‘Made in China’, you would have sighed and thought, ‘What is the world coming to?’ Fast forward to the era of the iPhone, iPod, iPad not to mention self-driving Google cars, and nobody blinks an eye at the ‘Made in China’ tag anymore. Hey,…
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