- Phuket News
Tourists stay put as tsunami sirens sound
PATONG: Tourists in Patong opted to soak up the sun rather than run for their lives during yesterday’s tsunami drill. The exercise, held across the six Andaman provinces, included the sounding of all 79 tsunami warning towers operated by the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC).At Patong Beach, a female English tourist told the Gazette, “I heard the siren and knew what it was,…
- Phuket News
Clams, fish move into new digs
CHALONG: A group of Chalong villagers and Erawan Group staff on Friday released more than 1,000 rare marine creatures into Chalong Bay as part of an initiative to support marine populations off the coast of Phuket.Sutha Prateep Na Thalang, leader of a Chalong fishermen’s group, said, “There aren’t many of these animals left in the water because of all the…
- Phuket News
Dolphins rescued from receding tide
CAPE PANWA: Three rough-toothed dolphins were rescued after they were found stranded on mud flats created by the receding tide at Ao Makham on Saturday.The rescue comes one week after the carcass of a female striped dolphin was discovered washed ashore at Baan Dan in Thalang and nine days after a pod of false killer whales beached at Koh Racha.The…
- Phuket News
Pian runs for re-election as Patong Mayor
PATONG: Pian Keesin on Friday announced he will defend his seat as Patong Mayor at least one more time in the Patong Municipality election to be held on July 27. Khun Pian will be leading the charge for the Rak Patong (Love Patong) party, contesting the mayoral election against Somkiet Kuru of the Patong Gao Na (Patong Progress) party. Campaigning…
- Phuket News
HOGs go the extra miles
PHUKET: It’s official: the 52 Harley-Davidsons and their 74 riders that collectively notched up 21,000 kilometers by riding from Phuket to Krabi and back on Monday have been added to the global tally to set a record for the most miles on that one day by ‘hog’ riders.Bikers from Phuket, Haad Yai, Krabi, Trang and Pattalung set off from the…
- Phuket News
Health chief warns of dengue
PHUKET: Provincial Health Office chief Dr Paisan Worrasathit has issued a warning for people on Phuket to protect against contracting dengue fever, which sees a spike in the number or people contracting the disease each year during the rainy season.Currently, 200 islanders are suffering from the disease, and one victim recently died, Dr Paisarn said.He added that dengue fever was…
- Phuket News
Thai Airways being torn apart from within
BANGKOK (The Nation): Although the board of directors at Thai Airways decided to reinstate its president, Apinan Sumanaseni, last week, the national carrier’s internal problems are still far from resolution. Executives and staff members have been divided largely because of internal conflicts that have arisen from criticism of the board’s major decisions.For instance, THAI will stop direct flights between Bangkok…
- Phuket News
Busted “Ice Boy’ spills the beans
PATONG: Kathu Police Superintendent Col Grissak Songmoonnak and four Drug Suppression officers from Kathu police station arrested four ya bah (methamphetamine) and ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) dealers on Tuesday night.Krisada “Boy” Seangrot, 19, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was arrested at 8.30 pm at the fountain in front of Jungceylon shopping center in a sting operation in which police arranged to…
- Phuket News
Chalerm retreats from angry mobs in Phuket and Krabi
KRABI (The Nation): Ongoing protests by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) took Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung by surprise in Phuket and Krabi, forcing him to cancel official duties on Tuesday and again yesterday.Chalerm was supposed to meet Phuket’s governor on Tuesday, along with high-ranking police and local government officials. Heeding warnings of the mob at Phuket airport, said to…
- Phuket News
Residents cash in on recycled bottles
CHERNG TALAY: A joint project by the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) and bottle-recycling company Bangkok Glass Co launched in January seems to have hit a snag, a Gazette investigation has found. Since collection efforts have begun, the estimated 190-240 tons of glass waste that the OrBorTor was anticipating to collect from 7-Eleven shops and other businesses has shrunk…
- Phuket News
Chalerm avoids mob in Phuket
PHUKET: To avoid a welcoming party of about 1,000 protesters waiting for him at Phuket International Airport last night, controversial Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung diverted his plane to land in Krabi.After he landed there at 8:15 pm, K. Chalerm checked into the Krabi Meritime Resort.He reportedly checked out of the hotel at 3 am today.Chalerm is due to deliver his new policies to…
- Phuket News
Assassination plot dismissed
BANGKOK (The Nation): Navy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Sathiraphan Keyanon yesterday played down a claim about a possible plot to assassinate ousted prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, saying it should not be treated seriously.Sathirapan was reacting to comments by retired supreme commander General Chaisit Shinawatra who claimed last weekend that Thaksin’s opponents may have put out a contract on him.He said the matter did…
- Phuket News
HRH Ubol Ratana to visit Phuket
PHUKET: HRH Princess Ubol Ratana Rajakanya will be in Phuket July 26 to 29 as part of her ‘To Be Number One’ project to steer Thai children and youths away from drugs.Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit made the announcement at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday at the monthly meeting of Phuket Provincial committee members and office chiefs.She will attend the opening ceremony…
- Phuket News
Striped dolphin dies at Mai Khao
MAI KHAO: The carcass of a female striped dolphin was discovered washed ashore at Baan Dan on Saturday morning – two days after 11 false killer whales beached at Koh Racha. Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) staff retrieved the dead animal and moved it to the PMBC at Cape Panwa after being notified by a villager at about 7 am.…
- Phuket News
1,000 policemen deployed to protect Government House
BANGKOK: (The Nation): Some 1,000 policemen have been deployed to protect Government House this morning after the Civil Court ordered protesters yesterday to stop using amplifier systems and blocking the roads.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Assavin Kwanmuang said he ordered the stepped-up security at Government House because he expected that the PAD would move its stage there as a result of the Court’s…
- Phuket News
Airlines to cut long-haul flights to Thailand
BANGKOK (Nation): Major airlines including Thai Airways International will cut long-haul flights to Thailand next year in line with a forecast 12% drop in the number of inbound tourists, the Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) has announced.ATTA president Apichart Sankary said that although the Tourism Authority of Thailand has set a target of 17 million visitors next year, only 15…
- Phuket News
Chalerm to inspect Phuket land
PHUKET: Interior Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung is expected to arrive in Phuket tomorrow ahead of an inspection tour on Wednesday of land plots that he stands accused of helping his friends to acquire, Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit announced this morning.During the recent censure debate, K. Chalerm was accused by Democrat Party Secretary-General Suthep Thuegsuban of using his position to leverage the…
- Phuket News
Storm-stricken “Moonstar’ found
AUSTRALIA (ABC, Perth Now): A search plane this morning found the missing 13.5-meter sailing yacht Moonstar, which was badly damaged in a storm on Friday night and began taking on water. The yacht is believed to be about 140 kilometers off Fremantle, south of Perth. The yacht is also believed to be the same Moonstar that was rescued off Patong by…
- Phuket News
Evicted Vises Hotel tenants seek top-level redress
PHUKET CITY: After being told by Kathu Police last week that their forced eviction is not a police matter, long-term tenants of the Vises Hotel in Patong on Friday filed a complaint with the Phuket Consumer Protection Board at Provincial Hall.The tenants were met by Prapan Chansaeng, who explained to them that by law a hotel can rent rooms only on a daily…
- Phuket News
Korean drowns while trying to save his wife
KATA: A Korean man drowned off Kata Beach about 11 am yesterday after being dragged out to sea while trying to save his wife, who had swum into difficulty.Hun Sang Suk, 46, had swum out to rescue his wife, who had been dragged away from the shore by strong currents, said Lt Ratthaket Mingmuang of Chalong Police Station.“The red flags were…
- Phuket News
Disoriented false killer whales beach on Koh Racha
KOH RACHA YAI: Researchers at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) are today examining the remains of a False Killer Whale that was one of some 20 that beached on Koh Racha Yai, some 25 kilometers south of Phuket, late yesterday afternoon.Local hotel staff and tourists rescued another 10 beached animals that could not make their way back to deeper…
- Phuket News
Disoriented dolphins beach on Koh Racha
KOH RACHA YAI: Researchers at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) are today examining the remains of a False Killer Whale that was one of some 20 that beached on Koh Racha Yai, some 25 kilometers south of Phuket, late yesterday afternoon.Local hotel staff and tourists rescued another 10 beached animals that could not make their way back to deeper…
- Phuket News
Phuket prepares for tsunami drill
PHUKET: At 9:45 am on July 7, all 79 tsunami warning towers operated by the National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) will sound their alarms as part of a comprehensive tsunami warning test for the six Andaman provinces.Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Ministry Suwit Kunkitti announced the drill on nationwide television at 3 pm yesterday.Co-ordinating the drill from a command center…
- Phuket News
Doctor arrested at Bang Tao clinic
CHERNG TALAY: A doctor at a clinic in Bang Tao has been charged with practicing medicine without a license after allegedly administering an injection that resulted in a local boy nearly losing the use of one of his legs.Cherng Talay Police arrested Tassaneeporn Kachane, 53, at Pannavej Clinic on Srisoonthorn Rd yesterday afternoon after Phuket Provincial Health Office Director Dr…
- Phuket News
Cops collar robed robber
PHUKET CITY: A man wanted for the theft of Buddha images and amulets valued at about 100,000 baht was arrested on Tuesday night after Phuket City residents helped police set up a sting operation.Capt Atthapol Wannasaengthong of Phuket City Police told the Gazette, “After the man’s description and the story of the robbery in Rassada was reported in a local newspaper…
- Phuket News
Rawai to move ahead with “Sea Natural History Museum’
RAWAI: In a bid to simultaneously preserve local flora and boost tourism, Rawai Municipality is renewing efforts to build a “Thai Island and Sea Natural History Museum” on 271 rai of government land north of the viewpoint at Laem Phromthep.Phuket Vice-Governor Smith Palawatwichai presided over a meeting on the new initiative on Tuesday morning at the Rawai Municipality Offices.Also attending…
- Phuket News
THAI Airways demotes its president
BANGKOK (The Nation): Thai Airways International’s board of directors has abruptly demoted president Apinan Sumanaseni today, citing his poor performance which has led to huge losses for the national carrier. The demotion takes effect immediately and Apinan has been ordered to focus on non-management matters. Norahat Phloiyai has been appointed as co-president, and will oversee all management issues.Meanwhile, Chamsri Sukchotrat, chief of…
- Phuket News
Gazette Mobile launches “Smart News’
PHUKET: After seven months under construction, Gazette Mobile has today launched ‘Smart News’, a mobile information service focused on Phuket. The product is substantially different from any other mobile news model currently available in Thailand. Subscribers to Smart News have the ability to choose both the frequency and nature of the information they wish to receive. There are three information packages, or…
- Thailand News
A disarming mystery
BANGKOK: As the international media has been puzzling recently over the mystery of why five dismembered human feet have washed up on the beaches of British Columbia over the past year – the most recent find being on June 16 – Thailand now has its own body-part puzzle to ponder: a severed arm found on the tracks at Hualamphong Railway…
- Thailand News
Rogue monk defrocks self
NONG KHAI: As every good clergyman knows, improper sexual conduct is a quick way to get defrocked – cast out of the Buddhist clergy.Perhaps sensing that his own defrockment was inevitable, one naughty abbot in Tha Bor District decided to beat his detractors to the punch.At a meeting of villagers and local religious authorities to discuss allegations of sexual impropriety…
