- Phuket News
Korean firm ready to invest in Phuket tunnel
PHUKET: Representatives of a Korean firm are the latest potential East Asian investors to meet the Phuket Governor to discuss involvement in a Phuket transport mega-project, this time the proposed Patong Tunnel. Accompanied by Phuket MP Raywat Areerob, a delegation from the AZ Worth Trust Company was received by Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop at his office in Phuket Provincial Hall…
- Phuket News
Phuket Software Park announces “Tech Talk” schedule
PHUKET: Software Park Phuket has announced the schedule for its “Tech Talk” seminars for September as follows: September 2: “Blogspot: An easy way to create a website,” by Phuket Innovation Incubation Center, Software Park Phuket. Thai-language presentation. September 23: “Creating a blog with WordPress,” by Kudos Technovation. Thai-language presentation with English-language slides. September 30: “Business on Facebook / Fan Page,”…
- Phuket News
Woman dies in Phuket car crash
PHUKET: A young woman died of injuries sustained in a high-speed car crash on the bypass road near Tesco Lotus early this morning. Phuket City Police were informed of the crash at 4:20am. The accident occurred in the southbound lane, in front of the Tesco shopping complex. Arriving at the scene they the found a red Toyota Vios overturned on…
- Phuket News
50 foreigners dead in Phuket this year
PHUKET: More than 50 foreign tourists have died in Phuket so far this year, according to statistics released by the island’s top police officer at this week’s consuls’ meeting. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong said 52 foreigners died between January 1 and August 17 this year. By contrast, just 28 deaths of foreigners were recorded in all of 2009.…
- Phuket News
Nude, Rude in Phuket; Isaan air link; Phuket leads recovery
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. Nude is rude in Phuket Phuket is to host a fashion runway show to benefit the ‘Phuket Has Been Good To Us’ foundation, a children’s education charity. The event will debut ‘Nude is Rude’, the new label…
- Phuket News
Chinese interested in Phuket light rail project
PHUKET: The island’s dream of having a reasonably-priced, efficient public transport system took a small step forward on Monday, when representatives of a Chinese construction conglomerate confirmed their desire to build a light rail network for Phuket. Phuket MP Raywat Areerob on Monday brought representatives of the Ershisanye Construction Group for a second meeting with Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngob. It…
- Phuket News
Phuket Police identify body of suicide jumper
PHUKET: Police have identified the woman who committed suicide yesterday by jumping from a Phuket condominium block. The woman was Thai, not Korean as initially speculated. Phuket City Police Duty Officer Yongyuth Krongmalai identified the deceased as Nantanut Meenoy, 25-year-old owner of the Image Design clothing store on Phun Pol Road Soi 7 in Phuket Town. A native of Petchaburi…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport expansion on track: AoT
PHUKET: The 5.8-billion-baht expansion of Phuket International Airport will increase annual passenger traffic capacity to 12.5 million by 2013, Airports of Thailand (AOT) officials confirmed at a meeting on Monday. AOT President Serirat Prasutanond said the expansion is needed to cope with steadily increasing air traffic and to cement Thailand’s status as a regional air hub. Mr Serirat was speaking…
- Phuket News
Shotgun ends Phuket rooftop brawl
PHUKET: A morning drinking session on a Karon guesthouse rooftop today resulted in a bloody brawl that ended only after someone fired a homemade 12-gauge shotgun into the air. Chalong police arrived at the Medi Cerrino Guesthouse on Taina Rd after receiving a report called in about 10am. On the roof level of the three-story guesthouse officers found Joseph James…
- Phuket News
South African military chief vacations in Phuket
PHUKET: South Africa’s top military commander arrived in Phuket today on an unofficial visit. Gen Godfrey Nhlanhla Ngwenya, Chief of the South African National Defense Force, was welcomed upon arrival at the Naval Section runway at Phuket International Airport by Vice-Admiral Chumnum Ajwong, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area. General Godfrey, 60, and his wife Busisiwe Portia arrived…
- Phuket News
Death plunge victim probably Korean: Phuket Police
PHUKET: Police suspect that a woman who apparently fell to her death from a condo block in Wichit earlier today was Korean. The body of the woman crashed through the corrugated zinc roof of a Burmese construction worker’s camp at the base of the seven-story Pornsawan Condotel, located on Chao Fa East Road in Wichit. The death was reported to…
- Phuket News
Dengue fever now at 230 new cases a day
PHUKET: Seven people died from dengue fever last week, two of them from Phuket’s neighboring province Krabi. The other five fatalities came one each from Chiangrai, Phetchabun, Lop buri, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Si Thammarat. The new fatalities bring to 70 the number of dengue fever deaths recorded across Thailand to date this year, it was announced by Public Health Minister…
- Phuket News
Phuket consuls’ meet: Rape unit, passports top agenda
PHUKET: Topping the billing at today’s meeting of top-level provincial officers with honorary consuls for 24 countries responsible for Phuket and southern Thailand were the setting up of a police anti-rape unit and the handling of passports.Hanns Schumacher, German Ambassador to Thailand, told the Gazette, “We have a general problem in that local police in particular who come in contact…
- Phuket News
Heavy rain causes Phuket-bound flight to divert to Krabi
PHUKET: Due to heavy rain and strong winds this morning, a Thai Airways flight was unable to land safely at Phuket International Airport and had to be diverted to Krabi. The conditions also caused delays in the arrival of a number of domestic inbound flights, although no international arrivals were affected. An officer at the airport control tower said several…
- Phuket News
Phuket resorts lax in warning tourists of surf dangers: poll
PHUKET: Almost 75% of Phuket Gazette readers polled feel that resorts on the island are not doing enough to warn their guests of the potential dangers at beaches during the monsoon season. The poll was prompted by a recent spate of tourist drownings and a call by exasperated members of the Phuket Lifeguard Club for more cooperation from resorts. Overall,…
- Phuket News
Blackouts in Phuket this week
PHUKET: The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has announced scheduled blackouts in Phuket this week to carry out maintenance on high voltage power lines. Affected areas and times are as follows: August 24, Kathu: Wichit Songkram Road from Soi Bang Thong junction to the Kathu District Administration Office, covering Bang Thong Village, Bang Thong Hill Side and Baan Pho Thong Village.…
- Phuket News
FC Phuket trounce Nakhon Sri Thammarat, 4-1
PHUKET: FC Phuket scored three second half goals to cruise to a 4-1 win at Nakhon Sri Thammarat yesterday. The Southern Sea Kirin had already clinched the league, with 46 points going into the match, but were looking to build confidence for their big home match against Thai Premier League side Osotspa Saraburi FC in the opening round of the…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Where bureaucrats fear to tread
PHUKET: A key question asked in the pop parable Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson is, “What would I do if I weren’t afraid?” The story deals with the inhabitants of a fictional Maze who one day find quite unaccountably that their store of cheese has vanished. The message of the piece is that change is inevitable; those who…
- Phuket News
World Expo 2020: Phuket fails to make the cut
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. PHUKET: Ayutthaya, Chon Buri and Chiang Mai have been short-listed in a six-month-long effort to name a Thai candidate city to host World Expo 2020. The three possible venues, which have emerged after a six-month study by…
- Phuket News
Phuket villagers seek Bt10m over home demolition
PHUKET: Villagers in Patong whose modest homes were destroyed by a backhoe last week are seeking 10 million baht in compensation from the development company that ordered the demolition work. The residents of Phra Barami Road Soi 8, in the Kalim area of Patong, last Saturday awoke to the sound of a roaring backhoe that demolished their houses in less…
- Phuket News
Phuket police auction seized motorbikes
PHUKET: Chalong Police this week took the opportunity to clear out their car park with a public auction of motorbikes seized as evidence in drug-related cases. It was short work, with all 18 motorbikes sold in an hour on Wednesday. The proceeds, a total of 100,100 baht, will be handed over to the Ministry of Finance, said Snr Sgt Maj…
- Phuket News
Phuket Governor donates sugar to fasting Muslims
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor and his wife today presided over a ceremony to distribute sugar to local Muslims who are now fasting during the holy month of Ramadan. The ceremony, held at Phuket Provincial Hall at 3pm, saw Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop and his wife Thaisika distribute 51 large sacks of sugar, one for each of the 51 mosques on…
- Phuket News
Thai League Cup: FC Phuket draw high-energy opponents
PHUKET: FC Phuket will face a real test of their prowess later this month when they take on Thai Premier League (TPL) team Osotspa Saraburi FC in the opening round of the 2010 Toyota League Cup, the Thai League’s version of England’s FA Cup. The pairing, set for August 29, was the result of a lucky draw among 64 qualifiers,…
- Phuket News
Phuket Grocery warns of new scam
PHUKET: A Phuket supermarket is warning local businesses to be on the lookout for a female con artist who recently relieved them of 45,500 baht in an audacious scam. Phuket Grocery general manager Thavich Boonprasert asked the media to inform the public about their experience as a warning to be on the lookout. On the morning of August 13 a…
- Phuket News
Phuket hospitality; stocks, autos boom; ‘Death Merchant’ verdict today
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. Phuket ready for Asian Hospitality Show Phuket’s first Asian Hospitality and Travel Show is shaping up to be a winner, with strong buyer and seller interest in the run-up to the October 1-3 event. Events Thailand, the…
- Phuket News
Phuket Lifesaving Carnival set for September 11
PHUKET: The Phuket Lifeguard Club’s third annual carnival, this year to be held at Loma Park in Patong on September 11, is targeting youngsters in order to boost surf lifesaving skills on the island. “We want to promote water safety and surf awareness in a fun environment to appeal to the local community to embrace lifesaving as a sport. We…
- Phuket News
Update: Phuket Immigration nabs Taiwanese for drugs
PHUKET: As reported in the Gazette’s Phuket NEWS Hound earlier today, Phuket Immigration Police yesterday announced the arrest of a man wanted for drug smuggling eight years ago in his native Taiwan.Phuket Immigration Superintendent Col Panuwat Ruamrak named the man as Wu Jung Mu, 51.He was arrested at the Mei Zhou Phuket Hotel on Luang Por Wat Chalong Rd on…
- Phuket News
Phuket ready for ‘Hungry Ghost’ ceremony
PHUKET: The island’s ethnic Chinese community is preparing for the annual Por Tor Festival, featuring special events organized by Phuket City Municipality from August 26. The Kusoldharm Foundation began its preparations by holding two days of ancestor worship at their headquarters on Phun Pol Rd Soi 9 last week. The event, including various merit-making activities, also saw 122 scholarships of…
- Phuket News
Norwegian falls for ATM scam in Phuket
PHUKET: Police are warning tourists to be vigilant while using ATM machines following the alleged theft of 200,000 baht from a Norwegian tourist in Kata last week. Kjell Olar Farseth, 52, filed a complaint with Chalong Police yesterday morning stating that a man who offered to help him operate the Kasikorn Bank ATM machine near the Karon Municipality offices in…
- Phuket News
Phuket Update; foreigner nabbed; Phuket airline happy; Wiki wasted
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news about Thailand from around the world, compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. Phuket airport arrivals soar Passenger traffic through Phuket International Airport during the first half of this year surged 28 per cent compared to a year earlier – marking a dramatic recovery for Phuket as the island resort…
