- Phuket News
Army bolsters order to evict all businesses from Karon Beach by Saturday
PHUKET: Armed soldiers were present yesterday as eviction notices ordering all businesses to vacate Karon Beach by Saturday were delivered. Karon Mayor Tawee Thongcham walked the length of the beach to issue the notices to each vendor operating on the sand. He was joined by Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin of Region 8 Police, soldiers from the 41st Military Circle and…
- Business News
Hotel investment in Thailand likely to decline on AEC opening
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hotel investment in Thailand likely to decline on AEC opening The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Investment in new hotels in Thailand is expected to slow next year as many key players concentrate on newly opened markets to cash in on the opening of the Asean…
- Thailand News
Thailand blasted for horrific rise in ivory trade
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand blasted for horrific rise in ivory trade The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Despite Thailand’s professed reverence for elephants, the country has failed to rein in the illegal ivory trade. Partly to blame for the current poaching crisis is Thai domestic legislation. It permits trade…
- Thailand News
48 radio stations in Deep South given okay
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 48 radio stations in Deep South approved to air The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has given 48 radio stations in border provinces in the South the permission in principle to go on air during the Muslim holy…
- World News
Malaysia to send diplomat to New Zealand to face sex charges
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia to send diplomat to New Zealand to face sex charges Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysia will send a diplomat facing sexual assault charges back to New Zealand, where the alleged incident occurred in May, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday, a day after it…
- Phuket News
Dimitrov crushes champion Murray at Wimbledon
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dimitrov crushes champion Murray at Wimbledon Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Grigor Dimitrov broke British hearts by ending Andy Murray’s reign as Wimbledon champion with a sublime and serene 6-1 7-6(4) 6-2 victory in the quarter-finals on Wednesday. The third seed had confidently marched into the…
- Phuket News
Phuket taxi call service to launch mid-July
PHUKET: In the next step toward a more efficient and honest public transportation system in Phuket, officials plan to launch a call service for island taxis and tuk-tuks by mid-July. “The first step was to pull down all of the illegal taxi stands in Patong. The next one is to plan how to organize all of the taxis that are…
- Phuket News
Phuket woman stabs boyfriend, takes him to hospital
PHUKET: Police charged a Phuket woman with assault for stabbing her boyfriend last night. However, they are allowing her to stay in the hospital to care for him. Emergency room staff at Patong Hospital notified police at about 8pm that a man had been admitted with stab wounds. When officers arrived, Adinan Na Phattalung, 54, was being treated for a…
- Phuket News
10,000 pages of evidence turned over to Phuket prosecutor for taxi-mafia cases
PHUKET: Police yesterday delivered boxes of investigative documents to the Phuket Provincial Public Prosecutor for the cases of more than 100 taxi mafia members. “The evidentiary report we submitted was over 10,000 pages long,” said Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin, who is spearheading the Phuket taxi mafia takedown. “It represents a total of 12 cases and 112 arrests.” Additionally, police…
- Phuket News
Breaking News: Army raids municipality offices for Phuket mafia taxi connections
PHUKET: About 50 officers raided the Kata-Karon Municipality offices today to search for evidence of the popular tourist town’s mayor and handpicked deputy mayors’ involvement in the Phuket taxi mafia. Pol Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin led the task force of Army, Navy and police officers at about 11:30. Kata-Karon Deputy Mayors Ithiporn Sangkeaw and Sompong Dabpetch surrendered themselves at Phuket…
- Phuket News
Phuket one-stop yacht shop opens without a hitch
PHUKET: The long-awaited opening of the island’s one-stop yacht shop, officially dubbed the Phuket Yacht Control Center (PYCC), went off without a hitch on Monday in Chalong. Governor Maitri Inthusut delivered the good news in a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning. “Chalong is now ready to be the maritime hub for all yachties. It will offer international quality…
- Pattaya News
Father offers B100,000 reward for kidnapped British girls
PHUKET: Police on Phuket continue to scour the island as the father of two young girls abducted by their mother in Pattaya last month offers a 100,000-baht reward for information leading to their safe return. Robert Day, the British father, has publicized his search for the girls on Thai TV and in newspapers throughout the nation in the hope of…
- World News
Israel mourns teens, launches air strikes on Gaza
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Israel mourns teens, launches air strikes on Gaza Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands of mourners gathered on Tuesday in an outpouring of national grief for the burial of three Israeli teenagers whose abduction and killing Israel blamed on Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group it vowed…
- Phuket News
Argentina, Belgium through after extra-time drama
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina, Belgium through after extra-time drama Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina scored in the 118th minute to beat Switzerland and Belgium clung on to defeat the United States in another heart-stopping period of extra time to reach the World Cup quarter-finals amid more extraordinary drama…
- Phuket News
Human traffickers removed from Phuket’s migrant-labor supply chain
PHUKET: Human-trafficking brokers operating on the island are to be cut out of the migrant-labor supply chain under a new system being put in place at the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO). “If any business in Phuket needs more Cambodian laborers, for example, they can apply at the PPEO and we will contact offices in Sa Kaeo, Surin, Trat and…
- Phuket News
Gunpowder found in car of Phuket cop suspected of drive-by killing
PHUKET: Police have ordered a forensic investigation after finding gunpowder in the car of a police officer suspected of playing a role in a fatal Phuket drive-by shooting in May. The officer, who police have declined to name, denied any involvement in the incident the morning after the killing (story here). The gunpowder; the suspect’s private firearm, a 9mm handgun;…
- Thai Life
Lose that pouch belly
PHUKET: To lose weight, you need to eat less and move more – right? What happens if you do that and find that the scale looks better, but the reflection in the mirror stays the same? Many people have been down this puzzling path more than once. Luckily, there is more than one way to skin a cat. Yes, you…
- Phuket News
Phuket Police net fishy drug dealer in possession of B3mn worth of drugs
PHUKET: A Phuket aquarium shop owner was arrested last night in possession of 12,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills and 230 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine). Police moved in to make the arrest after being tipped off about a “big-time” drug distributor who owns an aquarium shop near Bus Terminal 1 in Phuket Town, said Phuket Provincial Commander Krajang Suwannarat.…
- Business News
Investment advisers: Whose side are they really on?
PHUKET: In the world of providing financial planning and investment advisory services, just about everyone claims to be, or tries to pass themselves off as, an expert looking out for your best interest. But just who is an investment adviser really serving and more importantly, who is watching over him or her? For expatriates, asking such questions is important because…
- Phuket News
Weather warning: Tourists cautioned about small boat tours from Phuket today
PHUKET: A small boat warning has been issued until tomorrow due to expected big waves caused by the annual southwest monsoons. “My biggest concern is for small boat operators, especially tour boats carrying a lot of tourists. Wave heights are expected to reach three meters today. Boat operators must be very cautious and check the forecast regularly,” said San Jantharawong,…
- Thailand News
Junta begins overhaul of electoral system
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Junta begins overhaul of electoral system Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand’s military government said on Monday it had begun an overhaul of the electoral system following an announcement by junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha that polls could take place by late 2015. The military took…
- World News
Around 30 migrants found dead on boat near Sicily
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Around 30 migrants found dead on boat near Sicily Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Around 30 migrants were found dead on a boat packed with people off the coast of Sicily, said Italy’s navy which rescued thousands more trying to leave North Africa over the weekend.…
- Thailand News
NCPO opens centers to lure, legalize foreign workers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NCPO opens centers to lure, legalize foreign workers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order has ordered a serious effort to bring foreign migrants into the legal workforce in a bid to minimize the impact of the recent Cambodian labor…
- Pattaya News
Junta revokes passports of Charupong and Jakrapob
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Junta revokes passports of Charupong and Jakrapob The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The military junta yesterday revoked the passports of six dissidents living overseas in a move to block their capacity to travel and force them to return home. The Foreign Ministry cancelled the travel…
- World News
Israel finds bodies of three missing teenagers in West Bank
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Israel finds bodies of three missing teenagers in West Bank Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The bodies of three missing Israeli teenagers were found in the occupied West Bank on Monday and Israel vowed to punish Hamas, the Palestinian group it accuses of abducting and killing…
- Phuket News
Germany and France end African hopes, Suarez sorry
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Germany and France end African hopes, Suarez sorry Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Germany and France snuffed out African hopes and reached the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday with hard-won victories over Algeria and Nigeria, while Uruguay striker Luis Suarez broke his silence to apologise for…
- Phuket News
Landslide prevention meetings take backseat at Phuket’s Big Buddha construction site
PHUKET: Meetings regarding landslide prevention and water management at one of Phuket’s most popular tourist attractions, Big Buddha, have fallen by the wayside. Construction at the site was halted on February 28, prompting a full inspection led by Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak, after Karon villagers filed a complaint alleging that it had caused landslides last year and could do so…
- Phuket News
Phuket first: Vegetarian Festival twice in one year
PHUKET: For the first time in its history, the world famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival will occur twice in one year. This year will see twice the number of 9th lunar months in the Chinese lunar calendar and twice the number of visits from the gods. However, maybe not twice the amount of celebrating. “According to the Chinese lunar calendar there…
- Business News
Insights of a veteran hotelier
At 59 years young, Gerard Tan has some years behind him, but he doesn’t let that slow him down. “We should go out and drink one night,” says Tan as he settled down to a strong coffee in the courtyard of the Millennium Resort Patong. However, he can’t be blamed for his festive mood. After a seven-year stint as the…
- Business News
Facebook is getting less friendly
PHUKET: A few weeks back a friend of mine told me he’d seen a great band at Gig’s Jam Club in Nai Harn. It sounded like an amazing night and I was kicking myself that I missed it. Then I checked my calendar and it turned out I hadn’t been busy that night and was literally just up the road…
