- World News
Three days after Ecuador quake, hopes for survivors dwindle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Three days after Ecuador quake, hopes for survivors dwindle Phuket Gazette / Reuters ECUADOR: Earthquake-stricken Ecuador faced the grim reality of recovering more bodies than survivors as rescue efforts moved into a third day on Tuesday and the death toll climbed over 400 in the poor…
- Phuket News
Swimmer succumbs after leaving ICU
PHUKET: A Thai woman in her twenties, who was pulled unconscious from the surf at Nai Harn Beach on Sunday, died while being transported home yesterday. The woman, who hospital staff refused to name, was one of six people rescued by lifeguards after they ignored red flags warning people not to swim due to dangerous rip currents (story here). Although…
- Phuket News
Surin beachfront operators make one last plea
PHUKET: More than 30 Surin business operators begged the Phuket Governor to postpone the looming demolition of their shops along the recently dubbed ‘Honorary Beach’. Though the well-known Catch Beach Club had already thrown in the towel with its ‘One More Time’ party held on Saturday night (story here), other business operators were hoping that the governor would step in…
- Phuket News
Flames ravage Phuket speedboats
PHUKET: One person was seriously injured as a blaze ravaged a number of speedboats at Chalong Pier this morning. Firefighters operating from five fire trucks spent about three hours battling the flames due to the massive amount of fuel on board, explained Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “The fire wasn’t completely out until about 6am,” Lt Col Panya said.…
- Phuket News
Loose flip-flop causes flip out near monument
PHUKET: A barefoot truck driver who flipped his vehicle near Heroines’ Monument last night said he lost control because his loose shoe got in the way when he tried to hit the brakes. “Subin Kulmuangdoan, 31, was driving back after delivering mushrooms in Patong at about 11:50pm,” reported Capt Santichai Srimai of the Thalang Police. “As he approached the monument,…
- World News
Quake kills 272 along devastated Ecuador coast
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Quake kills 272 along devastated Ecuador coast Phuket Gazette / Reuters Ecuador: The death toll from Ecuador’s biggest earthquake in decades soared to 272 on Sunday as survivors cobbled together makeshift coffins to bury loved ones, lined up for water and sought shelter beside the rubble…
- World News
Myanmar president frees 83 political prisoners
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar president frees 83 political prisoners Phuket Gazette / Reuters YANGON: Myanmar’s new president has pardoned 83 prisoners held for political crimes, officials said Sunday, just weeks after the first government in half a century not connected to the military took office. The order, signed by…
- Phuket News
The Songkran scoreboard
PHUKET: Three deaths marred Phuket’s attempt to keep the road-death toll at zero for the entire Songkran ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign. The province slipped past April 13, typically the most deadly day in the annual campaign, without a single death. However the next day, 41-year-old Swedish national Johnny Daniel Soederstroem died after losing control of his bike, while…
- Phuket News
Algae to blame for murky water in Patong Bay
PHUKET: The cloudy green-colored surf off Patong Beach is a normal occurrence caused by an annual algae bloom, not pollution, officials confirmed today. Vice Governor Kajornkiet Rakpanitmanee made the reassurances today after members of the public became concerned that untreated wastewater was to blame for the usually clear water in Patong Bay turning a muddy green-brown color in recent weeks.…
- Phuket News
Power pole collision kills rider in Cherng Talay
PHUKET: A motorcyclist was killed in a high-speed collision with a roadside power pole in Cherng Talay this morning. Two people were on the motorcycle when it hit the pole along the road from Layan Beach to Ban Don. The other rider, who was wearing a crash helmet, survived, but suffered severe injuries. “The accident occurred at about 6:45am. Boontan…
- Phuket News
Phuket Instagram enthusiasts to join Worldwide InstaMeet
PHUKET: Phuket Instagrammers can celebrate Earth Day with other photography enthusiasts at the Phuket meet-up of the Worldwide InstaMeet 13 on Saturday, April 23. Going by the official hashtag #LifeOnEarthWWIM13, this year’s meeting aims to inspire Instagrammers to discover the beauty and wonder of our planet, in celebration of Earth Day (story here). An ‘InstaMeet’, or meeting of Instagram enthusiasts,…
- Phuket News
Fatal collision: Russian driver in wrong lane
PHUKET: A motorcyclist died after a collision with a car driven by a Russian man who may have simply forgotten which side of the road he was supposed to be driving on. The accident occurred on Saiyuan Road in Rawai at 11:45pm on Thursday night. Russian national Ruslan Gainutdinov, 37, who had arrived in Phuket just three days before the…
- Phuket News
Patong Girl wins Grimme Award
PHUKET: The Grimme Institute in Germany awarded its prestigious Grimme Prize to the lead Thai actress in the movie Patong Girl for her stellar performance in the trilingual film set in Phuket. Aisawanya Areyawattana flew to Marl, Germany to join other cast members on April 8 for the award ceremony, which was broadcast on German television. The Thai-German co-production is…
- Phuket News
Korean airline pilot dies after pre-flight check
PHUKET: The assistant captain of an Eastar Jet aircraft died shortly after complaining of breathing difficulties while preparing for departure from Phuket today. “South Korean pilot Hyunsoo Lim, 41, died in the emergency room at Thalang Hospital at about 8:20am,” said Lt Suporn Muangkai of the Thalang Police. “His co-workers told us that they were conducting pre-flight checks at about…
- Phuket News
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Milo the orangutan on the mend [video]
PHUKET: Milo, an orangutan recently confiscated from Phuket Zoo and moved to the Phang Nga Wildlife Nursery Station, is on the mend from a debilitating blood disorder. “Her legs became weak, she could not walk and did not want to eat,” explained Songkrit Jearanasin, a vet at the station. “After analyzing her blood, we confirmed that she had vasculitis.” Vasculitis,…
- World News
Aftershocks rattle southwestern Japan after quake kills nine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Aftershocks rattle southwestern Japan after quake kills nine Phuket Gazette / Reuters TOKYO: Aftershocks rattled southwestern Japan on Friday after a strong quake the night before killed nine people, injured at least 1,000 and cut power and water across the region, forcing the temporary shutdown of…
- Phuket News
Swede dies in big bike crash, first death in Phuket road-safety campaign
PHUKET: A Swedish man died in a motorcycle accident on his way across Thepkrasattri Bridge in Phuket yesterday evening. The death of Johnny Daniel Soederstroem, 41, marks the first death of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign in Phuket, which coincides with Phuket Bike Week. “He was riding a Honda CB650F, which crashed into the concrete railings along the…
- Thai Life
Crossfit trainer heads to Australia for challenge
PHUKET: A Phuket-trained CrossFit beast, 28-year-old Elise Hoefsmit, took top honors in Thailand in the Reebok CrossFit Games 2016 Open, advancing her to the regional competition in Sydney next month. “I’m over the moon. I put in hours of work to get to this point and I’m just beginning. You can’t fake hard work and it certainly pays off,” Ms…
- Thai Life
Where’s the new generation of sailors?
PHUKET: It was amazing how the ‘good old days’ stories kept popping up as I enjoyed after-race drinks at the Phuket Yacht Club (PYC). I could overhear, again: “Wow, the old sailors are really into it (as always), but what about the new generation? Where are they?” Well, they’re right under our noses, but are hardly seen or heard of.…
- Business News
Local fishermen dish out ‘fishy’ details
PHUKET: Anchovies may be small fry, but they are big business for some fishermen operating out of Phuket’s main fishing port. Known locally as ‘pla ching chang’, anchovies have been a steady source of income for the last 40 years for fishing boat owner Kumnueng Dumead. However, business is not always plain sailing, especially during the rainy season. “During the…
- Phuket News
Pak Khlok residents raise concerns over new marina plans
PHUKET: Pak Khlok residents are worried that a new marina to be built in the area will have a negative impact on the environment and their livelihoods. The Kung Bay Marina is one of four new marinas slated to be built along the Andaman coast as part of a government-supported initiative to develop marine tourism in the region (story here).…
- Phuket News
Governor concerned about failure to arrest Phuket speed demons
PHUKET: With zero arrests made in Phuket for speeding violations by day three of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign, the Phuket Governor has demanded that officers step up their attempts to catch speed demons in the act. “Zero arrests for speeding is good, if that means nobody is speeding. However, I am not confident that this is the…
- Pattaya News
Battling the HIV/AIDS stigma
PHUKET: Eighteen year old ‘Nok’ is a normal, healthy-looking school girl struggling to cope with a dark past brought about by the shame and stigma of being diagnosed HIV positive. She found out she had contracted the disease when she became pregnant at 15 years old. “I was scared and confused. I asked my parents for help and they made…
- Opinion
A Decade Ago: Songkran, road-safety and dive regulations
PHUKET: Despite having significantly fewer people, fewer cars, fewer motorbikes and fewer tour buses on the island ten years ago, the Songkran ‘Days of Danger’ safety goals were much more reasonable. As has become the trend over the last few years, Phuket is joining the nation in a ‘Seven Days of Danger’ campaign this year with the unrealistic provincial goal…
- Phuket News
Police confiscate more 100 vehicles from drunk drivers in Songkran safety blitz
PHUKET: More than 100 drunk drivers in Phuket have had their vehicles confiscated by police in the first three days of the Songkran ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign. Impounding vehicles driven by drunk drivers is part of the National Council for Peace and Order’s ‘No Drink Driving’ campaign during the Songkran holiday. It requires that officers hold vehicles seized…
- World News
Earthquake hits Myanmar, no immediate reports of major damage
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Earthquake hits Myanmar, no immediate reports of major damage Phuket Gazette / Reuters YANGON: An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.9 struck northwestern Myanmar on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said, sending strong tremors through Myanmar, eastern India, Bangladesh and parts of Nepal. There were…
- World News
Facebook’s next frontier: chatbots, live video
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook’s next frontier: chatbots, live video Phuket Gazette / Reuters SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc said yesterday that it has opened up its Messenger app to developers to create “chatbots,” hoping that by simulating one-on-one conversations between users and companies it will expand its reach in customer…
- Thai Life
Profile: Redefining the path to success
PHUKET: Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk has made her mark as a female general manager in the largely male dominated Phuket hospitality industry, and has done it with an ease and elegance entirely her own. Her unassuming demeanor belies her very real, very lofty accomplishments – becoming one of the youngest female hotel directors in Thailand when she was less than 27 years…
- Property
Across the land: Unusual times in Phuket tourism
PHUKET: A typical ‘high season’ in Phuket is usually from November to April every year, with the ‘peak season’ being December and January. However, this has not been the case for 2015/2016, where the high season and peak season has passed by hitting a large speed bump. Almost all businesses on the island – tour companies, sailboat hires, hair &…
- Business News
Finance: What is a contrarian investor to do these days?
PHUKET: If you read my columns regularly, you know that I like to try to approach investing from a contrarian viewpoint. This basically means going against the crowd and the current trend, or essentially buying things when they are beaten and battered down and selling when everyone else loves them and thinks the run will last forever. So what does…
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