- Property
Blame it on the rain – Phuket Property Watch
PHUKET: I was channel surfing the other night when the Hollywood classic “Singin’ in the Rain” came up on screen. Settling deep into my comfy TV chair as my dog Koko lay nearby chasing dream rabbits across imaginary landscapes, things came to an all-too-sudden and conclusive end. Lightning struck near to the house and within seconds a torrential downpour ensued…
- Business News
Asian groups may invest US$150bn in markets abroad
PHUKET: Institutional investors based in Asia could look to invest in excess of US$150 billion in global real estate over the next five years, though not necessarily in domestic markets. According to the latest research from leading global real estate services provider, CBRE, since there is limited investable stock available in Asia, such investors – including banks, insurance companies as…
- Thai Life
Welcome to Phuket, baby!
PHUKET: My daughter, now 7 months old, was born in Bangkok. And even though several months have passed since that life changing event, I clearly remember every minute of that day. But what lead to it I’d be happy to forget. The pain of choosing the right hospital, the perfect doctor we could trust. I was spoiled for choice. Bangkok…
- Phuket News
Body of missing fisherman washes ashore on Phuket
PHUKET: Relatives have confirmed that the body that washed ashore near the northern end of Kamala Beach yesterday morning is that of 34-year-old Non Boonsopha, who was swept out to sea while fishing with friends and family on Phuket on Sunday.Mr Non was fishing from the rocks on Laem Son, the headland at the southern end of Bang Tao Beach,…
- Phuket News
More escaped Rohingya rounded up in Phuket; search continues
PHUKET: Phuket police have taken nine more Rohingya men back into custody, and back to the immigration detention center they had escaped from early on Saturday morning (story here). “We are still searching for the remaining 23,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Col Sanchai Chokhayaikij. “I am sure they are still in Phuket because our officers continue to round them up,”…
- Thailand News
Thailand News: Kidnapped Thais in Nigeria still alive; Taib will lead BRN team; Channel 7 journo seeks help with libel charge; ICT scoffs at online control
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Kidnapped Thai calls to say all safe The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: One of the four Thai workers, who were abducted by an unknown gang in Nigeria, called his company to say he and the others were safe and had not been harmed, Thai Foreign…
- Phuket News
Familiar pattern reveals Phuket meth, not quilt
PHUKET: A man was charged with drug dealing after Phuket City Police pounced on him picking up a package that he claimed was supposed to encase a quilt – not the nearly 8,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills police found.The man, Somsak Srisakul, was presented to the press today at Phuket City Police Station.“We received a tip-off that drugs would be…
- Phuket News
Phuket police force to start growing in November
PHUKET: Phuket’s police force will increase by 700 officers next year, with new officers starting to arrive in November, Royal Thai Police Commissioner Adul Saengsingkaew has announced.The move is to upgrade the island’s force to meet the demands of increasing numbers of tourists and residents on the island.“Phuket will have a bigger and more efficient police force in 2014,” General…
- Phuket News
Tourism Minister mulls compulsory travel insurance for tourists
PHUKET: The Tourism and Sports Ministry would like to make it compulsory for all foreign tourists to have travel insurance before entering the Kingdom because unpaid bills are putting a huge strain on cash-strapped public hospitals in major destinations, particularly Phuket. However, some tourism-business operators warn that this measure might keep away travellers as well as tarnish the country’s image.…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Mob boss Whitey Bulger convicted; Israel to free Palestinians; Dalai Lama website hacked; Mali polls praised
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Whitey Bulger guilty of 11 murders in sweeping Boston mob case Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: James “Whitey” Bulger, a brutal gangster who ruled over Boston’s criminal underworld in the 1970s and ’80s and evaded capture for 16 years, was found guilty of murder and racketeering by a…
- Phuket News
Phuket duo win Tourism Thailand competition
PHUKET: A Phuket-based duo, comprising Richard Brownsdon from UK and Vimalin Chalermporn from Thailand, were recently selected as the winners of “The Little Big Project”, a Thai destination promotion and development competition. Mr Brownsdon and Ms Vimalin won the competition with their project, which focused on “responsible eco-tourism and marine conservation in Phuket”, executed in collaboration with openmindprojects.org. Since May…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Ratchanok wins royal praise; Police warned over chat probe; Yingluck tapped on ivory
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ratchanok wins royal praise The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Newly crowned world champion Ratchanok Intanon could not have been happier to receive bouquets of flowers from the Royal family, especially from Her Majesty Queen Sirikit. And the young star has set new goals – to become the…
- Phuket News
Phuket fighting fish gamblers netted in rubber plantation
PHUKET: A Phuket police raid on a gambling den known for fighting fish netted nine men Saturday morning.“I received a report of a place that was open every weekend for fish gambling,” Thalang Superintendent Sirisak Warasiri said. “So I sent my men to investigate.”“They found a well-established location with tables and chairs for the gamblers,” he said.Police raided the den,…
- Phuket News
18-wheeled truck crash blocks traffic from Kamala to Patong
PHUKET: An 18-wheeled truck slid back on a hill between Kamala and Patong, and is now blocking all lanes of traffic between the popular Phuket tourist destinations.No injuries were reported.“The accident was caused by the truck carrying construction supplies that were too heavy, leading it to slide down and cross the lanes,” said Kamala Superintendent Patanajak Jakkrapan.Police and Ruamjai rescue…
- Phuket News
Rohingya escape from Phuket Immigration
PHUKET: Police scoured mangrove forest around Saphan Hin after having rounded up only four out of 36* Rohingya who to escape from the Phuket Immigration detention center in the early hours of Saturday morning. “We are still searching for the remaining 32 Rohingya. We have contacted all police stations on Phuket and distributed photos of the Rohingya,” Phuket Provincial Police…
- Thai Life
How does your Phuket garden grow?
PHUKET: Oliver Wendell Holmes, an American lawyer, once wrote: “It is better to be seventy years young than forty years old”. I hope he’s right. What we do know from experience is that gardening is a rejuvenating activity that helps to keep one young. How? Simply by doing it. All that rich, oxygenated air filled with fragrance, every visual delight,…
- Phuket News
Phuket FC president’s birthday wish granted with win over Nakhon Pathom
PHUKET: The Islanders last night won their first match in the last 50 days – and first at home for 112 days – beating Yamaha League One (YL1) rivals, Nakhon Pathom United 2-0 on a waterlogged pitch at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town.Marking the occasion, Phuket FC President Pamuke Achiriyachai at half time was presented flowers, a birthday cake and…
- Phuket News
Phuket top officials make merit in honor of HM Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led top Phuket officials in a celebration of HM Queen Sirikit’s 81st birthday early this morning by donating alms to monks.The Governor, all three vice governors and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat, along with 500 officers and local residents, made the dry food offering in front of Queen Sirikit Park.The government officers were all…
- Phuket News
Concern piqued by fetus hammerhead sharks on display at Phuket restaurant
PHUKET: Local concern peaked in Phuket after photos began to circulate of two baby scalloped hammerhead sharks on display in front of a restaurant in Kata last week.“The ones [scalloped hammerhead sharks] at that restaurant clearly show to everybody that they are fetuses – they are not fully grown sharks, so obviously fishermen caught a female shark somewhere, chopped her…
- Phuket News
Phuket teen fatally stabbed during gold snatch
PHUKET: A 17-year-old woman was fatally stabbed as she fought off a man trying to steal her necklace in the early hours of yesterday morning in Rassada. The woman, Wassana Lerdsongkram, had gone to a Lotus Express with her 2-year-old nephew after midnight yesterday morning. Witnesses told police that a man followed her into the store, where his image was…
- Phuket News
Bar girl delivered B100k to Swedish murder suspects, Phuket Court told
PHUKET: As the murder trial of Tommy Soderlund continued yesterday, a police officer told the court that Mr Soderlund was arrested in the hotel room of a Pattaya bar girl who had delivered 100,000 baht to him and his alleged accomplice Johan Ljung. Mr Soderlund and Mr Ljung are charged with murdering Russian-born Swedish national Maksim Schantz in Phuket on…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s elite captains mark 24 years of dodging rocks
PHUKET: A gathering of Phuket’s elite captains and core sailors of the local yachting community last night marked 24 years of dodging rocks with the launch of the fourth edition of the essential cruising guide, Southeast Asia Pilot, that made it possible. The latest edition covers the area from the Andaman Islands in Indian territorial waters to Darwin, Australia. In…
- Phuket News
Trio of top cops gather to promote Phuket safety, again
PHUKET: The two highest-ranking police officers in Thailand joined Phuket’s top cop in Patong yesterday evening in the latest campaign to safeguard tourism revenue by convincing tourists that Phuket is a safe place to vacation. Over 400 police officers gleaned from every station in Phuket gathered in formation at one end of Soi Bangla to be reviewed by the Royal…
- Phuket News
Showdown for Queen’s Cup
PHUKET: This Sunday Phuket will host a major Muay Thai tournament in Patong, in honor of HM Queen Sikirit’s 81st birthday. The tournament was announced by the President of the Amateur Muay Thai Association of Thailand (AMTAT) former Thai Army chief Gen Chetta Thanajaro last Saturday during a press conference at the Tiger Hotel in Patong. The competition on Sunday…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Eiffel Tower bomb alert; Obama calls Putin bored kid; Mona Lisa tomb opened
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Eiffel Tower reopens after bomb scare Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Hundreds of tourists were evacuated from Paris’ Eiffel Tower on Friday afternoon in response to a bomb alert, but it was found to be a scare and the tower was reopened two hours later, police told Reuters.Police…
- Phuket News
Chinese woman, 22, found dead in Phuket resort swimming pool
PHUKET: A 22-year-old Chinese tourist was found dead yesterday morning floating in a resort swimming pool on Koh Lone, a small island about three kilometers east of Rawai.Peng Yu was staying at the Cruiser Island Resort with a Chinese tour group.“A hotel staffer found her floating face down in the swimming pool,” Thada Sodarak of the Chalong Police said.Ms Peng…
- Phuket News
Human trafficker shot, captured in Surat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand arrests suspected leader of human trafficking gang Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Thai authorities have captured the suspected leader of a human trafficking gang, who confessed to selling Burmese migrants into slavery on Thai fishing boats and possibly murdering as many as seven, a Thai official said…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Blair, Annan to join reform effort; Trang Airport reopens; Floods hit north; Politics harms investor confidence
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Blair, Annan to contribute to reform effort The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Former British prime minister Tony Blair and ex-United Nations secretary general Kofi Annan have agreed to contribute to Thailand’s political-reform effort, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday.She said both Blair and Annan had unofficially accepted…
- Phuket News
Logos Hope announces special events for Phuket
PHUKET: MV Logos Hope, carrying the world’s largest floating library, arrives in Phuket on Wednesday and has already announced two special events to be put on by some of its 460 volunteers. The first of the two events will be the ‘Cultural Cafe’, which showcases a variety of cultures, music and dances from around the globe. The event, during which…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Italy’s Honorary Consul – respect and enforce laws
Dr Francesco Pensato, 53, became the Honorary Consul of Italy for Phuket and Southern Thailand in May. A director of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce, Dr Francesco has degrees in Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Sound Engineering, and is the CEO of World Pharm, JK Drinks and King manufacturing company. Here, he talks about the most pressing problems facing Italian tourists…
