- Phuket News
Phi Phi Police struggle to stomp out gibbon touts
PHUKET: Unaware of officers failing to find and arrest an illegal gibbon tout regularly operating at a specific time and location on Phi Phi Don, the recently appointed Phi Phi Police Chief Jetsada Junphum has taken matters into his own hands. “I did not see the video sent to my officers until the Phuket Gazette sent it directly to me,”…
- Thailand News
Man assaulted, pregnant girlfriend abducted in taxi
BANGKOK: A taxi driver, along with his accomplices, reportedly robbed and assaulted a Myanmar passenger before abducting his two-month-pregnant girlfriend on Saturday. Ong Su, 34, told police that he and his 22-year-old girlfriend hailed a green-yellow taxi with an unknown licence plate number from the Rangsit area to go to Samut Prakan province. Two men joined them in the taxi…
- Phuket News
Deaf man dies in alleged suicide
PHUKET: Police have yet to rule out foul play as they investigate the alleged suicide of a deaf man in Thalang yesterday morning. Officers received a report that Amnach Utsaha, 30, had supposedly shot himself in the head with a homemade gun while in bed with his wife Boonruay Aree, 44. “According to Ms Boonruay, Mr Amnach had been complaining…
- Phuket News
Triathlon champ’s return to form at Challenge Laguna Phuket
PHUKET: A field of over 600 individual pro and age group athletes representing 41 nationalities, crowded Laguna Phuket this weekend to participate in the 2015 Challenge Laguna Phuket triathlon. Switzerland’s Ruedi Wild successfully defended his 2014 Challenge Laguna Phuket title in 3:54:45 (swim 21:29, bike 2:12:17, run 1:18:21), breaking his own record of 4:02:43, despite being out of action for…
- Phuket News
Phuket locals protest US Amb’s lese majeste comments
PHUKET: About 100 Phuket locals gathered at Provincial Hall this morning to protest comments made by the recently appointed United States Ambassador to Thailand, Glyn Davies, about the increase in lese majeste sentences under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). “Ambassador Glyn Davies gave a public speech on Wednesday at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand in Bangkok…
- World News
Beijing aims to refill medicine chest with
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Beijing aims to refill medicine chest with ‘Made in China’ drugs Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China, already a global powerhouse in high-tech areas from solar panels to bullet trains, is turning its industrial might to the challenge of making more of its own drugs for…
- World News
World leaders to launch bid for climate breakthrough in Paris
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World leaders to launch bid for climate breakthrough in Paris Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: World leaders will launch an ambitious attempt on Monday to hold back the earth’s rising temperatures, urging each other to find common cause in two weeks of bargaining meant to steer…
- World News
Indonesia ferry hits trouble on way to Singapore, 97 rescued
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia ferry hits trouble on way to Singapore, 97 rescued Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Almost 100 people were rescued when a ferry sailing towards Singapore from the Indonesianisland of Batam hit a floating object and reportedly started to sink, authorities in the city-state said. Ferry…
- Phuket News
Myanmar couple arrested for dealing meth
PHUKET: Police arrested two Myanmar nationals in possession of more than 250 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) on Friday. Thiha Soe, 32, and his wife, referred to by police only as Moe, were apprehended after officers received a tip-off from Rassada Subdistrict Chief (Kamnan) Chanchai Tantawacheerapan. “Mr Chanchai contacted officials after hearing complaints about two plant workers selling drugs…
- Business News
Business Buzz: Cash in on high season
PHUKET: We are coming into the high season and the tourists will be coming, so no matter what their numbers, this is the time to take advantage. There are a couple of things that we can do as business owners to protect our profits and position ourselves for the coming year. The first is to try to avoid the price…
- Phuket News
Chinese diver dies at Similan National Park
PHUKET: A Chinese diver died yesterday during a dive trip with Similan Seven Sea Co Ltd at Koh Bon, Similan National Park. Zhang Lin, 23, was found floating unresponsive at a depth of about 11.9 meters by divers from another dive company. “Ms Zhang was found with her regulator no longer in her mouth by divers from Khao Lak Scuba…
- Phuket News
IKEA opens Asia’s first Pick-up & Order Point in Phuket
PHUKET: The first IKEA ‘Pick Up & Order Point’ in Asia was officially launched in Phuket yesterday, providing service to Thailand’s southern provinces. The newest addition to the Swedish retailer’s furniture and home furnishings business, located on the bypass road in the Biz Town estate, aims to cater to the island’s growing business, real estate and tourism sectors. “Phuket has…
- Phuket News
Mobile service providers working to implement 911
PHUKET: The recent adjustment to allow anyone in an emergency to dial the 911 hotline for help has yet to be implemented by all phone service providers in Phuket. Though the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed today that the number is available nationwide, 911 is in fact currently available only via AIS and TrueMove mobile services, as it has…
- Opinion
Opinion: Keeping up the pressure to rid Phuket of jet-skis
PHUKET: All stakeholders in Phuket’s future should thank five visiting ambassadors who kept the pressure on the provincial government to do something about the island’s notorious jet-ski rental industry. As opined many times, this particular industry seems to possess a curious ability that allows it to somehow pass undetected through all barriers of law, order, courtesy and simple common sense.…
- Thai Life
Diving: Saving mantas with photos
PHUKET: Phuket divers have been regularly asked to participate as citizen scientists over the last several years, helping ‘Spot The Leopard Shark’ to better understand shark populations and to collect data for ‘Project Seahorse’ as they determined the sustainability of fishing practices for seahorses in Thailand. Now, a new project is afoot in the Kingdom, one destined to improve conservation…
- Thai Life
Asia Superyacht Rendezvous prepares to sail in to Phuket
PHUKET: The Asia Superyacht Rendezvous will shine bright again in Phuket from December 16-18, when guests can enjoy the many facets of this invitation-only event. This is Asia’s largest rendezvous of superyacht owners, guests, VIPs and crew as they gather together to have fun just before the hectic Christmas season. Latest superyachts to confirm their participation are M/Y Samax, M/Y…
- Phuket News
Beach boss bans umbreallas at Surin
PHUKET: Disobedient vendors on Surin Beach have given the president of the Cherng Talay Administration Organization (OrBorTor) ‘no choice’ but to designate it as one of Phuket’s ‘virgin beaches’. Though a 10 per cent zone had already been marked, beach vendors renting out umbrellas and offering other services there failed to follow the beach management rules put in place by…
- Phuket News
Thalang Police hunt serial bag snatcher
PHUKET: Police are hunting a possible serial snatch thief who made off with a woman’s purse Wednesday night in Thalang. Namthip Kritkarom, 22, was on her way back from the Loy Krathong festival when the suspect grabbed her bag from the front of her motorbike while driving past her on a black Honda Click, confirmed Lt Suporn Muangkai of the…
- Phuket News
Six-meter-long snake found under Phuket home
PHUKET: A monster python, six-meters long, was caught trying to beat the heat under a Samkong residence’s house this afternoon. “The snake was found in the cool dirt under the house,” Watchara Srikacha, a Kusoldharm rescue worker, told the Phuket Gazette. “We suspect that it was looking for a safe place to avoid the sun.” It took several rescue workers…
- Phuket News
Airport pier project sails forward with multi-million-baht design budget
PHUKET: A 25-million-baht budget was approved for the Phuket International Airport pier project, which will allow tourists to take a ferry down the west coast to Patong, confirmed officials yesterday. The budget for the ‘From The Boat to The Plane’ project, which was tabled in 2013 by Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut (story here), is set to cover the…
- Phuket News
Mandatory travel insurance tabled in Phuket
PHUKET: The Phuket Governor vowed to raise tourist travel insurance issues to those capable of making changes to national legislation following the honorary consul meeting yesterday (story here). “If a tourist is not covered by insurance in their home country, they are setting themselves up for a difficult situation if they get injured while on holiday here,” said Phuket Governor…
- Phuket News
Phuket cyclist wins “Tour of Wiengsa Crown Prince Hospital’ bike race
PHUKET: Local cyclist Daniel Amby celebrated his victory in the ‘Tour of Wiengsa Crown Prince Hospital’ bike race held in Surat Thani on November 22. On a rolling, 85-kilometer course, Daniel was able to break away early with Pichet Puengrang, recent winner of the Thanyapura Classic, and another cyclist. They created a gap of three minutes, but then Daniel was…
- World News
Child brides in Africa to more than double by 2050
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Child brides in Africa to more than double by 2050 Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The number of child brides in Africa will soar to 310 million by 2050 from 125million now if current trends persist, due to slow rates of reduction combined with rapid population…
- World News
Myanmar’s Suu Kyi blames lack of safety regulations for deadly landslide
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar’s Suu Kyi blames lack of safety regulations for deadly landslide Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A disregard for the rule of law in the jade mining industry in Myanmar had made accidents such as the landslide that killed more than 100 people at the weekend…
- Phuket News
Thailand adopts 911 as emergency number
PHUKET: Thailand has officially adopted 911 as its emergency hotline number, confirmed Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada. The decision to implement the emergency number was due to tourists’ familiarity with the 911 hotline number already, prompting several other countries to implement its use as well. “The Cabinet approved the use of the number months ago,” said Governor Chamroen. “For some reason,…
- Phuket News
Essential Phuket honorary consul meetings resume
PHUKET: Nearly two years after the once regular governor-honorary consul meetings ceased, the important talks linking 16 national representatives and the provincial government resumed yesterday. At the meeting, Pornphan Sittichaivijit, the Royal Norwegian Honorary Consul, tabled nine different issues of concern: travelling insurance, beach management, illegal tour guides, quality tourists, Thai culture public relations, government and private sector cooperation, traffic,…
- Phuket News
Phuket safe, confirm police after US issues world-wide travel alert
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police confirmed that international-quality security was in place ahead of the United States Embassy in Bangkok sending a security message to US citizens yesterday. The US travel alert set to expire on February 26 stated: “The State Department alerts US citizens to possible risks of travel due to increased terrorist threats. Current information suggests that ISIL (aka…
- Phuket News
OrBorTor boss not worried by beach businesses’ 10mn-baht lawsuit
PHUKET: The controversial president of the Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) yesterday shrugged off a 10-million-baht lawsuit filed against him for alleged dereliction of duty. “The owners of two establishments, named Beach Bar and Paul Restaurant, located on Laypang Beach are claiming that I ruined their businesses,” OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran told the Phuket Gazette. The two restaurants were…
- World News
Amazon ads for Nazi-themed TV show pulled from N.Y. subway
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Amazon ads for Nazi-themed TV show pulled from N.Y. subway Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Advertisements for a new Amazon.com Inc show featuring Nazi-inspired imagery have been pulled from a busy New York City subway line after Governor Andrew Cuomo intervened, a transit spokesman said late…
- Phuket News
B10,000 reward for sea dumping tip-offs, says marine chief
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office has vowed to punish anyone caught dumping waste or rubbish into Phuket’s waters and reward those who provide tip-offs leading to arrests. Phuripat Theerakulpisut, chief of the Phuket Marine Office, signed off on a warning letter that reiterated that officers will strictly enforce the law. Those caught violating the law face up to six months…
