Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
Phuket officials postpone Christmas Day tsunami drill
PHUKET: Phuket officials have postponed a full-scale tsunami drill that was planned for Christmas Day, following a number of complaints from victims’ families who are preparing for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy on Boxing Day. “We have cancelled plans to hold the full-scale drill on Christmas Day after receiving feedback from the victims’ families, who feel that the drill…
- Phuket News
We’re ready for next Phuket tsunami, says expert
PHUKET: Phuket hosted “The Next Tsunami Zero Lost” conference last week, during which more than 100 experts from about 12 countries reviewed emergency medical procedures to ensure the recovery, safety and survival of tsunami victims. “We are prepared for the next natural disaster, and have continued to work closely with Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] to stay abreast of developments,”…
- Cannabis News
Phuket police net three in crackdown on illegal drugs, firearms
PHUKET: Patong Police netted three men in two raids yesterday as part of a crackdown on illegal drugs and firearms. Somphon Baankluay, 39, and his 18-year-old son Satit were arrested at their house on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road at about 10:30pm. “We were informed by undercover officers that suspects were spotted carrying weapons to and from the house,” Lt Col…
- Phuket News
Phuket Town Post Office opens Drive-Thru service
PHUKET: The main post office in Phuket Town has launched a new drive-through service so that customers no longer need to leave the comfort of their cars to pay bills or send mail. “Our new Drive-Thru Post service is more convenient, and there is no need for us to provide more parking spaces,” said Sukrit Phayu, acting director of the…
- Thailand News
Warrants issued for top cop, driver in police debt-collecting racket
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police corruption scandal: Warrants issued for top cop, driver in debt-collecting racket The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two arrest warrants have been issued for a senior policeman and a civilian who were allegedly part of a debt-collecting racket that authorities say was run by former…
- Thailand News
Squid vendor held for slaying, dismembering girlfriend
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Squid vendor held for slaying, dismembering girlfriend The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Bang Na police in Bangkok have arrested a grilled-squid vendor for allegedly killing his girlfriend and dismembering her body. The victim has been identified as Somyos Manassakorn, 43, whose relatives filed a missing…
- Thailand News
Fishermen rescued off Trang as boat capsizes in heavy seas
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fishermen rescued off Trang as boat capsizes in heavy seas The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Meteorological Department has warned small boats from going to sea while rough conditions continue. On Sunday, strong wind and waves caused a boat to capsize about three nautical miles…
- Thailand News
Gas prices slashed as New Year ‘gift’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Government slashes gas prices as New Year ‘gift’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Energy Policy Committee has lowered the price of diesel fuel and petrol by 1 baht and 2 baht a liter respectively in what has been labelled a New Year gift…
- World News
Security forces storm Sydney hostage siege cafe, gunman named
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Security forces storm Sydney hostage siege cafe, gunman named Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Australian security forces on Tuesday stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were being held at gunpoint, in what looked like the dramatic denouement to a standoff that had dragged on for…
- Thai Life
Balance Matters: Phuket knows the many faces of infidelity
PHUKET: Over the past 42 years, I have listened to stories of infidelity, both from the victims’ and betrayers’ perspectives. Whether from clients, my own personal experience or those of family and close friends, infidelity frequently washes up on our shores. Most victims that I have worked with become plagued with self doubt and intense anger. They frequently question their…
- Phuket News
Tourist hit by parasailing boat at Phuket beach
PHUKET: A Russian tourist is still in hospital after being hit by a speedboat while swimming at a Phuket beach on Wednesday. Sergey Kuzennyy, 55, was swimming outside of a swimming zone when he was struck by the blades of a parasailing speedboat’s propeller, said Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut. Mr Kuzennyy suffered five deep lacerations to his leg…
- World News
Sydney siege man says bombs planted in the cafe and city
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sydney siege man says bombs planted in the cafe and city The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A man holding hostages in a Sydney cafe Monday has demanded that a flag of the Islamic State group be delivered to him and warned that four bombs have…
- Thai Life
Blazing Saddles: The Grape Escape – Cycling from Phuket to Oz
PHUKET: At first blush you’d be hard pressed to find a link between Phuket’s Chalong area and the world-famous Australian wine-producing region of Hunter Valley, some three hours’ drive north of Sydney. But there’s certainly one strong link in the friendly form of Greg and Liz Johnson, the founders of Delish Cafe located in the Fisherman Way Business Gardens on…
- Thai Life
Environment: CSR project helps Phuket crab catchers cut out middlemen
PHUKET: Phuket is one of the most charming and popular tourist destinations in the world, well-known for its gorgeous beaches. The number of people coming to Phuket increases every year, and while this is great for the economy, it has a direct impact on the environment, as well as local communities. However, there are positive aspects to being a world-renowned…
- Thai Life
Island Fever: Phuket bows to smartphones
PHUKET: Heads bowed in silence have always seemed to elicit a tacit sense of reverence. Be it from religious fervor, or perhaps a strict upbringing, but some one-on-one time with God, the J-man or whatever icon takes your fancy remains a voice heard around the world. These days, though, tilted heads and quiet means only one thing: the invasion of…
- Phuket News
Phuket leaders protest proposed election changes
PHUKET: About 100 local leaders protested outside Phuket Provincial Hall this morning against proposed changes to Thailand’s electoral system. “We are here because of changes proposed by the Constitution Drafting Committee on November 25,” said Kittisak Sotraksa, protest leader and president of Phuket’s association of kamnan (subdistrict chiefs) and phu yai baan (village chiefs). “One of the proposals is to…
- Phuket News
Phuket sinkhole accident victim, Molly, 7, dies
PHUKET: Molly Anne Bailey, the 7-year-old girl who was critically injured when the pick-up truck she was travelling in plunged into a sinkhole in central Phuket last week, has died. “Her parents decided to let Molly go by taking her off her life-support on Saturday night after doctors said she had no chance of recovering,” Lt Col Yongyuth Kongmala of…
- World News
Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window – local TV
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window – local TV Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Hostages were being held inside a central Sydney cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window, local television showed on Monday,…
- Thailand News
Floods swamp South: 1 dead, Army help sought
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Floods swamp South: 1 dead, Army help sought The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With flood threats raging in many southern provinces, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has instructed all its units to closely monitor the situation and make the best effort in helping victims. The…
- Phuket News
Phuket official denies B5k fine for beachside parking ‘on sidewalk’
PHUKET: A Karon official has warned island-residents to obey the law or face the consequences, after a Phuket Gazette reader wrote in today about an alleged 5,000-baht fine for parking on a sidewalk. “On Friday, I parked my motorbike near the big statue of a snake [naga] at Karon Beach, like I’ve done for the past 11 years, but this…
- Phuket News
NFL Week 15: Cardinals grind out win over Chiefs
PHUKET: The Arizona Cardinals won their second straight game on Thursday night football by grinding out a 12-7 home win over a lackluster Kansas City Chiefs (7-6), but the win saw their quarterback Drew Stanton leave the game with a worrisome right knee injury. The injury came as a big setback for the Cardinals, now 11-3, who had the best…
- Phuket News
Phuket police rescue Cambodian kids from human-traffickers in Patong
PHUKET: A 10-year-old Cambodian boy and his 6-year-old sister are under close watch by welfare officers after being rescued from human traffickers by Patong Police on Thursday. “The children are now safe in one of our shelters. We will talk to them more on Monday about what is going on, and that may lead us to more suspects,” said Sirumporn…
- Phuket News
Girl remains in ICU after truck crashes into Phuket sinkhole
PHUKET: A 7-year-old girl remains in Vachira Phuket Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the pick-up truck she was riding in crashed into a massive sinkhole in a road in northern Phuket on Thursday. The sinkhole first started to form last month when heavy rains washed away part of Rural Road 4008 off Thepkrasattri Road, near Bang Jo Prison in…
- Thailand News
Govt readies New Year ‘presents’ for citizens
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt readies New Year ‘presents’ for citizens The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The government has many New Year “presents” for the public, Cabinet members said yesterday, including transparency in state operations, bicycle lanes, and no ATM fees among the planned gifts. From next week onwards,…
- Phuket News
Phuket jet-skis get green light
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has revealed a raft of new rules for jet-ski operators to abide by when renting their jet-skis out to tourists at Phuket beaches. “Jet-ski operators who do not follow the rules will be punished,” Governor Nisit assured the media at a press conference held at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday. “The new rules will first be enforced…
- Phuket News
Officials move to revoke Phuket developers’ land titles
PHUKET: Officials are calling for 17 land title deeds to be revoked for about 5 billion baht worth of property deemed to be within Sirinath National Park. The call follows an investigation, first launched in 2012, into 379 plots suspected of encroaching on park land. “Of the plots we investigated, 17 had NorSor 3 or Chanote land documents that were…
- Phuket News
Phuket police search for B7mn vanishing cream fraud suspect
PHUKET: A total of 17 people yesterday filed a complaint to Phuket City Police against a woman who had allegedly disappeared with 7 million baht that was intended to pay for vanishing cream. Chonticha Jampa-ngern, 32, told police that she had invested an undisclosed sum with her friend Netwimon, 31, so that Ms Netwimon could start selling the beauty cream.…
- Phuket News
Eastin Yama property makes inroads into Phuket tourism market
PHUKET: Perched on the top of a hill, a prime piece of real-estate in the heart of Kata, Eastin Yama Hotel Phuket’s idyllic location already gives it an advantage over rival resorts in the area. Part of the Absolute chain of hotels, the four-star Eastin Yama opened for business in October, but its savvy approach and innovative, sophisticated style has…
- Phuket News
Hundred-strong task force begins Phuket park probe
PHUKET: A task force of 100 officers arrived in Phuket this morning to begin examining hundreds of land documents for more than 2,000 rai of land in Sirinath National Park for suspected encroachment. The national-level task force was created to look into the suspect Phuket plots by Nipon Chotiban, director-general of the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation…
- Thai Life
Gardening: Phuket, some call it “fuk thong’
PHUKET: Halloween, the eve of All Hallows Day, has come and gone. Long ago, my family spent a year in California, where the kids made lanterns with ghoulish faces and scary costumes for the evening house-to-house visitations. Here in Phuket, there has been no “trick-or-treating”, no Jack-o’-lanterns, no pumpkin pie, no monster pumpkins. Incidentally, the world record weight for a…
