Legacy Phuket Gazette

Legacy Phuket Gazette

Archiving articles from the Phuket Gazette circa 1998 - 2017. View the Phuket Gazette online archive and Digital Gazette PDF Prints.
  • Phuket NewsNo mention of crisis as Blatter opens FIFA Congress

    No mention of crisis as Blatter opens FIFA Congress

    PHUKET: FIFA president Sepp Blatter made no reference to the various crises surrounding world soccer’s governing body when he opened the annual FIFA Congress on Tuesday with a short welcoming speech to delegates from 209 countries. The 78-year-old Swiss made no mention of the allegations and investigation into corruption surrounding the awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups or…

  • Phuket NewsAirport Express Bus sets sights on Kata-Karon; seeks security from violent taxi attacks

    Airport Express Bus sets sights on Kata-Karon; seeks security from violent taxi attacks

    PHUKET: The owner of Phuket’s Airport Express Bus is ready to extend his route into Kata-Karon as soon as the safety of his staff and customers can be guaranteed. “I’ve always wanted to run my buses into Kata-Karon,” Prakob Panyawai told the Phuket Gazette today. “Though I have just started talking to the Phuket Land Transport Office, police and officials…

  • Phuket NewsBreaking News: Armed robbers make off with almost a million baht

    Breaking News: Armed robbers make off with almost a million baht

    PHUKET: Employees of a company transferring over 900,000 baht in cash from a gas station in Phuket to a bank were robbed at gunpoint at about 11:30 this morning. The two employees had taken the large sum of cash from the Shell gas station on Phra-Phuket-Keaw Road to the Tesco Lotus in Samkong. They had parked their vehicle at the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxi operators no-show at own media event, fear assembly ban

    Phuket taxi operators no-show at own media event, fear assembly ban

    PHUKET: Taxi operators were no-shows at the media conference they scheduled for themselves at Loma Park yesterday. The operators had called the meeting in order to publicize how the destruction of their booths by police had affected their livelihoods (story here). About 20 reporters showed up at Loma Park for the 6pm meeting, but no taxi drivers appeared. After about…

  • Phuket NewsCause of Phuket wall collapse that killed three still unknown

    Cause of Phuket wall collapse that killed three still unknown

    PHUKET: Police still have not determined the cause of a wall collapse at a construction site yesterday that killed three Myanmar nationals. The accident occurred at the Crystal Wild Resort, a property under construction on the Ao Yon-Khao Khad Road, at about 4:30pm, said Lt Jarus Lempan of the Wichit Police. “The wall at the entrance to the hotel, which…

  • Phuket NewsWhat it takes to stay safe while snorkelling in Phuket waters

    What it takes to stay safe while snorkelling in Phuket waters

    Special Report The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says that about 80 per cent of visitors to Phuket plunge into the Andaman Sea with snorkelling gear to explore Thailand’s treasures below the surface. At least eight of those tourists have died while snorkelling within the last 16 months. The Phuket Gazette‘s Chutharat Plerin and Saran Mitrarat dive into the issue.PHUKET:…

  • Business NewsThe military coup is bullish for the Thai Stock Market

    The military coup is bullish for the Thai Stock Market

    PHUKET: For those of us from the United States and Western Europe, it is hard to imagine a military coup occurring in our home countries. Matter of fact, I get calls from nervous friends and relatives asking if I’m okay and if there are tanks in the street. Well, for those of us that have lived here for quite some…

  • Phuket NewsNo late openings in Patong for World Cup

    No late openings in Patong for World Cup

    PHUKET: The key representative for Patong’s nightlife industry today confirmed that bars in Patong have not requested extended trading hours so that tourists could enjoy World Cup matches live on television. “We haven’t considered asking for extended trading hours as we don’t think the extra hours are worth it,” said Weerawit Krueasombut, President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association. “We…

  • World NewsTaliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault

    Taliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pakistan’s Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for an attack on a security academy at Karachi’s airport on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after an all-night siege by Taliban gunmen at Pakistan’s busiest airport…

  • Thailand NewsWorld Cup live broadcasts threatened by court ruling, warns RS

    World Cup live broadcasts threatened by court ruling, warns RS

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community RS warns it might scrap live telecast if court rules in favour of NBTC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: All 22 million households in the country might face a blackout of the 64 live matches of the World Cup football tournament if the Supreme Administrative…

  • Thailand NewsMore arms found as amnesty ends, junta readies crackdown

    More arms found as amnesty ends, junta readies crackdown

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More arms found as amnesty ends, junta readies crackdown The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The junta is preparing to launch a major offensive on war-grade weapons possession after the amnesty ended yesterday, when several caches of arms found abandoned in several locations across the country.…

  • Thailand NewsBird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Bird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: More than 100 Air Asia passengers were stranded at the Nakhon Si Thammarat airport yesterday morning after the aircraft booked for their flight was damaged, presumably in a collision with…

  • Phuket NewsBreaking news: Three workers dead, one injured in Phuket landslide | Thaiger

    Breaking news: Three workers dead, one injured in Phuket landslide

    PHUKET: Three female workers were killed and one injured in a landslide near Khao Khat Viewpoint in Wichit just before 5pm today. The injured worker was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where she is currently being treated. More information about the incident will be revealed as police investigate the cause of the landslide. — Kritsada Mueanhawong

  • Phuket News“Fake cops’ not fake, but no extortion say Patong Police [video] | Thaiger

    “Fake cops’ not fake, but no extortion say Patong Police [video]

    PHUKET: Three plainclothes officers thought to be impersonators attempting to extort money from a local business yesterday have been verified as new members of the Phuket Provincial Police, said the Patong Police chief. The owner of La Boucherie in Patong submitted CCTV footage to the Phuket Gazette yesterday that showed three men who claimed to be Patong Police officers entering…

  • Phuket NewsPatong taxi drivers plan gathering to ‘express their views’

    Patong taxi drivers plan gathering to ‘express their views’

    PHUKET: Patong taxi operators and beach vendors will stage a media conference this evening to express their opinion about the police-led destruction of taxi booths in the beach town last Friday (story here). “We just want everyone to hear our views and to understand what effect the destruction of our booths has had on us,” said one of the organizers,…

  • Thai LifeClean and convenient

    Clean and convenient

    PHUKET: Phuket Town’s first co-working initiative –The SEA Co-working Space and Marine Cafe – hosted a make-your-own home cleaner workshop at their space on Phang Nga Road on June 5. Led by Green Fins Project Coordinator and environmental health advocate Petchrung “Aey” Sukpong, the workshop covered the process of producing an all natural, all purpose and inexpensive cleaning solution. The…

  • Phuket NewsMMA fight night proves successful

    MMA fight night proves successful

    PHUKET: The choice of Seduction Beach Club and Disco, one of Bangla’s most popular clubs, as the venue for Phuket’s inaugural Full Metal Dojo MMA event proves that the organizers had a lot of confidence in their success. And rightly so. At first impression, it seemed that only a few Thais were among the crowd of 500 or so MMA…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket child, 3, dies after fatal shock

    Phuket child, 3, dies after fatal shock

    PHUKET: A three-year-old boy died in Thalang yesterday after apparently inserting a key into an electrical power strip. The death has prompted police to remind parents and caregivers not to leave young children unattended. Anwaree Yotharak, 3, lived with his grandmother, Romla Yotharak, 75. As Ms Romla showered and prayed yesterday afternoon, she left Anwaree to play by himself in…

  • World NewsRik Mayall is dead | Thaiger

    Rik Mayall is dead

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community British comic actor Rik Mayall dies aged 56 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rik Mayall, the comic actor who pioneered a new wave of British television comedy in the 1980s, died on Monday, aged 56, his management company said. Famed for his anarchic comic style, Mayall…

  • Phuket NewsSuspect arrested for Phuket’s “barking dog’ murder

    Suspect arrested for Phuket’s “barking dog’ murder

    PHUKET: A man wanted for a shooting murder in Chalong last year was arrested yesterday as he tried to slip past the Tah Chat Chai Checkpoint. Chalong Kraithep, 24, and a friend were spotted by officers trying to avoid the checkpoint by passing behind the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization building. “Our officers took off in pursuit,” Lt Col Teerawat…

  • Phuket NewsTrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches

    TrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community TrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: RS Inter announced late yesterday that it has authorised TrueVisions to broadcast all 64 matches of World Cup 2014 tournament. As recently as Friday, RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management were in…

  • World NewsUkraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves

    Ukraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ukraine said on Monday it had reached a “mutual understanding” with Moscow on parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in the east of the country. Kiev gave…

  • Thailand NewsPolice set to crack down on football gambling

    Police set to crack down on football gambling

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police set to crack down on football gambling The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ahead of the World Cup kick-off on Thursday, police have launched an operations centre to crack down on football gambling, both online and offline, as well as SMS lucky draws. According to…

  • Thailand NewsMiss Universe Thailand steps down after social-media row

    Miss Universe Thailand steps down after social-media row

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Miss Universe Thailand steps down after social-media row Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Bowing to pressure, Weluree Ditsayabut yesterday tearfully relinquished her Miss Universe Thailand crown. I give up this title,” the young beauty queen said at a press conference. Appearing before media without a crown…

  • Phuket NewsDruggy driver caught stealing from media-trip tourists

    Druggy driver caught stealing from media-trip tourists

    PHUKET: A druggy tour bus driver confessed to regularly stealing from Chinese tourists after being arrested in Phuket by police yesterday. Kanoksak Promdang, 21, was caught after stealing five bags from members of a Chinese media group from Beijing. “Mr Kanoksak picked of the group of about 30 people from their hotel and took them to Rassada Pier, where they…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket police hunt ‘fake cops’ after possible extortion attempt

    Phuket police hunt ‘fake cops’ after possible extortion attempt

    PHUKET: Police are hunting three men who are believed to have been impersonating police in an attempt to extort a French manager at a restaurant in Phuket today. CCTV footage shows the three men, who claimed to be Patong Police officers, entering La Boucherie in Patong at about 12:30am. “They came in and asked for our manager, who is French,…

  • Phuket NewsWith taxis out, Patong Mayor outlines public transportation plan

    With taxis out, Patong Mayor outlines public transportation plan

    PHUKET: Patong will soon have a network of public vehicles that will circulate at regular intervals, charging a reasonable fee for a ride, if the town’s new mayor has her way. In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette today, Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab and an associate outlined the system that they would like to see replace taxi ranks in the…

  • Thai LifeA deserving destination

    A deserving destination

    PHUKET: Malaysia’s bustling capital is certainly not a secret travel getaway, especially for expats residing in Phuket. The city once served as a major visa-run destination, but Kuala Lumpur (KL) may have dropped off the radar for many people when the Thai embassy there ceased issuing one-year visas. Nowadays, for many Phuket locals, KL is most often referenced when talking…

  • Phuket NewsInvestigation into police flaws in handling Aussie assassination attempt ongoing

    Investigation into police flaws in handling Aussie assassination attempt ongoing

    PHUKET: The investigation into the failure of Patong Police to collect enough evidence to press attempted murder charges against two Australians who opened fire in a confessed assassination attempt will take longer than expected, said the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC). The PACC is withholding the names of the two officers being investigated until the case is closed. “About five…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Prison remains “white’, overcrowded

    Phuket Prison remains “white’, overcrowded

    PHUKET: A pre-dawn search of Phuket Prison today failed to uncover any drugs or contraband hidden by prisoners, again branding the overcrowded facility a “White Prison”. More than 200 officers led by Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon started the mass search at 5am. All of the 2,870 inmates, male and female, were searched. The search included personal lockers, sleeping quarters,…