Legacy Phuket Gazette
- World News
Pele’s son sentenced to 33 years in prison
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pele’s son sentenced to 33 years in prison Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The son of former Brazil striker Pele has been sentenced to 33 years in prison for laundering money earned from drug trafficking, Brazilian media reported. Edinho, who played as a goalkeeper for his…
- Thailand News
Thailand News: No retreat from democracy; Reporter freed; Soldiers play cat-and-mouse with protesters
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘No retreat from democracy’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand is not retreating from democracy and seeks understanding from its economic and strategic partners while the country undergoes political reforms, a top Thai official said yesterday. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs, was…
- World News
Airlines resume Bali flights as ash cloud dissipates
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australian airlines resume flights as ash cloud dissipates Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Australian airlines forced to cancel flights due to a volcanic ash cloud from Indonesia’s Sangeang Api volcano resumed flying on Sunday as the plume cleared. With the threat to Australian airspace now abating,…
- Phuket News
Did you win a private Phuket airplane ride?
PHUKET: Two lucky people out of the more than 500 who took part in the Phuket Gazette’s 2014 Reader Survey have won a free ride over the island in the company’s new airplane. Each person who completed the survey was issued a lucky number. The winning numbers, drawn late yesterday, are 8584 and 7546. Maintaining our promise of anonymity in…
- Phuket News
Irish teacher dies after motorbike crash in Phuket
PHUKET: An Irish teacher at Baan Maireab School in Phuket died today from head injuries sustained in a motorbike accident last night. Denis Bates, 30, was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital at about 11pm. The Irishman, originally from Dublin, had been in a coma until he succumbed to his head injury at 12:10pm today. “He died of intracerebral hemorrhaging,” confirmed…
- Thailand News
Gen Prayuth says reconciliation, reform to take about a year – elections to wait
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gen Prayuth says reconciliation, reform to take about a year Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that a process of reconciliation between political factions and reforms would take about one year, and only after…
- Phuket News
Driving courses to be offered in English, Russian and Burmese for Phuket foreigners
PHUKET: Several educational institutions on the island will soon offer training courses in English, as well as Russian and Burmese, for foreigners wanting to get a driver’s licence. The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five educational institutions on the island – Rajabhat University, Thalang Technical College, Phuket Technical College, Phuket Polytechnic College and…
- Phuket News
Kick the habit with Vachira Phuket Hospital’s “No Tobacco Day’ event
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital is holding a “No Tobacco Day” event today to provide advice and strategies for island smokers who want to kick the habit. “The event takes place from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Staff will offer advice to those who want to quit smoking,” Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Jessada Chungpaibulpatana told the Phuket Gazette. “Staff from our International Department…
- Phuket News
Short-circuited incubator burns Phuket baby
PHUKET: A newborn Phuket baby suffered burn wounds after a fire started in its incubator, an accident dubbed “unpreventable” by the hospital director. The baby was two days old when a short-circuit in the incubator’s light bulb set fire to the newborn’s swaddling blanket, explained Thana Bookahoot, director of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital. “Nurses immediately saved the…
- Phuket News
Pirate-goods sellers protest being “exploited’ through alleged government extortion
PHUKET: A barrage of complaints were voiced by pirate-goods sellers during a protest against allegedly being forced to pay “too much” extortion money to a variety of government officers based in Bangkok. “They come for money every day, but it’s always a different officer,” said one of the protesters, who declined to be named. “They ask for 3,000 baht or…
- Phuket News
NCPO to keep Phuket radio stations off air, concerned about rogue DJs
PHUKET: Despite not being under investigation by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), radio stations in Phuket have been ordered to remain off air due to concerns that rogue DJs could cause disharmony, the Phuket Gazette was told. “The private radio stations are to remain off air because we don’t want to chance someone talking on air about…
- Thai Life
Hold on to your skirt!
PHUKET: Beware, fellow ladies of Phuket: skirts are not advised at the island’s newest tourist attraction, as you might feel compelled to strike some compromising poses once you walk into Baan Teelanka – otherwise known as the Upside Down House. So, be sure to plan ahead and throw on a pair of pants. Baan Teelanka is a place of dizzying…
- Phuket News
Breaking News: Phuket pirated goods vendors protest paying off officials
PHUKET: Sellers from about 40 pirated goods shops in Phuket took to the streets today in protest of allegedly being forced to pay “too much” money to a variety of government offices in Bangkok. Protesters are currently on the streets holding signs saying, “Closed because we cannot afford paying extortion money”. — Kritsada Mueanhawong
- Phuket News
Phuket FC take on the Navy TC
PHUKET: Seventh place Phuket FC take on fifth place Navy FC at Sattahip Navy Stadium in Chonburi tomorrow evening at 6pm their next Yamaha League One fixture.
- Pattaya News
Phuket rental operator takes stand against undesirable tourists
Arnut Lowlarng, 39, is a native of Patong and the new President of the Patong Bike and Car Rent Association. He has a vocational certificate in construction from Phuket Technical College and has been renting vehicles in Patong for more than 22 years. Here, he talks about what kind of tourists he’d like to see in Phuket and the issues…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s low season saviors: Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners
PHUKET: The sacred oxen have spoken – the rainy season is upon us – and it will be a year of abundant water and food. The year will also be abundant in Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners – the financial saviors of Phuket’s low season. Down here on the island, far from the rice-reliant agriculture industry, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony…
- Phuket News
Protect Phuket’s tourism
PHUKET: As the latest edition of the Phuket Gazette hits newsstands this weekend, the nationwide curfew imposed by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has already done considerable harm to Thailand’s all-important tourism sector. Indeed, no province stands to suffer more than Phuket if international confidence in Thailand as a safe tourism destination deteriorates any further. Hence, the…
- Phuket News
Nadal masters young apprentice, Murray hits form
PHUKET: Rafa Nadal provided a claycourt lesson for one of the game’s young apprentices at the French Open when he crushed rising Austrian Dominic Thiem with a masterly display to reach the third round on Thursday. The eight-times champion showed flashes of his intimidating best in a 6-2 6-2 6-3 win that was tougher than the scoreline suggested, but was…
- Business News
Economic outlook positive despite coup
PHUKET: Business and economic leaders have expressed confidence in the economy despite the uncertainty surrounding the direction the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) will take in the coming weeks and months. The heads of several leading property development companies, including Italian-Thai Development Plc, Sansiri Plc and Land and House Plc, all of which have large projects underway or…
- Phuket News
Lost French tourist rescued from Phuket jungle
PHUKET: A hastily formed search instigated by an expat Phuket Tourist Police Volunteer led to the safe recovery of 25-year-old French tourist Erik Pourier, who became lost in the jungle at the Khao Phra Thaew wildlife sanctuary in Thalang in the dark. On his first trip to Phuket, Mr Pourier had rented a motorbike to explore the island, and decided…
- World News
Ukraine separatists down army helicopter, 14 killed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine separatists down army helicopter, 14 killed Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pro-Russian separatists shot down a Ukrainian army helicopter on Thursday, killing 14 soldiers including a general, as government forces pressed ahead with an offensive to crush rebellions in the east swiftly following the election…
- Phuket News
Light-rail proposed to trundle through Phuket Town
PHUKET: Plans proposing that Phuket’s long-awaited light-rail system travel through the heart of Phuket Town will be revealed at a public hearing next Tuesday. The news follows a meeting of high-ranking officials, including Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, yesterday. Sirigate Apirat of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning told the Phuket Gazette today that the proposed route for…
- Phuket News
Phuket stab victim dies en route to hospital
PHUKET: A Phuket woman who was stabbed in her garden this afternoon died as her neighbors rushed her to Thalang Hospital. Nongluk Thavorn, 42, was found screaming for help with a knife still lodged in her head. “I climbed over the wall into her garden. I saw her on the ground bleeding with the knife stuck in her head, behind…
- Phuket News
Phuket airwaves remain silent
PHUKET: Community radio stations throughout the island remain silent today, four days after orders were handed down from the National Council for Peace and Order [NCPO] on May 25. “It is best to contact the navy about the current situation concerning radio broadcasting,” said Sopon Keimkarn, a Public Relations Department (PRD) staffer in Phuket. The navy today confirmed that there…
- Phuket News
Unidentified body washes ashore at Mai Khao Beach
PHUKET: Police are trying to establish the identity of a man whose naked body was found washed up on Mai Khao Beach this morning. A local beach resort staffer notified police after a tourist made the gruesome discovery at about 7am. “From our initial examination of the body, we believe the man died about three days before his body was…
- Phuket News
Video Report: Winners return to defend their titles at Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: The entry list is growing with a strong line-up of local and international boats already signed-up for 2014, including a number of past winners who are back to defend (or reclaim) titles. Last year’s Firefly 850 class winner, Twin Sharks, and past winner Moto Inzi are both back to reignite rivalries. Regular Raceweek competitor Stuart Williamson, who placed second…
- Phuket News
MMA enters Phuket
PHUKET: More than 500 people are expected to show up at Phuket’s first MMA gala, and they are in for a treat. “Thai culture understands combat sports. And the Kingdom is on the cusp of accepting MMA with open arms. We’re just trying to give a little push,” explains Ree Webster, the event’s co-organizer,when asked about the motivations behind his…
- Pattaya News
Army considers lifting curfew in Phuket
PHUKET: The military is considering lifting the curfew in Phuket and other tourist destinations such as and Pattaya, provided there are no signs of unrest in those areas. The consideration follows National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha being informed of how the nationwide curfew was badly hurting tourism-dependent businesses, NCPO deputy spokesman Col Nattawat Chancharoen…
- World News
Flight MH370: Doubt raised over whether pings came from missing Malaysia jet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Doubt raised over whether ‘pings’ came from missing Malaysia jet Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The U.S. Navy described as “speculative and premature” a media report on Thursday that said four acoustic pings at the centre of the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner are…
- Phuket News
Marina canal dredging resumes despite environmental concerns
PHUKET: The dredging project to improve access to Koh Kaew marinas, which was halted earlier this month due to environmental concerns, has started again. The decision to continue with the dredging of the Koh Kaew Canal (story here) was reached yesterday after lengthy discussions among the Phuket Governor, the Phuket Marine Office chief, the local subdistrict chief and Jitti Intaracharoen…
