Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Entertainment
BISP students showcase their artistic talents [video]
PHUKET: The British International School Phuket (BISP) Year 13 Visual Arts Exhibition was officially opened earlier this month, and students’ work will be available for viewing until April 24. The exhibition includes 48 unique pieces by three different student artists. In addition, the Year two students will have their elephant prints on display. The following is a transcript of the…
- Phuket News
Safe start to Songkran Seven Days of Danger
PHUKET: The nationwide Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the Songkran holiday came into effect at midnight last night, and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket) has confirmed there have been no deaths reported in the first 12 hours of the campaign. “The Seven Days of Danger campaign started at midnight and will run from…
- Business News
Jagota sponsors three new international music and theater events in Phuket [video]
PHUKET: Phuket’s burgeoning events scene received a boost this week with the announcement that leading food supplier Jagota Brothers has signed an agreement with Events International [EI], organizer and promoter of the Phuket Gazette’s series of “Headline Events”, to sponsor three upcoming musical and theatrical performances on the island. The agreement will see Jagota as the title sponsor for these…
- Phuket News
Phuket Governor offers safe Songkran blessings
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut hosted more than 300 people, including the island’s three vice governors, at his official residence in Phuket Town this morning for a traditional Songkran water blessing to start off the Thai New Year holiday. Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa led the first blessing of Governor Maitri. “Thank you for your support and for helping us develop our…
- Phuket News
Phuket governor lends muscle to lake-filling investigation
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday lent the weight of his office to the investigation of a lake-filling project in Samkong with the aim of assisting Rassada Municipality to file a police complaint. The project, at Srisuchart Grandview housing estate, began as a municipality-ordered anti-erosion measure at the lake, but has become a noisy, dusty public nuisance and health threat, according…
- Phuket News
Phuket doesn’t need more tuk-tuks, says tuk-tuk chief
PHUKET: Seven months after his last appeal to legalize tuk-tuk drivers on the island, Sakol Srisompoch filed yet another complaint yesterday, but this time it was against legalizing them. In September, Mr Sakol led a group of legal tuk-tuk drivers to file a third formal complaint in their campaign to stamp out the illegal tuk-tuk trade in Patong (story here).…
- Thailand News
Special Report: Flaws hinder Thailand’s human-trafficking crackdown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Special Report: Flaws hinder Thailand’s human-trafficking crackdown Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: After a two-hour trek through swamp and jungle, Police Major General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot halts in a trash-strewn clearing near Thailand’s remote border with Malaysia. “This is it,” he says, surveying the remains of a…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Songkran ‘Seven Days’ begins; Police issue safety tips for South; Malaysian ATM skim gang at work
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Songkran holiday ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ safety campaign begins The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With the festive Songkran mood in the air, organisations from various sectors have come together to make the upcoming holiday “safe and happy” for everyone. Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday expressed…
- Phuket News
Phuket banker dies after car crashes into pond
PHUKET: A Phuket banker died yesterday morning after he lost control of his car on the old airport road in Baan Nai Mon and flipped it into a small pond. A local farmer, who asked not to be named, said that residents were unable to save Phubadee Marasa, 26. Additionally, the first two rescue workers who arrived on the scene…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Three cheers for clean police
PHUKET: The opening of the Karon Police Station in 2012 to serve the southwest of the island was a well-intended move, one expected to take pressure off the Chalong police who were previously responsible for the entire south of the island. Events in recent months have shown that the truncation did not stop the scandals that have plagued the Chalong…
- Phuket News
Wastewater could lead to shutdown of Karon hotels
PHUKET: The president of the Karon Hotels Association agreed on Wednesday that hotels should be shut down for releasing untreated wastewater into the beach town’s canal. Angkana Tanetvisetkul voiced her support for drastic action at a public meeting led by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut aimed at improving the wastewater and garbage problems in Karon. The meeting was held to address…
- Phuket News
The new generation of F1
PHUKET: Far from the boiling heart of Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, wrapped in the steamy green of endless palm oil plantations, lies another heart. It doesn’t beat all the time like the city, but when it does, it pounds hard and loud and forces adrenaline to course through the veins. Sepang International Circuit, found 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur International Airport…
- Property
Walking the brand dogma: Hotel-branded residences
PHUKET: One of my recurring nightmares is that of a tropical island sunset framed by a sinking orange ball, and the erotically charged image of a scantily-clad, swimsuit-model type gently grasping onto the edge of a mega-villa infinity swimming pool, staring aimlessly onto an empty horizon. Please bear with me, I have not entirely lost my mind. Not yet anyway,…
- Phuket News
Australian Govt warns Deep South extremists “may be targeting westerners’
PHUKET: The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has upgraded its travel advisory, warning travellers that extremists in the Deep South provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat may be targeting westerners. The advisory also includes Songkhla province, home of the bustling southern city Haad Yai, in its warning (click here). “We strongly advise you not to travel at…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Knife-wielding student wounds 22 in Pennsylvania school
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Knife-wielding student wounds 22 in Pennsylvania school Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A 16-year-old student wielding two knives went on a stabbing rampage in the hallways of a Pittsburgh-area high school on Wednesday, wounding 22 people before he was tackled by an assistant principal, officials said.…
- Phuket News
Phuket hunter shot dead, police probing gun misfire claims
PHUKET: Police are not yet convinced that a man shot dead while hunting with friends in central Phuket last night died from his .22 rifle accidentally discharging while the men were climbing a hill in the dark. Maj Kittipoom Tinthalang of the Thalang Police was called to a small village in the foothills of the protected forest area near Bang…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Indonesia election poll shows no easy PDI-P win, rise in Islamic party support
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia election shows no easy PDI-P win, rise in Islamic party support Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Indonesia’s likely next leader may have a bumpier-than-expected route to the presidential palace after early counting in Wednesday’s parliamentary vote suggested his party will have to cut a deal…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Yingluck calls for Lese Majeste probe; No Bangkok protests for Songkran; Romanians caught on credit card fraud
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CAPO warns govt officials against talking to PDRC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The visit of anti-government protesters to three government offices has prompted the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to issue a warning to state officials and civil servants not…
- Phuket News
PDRC allows Phuket Provincial Hall to re-open
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Hall officially re-opened yesterday after being closed by anti-government protests for four and a half months. The opening followed an order from People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) leader Suthep Thaugsuban. Mr Suthep called protest co-ordinators from every province to a meeting in Bangkok on Saturday, Phuket protest co-ordinator Amnuay Kumban explained to the Phuket Gazette today. “Mr…
- Phuket News
Naked Canadian arrested after putting on a show for shoppers
PHUKET: As women screamed and shouted, a man identified by police only as “David” walked, danced and jumped on a wall next to Jungceylon last night – buck naked. When police arrived, Mr David was scaling a wall next to the mall. He resisted arrest, leading officers to handcuff him. His evening ended soberly. “We smelled alcohol on him, so…
- Phuket News
Phuket officials prepare for Songkran with alcohol-free play zones
PHUKET: With Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut’s announcement today of designated water-play zones for this year’s Songkran celebrations, Phuket water-players may start making plans to party. The announcement made it clear that the sale, purchase and consumption of alcohol will be banned within the Phuket water play zones and there will be no exception for any famous area, including, of course,…
- Phuket News
10-year-old taken off life support after Phuket motorbike accident
PHUKET: The 10-year-old girl critically injured in a motorbike accident with her older sister last week died on Monday at Vachira Phuket Hospital after being taken off life support. “Rattanawadee Tukthin was taken off life support because her brain had been so severely damaged in the crash. Our medical team did their best to save her life, but she remained…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Indonesian election underway for new parliament
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesians vote for new parliament, stage set for presidential poll Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Indonesians began voting for a new parliament on Wednesday in an election likely to be dominated by the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), which it turn should give a further boost…
- Phuket News
Phuket FC look to hold their place in the Thaicom FA Cup
PHUKET: Tonight, Phuket FC look to hold their place in the Thaicom FA Cup 2014 as they travel to Khao Plong Stadium in Chainat. They will kickoff at 6pm against the Wang Mun Tambon Administration Office. Organized by the Football Association of Thailand, The Thaicom FA Cup is a knockout football tournament now into its 19th year. The cup winner…
- Food
JW Marriott Phuket’s Kabuki restaurant entertains all of the senses
PHUKET: Let’s be honest – on the scale of things, Japanese cuisine isn’t amongst the most spectacular. Its esthetic appeal, restraint in the use of spices and pure flavors are pleasing, but probably won’t provide you with the hefty injection of endorphins in the way a spicy Indian curry or our daily bowl of tom yum goong does. However, there…
- Phuket News
Six dodge jail terms for Phuket beach land encroachment
PHUKET: Six people have received suspended jail sentences and immediate fines for building and operating small beachside shops on protected land at Nai Yang Beach, revealed the Chief Administrative Officer of Sakoo Tambon Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) today. Of the six, two are still operating their shops, three have had their shops demolished and one has closed shop, but the building…
- Phuket News
Phuket Police arrest four drug suspects after a snitch chain reaction
PHUKET: Four suspects were arrested in Phuket yesterday for possession of illegal drugs and weapons during a raid by Patong Police, which netted nearly 25 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), three handguns and more than 600,000 baht in property. Police first tracked down Petcharat “Fah” Ammatapaiboon, 34, who gave up her dealer, Saengdao “Dao” Korranee, 44. Ms Dao, in…
- Cannabis News
Sting operation nets Nigerian for dealing cocaine
PHUKET: A series of small drug busts led to a sting operation last night that concluded with the arrest of a Nigerian man for dealing cocaine. “Last night, we were informed that Somkid ‘Waew’ Kwanngern, 30, was in possession of cocaine so we went to her apartment behind Patong Municipality Fire Department,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong…
- Phuket News
Motorbike rental passport leads to Phuket arrest of Spanish nunchuk mugger
PHUKET: A passport left as collateral for a motorbike rental has led to the arrest of a Spaniard for the nunchuk mugging of a Russian in Kata early yesterday morning. Karon Police arrested Spanish tourist Mario Arturo Tovar Ferras, 23, at the Bonus Bungalow resort in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, at about 7:30pm last night. “Police seized a motorbike, a seven-inch…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Pro-Moscow protesters declare republic, Kiev fears invasion
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pro-Moscow protesters declare republic, Kiev fears invasion Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pro-Moscow protesters in eastern Ukraine seized arms in one city and declared a separatist republic in another, in moves Kiev described on Monday as part of a Russian-orchestrated plan to justify an invasion to…