Legacy Phuket Gazette
- Phuket News
Beiber to race into Phuket on Formula 1 Powerboat’s dollar
PHUKET: Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Adele are slated to headline concerts at Phuket’s first Formula 1 Powerboat race in November, said event organizer Lucky Triple T. The artists are expected to grace the Phuket stage for one evening each of the three-night event. Despite his love for fast, expensive vehicles, Mr Bieber is not expected to race. The UIM F1H2O…
- Phuket News
Self-proclaimed prophet’s wrath descends on Phuket lottery shop
PHUKET: A man who claimed to be a prophet of the ‘God of the Sun’ was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday after turning violent at a lottery shop in Phuket Town. Suktiporn Onsuwan, 45, claimed that the God of the Sun had divulged to him the winning lottery numbers on the auspicious day of the solar eclipse (story here).…
- Phuket News
Phuket beach officials plan to charge for trash management
PHUKET: Exasperated officials at Mai Khao Beach are urging the public to help maintain cleanliness in the area, barring which, they say they would be forced to implement a visitors’ fee to contribute toward trash management. “We are chalking out a plan to collect a fee from the public and use that money to hire staff to collect trash,” Sarawut…
- Phuket News
Phuket motorbike gang attack German tourist in Rawai
PHUKET: Police are hunting a Phuket motorbike gang member who attacked a German tourist and a Thai woman in Rawai early this morning. Siegfried Kiesl, 58, told police that he was crossing the Rawai beachfront road with three friends – a German man and two Thai women – when a young man racing on a motorbike crashed into him. “Mr…
- World News
Myanmar on edge as long wait for new president ends
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar on edge as long wait for new president ends Phuket Gazette / Reuters NAYPYITAW: Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has proposed a close friend of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as its presidential candidate, ending a four-month wait for the identity of a…
- World News
Yazidi teenager escaped Islamic State, appeals for help for sex slaves
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Yazidi teenager escaped Islamic State, appeals for help for sex slaves Phuket Gazette / Reuters LONDON: It was a “black morning” two years ago when Islamic State militants seized the Yazidi town of Sinjar in northwest Iraq, abducting thousands of civilians including a 15-year-old girl and…
- World News
German court rules against use of Facebook button
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community German court rules against use of Facebook “like” button Phuket Gazette / Reuters FRANKFURT: A German court has ruled against an online shopping site’s use of Facebook’s “like” button on Wednesday, dealing a further legal blow to the world’s biggest social network in Germany. The Duesseldorf…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s Row2Rio adventurer nearly obliterated by cargo ship
PHUKET: The Row2Rio challenge was almost cut short earlier this week when the boat’s auto tiller went on the fritz as a 180-meter cargo ship barrelled toward the four-person crew rowing across the Atlantic. “Our AIS alarm (close proximity to other vessels) went off and in the distance the ship’s spotlight came on. They were sweeping the water looking for…
- Opinion
Ministry of Farang Affairs: Souvenirs for Thai colleagues
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
- Property
Property Watch: Realities of a dream clubhouse
PHUKET: When we think of a clubhouse, many of us start to dream. Sipping cocktails overlooking the hills, or even facing the sandy beaches and sea. A place where an agreed set of rules are adhered to by all with a sense of what is right and proper. Ladies wear comfortable but appropriate attire and the gentlemen will be similarly…
- Thai Life
On Deck: Proposing a jet-ski solution
PHUKET: Jet-skis are back in the news again with rarely a week passing without some issue, complaint or accident. The skeptic in me thinks it could be a PR ploy to keep jet skis in the public eye, yet that would only be true if you subscribe to the adage “all PR is good PR”, which it isn’t. And I…
- Phuket News
Phuket blood donors save American’s life
PHUKET: Thanks to the generosity of at least 20 blood donors in Phuket, an American car crash victim is now out of danger and recovering from a second round of surgery. Chonita Michelle Cleary, 24, and two of her friends were involved in a collision with a taxi when heading from Cherng Talay to Thalang town at about 1am on…
- World News
Danish 16-year old girl charged with planning to bomb schools
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Danish 16-year old girl charged with planning to bomb schools Phuket Gazette / Reuters COPENHAGEN: A 16-year-old Danish girl has been charged with planning a “terrorist” attack on two schools, one of them Jewish, after acquiring chemicals for bombs, police said on Tuesday. A police press…
- World News
Clouds over Indonesia obscure total eclipse of the sun for many
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Clouds over Indonesia obscure total eclipse of the sun for many Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A solar eclipse enthralled Indonesia on Wednesday but clouds over some parts of archipelago spoiled the view for many of the skywatchers who had the opportunity to see it in…
- Phuket News
Video Report: Phuketians see first solar eclipse of 2016
PHUKET: Phuketians were treated to a rare celestial spectacle this morning as the sun and moon crossed paths between 6:20am and 8:40am to create the first solar eclipse of the year. Observers in parts of Indonesia were able to see a total eclipse lasting for about four minutes, as the moon completely blocked out the sun – an event so…
- Phuket News
Health, safety top priorities for Phuket beach volley tournament
PHUKET: Preparations for the 2016 Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket powered by PTT are in high gear ahead of the international tournament to be held at Karon Beach, March 23-27 (story here), with security at the top of the agenda. Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul said this morning that with more than 300 participants – about 100 athletes and 200…
- Phuket News
Krabi officials find Chikungunya virus in monkey, public urged not to panic
KRABI: Krabi officials are asking the public not to panic after monkeys at popular tourist areas were found to be infected with the dengue-like virus Chikungunya. “This viruses cannot be directly transmitted from monkeys to humans. It is passed through mosquitoes only, so there is a very low probability that humans will be infected,” said Chief of the Krabi Provincial…
- Phuket News
A Decade Ago: Coral reefs and tidal waves of wastewater
PHUKET: As the Phuket Gazette scuba diving columnist for the last four years, I was dumbfounded when I stumbled over the headline screaming from page one of the 2006 March 4-10 issue: HUGE REEF DISCOVERED. A unique swath of biodiversity for Thailand that consumed at least four square kilometers of seabed off Tai Muang in Phang Nga was the biggest…
- Phuket News
Phuket lawyers, accountants targeted for enabling Thai nominees
PHUKET: Officials will be investigating legal firms and accounting offices connected with businesses suspected of using Thai nominee shareholders to circumvent laws prohibiting foreigners from owning more than 49 per cent of a company within the Kingdom. “We will be looking at whether or not certain lawyers and accountants are providing transparent services for foreign investors. Foreigners are not able…
- Phuket News
Foreign tenants told to go to court for property dispute
PHUKET: A group of tenants living at The Aspasia Phuket, who were hoping to have issues about the property’s management ironed out by the governor, have been told to go to court to settle their disputes. The group of ten expat tenants led by Dutch national Jan Cornelis van Zuilekom were told by Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul yesterday that they…
- Phuket News
Miss Andaman Power 2016 makes sparks at Jungceylon
PHUKET: Andaman Power is celebrating sexual diversity and spreading sexual health awareness with its upcoming competition ‘Miss Andaman Power 2016’ to be held at various locations from March 25-30. However, the real fun for the public won’t be until the finalists take the stage in Jungceylon for the beauty pageant part of the event, which will include a fashion show,…
- Phuket News
French pensioner mugged by Phuket ‘teenage’ thugs
PHUKET: Phuket police are hunting for two men who mugged a 70-year-old French woman as she was riding a bicycle along Lay Pang Beach yesterday evening. Martine Delaloy was riding her bicycle along the beach at about 5pm when two suspects, thought to be teenagers, drove past her on a motorbike and snatched her bag, causing her to fall. “When…
- Bangkok News
Bangkok gunman’s SIM card prompts Phuket arrest
PHUKET: Police are questioning a Chinese man who was apprehended in Phuket in connection with the attempted robbery of a gun shop in Bangkok on Friday (story here). Police tracked down Su Su, 29, at a residence in Paklok on Saturday evening after it was revealed that he had registered a SIM card found on one of the robbery suspects…
- Opinion
Opinion: Cops and Canines
Suthee Sirianun is the assistant chief of the Phuket Drug Prevention and Suppression Center. He is originally from Phatthalung Province and graduated from Ramkhamhaeng University with a double Masters in Law and Art. Here he talks about the island’s need for police dogs and the issues associated with being able to care for them. PHUKET: Currently, Phuket doesn’t have any…
- Phuket News
Understanding what AEC means for Phuket
PHUKET: The feared impact the Asean Economic Community (AEC) will have on Thais in Phuket’s tourism industry is unwarranted, said AEC Information Center Director Thitipasook Jaratjessada. After years of anticipation and some delays, the AEC was officially launched on January 1, 2016. However, there are no changes to visa requirements or labor laws for citizens of member nations seeking employment…
- Phuket News
Boat owner gets warning for coral damage [video]
PHUKET: The operator of a boat that was filmed anchored on fragile coral off Koh Racha Yai on February 16 has escaped a hefty fine and possible prison time after apologizing for the incident. Officials tracked down the owner after a diver took underwater video of the boat’s anchor line trailing across the coral. The diver also recorded the name…
- Phuket News
Video Report: More than 1 million sea slugs wash onto Phuket beach
PHUKET: Marine experts are attempting to understand why more than a million sea slugs washed up on a Phuket beach this morning. The name ‘sea slug’ is a common name used specifically for gastropods that are not shell-bearing or appear not to be shell-bearing. Experts believe that the sea slugs found on Kamala Beach are, in fact, sea hares. However,…
- Business News
Board of Trade plans SME matchmaking fairs
BANGKOK: Thailand’s Board of Trade is inviting newly established businesses across the country to join a ‘Business Matching’ event in Bangkok. The event is aimed at giving SMEs the opportunity to meet consumer giants such as department stores and retailers. The event will take place at the Bangkok Convention Center in Lat Prao on April 26. Board of Trade Chairman…
- World News
Australian police respond to shooting, report of hostages at Sydney factory
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australian police respond to shooting, report of hostages at Sydney factory Phuket Gazette / Reuters SYDNEY: Three people have been shot and hostages may have been taken at a factory on the outskirts of Sydney, Australian police said on Monday, although it was not immediately clear…
- World News
Two years on, MH370 families say search for missing jet must continue
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two years on, MH370 families say search for missing jet must continue Phuket Gazette / Reuters KUALA LUMPUR:The families of passengers lost aboard Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 say the two-year search for the missing aircraft must go on beyond a June deadline, as new hope emerged…
