News
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Future Forward’s Thanathorn vows to dump 2017 charter
Thanathorn Juangroongru-angkit was predictably chosen yesterday to be the leader of the Future Forward Party, which he co-founded with the agenda of not only becoming the prime minister but also dumping the current, junta-written 2017 Constitution. The scion of the Thai Summit Group won 473 votes with one abstention during the party’s first official meeting, attended by more than 700…
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Drug dealer arrested in Phuket parcel drugs and dress delivery
Chalong Police have arrested 39 year old Wiwat ‘Wat’ Choosong at a tattoo shop in Saiyuan, Rawai. Police seized 51.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 998 methamphetamine pills, Kerry Express parcel boxes and a white dress. Wiwat was taken to Chalong Police Station where he was charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest came after…
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Tuesday, public holiday for Visakha Bucha Day
It was a long weekend, interrupted by a day of work on Monday. Tuesday, May 29, in Visakha Bucha Day and will be commemorated as a public holiday around Thailand. There are a quite a number of important Buddhist holidays throughout the year, but the most significant is Visakha Bucha Day. This day commemorates three defining events in the life…
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Coral bleaching report, “widespread but minor”.
By Pratch Rujivanarom Coral reefs in Thailand are currently facing the onset of widespread but mild coral bleaching, as some reefs in both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand show symptoms of heat stress. Tourists are meanwhile being encouraged to observe signs of coral bleaching and report them to authorities. Despite around 5 to 10 per cent of corals…
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New Greater Phuket Airport to create tourism Golden Triangle
By Bill Barnett of c9hotelworks.com An announcement by the Airports of Thailand (AoT) about approval of a plan for a new second Greater Phuket airport has created quite a stir in the tourism sector in one of Southeast Asia’s leading resort markets. Located just over the Sarasin Bridge in Phang Nga’s Khok Kloi area, work is reportedly set to start…
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Murderer surrenders after Rassada stabbing
On Saturday (May 26) at 9.50pm, 25 year old Watchara ‘Wat’ Plipon surrendered himself at the Phuket City Police Station. He also brought a knife along with him. On the same day at 5pm, Phuket City Police were notified that a man had been stabbed at a house in Rassada, east of Phuket Town. Police arrived at the scene to…
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Airport expansion plans, exactly a decade ago
In the wake of this week’s AoT announcement about the two new airports – one for Phuket and Chiang Mai – it’s only ten years ago, exactly, that funding was announced for the expansion of Phuket International Airport. Digging into the archives the article from May 23, 2008, says that in 2009 the AoT was expecting 6 million passengers to…
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Chonburi sting nets suspects and drugs
A police sting operation led to the arrest of three young male suspects and the seizure of 218,000 methamphetamine pills, 4,150 grams of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” and 700 Ecstasy pills in Chon Buri province’s Sri Racha district. Police Region 2 chief Pol Lt-General Jitti Rodbangyang told a press conference on Sunday that the suspect, 22 year old Saran Silarak,…
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Swede, 24 found hanged on Patong Hill, Phuket
A 24 year old Swedish man has been found hanged on Patong Hill. Patong Police were notified of the incident at behind the tiger shrine (Pun Tuao Kong Chinese Shrine) on Phra Baramee Road, at the top of Patong Hill, yesterday (May 26). Police and Kusoldharm rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of foreign man, later identified as…
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New airports in Phuket and Chiang Mai will ‘ease congestion’.
There’s been mainly positive response to the news that the AoT have approved the construction of two new airports – one in Phuket and one in Chiang Mai. The Director of the Thai tourism department says the decision is an important part of the support needed for ever-growing tourist arrivals. Yuthasak Supasorn, says it is a good sign for the industry,…
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Ten boys set to face gang rape charges after attack on 15 year old
Ten boys are facing charges of rape after a 15 year old school girl was attacked in Ratchaburi. The story received wide coverage after it was featured on Amarin TV. Following the TV show, Bang Pong police spoke to the victim and her family. Now armed with evidence they are set to charge ten boys with rape, abduction, illegal detention and obscenity.…
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Mass protest planned after toxic agro-chemicals not banned
PHOTO: cnchemicals.com A mass protest at Government House is being organised to protest a decision by the government’s Hazardous Substance Committee on Wednesday not to ban reportedly dangerous agricultural chemicals paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos in Thailand. Agro-chemical opposition networks, led by BioThai Foundation and Thailand Pesticide Alert Network (Thai-PAN), yesterday called on citizens to mark the upcoming World Environment Day.…
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Wanted gunman arrested in Satun over triple shooting in Phuket
A Phuket family of three was shot on April 9 resulting in injuries after their neighbour got angry over their dog’s barking. Gunman, 36 year old Panpakorn ‘Aon’ Suwannarit, fled with the gun. Arrest warrant weren issued on April 10 for Panpakorn who was accused of intentionally trying to kill plus illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, and carrying gun in…
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Miss Grand Thailand 2018 heading to Phuket to raise charity funds
Miss Grand Thailand contest is heading to Phuket at the end of next month. This year’s charity event will be working with local Phuket students and buying new bike helmets to promote bike safety for the island’s young riders. Miss Grand Thailand contestants from 77 provinces around the nation will be in Phuket for charity activities from June 30 –…
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New airports approved for Phuket and Chiang Mai
After four years of false starts and rumours it looks like Phuket will now get a much-needed second airport to feed the island and the surrounding region. Yesterday’s announcement by AoT (Airports of Thailand) comes after extensive studies to examine the extension of the current Phuket airport runway which is hemmed in by Thepkasattri Road at one end and the…
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Phuket City of Gastronomy event June 1-5, 2018
The Phuket City of Gastronomy event is back for the fourth year and will be held in the first week of June in Phuket Town. A press conference was held yesterday (May 24) at Novotel Phuket Phokeethra Hotel in Phuket Town and hosted by the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Chief, Dr Jirapan Taepan. Dr Jirapan says, “the event has been…
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Whale shark search continues around Phang Nga Bay
PHOTO: Searching Phang Nga Bay on Tuesday. Officials from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Centre continued looking for for the whale shark which was spotted caught in a fishing net a week ago. There were strong winds and waves up to one metre high hampering the search. Distance…
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Koh Sirey locals want to keep the monkeys as a tourist attraction
“This area is a local attraction for both Thai and foreign tourists. Monkeys haven’t interrupted locals. Only the government office near the monkey viewing point was damaged.” A public hearing was held yesterday between the Sirey community, led by Pongchart Chouehorm, Director of the Natural and Wildlife Education Centre at Khao Phra Thaew Non-Hunting Area in Thalang and Prarob Hanchang,…
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Asian boat shows merge
The local boating industry’s been calling for it for years – a single boat show to showcase the best of Phuket and Thailand’s boating opportunities, destinations and marine lifestyle. In a joint statement issued today by Andy Treadwell, CEO of Verventia, owner of the Singapore and Thailand Yacht Shows, and Gael and Olivier Burlot, owners of Asia RendezVous, organisers of…
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Chiang Mai wakes up to floods this morning
PHOTO: Chiang Mai Citylife Downtown Chiang Mai has hit by flash floods this morning (Thursday) following heavy rains on Wednesday night. Residents reported several roads with up to 20 to 40 centimetres of water, forcing kerbside shops to move their businesses to higher ground. Local authorities said the flooding started at 3am this morning. Most of it came from Doi…
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E-Cigarette/Vaping shop raided in Wichit. Owner arrested.
A team of officers from the 5th Infantry Division of the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command have raided ‘JP Adventure’ shop in Wichit. Officers arrested a 37 year old woman, Sonklin Janmamuang. Officers seized 47 electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and 193 bottles of e-cigarette liquids. Officers also seized 6 cans of ‘baraku’. Each can contained 50grams. Sonklin was taken to Wichit…
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Damage found in the Ao Kung mangroves
Watcharin Thinthalang, Director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) says, “Ao Kung mangrove forest is under the protection of local laws. Any digging, dredging or other actions for a marina or other development can only be done through proper legal processes and current laws protecting mangrove forest areas.” Today’s…
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Chinese delegation discuss Phuket safety issues
A meeting held yesterday (May 23) at the Pearl Hotel in Phuket Town, hosted by Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong. The meeting was to discuss the growth of Chinese tourism on the island and ways to ensure better safety whilst they’re visiting. Joining the Governor were the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Songkhla Mr Zhou Haicheng, the Director…
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Whale shark fishing boats prevented from leaving port
Lt-General Jaruwat Waisaya, Chief of the Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation, has ordered officials to question every person involved in the ‘whale shark’ incident last Friday. Two fishing boats were captured on video by a nearby diving boat trying to free a whale shark that was caught up in one of their fishing nets. The crew wrangled with the big…
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No ban on controversial toxic agriculture chemicals
By Pratch Rujivanarom A verdict on the use of herbicides and pesticides paraquat, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos has been handed down following a long debate between farmers, officials and environmentalists. This, despite opposition groups pointing out connections between some of the Committee members making the decision and the Agri-chemical companies. The use of the controversial farming chemicals will continue to be…
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Special Report: Saving Maya Bay
By Pattarawadee Saengmanee The island, Koh Phi Phi Ley, made famous by the movie “The Beach”, is due to get a complete makeover as part of a new project designed to protect the environment and the ocean. As I step out of the boat on the shore of Maya Bay, my brain goes into overdrive. Where, I ask myself, is…
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Officials call for help in the search for the whale shark
A team of officials, led by director of the Phuket Marine and Coastal Management Division of the Phuket Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) Watcharin Thinthalang, have been following the issue of the whale shark caught off Phuket last Friday. “Before, the search for the whale shark covered an area 24 kilometres from the original position it was spotted. Now the…
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Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair 2018 to be held next month
A press conference, announcing this year’s Andaman Hotelier and Tourism Fair, was held yesterday (May 22) at ‘Public House’ in Central Festival Phuket. The event was hosted by the Phuket Governnor Norraphat Plodthong along with the Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Phuket Office, Kanokkittika Kritwuttikorn and the chief of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh. The Andaman…
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Saving the Lifesavers
Phuket’s lifeguards, the ones who protected our coast for many years and now out of work, want to get back to work. They fear we’re about to have a very bad monsoon season ahead.
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change.org calls for a ban on ‘otter trawling’
An online petition campaigning for a ban on a form of fishing was launched yesterday after an endangered whale shark was caught by a trawler in the waters off Phuket last Friday. Piya Thedyam, creator of the campaign on Change.org for ending the use of so-called otter trawls, emphasised that the marine ecosystem, biodiversity and seafood sustainability of Thai seas…
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