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    The Melting Clock: A sophisticated spot for Italian cuisine and exquisite wine in Bangkok

    It’s no secret that Bangkok has a lot of excellent Italian restaurants and wine bars, so standing out in the crowd is no small task. But The Melting Clock, the Italian restaurant and wine lounge in Ekkamai, has shown that...

  • 40 tourists, 3 boat crew safely back from Koh Racha

    40 tourists, 3 boat crew safely back from Koh Racha

    Phuket Marine Officers were called yesterday to bring 40 tourists back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port following another day of strong winds and high seas. At 10am yesterday (July 11) officers from the Phuket Marine Office headed to Ao Tue at Koh Racha Yai to bring 40 tourist and five boat crew back to the Phuket Deep Sea Port…

  • ‘Phoenix’ to be salvaged as important evidence

    ‘Phoenix’ to be salvaged as important evidence

    The ‘Phoenix’ is to be salvaged in order to help find the one remaining missing passenger as well as another body which has been stuck in the boat, unable to be recovered by divers. The boat is to be salvaged from its current location 45 metres underwater, south-west of Phuket island. The marine Department Region 3 Chief Puripat Teerakulapisut says,…

  • Chinese netizens rip into Phuket authorities’ handling of boat disaster

    Chinese netizens rip into Phuket authorities’ handling of boat disaster

    With the Tham Luang cave story evolving into health updates of the team members, some international media are now focussing on Thailand’s worst maritime disaster (since the 2004 tsunami) last Thursday. CNN have published an article sharing Chinese media and netizens ripping into Thai officials, including the deputy PM, Prawit Wongsuwan. Users on the Twitter-like service Weibo, citing witnesses who…

  • Buddhist ceremony commemorates deceased passengers

    Buddhist ceremony commemorates deceased passengers

    A Buddhist ceremony has been held to commemorate the passengers who died in last Thursday’s tour-boat tragedy to the south-west of Phuket, while the search resumed for one person who remained missing. The ceremony took place at the Ao Chalong pier early yesterday morning (Wednesday) to boost the morale of grieving relatives who were present, along with locals and Chinese…

  • Pattaya: South Korean reports taxi driver stealing valuables worth 100,000 baht

    Pattaya: South Korean reports taxi driver stealing valuables worth 100,000 baht

    File photo A South Korean businessman has filed an official complaint with police following a Tuesday night theft by a Pattaya taxi driver. The mans claimed that a taxi driver fled with his bag which contained his passport, cash and credit cards. Chon Buri police were alerted to the theft at 11.45pm and headed to meet the 25 year old…

  • Chiang Mai: Stray dog problem around dams overwhelming volunteers

    Chiang Mai: Stray dog problem around dams overwhelming volunteers

    PHOTO: Suphatrawee Yoophaet Sanook are reporting from Chiang Mai that more than 100 dogs have been abandoned by heartless owners. The dogs have been living around two reservoirs in Chiang Mai. The dogs have been starving and locals are now appealing for help to feed them. Sank reports that the pack has quickly grown in size after more owners keep…

  • Trang: 17 containers wash off a ship

    Trang: 17 containers wash off a ship

    PHOTO: Facebook/Siraphop Srakaew The Andaman Sea, off the coast of Trang, has ended up with 17 shipping containers floating around after a passing cargo ship was hit by big seas, washing the containers over the side. The incident happened this morning (Wednesday). The vessel, the ‘NP Lovegistics 2’ sent out a distress call after waves caused a failure in the…

  • Australian cave medic emerges to his own tragic news

    Australian cave medic emerges to his own tragic news

    In the wake of yesterday’s euphoria following the final five team members being successfully evacuated from the Tham Luang caves, a sad epilogue. An Australian doctor, Richard Harris, partly responsible for looking after the Thai football team during their cave ordeal, emerged last night, exhausted but relieved they job was over. Some sad news awaited him. He was told that…

  • Phuket boat disaster toll: 42 survivors, 46 found dead, 1 remains missing

    Phuket boat disaster toll: 42 survivors, 46 found dead, 1 remains missing

    The Phuket PR Office has revealed the latest death toll for passengers who drowned following the sinking of ‘Phoenix’ south-west of Phuket last Thursday evening. Three bodies were recovered in the Monday and Tuesday recovery missions. The current total for people travelling on the boat is 89 tourists plus 14 boat crew and tour guides for the fateful trip. The…

  • Team NOT tranquillised – PM

    Team NOT tranquillised – PM

    Let’s put this story to sleep. The PM Prayut Chan-o-cha denied that the young footballers trapped in Tham Luang cave were tranquilised before setting out on the journey through the convoluted cave system to freedom. He did, however, admitted that they took an anxiolytic, a drug to relieve anxiety. Anxiolytic drugs are commonly used before general anaesthetics or in treatments…

  • Boat and ‘life jackets’ not fit-for-purpose

    Boat and ‘life jackets’ not fit-for-purpose

    The Tourist Police Bureau have revealed that the ‘Phoenix’ was not ‘fit for purpose’ for operations in the seas off Phuket whilst the buoyancy aids that were provided for passengers didn’t reach the minimum standards required for safety vests. In the latest zero-dollar tour investigation, linked to the two boats and last Thursday’s boat sinkings, tourist police seized 21 non-standard…

  • Uttaradit: Waitress found murdered in boarding house

    Uttaradit: Waitress found murdered in boarding house

    Police in Uttaradit, north of Bangkok near the Laos border, are still searching for a man after his estranged wife was found dead in a boarding house yesterday morning (Tuesday) with her throat slit. Police say 29 year old Kamolrat Ruangrit had been killed inside the bathroom of her unit in the province’s Mueang district. Investigators say that, besides having…

  • Boat tragedy suspected to be involved with zero-dollar tour company

    Boat tragedy suspected to be involved with zero-dollar tour company

    An initial Tourist Police Bureau investigation is pointing to incriminating evidence that suggests that the ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Serenata’ were involved with the zero-dollar tour ‘Tranlee’ network. Tourist Police Deputy Commander Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn told a Phuket media briefing yesterday that the crackdown on 11 suspected zero-dollar tour companies in Phuket last year, is believed to have links to the…

  • Thirteen is a lucky number

    Thirteen is a lucky number

    All 12 young footballers and their assistant coach, who were trapped inside Tham Luang cave in Chiang Rai for over two weeks, have been successfully and safely evacuated from the cave on day 3 of the mammoth rescue operation. According to the Thai Navy Seal’s Facebook page, the four divers, who accompanied the last members to be rescued from deep…

  • Chiang Rai: Final five OUT of the Tham Luang caves

    Chiang Rai: Final five OUT of the Tham Luang caves

    The Mu Pa football team will have the full group back together again soon. Number Nine emerges from the Tham Luang caves just after 4pm, Tuesday, Thai time. Today’s rescues are well ahead of schedule. FOUR to go!!! Plus there will be three Thai Navy Seals and one doctor to evacuate as well – they were inside with the team…

  • Army sergeant shot dead in Narathiwat

    Army sergeant shot dead in Narathiwat

    More trouble in Thailand’s deep south today after an Army sergeant was shot dead while riding to work on his motorbike in Narathiwat this morning (Tuesday). Pol Colonel Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy spokesman of the Royal Thai Police, reports that 26 year old Sergeant Patanachai Suree was shot twice in the back while riding his motorcycle on a road in Moo…

  • Chiang Rai: Solid food but no TV – Doctors report on the first eight out of the cave

    Chiang Rai: Solid food but no TV – Doctors report on the first eight out of the cave

    The eight members of the Mu Pa Academy football club, already rescued from the Tham Luang Cave in the past two days, are in good health mentally and physically. But attending doctors say all had high white blood cell counts and two initially showed indications of pneumonia. Senior health officials briefed reporters at Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital this morning, saying…

  • Phuket Hotels Association teams up with US Embassy to help eliminate single-use plastic

    Phuket Hotels Association teams up with US Embassy to help eliminate single-use plastic

    The Phuket Hotels Association has joined forces with the U.S. Embassy Science Fellowship (ESF) Program to tackle the critical issue of waste management in Phuket, with the aim of eliminating single-use plastics at the island’s hotels. Founded in 2001, the ESF Program promotes bilateral cooperation in the fields of science and technology. Since it was launched, nearly 300 scientists have…

  • The Chinese husband of the owner of ‘Phoenix’ speaks to Chinese media

    The Chinese husband of the owner of ‘Phoenix’ speaks to Chinese media

    Zhang Wenhao, the husband of the owner of ‘Phoenix’ – T.C. Blue Company – has revealed to Chinese media that his wife manages the company. He says he is one of the employees. All employees in the company, except captains and boat crews, are all Chinese. The ‘Phoenix’ is owned by 26 year old Woraluck Rueakchaiyakan, who has a Chinese…

  • Chiang Rai: Rescuers prepare to bring out the final five

    Chiang Rai: Rescuers prepare to bring out the final five

    PHOTO: VOA Following last evening’s successful rescue of a further four members of the Mu Pa football team, bringing the total number safely out at 8, Thai and international divers are preparing to rescue at least another four today. Mission control spokesperson Narongsak Osotthanakorn described the rescue operation, so far, as a success. Last night the first of the four emerged…

  • Ekkapol Chanthawong – Parents are refusing to blame him

    Ekkapol Chanthawong – Parents are refusing to blame him

    PHOTO: From video of Thai Navy Seals Facebook page Eight out, five to go. But Ekkapol Chanthawong, the assistant football coach of the Mu Pa team, trapped in Tham Luang cave since June 23, is being credited with keeping his young team alive during their ordeal. He’s 25, the rest of the young team are between 11 and 16 years…

  • PM visits Chinese families and the injured at hospitals

    PM visits Chinese families and the injured at hospitals

    Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha visited Vachira Phuket Hospital to meet some of the Chinese families who have lost their families members in the Phuket boat disaster. General Prayut arrived at Vachira Phuket Hospital at 2.30pm yesterday (July 9). The PM was talking to crying Chinese tourists who lost their family members and gave hugs readily whilst offering a sympathetic ear to…

  • Phuket boat disaster toll: 43 dead, 4 remain missing

    Phuket boat disaster toll: 43 dead, 4 remain missing

    Yesterday (July 9) the Phuket PR Office revealed the latest death toll for passengers from the ‘Phoenix’ yacht that sunk south-west of Phuket on Thursday evening. One more body has been recovered near Koh Mai Ton. The Phuket PR Office announced that it was originally thought that there were 93 tourists plus 12 boat crew and tour guides who were…

  • Chiang Rai: Day two’s rescues conclude with another four out of the cave

    Chiang Rai: Day two’s rescues conclude with another four out of the cave

    PHOTO: The Nation Four more of the teenage football team have emerged from the Tham Luang caves tonight, taken to a medivac tent for a quick examination then whisked away to the Chiang Rai hospital by helicopter. It’s been day two of the risky rescue mission that was forced on officials by looming rain and possibilities of rising flood waters…

  • PM visits Phuket to insist on better boat safety

    PM visits Phuket to insist on better boat safety

    Thai PM General Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered that every missing passenger, from the sunken ‘Phoenix’ boat, must be found. He has also directed officials to take care of all Chinese survivors and their families as their guests. “Measures to prevent a similar disaster must be implemented immediately. Every boat must follow official warnings.” The Prime Minister didn’t mince words when he spoke…

  • Strong winds bring down trees and power poles, two cars damaged

    Strong winds bring down trees and power poles, two cars damaged

    Two power cables have been brought down in Koh Sirey today (July 9) after heavy rains around the island. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) is warning that from July 9-15, heavy rain will affect Ranong, Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi, Trang and Satun. “Small boats should stay ashore as strong winds and waves are expected, up to four metres high.” Persistent…

  • Day Two evacuations underway

    Day Two evacuations underway

    Evacuations are now well underway in day two of the process to extract the 13 players from inside the cave. Four were extracted from the cave last evening, according to an official announcement by former Governor of Chiang Rai Narongsak Osottanakorn. Yesterday divers and rescuers succeeded in recovering four of the 12 young players after divers headed into the cavern, prepared…

  • Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa announces their new GM

    Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa announces their new GM

    Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa have today announced the appointment of Markus Kosch as the new GM. Markus most recently served as General Manager of Conrad Guangzhou in China. Commenting on his appointment, Markus said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to be at the helm of one of the largest resorts in Phuket.” A 22 year veteran in the…

  • Boat captains facing charges after Phuket boat disasters

    Boat captains facing charges after Phuket boat disasters

    The captains of the two boats ‘Phoenix’ and ‘Seraneta’, that sank off Phuket on Thursday early evening (July 5), have been charged. Read more HERE. 41 people are now confirmed dead, 15 still missing with hopes fading that any more survivors will be found. One body of a Chinese man has washed up on the shores of a Phang Nga beach…

  • Chiang Rai: What we know – 2.30pm

    Chiang Rai: What we know – 2.30pm

    Divers have been preparing over the past 12 hours to resume their extraction of the remaining 9 people still inside the cave. They re-entered the cave mouth at 11am this morning. On this basis, comparing to yesterday’s timing, we can expect more of the team to emerge from the caves early this evening, but that is pure speculation. A drone…