News
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Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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South African giraffe dies after ‘head hits bridge’
PHUKET: South Africa’s animal rights body is investigating the death of a giraffe that reportedly struck its head on a bridge while being transported along a motorway. Eyewitnesses say the giraffe, one of two on a truck, hit its head on a bridge on Johannesburg’s N1 motorway, reports the BBC. The vehicle then broke down and the driver had to…
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Job applicants should not be forced to do blood tests for HIV: Rights body
PHUKET: The National Human Rights Commission has condemned businesses that require job applicants to be tested for HIV, saying the move is a “clear violation of human rights”. The NHRC said requiring people to take a blood test could adversely affect people who do this, plus their families, both economically and socially. The agency was responding to complaints from the…
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Mountain bikers eye US$1mn in ‘toughest race on earth’
PHUKET: Mountain bikers tempted by the US$1 million (about 3.2mn baht) in prize money up for grabs in a new South African endurance race are given a warning before they sign up: “This could change your life, or end it”. Teams of two will have to come up with a US$10,000 entrance fee to race on December 3 in The…
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Expert differs with report on Koh Samet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Expert differs with report on Koh Samet The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Even though a researcher says that Koh Samet’s Ao Phrao is recovering naturally, with the number of marine organisms in the area rising, an academic disagreed, saying the ecosystem was not normal yet…
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NCPO approves inheritance tax
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Inheritance tax gets NCPO nod The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: For the first time in the Kingdom’s modern history, Thais who are bequeathed fortunes by their wealthy relatives would have to start paying an inheritance tax under a Finance Ministry proposal that has already been…
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Thai group fleeing Libya to take flight home today
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai group fleeing Libya to take flight home today The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A group of Thai evacuees from unrest-plagued Libya will fly home today, General Tanasak Patima-pragorn, a deputy chief of the ruling National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), said yesterday. The…
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His Majesty appoints 200 National Legislative Assembly members
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community His Majesty appoints 200 National Legislative Assembly members The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: His Majesty the King has issued a royal command to appoint 200 members of the National Legislative Assembly. More than half of them are either former and active military officers as expected.…
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Sierra Leone declares Ebola state of emergency
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sierra Leone declares emergency as Ebola death toll hits 729 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Sierra Leone has declared a state of emergency and called in troops to quarantine Ebola victims, joining neighbouring Liberia in imposing controls as the death toll from the outbreak of the…
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The Cove to screen in Phuket
PHUKET: The award-winning documentary The Cove will be screened twice at Central Festival Phuket next week to raise awareness of how dolphins are caught at the Taiji Cove in Japan and sold for use in dolphinaria around the world. Central to the documentary, however, is how many of the dolphins are butchered and the meat sold to supermarkets. Confirmation of…
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Phuket entrepreneur takes to the skies
PHUKET: Perched on a steep hillside directly beneath the watchful gaze of the Big Buddha rests the compound that houses Helicam. Owned and operated by British national Phil Clark, the media production company, which specializes in aerial photography and videography, is just about to celebrate a dozen years of operating in Phuket. The anniversary will be highlighted by the upcoming…
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Foreign burglar caught on CCTV robbing Phuket homes
PHUKET: Police are hoping to identify a foreign man who was caught on CCTV robbing a home in Bang Jo, in Phuket’s west coast area of Cherng Talay, last Thursday. The area has been targeted by burglars for years, said Jo D’Hondt, a business partner of the high-end Diamond Condominium project (story here) in Bang Tao. “My house has been…
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Body of musician, swept from Phuket rocks, found washed ashore
PHUKET: The body of Somchai Yungtala, 30, who was swept from the rocks near Phuket’s Promthep Cape on Tuesday afternoon, was found washed ashore this morning. Relatives assisting rescue workers in the search for Mr Somchai found his body at Ya Nui Beach at about 5am. Mr Somchai was visiting Phuket from Koh Yao Yai with his girlfriend when he…
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THAI Smile poised for relocation to Don Mueang
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand business news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community THAI’s Smile Air poised for relocation to Don Mueang The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai Airways International Plc has prepared its budget Thai Smile Air for take-off from Don Mueang International Airport on August 8 to snatch passengers from low-cost competitors. The flag carrier…
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Libya asked to waive exit visa to facilitate evacuation of Thais
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Libya asked to waive exit visa to facilitate evacuation of Thais The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand is asking Libya to cancel its exit visa regulations in order to facilitate the evacuation of Thais living there, Manopchai Vongphakdi, director-general of the Foreign Ministry’s South Asia…
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Arrivals from West Africa on Ebola watch, fears grow of outbreak in Europe
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arrivals from West Africa on Ebola watch, fears grow of outbreak in Europe The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai authorities have joined the rest of the world in monitoring the spread of the Ebola virus and are closely screening all arrivals from West Africa, a…
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Heavy new penalties for visa overstays from Aug 29
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Heavy new penalties await visa overstays The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Authorities will bar visitors who overstay their visas from returning to Thailand for between one year and a whole decade. The longer the overstay period, the longer will be the re-entry ban. Starting from…
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Malaysian Formula E race postponed at PM’s request
THE MALAYSIAN round of the new electric Formula E series has been postponed because the country’s Prime Minister is unable to attend on the date originally scheduled, organizers said. The race in Putrajaya was due to be held on October 18 as the second round of the championship but will now take place on November 22. “The decision, which has…
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Carnage at U.N. school as Israel pounds Gaza Strip
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Carnage at U.N. school as Israel pounds Gaza Strip Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Israeli shelling killed at least 15 Palestinians sheltering in a U.N.-run school and another 17 near a street market on Wednesday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said, with no ceasefire in sight after more…
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Drug-resistant malaria now widespread in Southeast Asia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Drug-resistant malaria now widespread in Southeast Asia Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Drug-resistant malaria parasites have spread to border regions of Southeast Asia, seriously threatening global efforts to control and eliminate the mosquito-borne disease, researchers said on Wednesday. The scientists, who analysed blood samples from 1,241…
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Liberia shuts schools, considers quarantine to curb Ebola
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Liberia shuts schools, considers quarantine to curb Ebola Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Liberia will close schools and consider quarantining some communities, it said on Wednesday, announcing the toughest measures yet imposed by a West African government to halt the worst Ebola outbreak on record. Security…
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Phuket pushes for new taxis, new fares, amid new harsh penalties
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) has proposed a slew of changes to create a new fleet of “standard metered taxis” to serve tourists and residents throughout Phuket. The proposed changes were handed to Col Somchai Ponatong of the Royal Thai Army’s 41st Military Circle, who will pass on the request to the PLTO headquarters and the National Council…
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Military moves to “iron fist, velvet glove’ for clearing Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Officials bolstered by military support have softened their approach in clearing all businesses from Phuket’s beaches, but remain firm that all offending structures will be torn down. The message was made clear yesterday by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who led officials and military personnel to inspect several venues whose operators were ordered to vacate public beach land. First…
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Video Report: Asians dominate in ITF Pro Circuit
PHUKET: With the rise of Asian ATP and WTA players like Kei Nishikori of Japan and Li Na of China in the tennis world, this year’s participation has increased by numbers and there’s a strong progression of tennis in Asian countries. The two ITF women’s tournaments held at Thanyapura have proven this without a doubt. The Single and Double winners…
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Police struggle to contain street attacks by Phuket teenagers
PHUKET: Police have ramped up street patrols and checkpoints, but say there is little more they can do to combat a spate of knifepoint robberies in Rawai within the past month. “They are targeting Thais and foreigners – anybody they think looks weak and would be an easy target,” said Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn. In the most recent robbery,…
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Thai industry captains praise NCPO moves, reforms
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai industry captains praise NCPO moves, reforms The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand is back to work and business after months of political impasse, but there are challenges to be addressed to ensure sustainable growth, an international business conference heard yesterday. Inclusive political reform will…
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Activists plan anti-shark fin protest at THAI check-in counters worldwide
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Activists plan anti-shark fin protest at THAI check-in counters worldwide The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Oceanic Preservation Society has invited shark advocates to gather at Thai Airways check-in desks at airports worldwide next month to protest against what it calls a cruel shark-fin cargo…
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Chinese police shoot dead dozens after attack in Xinjiang
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese police shoot dead dozens after attack in Xinjiang – Xinhua Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Chinese police shot dead dozens of knife-wielding attackers on Monday morning after they staged assaults on two towns in the western region of Xinjiang, the official Xinhua news agency said…
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British siblings come face-to-face with Phuket tsunami savior
PHUKET: A Phuket reunion nearly 10 years in the making came to fruition last night as Ben and Emily Willgrass surprised their tsunami savior Yupin Sengmuang on the doorstep of her Tri Trang shop. The British siblings put out a call via Facebook for help in finding Ms Yupin, as the two were planning to come to the Phuket on…
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Army tells White Box fat cats to drop weight
PHUKET: The owners of the White Box restaurant on the Kalim beachfront, north of Patong, have been given seven days to remove more than half of the restaurant – or have the army take it down for them. The order was delivered this morning by Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, who led officials and military personnel to inspect the venue…
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Waves drag musician from iconic Phuket cape, search efforts postponed
PHUKET: High waves forced rescue workers to abandon their search for a musician who was swept from the rocks near Promthep Cape this afternoon. Somchai Yung-Talay, 30, was visiting Phuket from Koh Yao Yai with his girlfriend when he was struck by a large wave and dragged out to sea while fishing. “Witnesses saw the man in the sea trying…
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