News

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  • Phuket Media Watch: Thailand regional round-up – Suu Kyi; Tony Blair; Khmer Rouge

    Phuket Media Watch: Thailand regional round-up – Suu Kyi; Tony Blair; Khmer Rouge

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Opposition leader Suu Kyi registers to run in Myanmar by-election Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday registered to run for a parliamentary seat in Myanmar’s upcoming by-election, a Burmese news organization in exile reported. The Nobel Peace Prize winner…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Head found near Hollywood Sign; White House shooting; Canadian spy

    Phuket Media Watch: Head found near Hollywood Sign; White House shooting; Canadian spy

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Severed head, other body parts found near Hollywood sign Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Detectives in Los Angeles were looking for clues this morning after a human head and several other body parts were found below the Hollywood sign, police said. The first body part was…

  • Phuket update: US embassy maintains terror threat warning

    Phuket update: US embassy maintains terror threat warning

    PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok sees American citizens in Thailand as still facing the threat of terrorism and will thus keep a controversial warning on its website, despite the Thai government’s insistence that Thailand is not a target for international terrorists, a senior embassy official said yesterday. “Nothing changes” when it comes to the perceived threats and America’s need…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Balls up at Indonesian Railways

    Phuket Media Watch: Balls up at Indonesian Railways

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia cracks down on ‘train surfing’ with concrete balls Phuket Gazette / News WIresPHUKET: Railway staff in Indonesia have begun hanging concrete balls above railway lines in an effort to stop commuters from riding the roofs of trains, the Jakarta Globe reported today. The grapefruit-sized concrete…

  • Phuket ‘Ae Inside’ murder: Thai media reports police closing in on killers

    Phuket ‘Ae Inside’ murder: Thai media reports police closing in on killers

    PHUKET: Phuket Police appear to be closing in on the person who ordered the killing of Phuket investigative reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, according to reports in the Thai-language media. Following yesterday’s re-enactment of the crime with the confessed driver of the gunman, police say they have gathered enough evidence to apply for arrest warrants for alleged gunman Sanya Klinchum,…

  • New 50-baht banknote in Phuket by this weekend

    New 50-baht banknote in Phuket by this weekend

    PHUKET: Phuket residents will have to wait until tomorrow or Friday before they can get their hands on the new 50-baht banknotes released nationwide today. The new-look 50-baht notes, announced by Bank of Thailand Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul last week, will not be available in Phuket until tomorrow at the earliest, banks on the island have told the Phuket Gazette.…

  • Phuket Video Report: ‘Ae Inside’ murder re-enacted by suspect

    Phuket Video Report: ‘Ae Inside’ murder re-enacted by suspect

    PHUKET: Police today staged a re-enactment of the assassination of Phuket reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, who was shot dead amid rush-hour morning traffic last Thursday. Heavily-armed members of the Phuket City Police and the Phuket Special Operations Unit escorted the alleged driver in the attack, 43-year-old Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, through the events that led to the ambush of Mr…

  • Phuket Simon Cabaret stars spread their wings

    Phuket Simon Cabaret stars spread their wings

    PHUKET: The Simon Star Cabaret show, Phuket’s third ladyboy extravaganza, opens on Thursday with a special discount available for Thai nationals only, through February. Executives of Simon Cabaret held a press conference at The Metropole hotel in Phuket Town today to announce the opening, which is the culmination of a 130-million-baht investment. The venue is located on the grounds of…

  • Phuket top sailing destination in Asia: Survey

    Phuket top sailing destination in Asia: Survey

    PHUKET: Phuket was voted as top in Thailand, while Thailand as a nation was voted the favorite sailing venue and best regatta location in Asia, according to a survey of international sailors from around the world conducted at the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The survey was undertaken by the Top of the Gulf Regatta in co-operation with the Phuket…

  • Phuket prepares for Chinese New Year

    Phuket prepares for Chinese New Year

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is preparing an extravagant celebration to ring in the Year of the Dragon with the arrival of the Chinese New Year next week. The celebration is slated to kick off at Sanam Chai (the filed opposite Phuket Provincial Hall) at 4pm on January 23. “Acrobats from Puyang, China will be performing as well…

  • French cinema fete coming to Phuket

    French cinema fete coming to Phuket

    PHUKET: French film enthusiasts will be in for a treat next month, when the French Thai Cultural Festival “La Fête” hits Phuket with free showings of five acclaimed movies at the Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus. The five films, all with subtitles in English, will be: In Mom’s Head (Comedy / 2007 / Directed by Carine Tardieu) Me and…

  • Phuket Video Report: Suspect denies any role in murder of journalist

    Phuket Video Report: Suspect denies any role in murder of journalist

    PHUKET: The man who Phuket Police have arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in the case of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, today publicly denied any involvement in the killing. Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, 43, this afternoon told the press gathered at Phuket City Police Station that he used to come down to Phuket to sell fruit, but that that was years…

  • Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?

    Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?

    PHUKET: Continuing my series of articles answering questions that I hear most often… the next question is one I expect to hear a thousand times in the next few months. It’s a little complicated, but you’re going to get confused anyway, so let me try to simplify things as best I can. “Woody, I hear that Thailand is finally going…

  • Phuket Business: Customs: trade thrives in 2011

    Phuket Business: Customs: trade thrives in 2011

    PHUKET: Trade flourished during 2011 in Phuket, with the island’s surplus of exports over imports more than 10.4 billion baht, according to statistics recently released by the Phuket Customs House. The total value of imports to the island during the 2011 Thai Government fiscal year (October 2010 to September 2011) was 2.12bn baht compared to 12.5bn baht in exports during…

  • Phuket Business: Petrol pump prices jump

    Phuket Business: Petrol pump prices jump

    PHUKET: Nationwide petrol prices, including those in Phuket, rose by as much as 40 satang earlier this week. The Phuket Gazette confirmed with PTT gas stations in Phuket that the price rises on petrol and gasohol went into effect on the island last Wednesday. The prices of all benzine petrol and most forms of gasohol increased by 40 satang (0.4…

  • Phuket Business: Solar system pilots

    Phuket Business: Solar system pilots

    PHUKET: An innovative new solar power system will be making its world premier in the coming months, with Phuket to serve as a pilot market, and possibly a manufacturing base. The Powerrrup – that’s right, 3 rs – is an ingenious yet simple ground-breaking, renewable energy system developed specifically with the island’s “green conscious” market in mind. Its inventor, Ivan…

  • Phuket Media Watch: 800 dogs rescued; Thailand number 1 for Brits

    Phuket Media Watch: 800 dogs rescued; Thailand number 1 for Brits

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 800 dogs rescued from smugglers in Nakhon Phanom Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A Mekong patrol unit headed by Captain Thirakiart Thong-aram found the dogs detained in more than 40 cases on a six-wheel truck on the riverbank in Don Paeng village in Tambon Ban…

  • FC Phuket trashed by Hornbills in season closer

    FC Phuket trashed by Hornbills in season closer

    PHUKET: Despite determination for a strong finish and a surprise substitution late in the game, FC Phuket were no match for the Chainat FC “Hornbills” in the two sides’ final game of the season.The Southern Sea Kirin went down 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Chainat.Two of Chainat’s goals came in the first half, from an 18th minute goal by Suradet…

  • Weird World News: Sweden officially recognizes a new religion; a pastor lets a tattoo parlor set up shop in the Lord’s house; and a UK mayor pays for not judging jack-o-lanterns

    Weird World News: Sweden officially recognizes a new religion; a pastor lets a tattoo parlor set up shop in the Lord’s house; and a UK mayor pays for not judging jack-o-lanterns

    PHUKET: Religion is an important part of many people’s lives, but in this Weird World News round-up we take a look at some of the stranger religious happenings that hit the headlines this week. Digital pirates find religion SWEDEN has helped digital pirates load their canons by officially recognizing a group that preaches “Copy, download, upload” as an official religion.…

  • Phuket update: Warrant issued for ‘Ae Inside’ murder suspect

    Phuket update: Warrant issued for ‘Ae Inside’ murder suspect

    PHUKET: Phuket Police have issued an arrest warrant for one of two men wanted for the assassination of investigative reporter Wisut ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwitthayaporn on Thursday. The police name the suspect as Noppadon “Pae” Praisri, 43, from Phetchburi province. The arrest warrant names Mr Noppadon as wanted for conspiracy to commit premeditated murder. The warrant was issued after witnesses were…

  • Phuket Sports: Junjita takes 5th at world golf tourney

    Phuket Sports: Junjita takes 5th at world golf tourney

    PHUKET: Golf is certainly on the up-swing in Phuket, with a wealth of young players from the island now competing at international level. The latest Phuket addition to the global golf ranks is Jinjuta Thongtan, a Matthayom 5 (grade 11) student at Satree School. Mr Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, president of The Youth Golf Club of Phuket, met with Phuket Governor Tri…

  • Phuket Sports: Flying start to Flynn’s 2012

    Phuket Sports: Flying start to Flynn’s 2012

    PHUKET: Phuket’s Annissa Flynn started her 2012 surfing season in superb style with victory in the Women’s Division of the 6th annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge held at Desaru Beach in Southeast Malaysia. At 13 years old, Annissa was the youngest of the women finalists that included pros such as runner-up Nur Herwani from Malaysia, third place Michaela Partin…

  • Phuket league win slips through Lizard’s hands

    Phuket league win slips through Lizard’s hands

    PHUKET: Two former Island Furniture League champions faced off recently when the Island Cricket Club (ICC) and the Liquid Lounge Lizards took to the ACG for the seventh match of the 2011-2012 season. Both teams looked to secure their first win of the season and gain a degree of confidence moving toward the business end of the season. A tight…

  • Phuket’s Young throttles up for GP3

    Phuket’s Young throttles up for GP3

    PHUKET: Prospects of Phuket-based Dylan Young reaching Formula 1 accelerated with news of an offer for the 22-year old to drive in the 2012 GP3 Series. Potential savior of Young’s career ambitions is the Marussia Manor team, junior squad of the Marussia Virgin Formula 1 team, who have handed Young a lifeline which could also see the Australian achieve a…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Monk on fire sparks clashes in Tibet; suspected serial killer arrested; suicide bomber kills 53 | Thaiger

    Phuket Media Watch: Monk on fire sparks clashes in Tibet; suspected serial killer arrested; suicide bomber kills 53

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Another self-immolation in Tibet, said to be the 16th Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A Tibetan Buddhist monk set himself on fire in southwestern China on Saturday, a rights group reported yesterday, triggering clashes between security forces and locals. Free Tibet, a group campaigning for…

  • Phuket celebrates National Teachers Day

    Phuket celebrates National Teachers Day

    PHUKET: Commuters who experienced an unexpected lull in the Phuket traffic chaos this morning can thank the fact that government schools across the island are closed for National Teachers Day today. National Teachers Day falls on January 16 every year and is a day off for all teachers as well as their pupils. It is not to be confused with…

  • Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    PHUKET: In our third story on Phuket road carnage today, a Swiss man was killed instantly when his motorcycle was hit by a passenger car on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang early this afternoon. According to Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers at the scene, the Swiss man was traveling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when he was hit full force by a…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Will Phuketians eschew meat?; Supalai eyes Phuket

    Phuket Media Watch: Will Phuketians eschew meat?; Supalai eyes Phuket

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Phuket Lifestyle: Turning away from meat? Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: More and more meat eaters are turning their backs on steaks and even fish in favor of healthy vegetarian fare as part of their personal healthcare regime. However, many complain there are not many…

  • Phuket Opinion: Great news for Phuket and our football team

    Phuket Opinion: Great news for Phuket and our football team

    PHUKET: Phuket football fans received some excellent news last weekend with the revelation that FC Phuket will enjoy financial support from Thai Premier League powerhouse Muangthong United next season. The news also came as a considerable relief to fans, given that the team had been reported “sold” and that its future had been very much in doubt. [See sports pages,…

  • Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings

    Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked police to step up security at hotels with foreign guests throughout the island in the wake of the US embassy’s issuance of a terror warning to American citizens on Friday. The British embassy in Bangkok followed on Saturday by stepping up its terror warning for certain areas in Thailand. “Phuket has thankfully not…