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    Why 8 Atelier Residence is poised for growth: Phuket’s investment hotspot in the making

    Phuket’s residential real estate market is no longer defined only by beachfront villas and short-stay resort condominiums. The island is now seeing sustained interest from international investors targeting long-term yields, capital stability, and access to full-scale lifestyle infrastructure. Looking at...

  • Phuket Gazette World News: UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syria’s political opposition said on Monday it will withdraw from international peace talks scheduled this week unless United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon retracts an invitation to Iran, President Bashar al-Assad’s main…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Quake measuring 6.3 strikes NZ’s north island | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Quake measuring 6.3 strikes NZ’s north island

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Quake measuring 6.3 strikes NZ’s north island Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: An earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude struck New Zealand’s north island on Monday, 63 km (40 miles) southeast of the town of Palmerston, the U.S. Geological Society said.The quake, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles),…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. spy chief questions whether Russia behind Snowden leaks | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. spy chief questions whether Russia behind Snowden leaks

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. lawmaker investigates whether Russia behind Snowden’s leaks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The head of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he is investigating whether former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden had help from Russia in stealing and revealing U.S. government secrets.“I believe…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Protesters attacked riot police with sticks in Kiev on Sunday and tried to overturn a bus blocking their path to parliament, as up to 100,000 Ukrainians massed in defiance of sweeping new laws aimed at…

  • Phuket wife grieves death of Bangkok bomb victim | Thaiger

    Phuket wife grieves death of Bangkok bomb victim

    PHUKET: Tippayao Choochan, the grief-stricken wife of the Phuket taxi driver who died in the Bangkok bombing (story here), spoke with reporters this morning. “This was the fourth time Prakong attended the protests in Bangkok. Every time Suthep called for people to come, he joined them,” Mrs Tippayao said. “My husband desperately wanted the right things for the political system…

  • Phuket protesters mourn death of Prakong, blame government | Thaiger

    Phuket protesters mourn death of Prakong, blame government

    PHUKET: Protesters will gather tonight at Phuket Provincial Hall (map here) to mourn the death of Prakong Choochan, who died from injuries sustained in an attack on anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok yesterday. “We are devastated by what happened. He was fighting for our country,” said Phuket protest co-ordinator Amnuay Kumban. The 46-year-old taxi driver was one of 36 people injured…

  • Second unidentified body recovered in Phuket in two days | Thaiger

    Second unidentified body recovered in Phuket in two days

    PHUKET: A second unidentified body was found floating in the sea off Rassada this week. Unlike in the first case being investigated by police (story here), there were no signs of violence on the body recovered at Por Pichainawa fishing pier yesterday afternoon. “It looked like the man, who was probably 30-35 years old and 170cm tall, died about 24…

  • Phuket Poll: How to stop Patong Hill carnage? | Thaiger

    Phuket Poll: How to stop Patong Hill carnage?

    PHUKET: Two people crushed to death by a runaway bus in December is only the most recent disaster on the notorious Patong Hill road (story here). In response, Phuket officials are scrambling to find solutions to stop the carnage (story here). To this, the Phuket Gazette asks our readers in our latest online poll: “What is the best way to…

  • Phuket taxi driver killed in Bangkok bombing | Thaiger

    Phuket taxi driver killed in Bangkok bombing

    PHUKET: A Phuket protester was the first to die in the “Bangkok Shutdown” after an unidentified person lobbed a bomb at a procession of demonstrators yesterday (story here). Prakong Choochan, 46 years old and a member of the Royal Paradise taxi rank, died at 1:57am from complications brought on by severe injuries sustained during the bomb attack. Bomb shrapnel pierced…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Up to 15 people, mostly foreigners, were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a popular Lebanese restaurant in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, police said.Islamist Taliban insurgents claimed…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Syrian government, preparing for peace talks with rebels next week, handed the Russian co-sponsors of the conference a proposal on Friday for a local ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners.There was no immediate…

  • Governor paves way for congestion free Phuket | Thaiger

    Governor paves way for congestion free Phuket

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a survey yesterday of two road projects that should ease traffic congestion on the island. “With more than 50,000 vehicles travelling between Chalong Circle and Bang Khu Intersection in Kho Kaew daily, it is important to provide alternative routes and improve traffic flow,” Governor Maitri said. One of the projects examined was a two-lane…

  • Phuket Opinion: Stiffer penalties needed for those going for gold | Thaiger

    Phuket Opinion: Stiffer penalties needed for those going for gold

    Chaiyut Prayoonyong, 65, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is the president of the Phuket Gold Shop Association. The owner of three gold shops on the island, Mr Chaiyut has over 40 years’ experience as a gold trader.Here, he talks about the steps gold shop owners should take to protect their shops against robberies, and suggests that the government create stricter punishments…

  • Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill? | Thaiger

    Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill?

    PHUKET: I operated very large trucks, buses, cranes and earth-moving vehicles for more years than I care to remember, in various countries including Austria – whose mountain passes make “monster” Patong Hill look like a pimple on an elephant – and Australia, in giant mines in the northwest.The cardinal rule for going downhill is: Let your engine help retard your…

  • Phuket Opinion: Success of bus ban relies on enforcement | Thaiger

    Phuket Opinion: Success of bus ban relies on enforcement

    PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office’s trial ban on bus and truck traffic to Patong via the infamous Phra Barami Road over Patong Hill is a good idea. However, lack of proper enforcement by responsible officials, especially Traffic Police units, has the potential to jeopardize success during the trial period – and in the long term, if the measure is…

  • Breaking News: 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession | Thaiger

    Breaking News: 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: An unknown assailant lobbed a grenade at the procession led by People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban on Banthad Thong Road at noon today, injuring 28 protesters.As of 2:07pm, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan…

  • Phuket Town shop fire doused | Thaiger

    Phuket Town shop fire doused

    PHUKET: Police presume an electrical short circuit started a fire that broke out in a small ceramics store in Phuket Town late last night. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused an estimated 50,000 baht in damage. Two fire teams were called to the scene on Bangkok Road (map here), at 11:10pm. “Firefighters took 30 minutes to put…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: United Nations child protection experts pushed Vatican delegates on Thursday to reveal the scope of the decades-long sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic priests that Pope Francis called “the shame of the Church”.The delegates,…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: His AK-47 tossed onto a pristine leather sofa in the plush lair of a leader of one of Mexico’s most feared drug cartels, vigilante fighter “El Love” says he is longing for an end…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.S. National Security Agency has been gathering nearly 200 million text messages a day from around the world, gathering data on people’s travel plans, contacts and credit card transactions, Guardian newspaper reported on…

  • Night vision: No more faulty infrared sensors for Phuket speed cameras | Thaiger

    Night vision: No more faulty infrared sensors for Phuket speed cameras

    PHUKET: Speed cameras which had faulty infrared sensors are now in full working order on the bypass road in Phuket. “After installing cameras to monitor speeds on several major roads on the island, we found that the cameras on the bypass road were not reading speed levels at night,” Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Traffic Police told…

  • Phuket bus drivers test positive for ya bah | Thaiger

    Phuket bus drivers test positive for ya bah

    PHUKET: Two more Phuket bus drivers tested positive for ya bah (methamphetamine) yesterday afternoon during an anti-drug blitz led by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. “We tested 33 bus drivers from two companies: Je-Siam Holiday Phuket and MKR Transportation,” Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (palad) Suthee Sirianan said. “Natthapong Chimree and Udon Sainate, both from MKR Transportation, tested positive for ya…

  • Yingluck pushes for elections, Phuket prepares for booze ban | Thaiger

    Yingluck pushes for elections, Phuket prepares for booze ban

    PHUKET: Phuket will face an alcohol ban starting on February 1 as caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pushes ahead with the February 2 national elections (story here). “According to the Election Act, all alcohol sales in Phuket are banned from 6pm on February 1 until midnight on February 2 because of the MP elections,” Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Director Kittipong…

  • Phuket earns 21 medals at 42nd Thailand National Games | Thaiger

    Phuket earns 21 medals at 42nd Thailand National Games

    PHUKET: Athletes representing Phuket at the 42nd National Games, contested in Suphanburi from January 5-15, brought home 21 medals – five golds, five silvers and 11 bronzes. Based on medal tally, Phuket placed 25th out of 77 provinces and Bangkok. The National Games’ hosts Suphanburi cleaned up the event with 358 medals including 198 gold, 80 silver and 80 bronze.…

  • Khao Lak – our neighbor to the north | Thaiger

    Khao Lak – our neighbor to the north

    PHUKET: These are exciting times for long-term Khao Lak resident Sascha Meissmer, Sales Manager of the all-new Khaolak Magazine. As the first issue of the quality magazine rolled off the presses recently to considerable acclaim, we managed to grab a moment with Sascha, 44, to find out more. So Sascha, tell us, what is the purpose of the new magazine?…

  • Phuket resort raided over beach beautification project | Thaiger

    Phuket resort raided over beach beautification project

    PHUKET: National park officers yesterday raided the Anantara luxury resort in Phuket and filed a police complaint for alleged encroachment on park land. The Mai Khao resort stands accused of clearing swathes of sea morning glory from the beach and planting palm trees as part of a beach beautification project. Sirinath Marine National Park Chief Cheewapap Cheewatham, who led the…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals – U.N. Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Governments may have to extract vast amounts of greenhouse gases from the air by 2100 to achieve a target for limiting global warming, backed by trillion-dollar shifts towards clean…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Violences kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Violences kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Violence kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Bomb attacks and shootings killed at least 75 people in Iraq on Wednesday, police and hospital sources said, making it one of the bloodiest days in months.In the deadliest incident, a bomb blew up…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Feb 2 election to go ahead; Violence fears raised; Rescue worker charged for rape | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Feb 2 election to go ahead; Violence fears raised; Rescue worker charged for rape

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Feb 2 elections will go ahead: Yingluck The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: After holding a meeting with representatives from different political parties and officials from agencies related to the election, caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra decided yesterday to go ahead with the February 2 poll.Insisting that her…

  • Phuket Vice Governor, other officials, join anti-government protesters [Video Report] | Thaiger

    Phuket Vice Governor, other officials, join anti-government protesters [Video Report]

    PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa, along with three mayors and one district chief, joined the crowd of protesters gathered in front of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday evening.The protesters vowed to provide their full support should the officials face criticism later.V/Gov Sommai was joined by Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana, Rawai Mayor Arun Solos, Kathu Mayor Chaianan Sutthikul and Thalang…