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- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Doubt lingers over poll outcome; Did PM slip-up?; Four dead in Pattani attack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Doubt over poll outcomeThe Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Despite the government’s claim of “victory” after voting was conducted in 89 per cent of the country’s 375 constituencies yesterday, many factors point to the high likelihood that this election – marred by boycotts and a long rowdy…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s X-Terminal to be tested by Russians, Chinese
PHUKET: Phuket’s X-Terminal officially opened yesterday and will begin serving the island’s two largest source markets on Wednesday. “The first two weeks are trial weeks for the terminal. We will start with six charter flights per day: three to Russia and three to China,” said Director of Phuket International Airport Pratuang Sornkham. “During this period, we will make sure that…
- Phuket News
Phuket boat tracking system operational
PHUKET: A 15-million-baht system that will track the location of the about 3,000 boats visiting Phuket each year finally has wind in its sails. “Right now, we can use our Automatic Identification System (AIS) to track boats on the north, west and south sides of the island. We are trying to get the budget to cover the east side too,”…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Election Special – How did we end up here? From Thaksin to today
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand Election Special – How did we end up here? From Thaksin to today Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Yingluck Shinawatra’s journey from political nobody to prime minister was breathtakingly swift. Her premiership’s descent into crisis has been just as rapid. A political neophyte when she…
- Phuket News
Bang Tao Canal ills on course to be solved by 2015
PHUKET: A multitude of infrastructure projects designed to stifle the stench and improve the quality of water being released from the Bang Tao Canal into the ocean are about 30 to 40 per cent complete, Cherng Talay Administrative Organization officer (palad) Krichanut Suphantakit has confirmed. The projects include two wastewater treatment plants: one in Bang Tao and one in Surin,…
- Food
THINK Design: Art you can eat
PHUKET: We’ve all heard about those elegant and exclusive, more than five star little boutique resort properties hidden away around Phuket but few of us ever get the chance to visit one. It was my good fortune to be invited by Publisher Michael Earle to attend the 40th THINK Design art dinner at Iniala Beach House, tucked away on a…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Syrian forces raze thousands of homes [Video]
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria peace talks take a break as rivals dig in Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syrian authorities have flattened seven residential districts for no apparent military objective but to punish civilians living among rebels who had already fled, Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.The New York-based advocacy group…
- Business News
Phuket Finance: Sri Lanka could be the next frontier for investors
PHUKET: When most Westerners think of Sri Lanka, the island nation off the coast of South India that was once known as Ceylon, they probably think of tea (as the country has long been a major tea exporter), science fiction author Arthur C Clarke (who spent most of his adult life living there) or the now defeated Tamil Tiger guerillas…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s “Nine Heroes’ land at Victory Field
PHUKET: The long-awaited nine bronze statues of important figures in Phuket’s history arrived on the island yesterday and were officially installed at Thalang Victory Memorial Field this morning. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a blessing ceremony at Saphan Hin yesterday evening to welcome the Nine Heroes. “These historical figures will serve to remind all Phuket people of their brave ancestors…
- Property
Phuket Property: Living it up in the Ozone
PHUKET: According to chemistry and geology textbooks, “ozone” is a pale blue gas – an inorganic compound comprising three atoms of oxygen – which plays a crucial role in the earth’s stratosphere, absorbing much of the sun’s deadly radiation to make this planet habitable for humans. Perhaps this “life enabling” property is what developer Phuket Pro Property had in mind…
- Phuket News
Phuket’s one-stop yacht center to open next week
PHUKET: Phuket’s one-stop center for arriving yachts is scheduled to open next week. The opening of the facility, on Chalong Pier [map here], was initially set for 2012, then delayed until 2015 before being moved forward to February 7. “We are opening now for financial reasons,” Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising said. “We signed a three-year contract…
- Property
Phuket Property: Green Walls – It’s alive!
PHUKET: Last November, an energetic Chilean man came into the Phuket Gazette offices to pitch his vision and innovation – a simple yet potentially revolutionary solution for Phuket’s increasingly congested, polluted and unappealing urban spaces. Ignacio Espoz Babul, director of Santiago-based LatinGreen – a patent holder, innovator and installer of “Green” walls, roofs and buildings – passionately talked of his…
- Business News
Phuket tourism market eyed for semi-submarine pilot
PHUKET: Looking to build on its recent successful launch in Malaysia, one Korean marketeer is now eying the Phuket and Phang Nga marine leisure markets for its simple yet innovative semi-submarine vessel.“The Penguin” was one of several interesting marine products that stood out at this year’s Phuket International Boat Show (see page 44 for more details about the event); To…
- Thai Life
The year of the wood horse: Chinese New Year 2014
PHUKET: Tomorrow, January 31, some 1.3 billion Chinese in China and another 50 million ethnic-Chinese around the world will bid farewell to the year of the snake, and welcome the “invisible moon” that signals the official start of a new year – the year of the horse. Lunar New Year Starting today and tomorrow, festivities for the Chinese New Year…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Wanted: Chief executive to run city of two million, seat of government, top global tourist destination and fashion capital. Relevant experience appreciated. Men need not apply.Paris elects a new mayor this spring who…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Anyone wishing to buy an EU passport from Malta must first live in the island nation for a year, the European Commission and Malta agreed on Wednesday, curtailing its contentious plan to sell EU…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday while deputies loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich, acting to calm violent street protests, back-tracked and overturned anti-protest laws they rammed through parliament 12 days ago.The first…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Poll set for Sunday amid fears of further violence; Man shot, gunman caught; Reds to rally nationwide
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Poll set for Sunday amid fears of further violence The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The decision to go ahead with the February 2 election would only mount pressure on the caretaker government because it would provide “ammunition” to the protesters, a leader of the People’s Democratic for…
- Phuket News
B12mn canal extension project to begin in March
PHUKET: A 12-million-baht project to dredge the Koh Kaew Canal and deepen the existing approach channel from Phang Nga Bay will begin in March.The six-month project was approved at a public hearing led by Governor Maitri Inthusut at the Royal Phuket Marina last Thursday.“Our officers found that the canal is not deep enough for big boats or yachts and could…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2bn in aid
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2 billion in aid Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The World Bank on Monday warned Myanmar against corruption as it unveiled a $2 billion aid package designed to provide better health care and improve supplies of electricity.Despite the country’s…
- Phuket News
Phuket lucky license plate auction pulls up short of the mark
PHUKET: The Phuket Lucky License Plate Auction fell short of a 30-million-baht goal this year (story here) with bidders handing over just 23mn baht for road-safety campaigns and traffic-victim rehabilitation programs. The two-day auction organized by the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) was held at the Phuket Merlin Hotel (map here) on Saturday and Sunday. More than 300 license plates…
- World News
Phuket Gazette World News: Syrian government to allow women, children to exit war zone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria talks bring offer of exit from siege of Homs Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Syrian government offered to let women and children leave the besieged city of Homs on Sunday as negotiators from the warring sides discussed humanitarian gestures on a second day of face-to-face talks…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Anger, violence rock voting in capital; Poll blockades across South; Northern snow just frost
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anger and violence rock voting in capital The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Advance voting for the national election was disrupted yesterday by violence, with the murder of an anti-government protest leader and a dozen people injured. This includes voters who wanted to cast ballots.Police have said they…
- Phuket News
Phuket traffic chief sets sights on B30mn record licence plate auction
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) is hoping to raise a record 30 million baht from the annual Lucky Licence Plate Auction being held in Phuket Town this weekend. The two-day event at the Phuket Merlin Hotel (map here) began today at 9:30am, with 301 licence plates to go to the highest bidders. All licence plates to be auctioned…
- Thailand News
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Election can be delayed – court; Japan cancels all tours to Thailand; Govt scrambles for B130bn to pay rice farmers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Poll can be deferred: court The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The February 2 election can only be postponed if the ongoing protests are brought to an end and there is no boycott of the election, a government figure said yesterday following a Constitutional Court ruling that the…
- Pattaya News
Mum mourns murdered son at Phuket sentencing
PHUKET: The mother of Maxim Schantz, who was murdered in Phuket two years ago, arrived today at Phuket Provincial Court for the sentencing of one of her son’s murderers, Johan Sebastian Ljung. “Maxim was a very good son. He was beautiful. He had his father’s eyes,” Yvonne Schantz, 55, told the Phuket Gazette. “I had two children: Maxim and his…
- Opinion
Phuket Opinion: Putting the brakes on tourist bike accidents
Paitoon Sillapavisut, 41, is a Nakhon Sri Thammarat native who graduated from Ramkhamhaeng University in Business Management. He has been the senior manager of the Phuket branch of Road Accident Victim Protection Co Ltd Since 1998. Here, Mr Paitoon talks about what causes visitors to have motorcycle accidents on the island and suggests what measures should be taken to prevent…
- Pattaya News
BREAKING NEWS: Swede gets life in prison
PHUKET: Swedish national Johan Sebastian Ljung was today sentenced to life imprisonment for the stabbing murder of Maxim Schantz in Phuket two years ago. He was also ordered to pay 12.5 million baht in compensation to the victim’s family. Mr Ljung, 28, and Tommy Viktor Soderlund, also 28, were arrested by police in a hotel room at Surin Beach, on…
- Phuket News
Phuket mission to replace tsunami warning buoy
PHUKET: A six-day expedition to replace a tsunami warning buoy that has been displaced from its anchorage in the Indian Ocean will depart Phuket on Monday.“The buoy has been severed [from its base unit] for months,” said Surachai Srisarakham, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in a statement issued yesterday.“It took time to obtain the…
- Business News
Australia Day message from the Australian Ambassador to Thailand
PHUKET: Australia Day is the ideal day to reflect on Australia’s domestic and international achievements. It is also an opportunity for Australians and Thais alike to celebrate and reflect on the relationship between our two countries. Over several generations, Australians and Thais have built a solid bilateral relationship, establishing excellent models of cooperation and finding new ways to learn and…