Search Results for: cat

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Gazette to stop print edition of newspaper locally, reorienting hard-copy production for wider market in The Nation

    Phuket Gazette to stop print edition of newspaper locally, reorienting hard-copy production for wider market in The Nation

    PHUKET: It’s like Grandma’s little drinking problem. Everyone knows, but people don’t much talk about it. And so it goes with the publishers of hard-copy newspapers these days – worldwide. We know where print is headed, so the only real choices are whether to get out now or, say two years from now. We’ve opted for the former, meaning that…

  • OpinionOpinion: Tour guides must be fined

    Opinion: Tour guides must be fined

    PHUKET: The recent fine levied on a tour guide for removing a starfish from the sea in a marine national park has once again drawn international attention to how erratic Thai law enforcement appears to be when it comes to issues involving mass tourism, environmental conservation and foreign guests. The latest uproar in social media came after a Thai tourist…

  • Phuket NewsMajor Phuket bust yields B2mn worth of drugs

    Major Phuket bust yields B2mn worth of drugs

    PHUKET: A Phuket drug dealer was arrested in Chalong with nearly 2 million baht worth of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and ya bah (methamphetamine) by Border Patrol Police (BPP) this week. The suspect was found in possession of 8,658 ya bah pills and 15.02g of ya ice. “The arrest was made after we got a report from one of our…

  • Phuket NewsTAT, Phuket Tourist Police come to American tourist’s aid

    TAT, Phuket Tourist Police come to American tourist’s aid

    PHUKET: A lost American tourist, who could neither recall the name nor the address of the hostel he was staying at, was safely returned there by tourist police this morning. Boyce Reid Brown, 48, was wandering around Phuket Town on foot when he happened to find the office of the Tourism of Thailand (TAT) and stepped inside to ask for…

  • Thai LifePhuket wedding planners’ conference draws global vendors

    Phuket wedding planners’ conference draws global vendors

    PHUKET: Phuket hosted the 4th Annual Destination Wedding Planners’ Congress 2017 (DWP Congress 2017), a conference of global wedding planners that brought luxury destination wedding planners, leading suppliers and creative partners under one roof. More than 450 global wedding planners from 65 countries participated in the event, which was held from May 2-4 and was the first of its kind…

  • Pattaya NewsMinistry denies blocking Google services following connectivity issues

    Ministry denies blocking Google services following connectivity issues

    PHUKET: The Ministry of Digital Economy and Society denied that the government ordered the blocking of Google and YouTube after a technical issue with Thai internet provider 3BB meant that customers were unable to access Google services on Saturday, the Thai National News Bureau reported today. The issue seemed to affect anyone trying to access the sites from a Thai…

  • Phuket NewsOne arrested, four escape police custody at national park

    One arrested, four escape police custody at national park

    PHUKET: One suspect was arrested while four others escaped after police charged them with harming marine life and using fishing equipment in a national park area. The incident unfolded at Mu Koh Lanta National Park. “Last week, we received reports from divers that there was a yacht anchored at Koh Ha and that the people on board were suspected of…

  • Phuket NewsRussian couple fined for sex in a Phuket tuk-tuk

    Russian couple fined for sex in a Phuket tuk-tuk

    PHUKET: Police have fined a Russian couple 500 baht each after a video clip of them appearing to have sex in the back of a tuk-tuk in Karon went viral. The 28-second clip was posted on Friday and shows a man and a woman moving suggestively in the tuk-tuk with the woman’s shirt lifted to expose her torso. Karon Police…

  • Phuket NewsDrug mule arrested in Phuket with 800,000 baht’s worth of pills

    Drug mule arrested in Phuket with 800,000 baht’s worth of pills

    PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket-bound man for transporting ya ba (methamphetamine) worth 800,000 baht at a Tah Chat Chai checkpoint yesterday afternoon. Lt Col Tawach Tansakul of Tah Chat Chai police and his team apprehended Anan Navarat, 39, at about 3pm. “Mr Anan was traveling by bus from Nakhon Sri Thammarat and looked suspicious to us during a routine check,”…

  • OpinionOpinion: Jealousy is a powerful motivator

    Opinion: Jealousy is a powerful motivator

    PHUKET: Phuket was in the international news spotlight again last week, this time for the heartbreaking murder of an 11-month-old baby girl, hanged by her own father in Nai Thon (story here). Most readers will already be familiar with the tragically short life of Natalee ‘Biw’ Wongtalay, whose execution went viral after her late father, 21, chose to post it…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Police try to identify injured elderly foreigner

    Phuket Police try to identify injured elderly foreigner

    PHUKET: An injured, elderly foreigner ran amok shouting for help from passersby in Phuket Town last night. The man had head and back injuries, but officials were unable to identify him as he was incoherent. He had blonde hair and was wearing a white T-shirt and black shorts. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers received reports of him by concerned locals at…

  • Phuket NewsEx-security guard arrested for assault, theft in Phuket

    Ex-security guard arrested for assault, theft in Phuket

    PHUKET: An ex-security guard at a hotel in Pa Khlok was arrested and charged for assault as well as theft and possession of an illegal firearm and drugs, on Tuesday after he beat up a hotel staff member and robbed her last week. Thalang Police apprehended the suspect, Panya Jara, 28, at his rental house in Pa Khlok where they…

  • Phuket NewsDrug suspects escape police custody in Phuket

    Drug suspects escape police custody in Phuket

    PHUKET: Police are hunting for two suspects who escaped custody and fled from a police vehicle at a traffic light on the way to the station early on Tuesday morning. “Suriya Lakpech and Wasurat Malikabutr, both 21, had initially been arrested in front of the Vijit Resort in Rawai after officers asked to inspect their belongings because they looked ‘suspicious’.…

  • Thai LifeGardening: Shades of white in Phuket gardens

    Gardening: Shades of white in Phuket gardens

    PHUKET: White has many associations, including innocence and purity. On the down side, it represents coldness and sterility. In Thailand, judging by the dominance of white in floral garlands, it brings good fortune. Most lucky leis contain white flowers – buds of jasmine and milkweed, plus a pair of creamy magnolias for good measure. The white spectrum is equally well…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket gov launches clean-up campaign

    Phuket gov launches clean-up campaign

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong yesterday launched a campaign titled ‘Clean Phuket with our Hands and Hearts’, as promised during his first ‘Governor meets Media’ gathering at Phuket Provincial Hall last month (story here). The week-long campaign, that is to last until Sunday, will be held each month, the governor stated. “As Phuket is an international tourism destination, it is…

  • PropertyProperty Watch: Thailand at a crossroads in property investment

    Property Watch: Thailand at a crossroads in property investment

    PHUKET: Thailand is and will remain an attractive property market to invest in. The geography lends itself well to a good quality of life, especially if income to support that lifestyle isn’t an issue. However, it does have neighboring competition and is in the process of assessing its options to revise laws to continue developing its economy. The way in…

  • Cannabis NewsMotorbike trio arrested for stealing from Chinese tourist, marijuana

    Motorbike trio arrested for stealing from Chinese tourist, marijuana

    PHUKET: Three men were arrested yesterday in Phuket town with assorted currencies amounting to at least 200,000 baht as well as electronics they stole from a Chinese tourist’s hotel room in Patong. The men were also in possession of marijuana. Lt Col Pongpichan Chayanonpiriya of the Patong Police confirmed to Phuket Gazette reporters that Thanakorn Akarabut, 24; Harich Dada, 18;…

  • Phuket NewsNo refund for B6.7mn house in shambles

    No refund for B6.7mn house in shambles

    PHUKET: Dhamrongtham center staff and representatives of the Engineering Institute of Thailand on Thursday inspected a ‘questionable’ housing project in Koh Kaew. The house, backed by a well-known developer, has reportedly been in shambles for about three years. Sintichai Jitkam and Sunisa Jitkham in November last year filed a complaint after purchasing the house in the development for 6.7 million…

  • OpinionOpinion: Gov’s ‘war on dirtiness’ a noble aim

    Opinion: Gov’s ‘war on dirtiness’ a noble aim

    PHUKET: Cleanliness is next to Godliness, as the old saying goes, so it is hard not to agree with new governor Norraphat Plodthong’s stated goal of beautifying Phuket “by our hands”. Gov Norraphat, set for mandatory retirement from the civil service in just a few months’ time, has understandably had to set his priorities in a practical way. When one…

  • Phuket NewsThree arrested in Phuket for serial theft, possession of drugs

    Three arrested in Phuket for serial theft, possession of drugs

    PHUKET: Three men, including an ex-employee of Triple T Broadband Public Company Limited (3BB), were arrested yesterday afternoon for stealing more than 60 batteries from the company’s signal booster boxes in Thalang. Tibet Manubut, 23; Worawut Chusrinun, 20; and Narit Buakhong, 27; were arrested at their rental room in Thalang at about 3pm. They were also found in possession of…

  • Phuket NewsThai police defend response to Facebook clip of baby’s murder

    Thai police defend response to Facebook clip of baby’s murder

    PHUKET: Royal Thai Police yesterday defended their response to a horrific video clip of a father murdering his baby daughter (story here), that remained on Facebook Live for about 24 hours before it was removed. Col Krissana Pattanacharoen, deputy national police spokesman, said the Technology Crime Suppression Division alerted the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society soon after learning about…

  • Phuket NewsForeign tourists wrongfully arrested for fraud in Phuket

    Foreign tourists wrongfully arrested for fraud in Phuket

    PHUKET: Two Chinese tourists were arrested and subsequently released yesterday after officers in Phuket received a warning from officials in Bangkok about their alleged involvement in credit card fraud. “Mr Jun Jie Ju and Ms Jia Xin Chen were arrested at a Cherng Talay hotel at about 3pm,” said Lt Col Tianchai Chompoo of Phuket Immigration Police. The colonel said…

  • Thai LifeExcuse Buster: Getting your kids to eat more vegetables

    Excuse Buster: Getting your kids to eat more vegetables

    PHUKET: I am slated to give a talk on nutrition at one of Phuket’s international schools soon. One question I always get asked when speaking to parents is: “How do I get my child to eat vegetables?” Having two children myself, I know the struggles of encouraging children to eat more from this critical food group packed full of nutrients.…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket durian to be upgraded as GI product

    Phuket durian to be upgraded as GI product

    PHUKET: A campaign to promote durian has been launched in Kamala, roughly nine months after pineapples with a price tag of 1,500 baht hit the markets in Phuket last year (story here). “Following an announcement by the Ministry of Commerce, committee members came to Phuket to ‘inspect’ local durians in Kamala,” said Kamala subdistrict chief Kamnan Yuttasak Yayee. “Each tree…

  • Phuket NewsFirst priority is to beautify Phuket, says Gov Norraphat

    First priority is to beautify Phuket, says Gov Norraphat

    PHUKET: Newly-appointed Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong says his first priority is to beautify Phuket. Earlier this week, the governor held his first ‘media meet’ since his arrival on the island on April 10, to lay out his plans for Phuket. On April 4, ex-Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan was transferred out after six months on the job, with Gov Norraphat –…

  • Phuket NewsWoman killed, 3-year-old niece survives Phuket hit-and-run

    Woman killed, 3-year-old niece survives Phuket hit-and-run

    PHUKET: A woman was killed and a three-year-old slightly injured in another hit-and-run accident in Thalang yesterday evening. The child is now confirmed to be out of danger. Lt Sunan Pethnhoo of Thalang Police received reports of the accident, which occurred near Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road, at about 5:45pm. Police arrived at the scene with rescue teams to…

  • Phuket News‘Mentally ill’ Phuket man blows half his head off

    ‘Mentally ill’ Phuket man blows half his head off

    PHUKET: A Mai Khao resident believed to be suffering from a mental illness reportedly shot himself in his home this morning in what turned out to be one of the worst scenes Phuket police say they have encountered recently. Lt Col Watcharin Jirattikanwiwat of Tah Chat Chai Police received reports of the incident at about 8:45am. “The house was located…

  • Pattaya NewsRecent highlights of Thailand’s marine industry

    Recent highlights of Thailand’s marine industry

    PHUKET: The Singapore Yacht Show, held just before Songkran, has become a leading marine industry event. It is a place where global brands are present and also where many from Thailand’s marine industry attend. With two-and-a-half days of conferences, it’s very much a business event, distinct from Thailand’s boat shows which focus more on the experience of owning a boat,…

  • Phuket NewsFormer tour company staff member wanted for deceiving Malaysian travellers

    Former tour company staff member wanted for deceiving Malaysian travellers

    KRABI: Police are hunting for a former employee of a tour company who escaped after allegedly scamming 23 Malaysian tourists in Krabi. Yesterday, a team of officers from the Krabi Tourist Police, led by Sub Lt Suwan Tuamsri, helped temporarily accommodate a teacher and 22 university students after their tour agent disappeared upon their arrival in Krabi on Tuesday. “The…

  • Phuket NewsVideo: Two arrested for dragging woman behind motorbike during botched robbery attempt

    Video: Two arrested for dragging woman behind motorbike during botched robbery attempt

    SAMUI: Two motorcyclists who dragged a woman behind their motorbike while attempting to steal her bag at Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui last week were arrested early yesterday morning. The CCTV footage of the incident, which featured Kanitta Krawwer, 32, being dragged by her bag’s shoulder strap as the two men attempted to steal it from around her neck, went…