Search Results for: Bangkok
- Phuket News
Two dead in Phi Phi poison mystery
PHUKET CITY: Two tourists died and two others became seriously ill after staying at the same guesthouse on Phi Phi Island in Krabi this week. US citizen Jill St. Onge, 26, died on May 2, shortly after being taken to hospital by her boyfriend Ryan Kells, who also fell ill. Both tourists were vomiting severely before Miss St. Onge’s admission…
- Phuket News
Swine Flu diagnosis now possible in just four hours
PHUKET: Bangkok’s Chulalongkorn Hospital says it can now diagnosis a case of swine flu in just four hours. Until yesterday, it took up to 18 hours to determine if a patient has caught the Type A(H1N1) flu virus. “The procedure has become much quicker because we received ribonucleic acid, or the genetic material of the influenza virus prototype, for analysis…
- Phuket News
Oledong to defend WBC title in Phuket
PATONG, PHUKET: Undefeated WBC minimum-weight champion Oledong Sithsamerchai (29-0-0) will defend his title against former IBF champ Muhammad Rachman from Indonesia (62-7-5) on May 29 in Patong. The fast-fisted Oledong, 23, is the pride of Trang’s Rassada District. He won the WBC title by beating fellow Thai Eagle Den Junlaphan on points in Bangkok in November, 2007. The contest will…
- Phuket News
Swine Flu: Phuket Immigration officials told to wear their masks
PHUKET: While Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai was waiting to welcome teachers and students who flew in from Mexico on Sunday night at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, he noticed that immigration officers were not wearing surgical masks to protect themselves, and were even asking arriving passengers to take off their masks for identification. “From this incident, I realized that immigration officers…
- Phuket News
Lifestyle: Have mobs become a fashion statement in Phuket?
PHUKET: Just days after Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva’s government finally managed to restore order to Bangkok, mob militancy was back on the streets of Thailand. This time, it was closer to home. Protesters blockaded Srisoonthorn Road in Baan Bang Tao for almost 24 hours, causing disruption for both residents of the island and the tourists so crucial to our economy.…
- Phuket News
Blood Type ‘O’ Negative still urgently needed for Phuket accident victim
PHUKET: Donations of blood type O Negative are still urgently needed for Phuket motorcycle accident victim Steve Swan, the proprietor of the Crows Nest bar in Patong. Mr Swan is at Phuket’s Vachira Hospital and is suffering from internal bleeding due to severe leg, hip and pelvic injuries after being hit by a car on the Kata/Karon road near Chalong…
- Phuket News
Phuket Marine Biological Center launches turtle project
CAPE PANWA, PHUKET: Researchers from Bangkok and Phuket are preparing to launch Thailand’s first artificial insemination project for sea turtles at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). Researcher Kanjana Adulyanukosol, who heads the PMBC Endangered Species Unit, said her team will work with researchers from Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Veterinary Science to extract semen from male sea turtles and store…
- Phuket News
Phuket well prepared for swine flu outbreak
PHUKET CITY: Despite no cases of “swine flu” being recorded in Thailand, public health officials are taking measures to prevent the spread of the virus into the country through Phuket Airport and other air gateways. Pongsawad Ratanasang, director of the Public Health Office, told the media he is not overly concerned by the danger posed to the island by this…
- Phuket News
Three Phuket businessmen charged with encroachment
PHUKET CITY: Three prominent Phuket businessmen yesterday morning presented themselves at the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) headquarters in Bangkok to face allegations of land encroachment at Koh Yao Yai in Phang Nga. Pol Lt Col Prawuth Wongsrinil, head of the DSI’s consumer and environment protection unit, identified the businessmen as Thawat, Tara and Prasit Tantipiriyakij. A fourth man, Bumrung…
- Phuket News
Swine flu scanner installed at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport and two other major Thai aviation gateways have installed thermo-scanners to screen foreign passengers for swine flu. The two other locations now using the infrared sensors are Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Chiang Mai International Airport. Travellers found with suspicious flu symptoms that could develop into the swine influenza will be asked to undergo treatment at the…
- Phuket News
Airport Authority lowers landing fees again
MAI KHAO, PHUKET: Airports of Thailand (AOT) is to make a further reduction in landing fees at the six airports under its control, including Phuket International Airport (PIA). In a bid to help struggling airlines battered by dire economic conditions and Thailand’s continuing political turmoil, fees will now be reduced by 30%. Parking fees will also be waived for aircraft…
- Phuket News
Samkong Bridge project nears completion
PHUKET CITY: Workers from the Phuket Rock Company toiled hard over the weekend making repairs to part of the Samkong Bridge, which supports two lanes of traffic on Yaowarat Road.The bridge, built in 1970, passes over Klong Bangyai near Bangkok Hospital in the busy Samkong part of Phuket City.Klong Bangyai, Phuket largest watercourse, drains water from large parts of Muang…
- Phuket News
Gov Wichai to push four road projects for Phuket
PHUKET CITY: In a bid to ease traffic congestion, Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop will push four new road projects for the island. Gov Wichai told a press conference at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier this week that the ever-increasing number of cars on Phuket’s roads makes expansion of the island road network a necessity. The first project would be a new…
- Phuket News
Private sector hails lifting of emergency decree
PHUKET CITY: The government’s lifting of the State of Emergency Decree in Bangkok and surrounding areas yesterday has drawn applause from the private-sector.Federation of Thai Industries chairman Santi Vilassakdanont said the move would help restore confidence in the country.The situation would return to normal in two weeks, he predictedHowever the government must move more quickly to explain the situation to…
- Phuket News
Tourism outlook positive after lifting of emergency rule
PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has pledged to ensure peace and normalcy by relying on relevant laws following the lifting of emergency rule in Greater Bangkok yesterday. “It is the duty of my government to keep the peace, and I pledge to allay public concerns about security by invoking relevant laws without taking any extra measures,” he said. PM Abhisit…
- Phuket News
Game shop killer surrenders
PHUKET CITY: Ekawood Pipatratana, the video game center owner who accidentally shot and killed a 12-year-old boy in his shop on Wednesday, handed himself in to police today. Mr Ekawood, 43, dumped Amornthep “Gaga” Panya-sirikul’s body in marshland near Phuket International Airport before fleeing in his car to his wife in Bangkok. At a press conference at Phuket City Police…
- Phuket News
Satun oil spill clean-up starts today
PHUKET CITY: The waters off part of the resort island of Koh Lipe in Satun were polluted last weekend by an oil slick, estimated by authorities to cover an area of about five kilometers. Koh Lipe is about 160 nautical miles from Phuket. Marine Police Region 3 Inspector Banjerd Manawetch was first notified of the slick by the crew of…
- Phuket News
PAD concert goes off without a hitch
SAPHAN HIN, PHUKET: Last night saw more than 30,000 yellow-shirted People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) followers gather in a show of support for injured leader Sondhi Limthongkul at the sold-out PAD 6th political concert, which was aired nationwide on ASTV. Maj Gen Chamlong Srimuang, one of the PAD’s five core leaders, told the crowd he felt happy to see such…
- Phuket News
Political turmoil cost Phuket two direct flights from China
PHUKET CITY: Last week’s political turmoil in Bangkok has caused two Chinese airlines to shelve plans to launch direct flights to Phuket from Shanghai and Guangzhou. Following a tourism “roadshow” to mainland China, the Phuket Tourist Association’s Somboon Jirayus said that Shanghai Airlines was set to begin direct flights from Shanghai to Phuket, starting at the end of the month,…
- Phuket News
PAD concert to go on despite Sondhi shooting
SAPHAN HIN, PHUKET: The People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) benefit concert will go on as scheduled tomorrow night, despite the shooting of PAD leader Sondhi Limthongkul early this morning. Phuket PAD coordinator Aparat Chartchutikumjorn told the Gazette today that Mr Sondhi is now in a stable condition and able to speak after surgeons at Vajira Hospital in Bangkok successfully removed…
- Phuket News
AirAsia to open ticket office in Patong
PHUKET CITY: As part of its plan to develop Phuket as a second aviation hub for Thailand, Thai AirAsia hopes to establish direct air links with major cities in the region and will set up a sales office on the beach road in Patong, the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) told the Gazette.Thai AirAsia CEO Tassapol Bijleveld says that the…
- Phuket News
Thailand weakened, but government stronger after riots
PHUKET: Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva announced yesterday that the state of emergency would remain in place even though the authorities had managed to bring the anti-government protests to a tentatively peaceful conclusion. “The situation has eased and is almost back to normal. But the mission of the emergency decree has not been completed. The government will not be careless, and…
- Phuket News
Phuket Airport operating normally
PHUKET (thephuketinsider.com): A visit to Phuket International Airport this morning confirmed that flights between Phuket and Bangkok are operating as usual, despite the Thai government’s declaration of a state of emergency in the nation’s capital late yesterday. Thai Airways staff as well as those of other airlines say there has been no disruption of scheduled flights.Phuket Airport Director, Wicha Nernlop…
- Phuket News
EU blacklisting irrelevant: One-Two-Go chairman
PHUKET: The chairman of One-Two-Go says the recent addition of the carrier to a European Union blacklist will have no effect on the company, which has never flown to Europe. One-Two-Go’s addition to the updated blacklist was announced in a press release yesterday. To view the release, click here. One-Two-Go chairman Udom Tantiprasongchai told the Gazette this afternoon that the…
- Phuket News
Poor communities protest at Provincial Hall
PHUKET: A crowd of several hundred people from poor communities in Phuket gathered in the grounds of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday morning to demand swift action be taken by the Phuket Governor to improve living conditions in their communities. The sit-in was organized by the ’30 Communities Network’, which comprises poor communities in Phuket, including the Pla Katak Pattana Community…
- Phuket News
Phuket Prem supporters demonstrate
PHUKET CITY: Hundreds of Prem Supporters’ Association members from around the South on April 2 marched through the streets of Phuket City in support of General Prem Tinsulanonda, president of the Privy Council.Around 300-400 mostly yellow-shirted members of the organization took part in the demonstration, which assembled at Queen Sirikit Park at around 12:30pm.Some of the protesters came from as…
- Phuket News
300,000 protesters to confront Thai government
BANGKOK: Wednesday [April 8] is D-Day for the mobilization of 300,000 red-shirted Thaksin supporters for a showdown with the government. Organizers like Natthawut Saikua are demanding the House’s dissolution, a general election, and the resignation of Privy Council President General Prem Tinsulanonda. Natthawut said yesterday the April 8 rally would be an historic event. He has promised that the red…
- Phuket News
THAI adds extra flights for Songkran
PHUKET: Thai Airways has scheduled eight extra round-trip flights between Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport and Phuket International Airport to cope with the additional numbers of passengers expected to travel over the busy Songkran period. The airline has scheduled a total of 29 additional round-trip flights between Bangkok and the provinces, according to a press release. Other round-trip flights have been added…
- Phuket News
Cash giveaway creates crowds, confusion
PHUKET CITY: The first day for mid- and low-wage workers to pick up 2,000-baht checks offered under the government’s economic stimulus package saw a huge crowd form at Phuket Community Hall in Phuket City on yesterday. Many people were confused by the process, which involves first making a trip to the nearby Social Security Office to see what day…
- Phuket News
Canadian condo owner claims false arrest
PHUKET CITY: A Canadian man who has lived in Phuket for over a decade has been arrested for working illegally in Thailand, a charge he claims stems from a dispute over maintenance fees with one of the co-owners of a condominium complex in which he owns five units. Phuket Immigration Police, led by Investigations Inspector Suparerk Pankosol, yesterday afternoon arrested…
