Search Results for: cat
- Phuket News
All rock climbing banned on Phi Phi
PHUKET: All rock climbers, including independent climbers, are banned from scaling the bolted rock faces on Phi Phi Don as officials look to regulate safety standards. “We have already explained to nine tour operators offering climbing tours in the Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park area that they must suspend their services until they gain the necessary…
- World News
NATO looks to combat Russia’s ‘information weapon’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NATO looks to combat Russia’s ‘information weapon’ Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: NATO may combat Kremlin “weaponisation of information” used to support action such as the 2014 seizure of Crimea by creating a new more powerful communications section and declassifying more sensitive material, according to draft…
- World News
Doomsday Clock stays unchanged at three minutes to midnight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Doomsday Clock stays unchanged at three minutes to midnight Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Iran nuclear deal and movement on climate change prompted the scientists who maintain the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic countdown to global catastrophe, to keep it unchanged on Tuesday at three minutes…
- World News
Google files patent for drone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Google files patent for drone “delivery receptacle” Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Google’s secretive drone delivery project could include a component designed to store packages securely. A patent filed Tuesday in the United States by the company, a unit of Alphabet Inc, describes a “delivery receptacle”…
- World News
With China weakening, Apple turns to India
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community With China weakening, Apple turns to India Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: As red-hot sales in China show signs of cooling, Apple Inc (AAPL.O) executives are touting India’s growing appetite for iPhones. In an earnings call in which the company reported meager iPhone growth and forecast…
- Phuket News
Surin demolition pushed to next month
PHUKET: The expected demolition of buildings on Surin Beach has been pushed back to next month, announced Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. “The problem we are facing is with the documentation process,” Vice Governor Chokdee said. “We have to ensure that we are following all legal processes and are being very careful when demolishing government buildings.” V/Gov Chokdee noted that…
- Phuket News
Unidentified foreigner killed after allegedly jumping in front of tour bus
PHUKET: Police are working to identify a foreigner who was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a tour bus in Patong early this morning. Bus driver Somkhit Wongpan, 33, told officers that he was on his way to Patong after picking up about 20 Chinese tourists from the airport, confirmed Maj Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police. “Mr Somkhit…
- Phuket News
MOTS director lays out strict guidelines for tour operators
PHUKET: Hundreds of tour operators gathered earlier this month to listen in on the government’s plans for Phuket’s tourism industry for the upcoming year. Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office revealed his plans, which include the completion of several projects already in the works (story here). “We talked to the tour operators about…
- Phuket News
Desperate plea for blood made to save German in Phuket
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital is making a desperate call for A-negative blood to save a German man who was involved in a motorcycle accident this morning. “We gave him the only two units we had in our stock, but we need more, as he will probably need to undergo three more surgeries,” Ampai Saengwichitr, medical technologist of Vachira Phuket Hospital…
- Thai Life
On Deck: Best toys for seagoing girls and boys
PHUKET: For some, size is everything. Perhaps you’ve already got the superyacht and your crew are waiting on you 24/7; the question is ‘what’s next?’ Toys are where it’s at. The jetski is so 2000. The water Jetpacks and Flyboards are so yesterday. You need something better. Something newer. Here are three toys that should be on every sea-lover’s gift…
- Opinion
Opinion: Protection from yourself
Sirisak Skoonsorutcha, originally from Surin Province, is the newly appointed chief of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Phuket Office. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Sukhothai Thammathirat University. Here, he talks about the difficulties of preventing casualties caused by human error, as opposed to natural disasters. PHUKET: Of course the DDPM rigorously tries to prevent…
- World News
India to build satellite tracking station in Vietnam that offers eye on China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community India to build satellite tracking station in Vietnam that offers eye on China Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: India will set up a satellite tracking and imaging centre in southern Vietnam that will give Hanoi access to pictures from Indian earth observation satellites that cover the…
- Business News
Lee Marine brings big names to Thailand Yacht Show
PHUKET: Lee Marine International Marine Brokerage’s re-investments continue in Phuket with the main focus being to better serve the many yacht enthusiasts who see their future on board any of the yachts represented by our firm, explained Josh Lee, founder and CEO of the company. The strength of their business success combines a wide product range with an experienced, dependable…
- Property
Property Watch: Changing face of luxury villa rentals
PHUKET: Islands by nature change and evolve over time. Since the late 1980s, Phuket has witnessed sustained upward growth in luxury private pool villas and even today there are no signs of the sector slowing down. One important byline has been a growing emphasis on holiday rentals, and this has in fact shifted through the last two decades. In recent…
- Phuket News
Phuket officials suspend licence for companies hiring illegal guides
PHUKET: Officers arrested six illegal tour guides in Phuket on Wednesday and suspended the business licences for the companies that hired them. “Working along with military personnel and police, we stopped buses and passengers at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint in an effort to crack down on illegal tour guides on the island,” said Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry…
- Phuket News
All tourist boarding boats must carry ID, says Gov
PHUKET: Tourists will be required to show a form of government identification to CCTV cameras before boarding boats at any piers on the island, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed to the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Having passengers show their identification will help us check on tourists’ safety,” Governor Chamroen explained. “If anyone goes missing or is involved in accident, we will…
- Phuket News
Minimum age requirement for jet-ski rental to be implemented in 30 days
PHUKET: New jet-ski regulations will now mandate that every renter must be at least 18 years of age to be allowed to operate the vehicle by himself. Six new jet-ski regulations are to be put in place within 30 days, confirmed Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat at a meeting with jet-ski operators this morning. “Should a driver be under the age…
- Phuket News
Bulgarian skimmer busted in Karon
PHUKET: Police apprehended a Bulgarian ATM skimmer on Monday after a tipoff was received from a bank in Bangkok. Boris Tulumbadzhiev, 30, was arrested at an ATM in Karon by Provincial Police after investigators were alerted to suspicious card activity by the Kasikorn Bank headquarters. “We knew we would find the suspect using a particular Family Mart ATM on Sirirat…
- World News
Jailed journalists in Turkey say arrest aimed at gagging press
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Jailed journalists in Turkey say arrest aimed at gagging press Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Two jailed Turkish editors accused of spying and helping a terrorist group have told Reuters in a faxed message from prison that their arrest was designed to send a warning to…
- Phuket News
Official scolds former park chief for latest encroachment claims
PHUKET: Paiboon Koomchaya, chair of the national state land boundary enhancement committee, has called for evidence of ongoing boundary adjustment at Sirinath National Park from former national parks chief Damrong Phidet, who claimed that changes are being made for the benefit of rich land encroachers (story here). Mr Paiboon, who is also Justice minister, rebuked Mr Damrong for speaking to…
- World News
Demand for women-only motorcycle taxis soars in Indonesian capital
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Demand for women-only motorcycle taxis soars in Indonesian capital Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Jakarta is seeing a growing number of transportation services catering exclusively to women, offering better security and comfort when compared to packed public buses and trains in the Indonesian capital of 10…
- Phuket News
Phuket Marine Police train speedboat crews in safety, rescue
PHUKET: Marine Police launched safety and rescue education courses in Phuket following the death of a French snorkeller, who was killed by a speedboat earlier this month (story here). The campaign, entitled ‘Safety is the heart of tourist’, aims to have all crew working with tourists on the island to be trained within in two months. By January 15, more…
- World News
Philippines plans tracking system for civilian flights over disputed sea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Philippines plans tracking system for civilian flights over disputed sea Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Philippines plans to install a $1-million satellite-based system to track commercial flights over the disputed South China Sea, after China landed its first test flights this month on a reef…
- Thailand News
EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A European Union delegation that is visiting Thailand to weigh its progress in battling illegal and unregulated fishing will not make a decision this week on whether to ban Thai seafood products,…
- World News
Tennis World hit by match-fixing reports, authorities back integrity unit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tennis-World tennis hit by match-fixing reports, authorities back integrity unit Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: World tennis was rocked on Monday by allegations that the game’s authorities have failed to deal with widespread match-fixing, just as the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the…
- Pattaya News
Law and Order: When dogs attack: ownership laws
PHUKET: There are growing numbers of dog owners in Thailand who treat their animals like their children, prized possessions, or members of the family. With the surge in pet ownership, there have been more disputes involving domesticated animals. We have recently been contacted about two dog biting cases. A KIWI BITE The first case was a man from New Zealand…
- Thai Life
Diving: Go pro with PADI freediving courses
PHUKET: The branding and professional support provided by PADI, as it moves into the freediving industry with an entire set of courses specific to the sport, looks to create new opportunities for those wanting to become professional freediving instructors. PADI has a massive background in marketing and supporting businesses, which means that a sustainable career in freediving will likely become…
- Property
Property Watch: Inside look at the hotel licencing crisis
PHUKET: Crisis? What Crisis? At long last the ticking time bomb of unlicenced accommodation establishments in Phuket has finally made headlines. The furor of action was capped as the Thai Hotels Association (THA) Southern Chapter issued a formal letter of complaint to the Governor’s Office asking for action, given an out-of-control spread of hotels operating without licences. To fully understand…
- Opinion
Opinion: Solving tuk-tuk woes
Supap Pramkaew, 49, is head of the Karon tuk-tuk consortium. He has been a tuk-tuk driver in Phuket for 20 years and has lived on the island for more than 30 years. He is originally from Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Here he talks about the current issues that tuk-tuk drivers face and how the government could help alleviate some of those…
- Phuket News
Park chief kills Koh Yao Noi climbing
PHUKET: A new national park chief has banned rock climbing on a number of internationally popular limestone outcroppings in areas under his jurisdiction, ruling the sites as unsafe. “Climbing is an extreme sport and a risky activity. Even though there are safety regulations, and well-tested equipment is being used, there is still the possibility of someone falling and dying,” said…
