PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Opposition leader Suu Kyi registers to run in Myanmar by-election Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday registered to run for a parliamentary seat in Myanmar’s upcoming by-election, a Burmese news organization in exile reported. The Nobel Peace Prize winner officially filed to run for the near-rural constituency of Kawhmu, on the outskirts of Rangoon, during the April 1 by-election
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok sees American citizens in Thailand as still facing the threat of terrorism and will thus keep a controversial warning on its website, despite the Thai government’s insistence that Thailand is not a target for international terrorists, a senior embassy official said yesterday. „Nothing changes“ when it comes to the perceived threats and America’s need to keep its citizens informed, the high-ranking embassy source told The Nation. However, the source would not say how long this warning – which seems to be upsetting the Yingluck government – would remain on the embassy website.
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Severed head, other body parts found near Hollywood sign Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Detectives in Los Angeles were looking for clues this morning after a human head and several other body parts were found below the Hollywood sign, police said. The first body part was found at around 2:30am Phuket time when two women were walking with nine dogs in the Hollywood Hills area, close to the famous sign
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia cracks down on ‚train surfing‘ with concrete balls Phuket Gazette / News WIres PHUKET: Railway staff in Indonesia have begun hanging concrete balls above railway lines in an effort to stop commuters from riding the roofs of trains, the Jakarta Globe reported today. The grapefruit-sized concrete balls, which could deliver deadly blows to the head, were installed above railway lines a few centimeters above the top of carriages at points where trains enter or pull out of stations. Authorities hope the balls will be enough to deter defiant roof riders.
PHUKET: Phuket residents will have to wait until tomorrow or Friday before they can get their hands on the new 50-baht banknotes released nationwide today. The new-look 50-baht notes, announced by Bank of Thailand Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul last week, will not be available in Phuket until tomorrow at the earliest, banks on the island have told the Phuket Gazette. The new 50-baht note is being released ahead of its 20, 100, 500 and 1,000-baht counterparts, which are due to be brought into full circulation before the end of 2026.
PHUKET: Phuket Police appear to be closing in on the person who ordered the killing of Phuket investigative reporter
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette would like to inform its readers that English Wikipedia will be shutting down at noon today (Phuket time) to protest proposed legislation in the United States. The proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the US House of Representatives and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the US senate “if passed, would seriously damage the free and open Internet, including Wikipedia,” wrote Sue Gardner, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation. This will be the first time that the information giant has staged a public protest of this nature.
PHUKET: Personally, I am very glad 2011 is over; it was a horrible year across the board for almost all investment strategies. I do think 2012 will be a better year, although I am not predicting that things are going to get better overnight.
PHUKET: Phuket was voted as top in Thailand, while Thailand as a nation was voted the favorite sailing venue and best regatta location in Asia, according to a survey of international sailors from around the world conducted at the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The survey was undertaken by the
PHUKET: The Simon Star Cabaret show, Phuket’s third ladyboy extravaganza, opens on Thursday with a special discount available for Thai nationals only, through February.