News
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Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hong Kong riot police fired warning shots on Tuesday during clashes that erupted in the Chinese-ruled city when authorities tried to remove illegal street stalls set up for Lunar New…
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Taiwan developer in custody after deadly quake fells building
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taiwan developer in custody after deadly quake fells building Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A local court in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan ruled on Tuesday to take into custody the developer of a building which collapsed during an earthquake at the weekend that killed…
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Krabi Police bust illegal gun ring
KRABI: Krabi Police captured one suspect and are searching for two others who were able to flee the scene of a raid on Monday in Ao Luek. Police were alerted to the location after neighbors complained of an illegal gun production ring. “We were able to capture Noppadon Surachawadee, 34. However, his younger brother, Prasit Surachawadee, 28, and their associate,…
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Prime Minister to open Thailand Yacht Show [video]
PHUKET: PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha* will officially open the inaugural Thailand Yacht Show this week, on Thursday, February 11 at the Ao Por Grand Marina. The event will run until February 14 and showcase the latest luxury yachts available for charter, as well as the latest offerings from the region’s top boating industry specialists and suppliers. “I am…
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Canadian national dies after night out in Patong
PHUKET: Police are waiting for doctors to confirm the cause of death of a Canadian man who died in his hotel room in Patong this morning. Micheal Jerry Talbot, 28, collapsed at about 5:30am after suffering from chest pain and shortness of breath, confirmed Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police. “Mr Talbot’s roommate told us that Mr Talbot went…
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Escaped toothfish-poaching vessel netted in Senegal
PHUKET: Authorities in Senegal have detained the internationally wanted toothfish-poaching vessel Kunlun, which slipped through the fingers of Phuket authorities after having been seized in March last year. Reports allege that the illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel had previously falsified its registry, claiming Indonesia as its flag state. This allowed the vessel to be detained in Senegal on formalities…
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Breaking News: Phuket rescue workers save missing 3 year old
PHUKET: A missing 3-year-old boy was found today after having disappeared from his family home on Wednesday. “The boy is very weak and cold. He was in the woods alone for days,” said Kusoldharm rescue worker Thanakorn Teechanon. “When we found him, he wasn’t even crying, as he was so weak. We are now taking him to Vachira Phuket Hospital.”…
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Another unidentified foreigner dies, after collapsing on Bangla
PHUKET: Police are trying to identify a foreign male who died at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday morning. The man, estimated to be about 50 years old, was not carrying any identification when, according to witnesses, he collapsed and hit his head on the sidewalk along Patong’s famed Soi Bangla Saturday night. He was taken to Patong Hospital and later transferred…
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Opinion: Creating a World Heritage Site
Kosol Tang-Uthai is a Phuket native and is currently deputy mayor of Phuket City and president of the Thai Peranakan Association, a group dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Phuket’s unique Chinese culture. He earned his doctorate from Mahidol University and has been serving as president of the association since 2007. Here he talks about the difficulties involved…
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Aussies tackle unidentified medical patient quagmire in Phuket, Bali
PHUKET: Australian-based company IDTracker was launched to tackle the frightening number of unidentified foreign patients arriving unconscious or incoherent at Phuket hospitals. The company’s simple, durable wrist bands provide a unique emergency identification code number that is linked to the wearer’s secure on line profile and can be used by medical staff to access insurance details, emergency contacts, medical history…
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Another tourist dies on Phuket speedboat trip
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist was recovered unconscious from the waters off Koh Racha while on a speedboat trip today. Ju Zekai, 24, was rushed back to Phuket and transferred to Chalong Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Mr Ju was on a day trip around Koh Racha with his girlfriend and 20 other tourists. He had gone for a swim…
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Tourists flock to Phuket for Chinese New Year
PHUKET: Record numbers of Chinese tourists are flocking to Phuket this month to join Chinese New Year celebrations on the island. Phuket International Airport has been bustling for the past few days with tourists arriving on extra flights from mainland China and Malaysia, said Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan. “An extra 29 charter flights from China to Phuket were laid on…
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Brit found dead in Srisoonthorn villa
PHUKET: Police do not suspect foul play in the death of a British national found dead in his Srisoonthorn villa this morning. Martyn William James, 64, was discovered by his housekeeper after Mr James’ wife asked her to check on him. “Mrs James asked the housekeeper, Darunee Banrob, to check on Mr James after she tried calling him but got…
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Phuket police clueless in hunt for missing 3-year-old
PHUKET: Days after a woman called on the public to help find her missing three-year-old son, police have no leads. The distraught 23-year-old mother, Saowalak Chaiyo, said her son went missing while playing in front of their home in Wichit on Wednesday. Jetsadakron Chaiyo, nicknamed Nong DJ, was wearing a white hoodie with a black Angry Birds logo, orange shorts…
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Taiwan quake toll climbs to 35, president to visit disaster scene
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taiwan quake toll climbs to 35, president to visit disaster scene Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Feb 8 The death toll from an earthquake in southern Taiwan at the weekend climbed to 35 on Monday, with more than 100 people still listed as missing under a…
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More than 3,100 pregnant women in Colombia have Zika virus
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More than 3,100 pregnant women in Colombia have Zika virus Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: More than 3,100 pregnant Colombian women are infected with the mosquito-borne Zika virus, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Saturday, as the disease continues its rapid spread across the Americas. Brazil…
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Phuket sea gypsies use black magic to fight land barons
PHUKET: Rawai Sea gypsies have turned to black magic in a last-ditch effort to fend off real estate developers in Phuket. About 200 sea gypsies took part in the ancient ‘Ah Boi‘ ceremony Saturday morning, which was attended by village chiefs from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, in an effort to garner spiritual help against Baron World Trade Co Ltd.…
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Russian involved in fatal Phuket crash
PHUKET: Police have yet to charge a Russian man who was involved in a fatal road accident on Phuket yesterday morning. “Cherkasov Mikhail, 37, waited for police to arrive after the accident. He explained that Sakol Kunnui, 20, had crossed into his lane, then fell off his bike. Mr Mikhail was unable to stop in time,” said Lt Col Rassada…
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Opinion: Snorkelling safety snafu
PHUKET: The recent death of Chinese tourist Weidong Lu, 49, who was killed while snorkelling off Koh Racha Yai, further exemplifies the need to provide tourists with fully trained and certified tour guides. Though it is uncertain whether or not a tour guide was present on the speedboat that was hired to carry Mr Weidong and his family, it still…
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V/Gov to strip 10 per cent zones of unruly vendors
PHUKET: Beaches with vendors that continually break beach management rules will be stripped of their 10 per cent zones and designated as virgin beaches, confirmed Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat. The vice governor’s comments come fast on the heels of photographic evidence sent to the Phuket Gazette of beach chairs chained to trees at Kata Beach last week. “We will…
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Phi Phi park chief allows additional dive sites
PHUKET: After a lengthy meeting, Phi Phi officials have agreed to allow 18 dive sites to remain open following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers (story here). “After talking to all relevant parties, we have decided to allow diving to continue at many of the current sites in the park,” confirmed Sarayuth Tanthien, chief…
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Former Krabi policeman confesses to killing Phuket officer
KRABI: A former Krabi police officer surrendered himself to police yesterday afternoon after shooting a Phuket police officer to death during an early-morning drinking session in Ao Luek. According to witnesses, Sub Lt Kwanbavorn Thanasarn, 54, of the Tah Chat Chai Region 8 Police, was shot in the head and abdomen by retired Sgt Major Somsak Chumcheun while the pair…
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Diving restricted in Phi Phi following speedboat accident
PHUKET: Diving in the Phi Phi archipelago has been limited to three dive sites following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers. “We will be strictly enforcing the rule that allows diving only at Loh Samah Bay, Bida Nai and Bida Nok,” said Boonnam Chuyradom, assistant chief of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi…
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Pyromaniac attempts firebombing Krabi cop shop
KRABI: Police in Krabi had to hold back an angry woman intent on burning down the local police station yesterday after she pulled up outside the building in a car crammed with containers of gasoline and threatened to torch the place. Sanejan Jankert, 39, arrived at the station armed with two lighters and about 100 liters of gasoline in five…
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Opinion: Baron vs sea gypsies
PHUKET: The ongoing land dispute between the Rawai Sea Gypsy community and a powerful real estate investment firm needs to be resolved peacefully and equitably. Working out a solution will certainly not be easy and will require concessions from both sides. Phuket has a long, rich history of land rights disputes between some of the richest and poorest elements of…
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Unpaid and angry, some Chinese workers ditch holidays to protest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community INSIGHT-Unpaid and angry, some Chinese workers ditch holidays to protest Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China This year, laborer Fan Fu and 20 or so colleagues working on the Zixia Garden apartment complex in Hebei province have not joined China’s legion of migrant workers returning home…
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Beefed up: McDonald’s edging out KFC, Pizza Hut in China revival battle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Beefed up: McDonald’s edging out KFC, Pizza Hut in China revival battle Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), the home of KFC and Pizza Hut, is falling behind rival McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) as the pair battle to revive flagging sales in China –…
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PRBC calls for blood donations during Chinese New Year festivities
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) has called for blood donations during the Chinese New Year festivities in a campaign entitled ‘Chinese New Year, donate blood for life happiness’. “Chinese New Year is considered a very important ceremony for Thai-Chinese people,” said PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak. “Donating blood to those who need it is a good way to welcome…
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Video Report: Quattro Design brings fine furnishings to Phuket
PHUKET: Boat Avenue has added one more top-notch outlet with the grand opening of Quattro Design’s 900-square-meter showroom. Co-owner Praowphan Laoha-pongchana, and Design Director and Co-Founder Wichada Sritakarin, hosted the stylish event on Wednesday. Following the launch of a pop-up store at the Boat Lagoon last November, the pair decided to move ahead with establishing a full-size Quattro Design showroom…
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Mother desperate to find missing son, 3
PHUKET: A desperate mother has appealed to the police and the public to help find her three-year-old son, who has been missing since Wednesday. The distraught 23-year-old mother, Saowalak Chaiyo, said her son went missing while playing in front of their home in Wichit. Jetsadakron Chaiyo, nicknamed Nong DJ, was wearing a white hoodie with a black Angry Birds logo,…
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