News
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Phuket golfers set golf cart world record for charity
PHUKET: Avid Phuket golfers Mark Cameron and Graham Haslam have completed a world-record golf cart drive from Pattaya to Phuket, and are hoping to raise even more money for charity with an auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in Patong tomorrow night. “The cart will be up for auction at a starting bid of 200,000 baht, ‘slightly used’,” Mr Cameron…
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Phuket underpass late to grand opening
PHUKET: Despite the Darasamut Underpass being treated to a grand opening ceremony yesterday (story here), the island’s first underpass did not open to traffic until this afternoon. “We expected to open the underpass after the ceremony yesterday, but we had to fix the electric lane markers,” Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today.…
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Efforts continue to re-float beached Phuket yacht
PHUKET: The salvage team attempting to re-float the yacht still stranded on the sand at Kata Beach will make another attempt today, nearly a week after the boat was beached by a passing storm. The Inisfail of the Isles of Scilly was beached on Wednesday after the boat drifted on her anchor. Attempts by the two Australian men on board…
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Alleged Phuket baby rapist, killer surrenders to police
PHUKET: A male nanny wanted for the alleged rape and killing of a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town surrendered to police last night. However, the 38-year-old man has denied the allegations. Police launched a manhunt for Somsak Yakob after he called the child’s mother to tell her that her son had fallen to his death. He left the baby’s battered…
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British tourist found dead in Patong hotel bathtub
PHUKET: Police believe that a combination of two common drugs, Alprazolam and Nytol, may have led to the death of a British man in the bathtub at his Patong hotel room last night. Hotel staffers at the Baan Yin Dee Boutique Resort on Muean Ngen Road found the body of Arif Abdul Khalid Ukaye, 33, in his guest room at…
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Rolling Stone to be sued for retracted rape story
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rolling Stone to be sued for retracted rape story Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The University of Virginia fraternity at the center of Rolling Stone’s retracted article “A Rape on Campus” said on Monday it planned to sue the magazine for what it called “reckless” reporting…
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Medical official slams new malpractice bill
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Medical official slams new malpractice bill The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Doctors are continuing their campaign against the controversial Protection of Victims of Medical Mistreatment Bill, saying the draft law will further complicate issues surrounding malpractice and sow seeds of reluctance among medical workers when…
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Malpractice bill touted as ‘best solution’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malpractice bill touted as ‘best solution’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Supporters of the Protection of Victims of Medical Mistreatment Bill see no reason that would lead to some doctors wanting it scrapped. “Every article in the bill will benefit doctors and improve patient-doctor relations,”…
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Russian PM arrives today on official visit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russian PM arrives today on official visit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is to arrive in Bangkok today to cement ties with Thailand in various domains including politics, economy, security, energy, science and technology, education, tourism and culture. Foreign Minister…
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South Korea bans Thai airlines over safety concerns
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South Korea bans Thai airlines over safety concerns The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: South Korea has started banning charter flights from Thailand over safety concerns after Thai negotiators from the Civil Aviation Department failed to convince officials to ease restrictions. A source in the Civil…
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Phuket manhunt launched for alleged rapist, baby killer
PHUKET: Police are hunting a male nanny who allegedly raped and killed a 1-year-old boy in Phuket Town on April 3. The 38-year-old man, Somsak Yakob, called the child’s mother on Friday night to tell her that the baby had fallen to his death. Mr Somsak met the baby’s mother, named by police only as ‘Mon’, that night at the…
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Former Miss Universe fights Phuket gibbon touts
PHUKET: Former Miss Universe Natalie Glebova visited Phuket today to raise public awareness about gibbons being illegally owned and used as props for photo opportunities. “As a celebrity, I can use my voice and my platform to spread awareness to other people, and say, ‘Hey, when you see gibbons, don’t take a picture with them’,” Ms Glebova said. The Russian-Canadian…
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Phuket’s first underpass officially open to traffic
PHUKET: The island’s first underpass, dubbed ‘Darasamuth Underpass’, officially opens to traffic today, after two years in the making. The grand opening event has drawn high-ranking officials, both local and national, to the site of the 600-million-baht underpass. In attendance were both Minister of Transport Air Chief Marshal Prajin Juntong and Minister of Finance Sommai Pasri, as well as Phuket…
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Armed robbers knock over Phuket spa for B500k
PHUKET: Police are hunting five armed robbers after they held up a spa in Phuket Town and made off with 500,000 baht cash last night. The robbery took place at about 9:45pm at Imperial Spa, near Chaofa Variety market, in Wichit, said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pinit Sirichai. There were about 10 Chinese customers present at the time, confirmed…
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Phuket Oilfield Classic golf tourney returns for charity
PHUKET: The 7th annual Arnco Phuket Oilfield Classic golf tournament will return on April 9-12, with players lining up to tee off at the Red Mountain and Loch Palm golf courses over two days. The competition will begin with the traditional Texas Scramble at Red Mountain on April 10 with an 18-hole shotgun start at 12:30pm. The next day, players…
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Phuket thieves arrested on Koh Samui
PHUKET: Two men wanted for robbery in Phuket and believed to be holding fake Turkish passports were arrested in Koh Samui yesterday. Murad Mohammad Yahya, 37, and Wesam Kamal Murad, 27, are accused of stealing a Rolex watch, cash and other valuables worth more than one million baht, as well as illegally entering Thailand and presenting fake identification. Both men…
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Finance: UK’s ever-shifting goalposts affecting Phuket expats, retirees
PHUKET: The UK government is continuing to shake things up for retirees and expatriate workers trying to make long-term plans for the post-work future with yet another shift of the goalposts, one of many in recent months. The most dramatic change announced in the new budget, to go into effect next year, is the reduction in lifetime allowance to one…
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Bangkok-Phuket bus flips in Krabi, 20 injured
PHUKET: A bus travelling from Bangkok to Phuket overturned in Krabi early this morning, leaving at least one woman seriously injured. Officers arrived at the scene of the crash, in the Khao To area in Krabi’s northernmost district Plai Praya, at about 6:30am. “The driver had fled the scene,” said Capt Prasert Jamsai of Plai Phraya Police. “The bus belongs…
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Phuket FC take on Pattaya in Surakul showdown
PHUKET FC will be looking for all three points from their match against the Pattaya Dolphins at Surakul Stadium tomorrow in the hopes of delivering a double blow to their Yamaha League One rivals. Both teams are tied with seven points on the league table, and only goal difference separating the two sides. Pattaya is currently on top in seventh…
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Phuket flights unaffected as protest strikes at airport
PHUKET: No flights at Phuket International Airport have been affected by a protest by contracted baggage handlers and cabin cleaners at the airport this morning, the Phuket Gazette has confirmed. “All flights are continuing on schedule. No flights affected,” said airport director Monrudee Gettuphan. Workers for Pan Thai Air staged a protest over claims that the workers would be allowed…
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Iran president views nuclear deal as start of new relationship with world
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran president views nuclear deal as start of new relationship with world Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Iran’s president said on Friday that a framework for a nuclear deal was just the first step toward building a new relationship with the world, after Iranians greeted the…
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Phuket dealer busted with meth valued at B7mn
PHUKET: Police arrested a 26-year-old drug dealer found in possession of ya ba (methamphetamine) pills with a street value of more than 4 million baht yesterday. Wuttichai Boonnga, 26, was arrested at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint at about 4am as he attempted to leave Phuket. “Mr Wuttichai’s car was stopped and searched by officers. Inside, police found 10 ya…
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Phuket expats better buckle up – more changes for UK pension plans
PHUKET: THE UK government is continuing to shake things up for retirees and expatriate workers trying to make long-term plans for the post-work future with yet another shift of the goalposts, one of many in recent months. The most dramatic change announced in the new budget, to go into effect next year, is the reduction in lifetime allowance to one…
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Motorbike selfie raises fears over Phuket driver safety
PHUKET: Fears of distracted Phuket drivers were heightened following a woman on a motorbike who was spotted taking a selfie as she was driving. “I saw a girl take a selfie on my way to Paklok the other day – this is incredibly dangerous,” Phuket Governor Nisit Jamsomwong told a meeting of about 100 officers who were preparing for the…
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Phuket Poll: Keeping lifeguards on the beaches
PHUKET: As regular as the return of the deadly rainy-season surf that will soon lurk off Phuket’s west coast, the island is again facing the reality of not having any lifeguards on the beaches to save and protect swimmers – tourists and residents alike – from drowning. The lifeguards packed up their life-saving equipment and walked off Phuket’s beaches at…
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Rawai staff boost water safety measures at Nai Harn
PHUKET: Rawai staff will be standing watch at Nai Harn lagoon this weekend as part of a move to increase safety measures after the drowning of 9-year-old Sarun Srisongkram last weekend (story here). “School breaks are coming up and I am worried about children drowning in the lagoon,” Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos said. There will be at least one staff…
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Phuket police warn of arrests for breaking Songkran no alcohol, safety rules
PHUKET: Police have warned that drunk revellers and people caught drinking alcohol in water-play zones across Phuket during the Thai New Year Songkran holidays next week will be removed from the zones and may face charges. Phuket Provinical Police Deputy Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen yesterday pledged that all officers will strictly enforce a zero-tolerance of any people breaking the alcohol ban…
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Iran nuclear deal forged with US, world powers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran nuclear deal forged with US, world powers Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Iran and world powers reached a framework agreement on Thursday on curbing Iran’s nuclear program for at least a decade, a step toward a final pact that could end 12 years of brinkmanship,…
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WHO launches probe into allegations of domestic worker abuse
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community WHO ‘seriously’ looking into allegations of abuse The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the alleged abuse of an Ethiopian domestic worker by one of its Thailand-based executives is a matter it is taking “very seriously”. “WHO is aware of allegations…
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US, UN envoys voice worrying concerns over Article 44
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New junta order ‘more worrying’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The government may have received some plaudits for lifting martial law from the local business community, notably the tourism sector, but the international community, especially the United States and the United Nations, besides rights groups…
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