News
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Football Roundup: Van Persie breaches City fortress, Everton win
PHUKET: Manchester United laid down a significant marker in the Premier League title race as Robin Van Persie’s late free kick sealed a dramatic 3-2 Premier League derby win at Manchester City’s home fortress yesterday. City fought back after Wayne Rooney’s first-half double but goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta proved in vain as Van Persie marked his first…
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Phuket expat sailor Stafford Steer dies from cancer
PHUKET: As sailors raced in the final day of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta that concluded yesterday, one of Phuket’s longest-staying expats and best-known personalities in the local yachting community, Stafford Steer from Australia, died after a brief battle with cancer. He was 71 years old. Stafford arrived in Phuket from Cairns, in Far North Queensland, Australia, in 1992 on…
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Pong powers home to win Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Blue skies and consistent winds marked the final day of the 2012 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in fitting style yesterday as teams and their boats assembled at the start line in a final bid to resolve their class contests. Some results had effectively completed on Friday, but most of the classes were anticipated to deliver a thrilling final day…
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World Football Roundup: Torres ignites Chelsea; bad record for Queens Park
PHUKET: Fernando Torres continued to silence his critics by scoring twice for the second game running as third-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at Sunderland last night to record their first Premier League victory under Rafael Benitez.The much-maligned Spain forward struck two goals in the first half, his second from the penalty spot, and almost completed a hat-trick shortly after halftime when…
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Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced
PHUKET: In this week’s Weird World News Roundup we take a wacky trip from New Mexico over the border into Arizona – and back to New Mexico. Usually home to UFO and alien sightings, this time the focus is on more earthly stupidity as we dive into the worlds of a frozen gun, a police note to the mob, and…
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Phuket Opinion: Wake up and shed the shirts
PHUKET: Island residents and expats alike breathed a collective sigh of relief late last month when a dreaded showdown between the Pitak Siam (“Defenders of Siam”), the latest incarnation of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and government security forces fizzled out on the streets of Bangkok due to lack of popular support and other factors. As events unfolded…
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Samui Police arrest second Hungarian suspect for Phuket Reisz murder
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat has confirmed that police on Koh Samui have arrested Hungarian national Gyorgy Lajos Kvalka, wanted in connection with the murder of fellow Hungarian Peter Reisz in Phuket. “We are in contact with police there, but at this stage we are not sure when the suspect will be brought to Phuket,” Maj Gen Choti…
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Phuket police chief calls on officers to use smart phones, rolling checkpoints
PHUKET: The 48 Royal Thai Police officers installed in their new positions in Phuket yesterday were ordered to boost their public image and their effectiveness by staging “rolling checkpoints” and using smart phones. The news was handed down by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat at a ceremony at Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town. Maj Gen Choti ordered the…
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Phuket King’s Cup competitors look to bag every point in light winds
PHUKET: With winds easing off slightly during yesterday’s racing, competitors looked to maximize every possible advantage as valuable points were up for grabs.Frank Pong and his Jelik team have been the quickest of the IRC Zero class boats in the last few races, but Kevin Whitcraft’s Won Ma Rang shared class honours yesterday. Won Ma Rang took victory in race…
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Phuket Sports: Futsal – Pearl set to shock “Lightning Shrimp’
PHUKET: The island’s professional futsal team, the “Andaman Pearl”, face a tough away fixture against the Surat Thani Futsal Club, nicknamed the ‘Lighting Shrimp”, tonight. Patt Srivijit, assistant coach of Phuket United, told the Gazette that the game against their southern rivals will be a big match, but he hopes the team use this game to push up the league.…
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International Sports: Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Sports news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UEFA’s Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: UEFA’s decision to host the 2020 European Championship across the continent rather than in one or two host nations has been greeted with enthusiasm as countries battle the crippling financial crisis. European football’s…
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World News: Duke and Duchess deeply saddened by death of “duped” nurse
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nurse who took prank call about royal Kate found dead Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A nurse who answered a prank call at the London hospital that was treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate for morning sickness has been found dead, the hospital said yesterday, in…
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Phuket murder suspect Moshe David re-enacts Reisz killing
PHUKET: Moshe David, the prime suspect in the murder investigation of his former business associate Peter Reisz, this morning re-enacted the sequence of events that led to the death of Mr Reisz. As with all public appearances since his arrest, Mr David was silent in front of reporters. However, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanith announced to the…
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Thailand’s development as a sailing nation with the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Kevin Whitcraft, owner and crew member of Wan Marang and president of the King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee talks about the development of Thailand as a sailing nation, and one truly classic regatta. Who is the skipper of your boat this year?Our skipper, Jaray Tipsuk, is a sailor who has won two silver medals in the SEA Games, and…
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Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Power restored on Thai resort islands after three-day blackout Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Power was finally restored to the Thai resort islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan early this morning after a three-day blackout prompted thousands of peak-season tourists to leave. The electricity…
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World News: Talks to break US “fiscal cliff” resumed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both sides hint at renewed talks on U.S. “fiscal cliff” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With little to show after a month of posturing, the White House and Republicans in Congress dropped hints yesterday that they had resumed low-level private talks on breaking the stalemate over…
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Phuket Sports: New Brazilian unveiled by Phuket United
PHUKET: Phuket United unveiled their new Brazilian signing, Jardel de Andrade Apolonio, a defensive player from the Liga Futsal League of Brazil, this week. The 29-year old player will wear the number 29 shirt. In an interview with the Phuket Gazette Jardel describes his thoughts on the eve of his first match with the Andaman Pearl: “I like Phuket and…
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Phuket tsunami film ‘The Impossible’ drawing crowds, but no criticism
PHUKET: Although initially thought by some as insensitive, The Impossible, which recounts a Spanish family’s survival and struggle to be reunited in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami, is drawing crowds, but no criticism, in Phuket. The blockbuster film starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor was shot at a variety of locations in Phuket, with many extras being chosen…
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World News: Huge cuts at Citigroup as financial crisis still bites
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Citigroup to cut more than 11,000 jobs worldwide Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Global financial conglomerate Citigroup yesterday announced it plans to cut more than 11,000 jobs, or about four percent of its global workforce, in a bold move by the company’s new chief executive…
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Police add Thai suspect to Phuket murder manhunt
PHUKET: Moshe David, prime suspect for the murder of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz in Phuket, was presented to the press today after his arrest in Bangkok yesterday. During a press conference in Surat Thani, home to the popular tourist island Koh Samui, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanit announced that officers were now searching for a Thai man…
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Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge Phuket Gazette / Nation Breaking News PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with conspiracy to murder related to the death of a civilian during the red-shirt protests in…
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World News: 77-year-old rescued in aftermath of Typhoon Bopha; 332 dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Philippines finds elderly survivor after typhoon kills 332 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rescue workers found a 77-year-old man alive today who had survived on coconuts for two days after a powerful typhoon ravaged the south of the Philippines killing 332 people, with hundreds missing. A…
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US embassy ramps up search for American missing in Phuket
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok has stepped up its search for missing American citizen Brett Chapman Bean, 43, who was last known to be in Phuket. Staff at the AirAsia office at Phuket Airport confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that Mr Bean had booked a seat on board flight FD3012, which was scheduled to depart Phuket at 9:30pm on…
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Letter from the Phuket Governor: Safety first, with urban growth a close second
Maitri Inthusut arrived on the island to take up the position of Governor of Phuket on October 8. With a master’s degree in political science from Thammasat University, he joined the National Security Council, rising to the position of NSC Secretary-General, before taking up the position of Chief Secretary for the Secretariat of the Cabinet. He has also served as…
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Kata Reef roped off for swimmer, diver safety
PHUKET: A local contingent of marine safety officials and conservationists have installed a “reef line” around the North Kata Reef to protect swimmers, scuba divers and snorkelers from boat traffic and to prevent damage to the reef. Staff from the Marine Safety Center and volunteers from the environmental conservation organization, Go Eco Phuket, joined forces with local government agencies to…
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Laguna Phuket issues statement over baby elephants
PHUKET: The management at Laguna Resorts & Hotels, which operates the five-hotel resort complex on Phuket’s west coast, have issued a statement about the baby elephant “Joey”, which was seized in raids in Phuket in February. Ziya Birkan, Deputy Managing Director at Laguna Resorts & Hotels, wrote in the statement: “We’re very pleased the authorities have resolved the question of…
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Phuket King’s Cup Regatta gives spectacular tribute and racing
PHUKET: The entire Phuket King’s Cup Regatta fleet took part in an inspiring sail pass close to Nai Harn Bay yesterday, before the start of the third day of racing. Royal Thai Navy yachts led the procession of Regatta boats from around the world, as they sailed past three Royal Thai Navy ships positioned off Nai Harn Bay. This spectacular…
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Alleged killer of Hungarian businessman caught in Bangkok
PHUKET: Police arrested Israeli-Hungarian dual national Moshe David at a shopping mall in Bangkok today for the killing of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found hidden with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Phuket on November 29. “We are now searching for another suspect in the case,” Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Phuket honors HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday
PHUKET: A host of special ceremonies are being held across Phuket today to honor and celebrate HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday, as well as Father’s Day. The ceremonies kicked off at 6:30am with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut and a host of other public dignitaries leading the offering of alms to 86 monks as part of a blessing ceremony to…
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Nationwide manhunt for alleged killer of Hungarian businessman
PHUKET: A nationwide manhunt was launched for the alleged executioner of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found hidden with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Patong Hill on November 29. “We have contacted every local police station on the island, and immigration offices nationwide, with information about the arrest warrant for dual Israeli-Hungarian national Moshe David,” said…
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