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Video Report: Phuket fishing boats raided for human trafficking, IUUs
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong yesterday joined a random inspection of three Phuket fishing boats near Rassada Pier as part of a nationwide crackdown on illegal trawlers and human-trafficking of migrant workers in the industry. The boarding party comprised officers from the Phuket Marine Police, Royal Thai Navy and other government agencies, accompanied Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Pinit Sirichai. “The…
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Phuket immigration, government offices take four-day weekend
PHUKET: The Phuket Immigration Office, along with other government offices on the island, will be closed from Saturday through Tuesday, confirmed Phuket Immigration Chief Sunchai Chokkajaykij today. However, they will remain open for the Labor Day holiday tomorrow. “Our office and the Patong Immigration Office will be closed for four days, starting from Saturday May 2,” Col Sunchai told the…
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Cricket: Thalang surge to vie for place in semi-finals
PHUKET: Thalang (TCT) claimed an unlikely outright victory by an innings and 93 runs over a heavily depleted Village Cricket Team at the Alan Cooke Ground last Sunday. Both teams had multiple changes for their last match of the regular season. TCT regained their captain Bill Stahmer, opening bowler Barrie Buck and debutant Hossain Sylar. Village were without the ir…
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Official is a land-grabber: reform chief
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Official is a land-grabber: reform chief The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The chief of the Nakhon Ratchasima Agricultural Land Reform Office (Alro) has recommended that an investigation be launched against a local official over suspicions that she might have engaged in land encroachment herself. “I…
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Referendum up to NRC and CDC, says Prayut
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Referendum up to NRC and CDC: PM The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The decision on whether to hold a referendum on the new draft constitution lies with the National Reform Council (NRC) and the Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.…
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Marine police alert for EU fishing checks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Marine police alert for EU fishing checks The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: In a bid to improve Thailand’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problems ahead of the upcoming inspection by representatives from the European Union (EU), coastal provinces such as Chon Buri and Songkhla…
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Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nepali villagers blocked trucks carrying supplies for earthquake victims on Wednesday, demanding the government do more to help after last week’s disaster left more than 5,200 people dead and tens of thousands…
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Finance: Cashing in on retirement
PHUKET: Generating an income in retirement beyond any pension or government-sponsored retirement plan has become much harder in today’s low-interest-rate environment. The income from defined pensions and even retirement benefits from government-sponsored plans are no longer a sure thing. However, there are strategies that help to maximize income during retirement: Dividend-paying stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Dividend paying stocks are…
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Video Report: Rank canal water not polluted wastewater, says Phuket official
PHUKET: Tests conducted by environment officers have confirmed that the foul canal water that washed onto Nai Yang Beach this week is in fact not polluted wastewater, the Thalang District Chief told the Phuket Gazette today. The tests, conducted yesterday, were prompted by villagers complaining of rank-smelling water emanating from a blocked canal that overflowed and seeped across Nai Yang…
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Phuket donations roll in to aid Nepal earthquake victims
PHUKET: Donations for victims of the disastrous earthquake in Nepal continue to roll in, with more than 1 million baht already having been raised for the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund. As of this morning, the devastating quake had claimed more than 4,400 lives. The fund’s donation total more than doubled after two donors handed over more than…
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Divers clear marine trash to protect new Phuket reef
PHUKET: More than 100 volunteer divers yesterday recovered more than 200 kilograms of trash from the waters off Nai Yang Beach in an underwater cleanup operation aimed at protecting a new reef system there. The divers hail from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang, explained Monrudee Gettuphan, director of Phuket International Airport. “Yesterday, the divers cleaned the area in front…
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Former national security chief denies forced dispersal of red shirts in 2010
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former national security chief denies forced dispersal of red shirts in 2010 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: There was no forced dispersal of anti-government protesters back in 2010 – they just left by themselves, Thawil Pliensri, then secretary-general of the National Security Council, testified yesterday.…
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Two new suspects sought over bomb blast in Koh Samui
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two new suspects sought over bomb blast in Koh Samui The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police will soon obtain arrest warrants for another two suspects believed to have played a part in the bomb attack in Koh Samui after announcing the names of six wanted…
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Nepal quake victims still stranded, PM says toll could be 10,000
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal quake victims still stranded, PM says toll could be 10,000 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: People stranded in remote villages and towns across Nepal were still waiting for aid and relief to arrive on Tuesday, four days after a devastating earthquake destroyed buildings and roads…
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Indonesia executes drug convicts, sparks anger from Australia, Brazil
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia executes drug convicts, sparks anger from Australia, Brazil Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Indonesian firing squad executed eight convicted drug-traffickers from several countries today, prompting Australia to recall its envoy to Jakarta and bringing an angry reaction from Brazil. The leaders of Australia and…
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Thousands of police descend on Baltimore to enforce curfew after riots
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands of police descend on Baltimore to enforce curfew after riots Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: As night falls on Baltimore on Tuesday, thousands of police and National Guard troops fanned out to enforce a new curfew and prevent further violence as the mayor fended off…
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Phuket scrambles to raise funds for Nepal
PHUKET: Donations to the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund can now be made directly to a joint bank account held by the Phuket Governor and the President of the Phuket branch of the Thai-Nepalese Foundation. The Phuket branch of the Thai-Nepalese Foundation, officially called the Shree Bhagawat Dhaam Sanatan Mandir Foundation, has already raised more than 400,000 baht…
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Phuket’s notorious Patong Hill road gets B25mn safety makeover
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office will close a 200-meter section of the outside westbound lane over the top of Patong Hill in order to repave the road and complete safety improvements at the notorious site. The lane will be closed from tomorrow through Sunday, confirmed Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “Warning signs have been installed to inform…
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Broken Phuket CCTV fail to capture footage of fatal hit-and-run suspect
PHUKET: The CCTV network at the Heroines’ Monument is undergoing maintenance following the failure to capture the licence plate number of a white pick-up truck that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Phuket on Saturday night. “The entire CCTV system there was broken, so we have no clues as to where the truck went or what its licence plate…
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Inside job: Police arrest Phuket spa robbers
PHUKET: Four suspects, including one spa employee, have been arrested for their involvement in the armed robbery of Imperial Spa earlier this month in Phuket Town. Two armed men stormed into the spa on April 5, robbing the staff at gunpoint and knifepoint of 500,000 baht before riding off on a motorbike with a third accomplice (story here). About 10…
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Phuket tourist dies in fall from hotel balcony
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a Chinese tourist who plunged from his fifth-floor hotel room balcony in Karon early yesterday morning. Wang Anjun, 41, died at Patong Hospital after succumbing to injuries sustained in the fall at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, said Capt Channarong Prakongkua of the Karon Police. “Mr Wang was drinking beer with friends on…
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Baltimore erupts in riots, National Guard called in
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Baltimore erupts in riots, National Guard called in Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Baltimore erupted in violence on Monday as hundreds of rioters looted stores, burned buildings and injured at least 15 police officers following the funeral of a 25-year-old black man who died after he…
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B200mn of African tusks seized in raid
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community B200mn of African tusks seized in bonded warehouse raid The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Customs Department seized a total of 511 tusks, weighing 3.1 tonnes and worth 200 million baht, from a Laos-bound container at a private company’s bonded warehouse on Saturday. Natural Resources…
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Phuket gold buyer dodges counterfeit money charge
PHUKET: No charges are being pressed after a counterfeit note was used by a local business owner in the purchase of 180,000 baht worth of gold. Weerachai Apichattakul, 36, who regularly buys gold bars for trade, withdrew 200,000 baht from the Kasikorn bank Thepkrasattri branch this morning. “I had no idea that the banknote was fake,” Mr Weeachai told the…
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Rank canal water overflows onto Phuket beach
PHUKET: Officials are scrambling to minimize the damage of rank-smelling water from a blocked canal that is overflowing and seeping across Nai Yang Beach into the sea. “The locals say that the canal water has become foul because untreated wastewater was being discharged directly into the canal by business owners,” Thalang District chief Veera Kerdsirimongkol told the Phuket Gazette this…
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Catch and cull: Phuket taxi cheats under fire
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) is appealing for cheated or abused taxi passengers to file complaints. “Without a complaint, there is little we can do to ensure that passengers are being taken care of properly,” PLTO chief Terayout Prasertphol told the Phuket Gazette today. The call for complaints to be filed follows last Thursday’s announcement…
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Migrant workers injured as pick-up truck flips in Phuket
PHUKET: Six Myanmar workers were injured, one seriously, when the pick-up truck they were riding in the back of flipped on a curve at Cape Yamu, on Phuket’s east coast, yesterday. “One of the six was seriously injured, and could not talk or move,” said Lt Col Sanit Nukong of the Thalang Police. The pick-up truck was heading from the…
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Russian man survives crash in tree, garden wipeout
PHUKET: A Russian man survived crashing his car into a tree on Srisoonthorn Road while heading to Cherng Talay early this morning. When police arrived at the scene at about 3am, Kirill Abolemov, 27, had no visible injuries, but his white Toyota Fortuner had seriously damaged a tree and garden. “Mr Abolemov could not answer any questions at the scene.…
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Nepal quake: Demons on the mountain – survivors recall avalanche terror
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal quake: Demons on the mountain – survivors recall avalanche terror Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: When Khile Sherpa opened his eyes, the snow around him was bright red, drenched with blood streaming from gashes in his body from the avalanche that catapulted him across Mount…
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Malaysia foils Islamic State attack amid Asean meet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia says foils plan by suspected militants to attack capital Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysian police have arrested 12 people linked to the militant group Islamic State and seized explosives, foiling a plan to attack several locations in and around the capital, which is hosting…
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