News
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Phuket doesn’t need more tuk-tuks, says tuk-tuk chief
PHUKET: Seven months after his last appeal to legalize tuk-tuk drivers on the island, Sakol Srisompoch filed yet another complaint yesterday, but this time it was against legalizing them. In September, Mr Sakol led a group of legal tuk-tuk drivers to file a third formal complaint in their campaign to stamp out the illegal tuk-tuk trade in Patong (story here).…
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Special Report: Flaws hinder Thailand’s human-trafficking crackdown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Special Report: Flaws hinder Thailand’s human-trafficking crackdown Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: After a two-hour trek through swamp and jungle, Police Major General Thatchai Pitaneelaboot halts in a trash-strewn clearing near Thailand’s remote border with Malaysia. “This is it,” he says, surveying the remains of a…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Songkran ‘Seven Days’ begins; Police issue safety tips for South; Malaysian ATM skim gang at work
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Songkran holiday ‘Seven Dangerous Days’ safety campaign begins The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With the festive Songkran mood in the air, organisations from various sectors have come together to make the upcoming holiday “safe and happy” for everyone. Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday expressed…
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Phuket Gazette World News: New pings stoke optimism for Malaysia plane hunt
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New pings stoke optimism for Malaysia plane hunt Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A new acoustic signal was detected in the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 on Thursday, further boosting confidence that officials are zeroing in on the missing plane after weeks of searching. The…
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Phuket Opinion: Three cheers for clean police
PHUKET: The opening of the Karon Police Station in 2012 to serve the southwest of the island was a well-intended move, one expected to take pressure off the Chalong police who were previously responsible for the entire south of the island. Events in recent months have shown that the truncation did not stop the scandals that have plagued the Chalong…
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Wastewater could lead to shutdown of Karon hotels
PHUKET: The president of the Karon Hotels Association agreed on Wednesday that hotels should be shut down for releasing untreated wastewater into the beach town’s canal. Angkana Tanetvisetkul voiced her support for drastic action at a public meeting led by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut aimed at improving the wastewater and garbage problems in Karon. The meeting was held to address…
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The new generation of F1
PHUKET: Far from the boiling heart of Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur, wrapped in the steamy green of endless palm oil plantations, lies another heart. It doesn’t beat all the time like the city, but when it does, it pounds hard and loud and forces adrenaline to course through the veins. Sepang International Circuit, found 13 kilometers from Kuala Lumpur International Airport…
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Australian Govt warns Deep South extremists “may be targeting westerners’
PHUKET: The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade has upgraded its travel advisory, warning travellers that extremists in the Deep South provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat may be targeting westerners. The advisory also includes Songkhla province, home of the bustling southern city Haad Yai, in its warning (click here). “We strongly advise you not to travel at…
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Phuket hunter shot dead, police probing gun misfire claims
PHUKET: Police are not yet convinced that a man shot dead while hunting with friends in central Phuket last night died from his .22 rifle accidentally discharging while the men were climbing a hill in the dark. Maj Kittipoom Tinthalang of the Thalang Police was called to a small village in the foothills of the protected forest area near Bang…
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Krabi resort fraud case goes nationwide, hundreds file complaints
PHUKET: At least 231 victims have stepped up to file police complaints against the Phu Pranang Resort in Krabi, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket. The flood of complaints comes after 50 tourists were turned away by the resort earlier this month. The travellers bought low-cost package tours, but were left stranded after they were refused check-in by resort staff,…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Indonesia election poll shows no easy PDI-P win, rise in Islamic party support
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia election shows no easy PDI-P win, rise in Islamic party support Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Indonesia’s likely next leader may have a bumpier-than-expected route to the presidential palace after early counting in Wednesday’s parliamentary vote suggested his party will have to cut a deal…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Yingluck calls for Lese Majeste probe; No Bangkok protests for Songkran; Romanians caught on credit card fraud
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CAPO warns govt officials against talking to PDRC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The visit of anti-government protesters to three government offices has prompted the Centre for the Administration of Peace and Order (CAPO) to issue a warning to state officials and civil servants not…
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Naked Canadian arrested after putting on a show for shoppers
PHUKET: As women screamed and shouted, a man identified by police only as “David” walked, danced and jumped on a wall next to Jungceylon last night – buck naked. When police arrived, Mr David was scaling a wall next to the mall. He resisted arrest, leading officers to handcuff him. His evening ended soberly. “We smelled alcohol on him, so…
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Irishman among three arrested for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: Police made three more arrests last night, including that of an Irish national, in their continued effort to rid Patong of drug dealers. Officers arrested Irishman Jim Joseph Brady along with Parinya Sornloy and Sumalee Saenkhampa, all of whom were found in possession of either ya bah (methamphetamine) or ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), or both. “The first suspect arrested…
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Phuket officials prepare for Songkran with alcohol-free play zones
PHUKET: With Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut’s announcement today of designated water-play zones for this year’s Songkran celebrations, Phuket water-players may start making plans to party. The announcement made it clear that the sale, purchase and consumption of alcohol will be banned within the Phuket water play zones and there will be no exception for any famous area, including, of course,…
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10-year-old taken off life support after Phuket motorbike accident
PHUKET: The 10-year-old girl critically injured in a motorbike accident with her older sister last week died on Monday at Vachira Phuket Hospital after being taken off life support. “Rattanawadee Tukthin was taken off life support because her brain had been so severely damaged in the crash. Our medical team did their best to save her life, but she remained…
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Phuket FC look to hold their place in the Thaicom FA Cup
PHUKET: Tonight, Phuket FC look to hold their place in the Thaicom FA Cup 2014 as they travel to Khao Plong Stadium in Chainat. They will kickoff at 6pm against the Wang Mun Tambon Administration Office. Organized by the Football Association of Thailand, The Thaicom FA Cup is a knockout football tournament now into its 19th year. The cup winner…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Yala bomb suspects on CCTV; Govt in legal fightback; Toxic landfill fire reignites; Storm slams Buri Ram
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police spot Yala bomb suspects on CCTV The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police are on a hunt for a group suspected in bombing attacks that caused several casualties and massive damage in Yala last weekend. These suspects have been seen in images captured by closed-circuit…
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Six dodge jail terms for Phuket beach land encroachment
PHUKET: Six people have received suspended jail sentences and immediate fines for building and operating small beachside shops on protected land at Nai Yang Beach, revealed the Chief Administrative Officer of Sakoo Tambon Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) today. Of the six, two are still operating their shops, three have had their shops demolished and one has closed shop, but the building…
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Phuket Police arrest four drug suspects after a snitch chain reaction
PHUKET: Four suspects were arrested in Phuket yesterday for possession of illegal drugs and weapons during a raid by Patong Police, which netted nearly 25 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), three handguns and more than 600,000 baht in property. Police first tracked down Petcharat “Fah” Ammatapaiboon, 34, who gave up her dealer, Saengdao “Dao” Korranee, 44. Ms Dao, in…
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Video Report: Phuket’s Suunto Series – seeing in red and white
PHUKET: The first two white cards handed out for “points” in the Phuket We Free Dive Suunto Series have highlighted the unique format of the competition, which ranks the control, safety and beauty of the dive above time and distance. “I value any clean dive far above a longer or deeper one that ends with a barely conscious diver,” explained…
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Motorbike rental passport leads to Phuket arrest of Spanish nunchuk mugger
PHUKET: A passport left as collateral for a motorbike rental has led to the arrest of a Spaniard for the nunchuk mugging of a Russian in Kata early yesterday morning. Karon Police arrested Spanish tourist Mario Arturo Tovar Ferras, 23, at the Bonus Bungalow resort in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong, at about 7:30pm last night. “Police seized a motorbike, a seven-inch…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Pro-Moscow protesters declare republic, Kiev fears invasion
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pro-Moscow protesters declare republic, Kiev fears invasion Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pro-Moscow protesters in eastern Ukraine seized arms in one city and declared a separatist republic in another, in moves Kiev described on Monday as part of a Russian-orchestrated plan to justify an invasion to…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Search for missing Malaysia jet set to move to sea floor
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Search for missing Malaysia jet set to move to sea floor Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A robotic search vehicle is likely to be sent deep into the Indian Ocean on Tuesday to look for wreckage of a missing Malaysian jetliner on the sea floor, as…
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Phuket police station blockade yields B900k cash compensation
PHUKET: An angry family ransomed the Chalong Police Station for 900,000 baht in compensation for failure to apprehend the suspect of deadly hit-and-run nine months ago. The three vehicles blocking anyone from entering the police station were not moved until the owner of the pickup truck that struck the man dead offered cash compensation (story here). “I want to end…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Pistorius retches during graphic forensic testimony
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pistorius retches during graphic forensic testimony Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: South African track star Oscar Pistorius wept and retched into a bucket in court on Monday during graphic forensic testimony about the death of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, whom he is accused of murdering on…
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Phuket Airport taxi driver faces inquest for drunk nap behind the wheel
PHUKET: The Phuket Airport taxi driver who was found asleep behind the wheel and smelling of alcohol early yesterday morning will be called in for questioning by the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO). The news follows Thalang Police being called to Baan Lipon, between Thalang Town and the Heroines Monument, at 5:30am to find a registered taxi pulled over in…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Actor Mickey Rooney dies at 93
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Actor Mickey Rooney, brash star of 1930s and ’40s, dies at 93 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Actor Mickey Rooney, who became the United States’ biggest movie star while still a brash teenager in the 1930s and later a versatile character actor in a career that…
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Video Report: Airport Customs snare Phuket drug mule with B7mn of crystal meth
PHUKET: A Thai woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday after she tried to smuggle 2.5kg of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) from China into Phuket. Customs officers valued the drugs at about 7 million baht. “Buachompoo Pattanapiyawach, 39, was caught with drugs in her luggage after it was scanned by an x-ray machine,” Phuket Airport Customs Director Montira Cherdchoo…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Australia says new ‘pings’ best lead yet in Malaysia jet search
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australia says new ‘pings’ best lead yet in Malaysia jet search Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Australian ship searching for a missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner has picked up signals consistent with the beacons from aircraft black box recorders, in what search officials said on Monday…
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