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Patong Tunnel compensation for evicted Phuket villagers jumps to B2.56bn
PHUKET: The funds for compensating Phuket landowners who would be displaced by the construction of the Patong Tunnel have more than doubled, jumping from 1 billion baht to 2.56bn baht. The Chief Inspector-General of the Ministry of Transport, Somchai Chanrod, made the announcement in Phuket earlier this week. It was not clarified whether the government had expanded the number of…
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Phuket Business: Hooters restaurant to open in Patong
PHUKET: Hooters of America, LLC, the well-known hospitality franchise that employs attractive young waitresses to help lure customers, recently announced a development agreement with an international franchisee to open three Hooters locations in Thailand over the next three years. Destination Resorts Co Ltd will introduce the iconic brand and dining destination to the country, with the first Hooters location scheduled…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: CMPO seeks clarification; Social classes discovered in ancient Issan communities; WTO notified of alleged rice dumping
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CMPO seeks understanding over inability to control rallies Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The government’s Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) called for understanding from the public yesterday about its inability to enforce the law and control anti-government rallies following Civil Court’s ruling on Wednesday.CMPO member…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: Nepal will enforce tighter controls of climbers on Mount Everest to ensure the world’s highest peak is safe, officials said on Friday, after a fight last April between three Europeans and a large group of…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: President Barack Obama held low-key talks with the Dalai Lama on Friday, prompting the Chinese government to ask why the White House ignored Beijing’s warnings that the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader would damage…
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![[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAyMjMgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested two French nationals for bribing an officer of the law yesterday, while a third man is still on the run. Karin Radoun, 28, was also charged with ATM fraud and being in the country illegally. He and Karim Akrour, 36, denied all the charges when presented to the press this morning. Police are still hunting for…
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Frenchwoman in fatal crash identified as Phuket yacht staff trainer
PHUKET: The foreigner killed in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road before dawn yesterday has been identified as French national Julie Humbert, 31. Her identity was confirmed by an employee of Thalang Hospital, where her body was taken after the crash (story here). “A co-worker contacted the hospital this morning after she heard the story. She identified Ms Humbert’s body…
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Local Phuket fishing competition out to catch it all
PHUKET: The annual “Yamu Night Fishing Game” kicks off tomorrow morning.The annual competition, aimed at promoting local fishing traditions in the area, is put on by Paklok Subdistrict Municipality (OrBorTor).“Only those fishing from longtail boats with local fishing equipment are allowed to participate. However, both Thais and foreigners are welcome to get involved,” said Paklok Public Relation staffer Samart Sensai.“If…
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Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire
PHUKET: A black-plate taxi carrying two foreigners to Phuket International Airport burst into flames on Thepkrasattri road at about 2pm today.It took villagers about 15 minutes and seven fire extinguishers to put out the fire, explained a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. No one was injured.“By the time we got there, the fire was already under control. At the scene were…
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Krabi resort owner vows legal action over demolition
PHUKET: The owner of the Poda Island Resort is threatening to sue the Department of National Parks (DNP) for dismantling his facilities. Chuan Pukaoluan, who has operated the resort for about 20 years, says that he had bought the plots of land the resort was built on legitimately. However, the courts determined that the structures were encroaching on a national…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Farmers return home; More Southern violence; Russian wanted for extortion caught in Chon Buri
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Farmers from northern provinces return home Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: About 10,000 farmers who travelled from the lower northern provinces to Bangkok resolved on Friday to return home rather than head to Suvarnabhumi Airport for a rally.The farmers decided to return home after their leader, former…
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TAT, AirAsia join campaign to drive travel to three regions
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is cooperating with AirAsia on a campaign to promote travel to the North, Northeast and South of Thailand. The “All Out Fun! Discover Thailand with AirAsia” campaign seeks to enliven travel in those three regions with low fares starting from 555 baht one-way, inclusive of airport tax and fees. Tickets may be booked…
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Local tourism industry unfazed by Bangkok turmoil
PHUKET: Wanprapha Suksomboon, acting director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office, recently said that the political turmoil in Bangkok has had minimal negative effects on local tourism.There have been only “a few” booking cancellations, she said, citing the fact that Phuket can be accessed by direct international flights that don’t need to connect in the Thai capital. Since…
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AirAsia flight makes emergency landing in Phuket after Mecca pilgrim suffers heart failure
PHUKET: An AirAsia plane made an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport after a Malaysian man returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca suffered heart failure while in Thai airspace. The crew of flight D7 171 from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur attempted to resuscitate Ridzwan Bin Jamaludin, 64, while still in the air, explained Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Amnuay Kriwuttianant. “The…
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Phuket canal reeking again, noodle factory blamed
PHUKET: For the second time in a year, Samkong residents have filed a formal complaint over a sickening stench emanating from the Bang Yai Canal. In April last year, the source was allegedly raw sewage dumped into the canal further upstream, in Rassada. This time, residents blamed an upstream noodle factory. During an inspection on Tuesday, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut…
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Widow of slain Phuket protester returns from Bangkok before fresh wave of violence
PHUKET: It has been a month since Phuket taxi driver Prakong Choochan died at the age of 46 from injuries sustained from an explosive device thrown at protesters in Bangkok. His widow, Tippayao Choochan, vowed to continue supporting the “Bangkok Shutdown” protests after his death, and was in the capital last week to join the rally (story here). However, she…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama warns Ukraine military not to ‘step over the line’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama warns Ukraine military not to ‘step over the line’ Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama called on Ukraine’s armed forces on Wednesday to stay out of the country’s political crisis and warned that there would be consequences for those who “step over the line.”Using…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Both sides suffer from violent clashes; New plan to pay rice farmers; MP registration by mail; Foreign investors continue retreat from stock market
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community On both sides, victims share the bitter pain of street clashes Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A junior policeman has become a hero for kicking away a grenade in his bid to protect colleagues during a Bangkok clash – but his wife thinks his fame…
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The Terminal: asylum seekers’ limbo at Phuket Airport to end soon
PHUKET: The six stateless asylum seekers who have been housed under guard at Phuket International Airport for over a month may soon be leaving the island.Malaysia has agreed to accept the four Syrians in the group, and the two Lebanese men will be sent to Bangkok, said Prapansak Prasansuk, Chief of Immigration at the airport.How the men, said to be…
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Italian busted for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: An Italian man was busted for selling ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) to undercover cops in a sting operation in Patong Monday evening.Fabio Milan Bocca, 35, was arrested at a rental house on Pisitkoranee Road in possession of 8.52 grams of ya ice, 6.79g of marijuana and a single ya bah (methamphetamine) pill. “Our superintendent asked us to stomp out…
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Phuket protesters head to Bangkok despite deadly violence
PHUKET: An anti-government co-ordinator in Phuket believes hundreds of Phuket residents will join a mass rally in Bangkok tomorrow, despite the violent clashes between protesters and police that have left at least one officer dead (story here). Suthep Thaugsuban, Secretary General of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) last night called for supporters to join the protest tomorrow as a…
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Thailand Breaking News: Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Centre reported at 3pm today that two civilians and a policeman had been killed. Additionally, 58 others were injured in the clash between police and protesters…
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DSI chief says one policeman killed in Bangkok clash
PHUKET: One police officer was killed and 17 others injured during violent clashes during an operation to re-take traffic space from protest sites on Rajdamnoen Road.Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pendith announced that a policeman was shot in the head.He said the officers were injured by M79 grenades and bullets although they were using peaceful measures in the…
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Phuket Gazette appoints new Managing Editor
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Isaac Stone Simonelli to the position of managing editor. Having spent his years at the Gazette in various roles, including PGTV news presenter, news editor and then head of both the news and reporter teams, Mr Simonelli is well versed in the major local, national and international issues…
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Phuket water shutoff leaves residents and tourists high and dry
PHUKET: After two months with no running water, life for residents on Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in Phuket returned to normal this morning. “We had no running water for almost two months, since December 25,” said a resident of the Patong road who declined to be named.“We have had to buy water from a water truck every week, which…
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Swedish tourist falls to death from slippery Phuket bar
PHUKET: A Swedish tourist fell to his death early this morning while dancing on top of a bar counter in Patong.“Witnesses in the bar said that the man had been drinking before he decided to climb onto the countertop and dance,” said a Kusoldharm Patong rescue foundation worker.“The bar was wet and slippery. He slipped and hit his head hard…
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Phuket Vice Governor champions Australian’s metered taxi complaint
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada stepped forward to champion a complaint about an airport taxi driver who refused to use his meter to take an Australian expat home to Kamala. The 51-year-old man arrived at Phuket International Airport last Sunday and was met by a metered taxi tout, who explained that it costs 650 baht to go to Kamala.…
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Deaf Ukrainian begging tourist arrested in Central Festival Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Tourist Police arrested a deaf Ukrainian tourist on Sunday for disturbing restaurant customers in Central Festival Phuket.Mykola Chornyi, 30, was dropping cards on restaurant tables that said he was deaf and asked for patrons to either donate money or purchase an Angry Bird key chain for 100 baht, Wichit Police Superintendent Chawalit Phetsipear explained.“We were notified by a…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Snow causes building collapse in South Korea, 10 killed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Building collapse at South Korean resort kills 10 Phuket Gazette/ ReutersPHUKET: Ten people attending a welcoming party for new university students were killed when a building at a South Korean mountain resort collapsed late on Monday, emergency officials said, trapping dozens in snow and rubble for several…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice, bank runs and elections
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Most banks say deposits normal after Bt30 billion pulled from GSB accounts Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Major private banks have not detected a wave of deposits, even though 30 billion baht in cash was withdrawn by customers of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) yesterday. Weidt Nuchjalearn,…
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