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Phuket Opinion: Why not to cook
PHUKET: This island has ruined me for cooking. I used to take no small amount of pride in my forays into the kitchen. I’m no Jamie Oliver to be sure, but I like to think I make a pretty mean spaghetti Bolognese. Alas, living in Phuket my culinary skills, along with my neglected cookware, sit on the shelf gathering dust.…
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Phuket Opinion: Airports welcoming pros, avoiding cons
Angkarn Yasanop, 29, graduated from the Sampran Royal Police Cadet Academy in Nakhon Pathom in 2007. After he served as an immigration officer at Phuket International Airport, he was moved to Phuket Town to work as an immigration office Sub-Inspector. Here he discusses the need to pair swift immigration processing at the airport with sufficient security. PHUKET: People are working…
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Phuket security guard saved from suicide leap
PHUKET: A security guard sacked after two days on the job in Phuket was talked down from a four-storey building in Phuket Town yesterday after he threatened to jump. Police arrived at the Phoonphol Night Plaza just before 4pm, along with Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers and a medical team from Vachira Phuket Hospital. Officers were dispatched to the rooftop to…
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Phuket Opinion: Deputy PM adds insult to injury
PHUKET: Recent protests over inflammatory comments made in Chiang Mai by controversial Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi are just one small reflection of growing national unease with the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra. In an address to the people of Chiang Mai, Deputy PM Plodprasop said the refusal of the people of Phuket to elect a Pheu Thai Party candidate would…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Akeyuth murder mired in complicity; Supercar importers in tax spin; Borrowing the Burmese White Elephant; Ramadan ceasefire; School’s out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Akeyuth murder motive more than ‘theft’: Panel The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Senate panel on human rights yesterday called on the Royal Thai Police to change the chief investigator in the case involving the murder of businessman and government critic Akeyuth Anchanbutr. Somchai Sawaengkarn,…
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Mass tourism market blamed for degradation of Phuket
PHUKET: The Senate Standing Committee on Tourism yesterday highlighted a series of issues plaguing Phuket due to the rapid development of the province into a major center for mass tourism in Thailand.“The growth of the tourism industry in Phuket is the source of many problems at its natural tourist attractions. Land and beach encroachment, as well as air and water…
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Former male nurse confesses to at least 20 hotel room abortions
PHUKET: Police in Krabi province, across the bay from Phuket, raided a hotel room where they arrested a former nurse who was just about to perform an illegal abortion.Officers raided the small hotel in Ao Luek at about 12:30pm yesterday, finding Prapak Thiparat preparing to perform an abortion.The woman had already been prepared by Mr Prapak to undergo the procedure.…
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Asian junior wrestling takes hold of Phuket
PHUKET: The 2013 Asian Junior Wrestling Championships started today with dozens of bouts taking place this morning at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat Indoor Sports Complex; and will conclude on Sunday (click here for map). The Wrestling Championship will be the first time some competitors have competed since the World Wrestling Body (FILA) introduced changes to the point system last month. With…
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Heavy Phuket rains send snake slithering for shelter
PHUKET: A large python sought accommodation and food in a local Phuket woman’s home yesterday morning.“During heavy rain, pythons often come to find things to eat. My house has many chickens, which is good food for a snake,” said Kanittha Saechau.On spotting the snake, which stretched to about four meters long, Ms Kanittha contacted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers.The rescue workers…
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Phuket flood, landslide warning issued as weekend deluges forecast
PHUKET: An island-wide flood and landslide warning has been issued as heavy rains continue to soak Phuket. The warning was issued to all local authorities across the island, San Jantharawong, chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this morning. “There has been heavy rain every day for days…
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World News: Cyber prying stopped attacks – NSA; North blames South; Docs urged to refuse Guantanamo force-feeding
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NSA director says surveillance helped stop ‘dozens’ of attacks Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The head of the National Security Agency said yesterday that extensive U.S. surveillance efforts had helped stop “dozens” of possible attacks, and warned that making details of the top-secret programs public had…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Ekkayuth’s body found, three arrested; Supercar probe gains speed; Bangkok by-election race heats up; Brick-thrower caught on camera
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ekkayuth’s body found; theft motive disputed The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Mystery still surrounds the murder of businessman and government critic Ekkayuth Anchanbutr, whose body was found in the southern province of Phatthalung yesterday.Questions regarding a motive for the murder remain unanswered, as observers and his lawyer…
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Phuket beach encroachment top concern of Senate tourism sortie
PHUKET: A fact-finding tour of Phuket’s top west coast tourist beaches yesterday identified encroachment by hotels, resorts and restaurants as the top concern among members of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism. The tour of beaches began at about 8:30am, led by Phuket Senator Tunyaratt Achariyachai, who is also the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism. Joined by…
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US Ambassador Kenney showers praise on Phuket
PHUKET: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney praised an array of aspects of Phuket during her one-day outreach trip to the island yesterday. “I am very thankful for every Phuket police officer. I am aware of how hard your work is, especially as Phuket is a tourism city and you have to take care of not only Thai people, but also foreigners,”…
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VIDEO Report: Phuket officials unveil “drive-thru’ preview of Patong Tunnel
PHUKET: The Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT), commissioned to roll out the Patong Tunnel project, has released a video highlighting the preferred route the tunnel will take through the Phuket hills separating the Kathu valley from the beachside resort town of Patong. The preferred route was chosen after a panel of experts investigated three major factors in the selection process,…
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Phuket gold shop gives B170k to fiancee of slain man
PHUKET: The fiancee of the man shot dead trying to stop a gold shop robbery in Phuket in April received 170,000 baht from the shop owner on Monday. Surasak Wattananawin, owner of the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store, had promised to donate the money shortly after the murder of Apichet Choo-kliang, 32, and had already made one donation of…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Businessman murdered; Drug dealer wanted by FBI arrested; F1 in Phuket; Size not important
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Driver admits killing Ekkayuth, police say The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The chauffeur of missing businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr admitted to his murder last night, former police spokesman Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri said on his Twitter account.Two other suspects who allegedly helped Santiparb Pengduang are on the…
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Phuket’s new Airport Bus slated for July 1 launch
PHUKET: The Phuket transport authorities today verbally agreed to launch the new Phuket Airport Bus service on July 1.The provincial transportation committee will meet again next Tuesday to ratify the decision in writing, Phuket Vice Governor and committee chairman Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed.Of the 29 government officers, airport officials and tourism and hotel industry representatives present at the meeting today, not…
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Phuket tour company robbed after staffer makes bank withdrawal
PHUKET: Police are searching for a thief who robbed a small Phuket tour company of almost 70,000 baht this morning.“We questioned all four of the staff at Nonthasak Marine Co Ltd,” said Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat.Pornpirom Junthong, a human resources staffer at the company, told police she went to a bank with a friend to withdraw 69,239 baht…
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Phuket flood warning issued as Patong hospital, police station access hampered
PHUKET: The torrential rains across Phuket this morning caused more flooding in Patong, with access routes to the Patong Hospital and Patong Police Station under water. The downpours this morning saw 56.2mm of rainfall recorded within just three hours in Phuket Town, from 7am to 10am, while the weather monitoring station at Phuket Airport recorded 14.4mm from 4am to 7am…
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PHUKET FINANCE: Don’t let a ‘wall of worry’ cut you off from a bull market
PHUKET: Although the economic numbers coming out of the United States are not exactly impressive, the S&P 500 has been hitting all time highs and at the end of April, was up some 14.5% since the start of the year, while gold, the ultimate investment of market contrarians, plunged the most in 33 years. In other words, the US stock…
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Long-awaited Patong Phuket Immigration office to re-open Thursday
PHUKET: The Patong Immigration office, scheduled to re-open almost a year and a half ago (story here), will open on Thursday, and provide limited immigration services in addition to general immigration information. The office, located on Thaweewong Road next to the Patong Tourist Police Volunteers office (map here), will provide 90-day resident reporting services. In addition, hotels will be able…
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Prison products to hit Phuket streets
PHUKET: The 10th annual Southern Prison Products Fair gets underway at Saphan Hin this evening and continues to June 17.The fair showcases products made by inmates in the 14 southern provinces.“There are many handmade products for sale at fair prices, including good quality furniture,” said Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichano.“The project is excellent for prisoners because 50 per cent of…
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Phuket International Boat Show 2014 sponsorship opportunities
PHUKET: A number of commercial sponsorship and partnership packages are now available for the next Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX), which will celebrate its eleventh anniversary next January. Sponsorship experts, Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co Ltd, will represent PIMEX 2014 in its drive to attract new sponsors and partners, offering several package tiers (click here for site). Andy Dowden…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Egyptian war talk; Rains leave 40 dead; Thwarted Taliban attack; Mandela still serious; Suspected Taliban behead boys
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt “war” talk raises Ethiopia Nile dam stakes Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egypt does not want war with Ethiopia but will keep “all options open”, President Mohamed Mursi said yesterday, turning up the heat in a dispute over a giant dam Addis Ababa is building across the…
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Phuket Police find Swedish expat dead in Chalong
PHUKET: A Swedish expat was found dead in Chalong yesterday evening. The body of Aino Marianne Seppala, 57, was found lying on a couch in her living room. Ms Seppala’s right hand was heavily bandaged and a variety of medications were on the coffee table, said Wuttiwat Liang-boonjinda of the Chalong Police. There was no evidence of violence in the…
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Swedish domino effect nets another Phuket drug dealer
PHUKET: Two gun-stashing drug dealers were scooped up on Friday in the wake of a drug bust that netted a Swedish national in Karon last month. Hasachai Khaokhem and Suvimon Chaikhun were arrested on Friday when police recognized them from a description given last month by drug dealer Nattharin Dansathaporn, 29. Mr Nattharin was found based on information supplied by…
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Laguna Phuket International Marathon sees fun and fund-raising
PHUKET: Michael Page of the UK won the eighth Laguna Phuket International Marathon (LPIM) when the annual running festival took to the island’s roads over the weekend. More than 4,000 entrants of all ages and abilities from 45 countries competed on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising. Page finished the 42 kilometer…
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V for Thailand unmasks Phuket unrest
PHUKET: Thousands of Phuket residents donned white Guy Fawkes masks and joined anti-government group “V for Thailand” to protest the current administration’s running of the country. “We are not a mob, we have gathered to let the government know that their management of Thailand has failed,” said a statement issued under the name of V-Phuket to the media during the…
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Rainstorm drowns out Phuket FC
PHUKET: The rainstorm that swept over the island last night forced officials to abandon the football match between Phuket FC and PTT Rayong; the decision was made more than halfway through the 0-0 deadlock at Surakul Stadium. Attending the half-match last night were several VIP guests of Phuket FC President Pamuke Achiriyachai, including Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Mr Pedro Moreira,…
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