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  • Djokovic grinds Murray down to win Australian Open

    PHUKET: Novak Djokovic ground down Andy Murray 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 on Sunday to win a record fifth Australian Open title in the professional era and consign the Scot to further grand slam pain Down Under. The pair waged a fierce baseline duel for the opening two sets, but after taking a 2-0 lead in the third set, Murray crumbled…

  • Homemade bombs detonate outside Siam Paragon

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Homemade bombs detonate outside Siam Paragon Agencies / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two homemade bombs exploded in front of the Siam Paragon shopping mall on Sunday night, police said. Nobody was injured. The BTS suspended services at the Siam Station at 8.10pm after the two bombs exploded…

  • Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Greste, 2 others still held

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Greste, 2 others still held Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste was released from a Cairo jail on Sunday and left Egypt after 400 days in prison on charges that included aiding a terrorist group, security officials…

  • Two more unlocked homes robbed in Thalang

    PHUKET: Police are searching for a potential group of serial burglars after two Thalang homes were robbed of cash and valuables amounting to more than 100,000 baht last night. “We are concerned that those responsible for these robberies are the same people who robbed another three foreigners’ homes in Thalang earlier this month [story here],” said Lt Suporn Muangkhai of…

  • Unidentified body found with knife lodged in head at Phuket pier

    PHUKET: A body was found floating at Rassada Pier yesterday with a knife lodged in the skull and a stab wound in the back. Rescue workers recovered the body from the water, in front of the Fish Marketing Organization, at about 1:45pm. Rescue workers and police found a kitchen knife tucked into the waistband of the unidentified man’s pants. A…

  • Phuket university partners with China’s National Space Science Center

    PHUKET: Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s National Space Science Center (NSSC) on Tuesday to solidify an agreement for further collaboration between the two organizations. The NSSC is an agency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that is responsible for planning, developing, launching and operating China’s space science satellite missions.…

  • Singapore officials consider Phuket consulate

    PHUKET: Phuket is one of several popular tourist destinations in Thailand being considered as the location for a consulate for the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore. Gabriel Liow, a counsellor from the Singapore Embassy, visited Phuket on Wednesday to wish the island’s officials a happy eew year and discuss issues that concern Singaporean tourists and expats in Phuket. “Mr…

  • New Zealander shot in scuffle with Thai stepfather in Phuket

    PHUKET: A New Zealander, born to a Thai mother, was shot late last night in an attempt to wrestle a handgun from his stepfather, who was allegedly drunk at the time. Jamie Smith, 30, was rushed to the new Dibuk Hospital on Chao Fa West Road (story here) after his mother called the police at about 11pm. When police arrived…

  • Financial outlook for the year ahead

    PHUKET: Looking back at 2014, the Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) posted a solid year. The S&P +11.4%, Dow +7.5% and Russell 2000 +3.5%. The “buy the dip” mentality began to take hold as any small correction saw buyers step in and purchase equities. 2014 SUMMARY• Soaring Treasury bond prices• Collapse in global commodity prices (oil)• MH17 airline crash,…

  • Patong Police to launch emergency call box service

    PHUKET: Patong Police are hoping to launch an emergency call box service in the popular tourist town as an alternative method for tourists needing to get in touch with police. “The call box gives tourists a way to contact police in case they do not have a mobile phone, or if they are lost,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit…

  • Government puts end to Myanmar concert plan, cites security concerns

    PHUKET: The first concert in Phuket dedicated to entertaining Myanmar nationals has been blocked by the local government, which has cited security concerns. The “Myanmar – Thai Cultural Relationship Concert” was to be held in a field behind Bus Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, tomorrow night. The event was to feature Myanmar celebrities R Zarni, Ni…

  • Phuket’s shining light in the shade business

    PHUKET: Local Phuket startup Window Design and Awnings Co Ltd, which has rapidly made a name for itself since its founding in 2009, is now looking to expand beyond the Kingdom’s borders. People may have noticed the white curved fabrics spread out over the walkways at Boat Lagoon, but the majority of the company’s clients are four, five and six-star…

  • Opinion: Co-operation is key to keeping us safe

    Phuriphat Theerakulpisut, 47, originally from Trang province, is chief of the Phuket Marine Office. He graduated from the Merchant Marine Training Center in 1986. Here, he talks about the duties of the Phuket Marine Office, and the changes and problems he has seen and encountered during his time as chief. PHUKET: It could be said that the Phuket Marine Office…

  • Opinion: This isn’t a game of musical chairs

    PHUKET: Comfortably nestled into a computer chair in front of a screen, it is hard to fathom why so many people appear to care so deeply about chairs on Phuket’s beaches. Chairs seem to be such a strange household item to polarize a community – except for maybe musical chairs. Nonetheless, the number of people engaged on the Gazette Facebook…

  • Phuket sea gypsy, 59, denied hospital treatment for broken leg

    PHUKET: A 59-year-old woman from Phuket’s sea gypsy community in Rawai denied treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital for a broken leg sparked a mass visit to Governor Nisit Jansomwong by more than 30 angry villagers yesterday. “Pohnao Bangjark broke her left leg while collecting shellfish at Rawai Beach on January 16,” sea gypsy Sanit Sae-Thua told Governor Nisit at Phuket…

  • Opinion: Phuket teens can booze, thanks to local shops

    PHUKET: The recent order by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that the basic terms of the controversial Alcohol Control Act of 2008 will remain unchanged comes as great news for “mom-and-pop” store operators across the nation, as it ensures that they will maintain their most important competitive advantage over increasingly powerful chain store competitors: the ability to sell alcohol…

  • NLA panel to summon US envoy

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NLA panel to summon US envoy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The spat between Thailand and the United States looks set to continue with the National Legislative Assembly’s foreign affairs committee planning to summon the US charge d’affaires to explain the recent criticism by a…

  • Malaysia declares MH370 an “accident”, airline to proceed with compensation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia declares MH370 an “accident”, airline to proceed with compensation Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysia declared on Thursday the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident, clearing the way for the airline to pay compensation to victims’ relatives while the search for the plane…

  • Two teens dead in Phuket Town midday shootout

    PHUKET: Two teenagers are dead after a rival gang of four second-year university students gunned them down in broad daylight, along with two others, on the streets of Phuket Town today. Sakdarin Kiembuth, 17, a former student at Phuket Technical College, died at the scene. Piaphat Jadsarng, a first-year student at Phuket Technical College, died from his injuries in hospital,…

  • Corrupt Phuket officials paid B700mn for parkland, Isoc told

    PHUKET: A top-flight general from Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 yesterday heard first-hand that applicants had paid 700 million baht for land titles to be issued for plots within Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. Maj Gen Ronnarong Koatdamrong, who serves as deputy director-general of Isoc Region 4, heard the account at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, attended by…

  • Challenge Cup basketball showcases Phuket skill

    PHUKET: The British International School Phuket (BISP) senior boys team fell just short of a back-to-back success over the weekend at the second annual Challenge Cup basketball tournament. The team had a strong run, winning all three of their games before facing off with last year’s finalists, Thai Hua. The hotly-contested, low-scoring game, 19-17, was fraught with solid defense by…

  • ICC too strong for Thalang, maintain grip on lead in Phuket cricket league

    PHUKET: The Island Cricket Club (ICC) held onto its top position in the league with a 8/192 to 6/190 victory over the Thalang Cricket Team in a sea-sawing contest at the Alan Cooke Ground in Thalang last Sunday. Both teams fielded strong sides, with ICC bringing in Vaigankar and Mydeen while Thalang named Buck, Culpan, McMillan, Thomatos and Murphy in…

  • Mandatory phone SIM registration begins on Sunday

    PHUKET: A plan is underway for all 7-Eleven and Family Mart convenience stores throughout Phuket to register prepaid SIM cards for mobile phones at point of sale, as a convenient way for people to meet the new requirement for registration of SIM cards on or before the July 31 deadline. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced last week…

  • Mum makes public plea to find deaf son missing in Phuket

    PHUKET: A mother has made a public plea to find her missing deaf son, last seen near the family home in Phuket Town on Tuesday. Saithong Sankaeo filed a missing-person report at Phuket City Police Station yesterday in the hope of finding her 22-year-old son, Therdsak. “He walks with a limp, has dark skin, medium long hair and was last…

  • Rohingya refugees say traffickers in Malaysia abuse and kill

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rohingya refugees say traffickers in Malaysia abuse and kill Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Abul Kassim, a Rohingya asylum seeker, was snatched from his home in the northern Malaysian state of Penang on Jan. 12. The next morning, his beaten and bloodied body was found. That…

  • Phuket lifeguards gifted multi-language surf warnings

    PHUKET: To break the communication barrier with non-English-speaking tourists, and hopefully save their lives, Phuket lifeguards have been issued multi-language cards that explain the dangers of the rip currents that lurk along the island’s beaches and entering strong surf. The cards are the brainchild of Simon Luttrell, a Tourist Police Volunteer who helps foreign tourists at Phuket International Airport and…

  • 5-day break in May backed by Cabinet | Thaiger

    5-day break in May backed by Cabinet

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 5-day break in May backed by Cabinet The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to make May 4 a public holiday to extend the holiday period between Labour Day and Coronation Day to five days. The new holiday will be added…

  • PM Prayut rebuts US snub

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prayut rebuts US snub The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday launched a full rebuttal against Daniel Russel, the visiting US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, saying the coup was staged to save democracy and that…

  • Japan’s Abe: new video of Islamic State captive Goto “despicable”

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Japan’s Abe: new video of Islamic State captive Goto “despicable” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday termed “despicable” a new video appearing to show Japanese journalist Kenji Goto, who is being held by Islamic State militants, saying he could be…

  • Russian woman rescued from Phuket Town streets

    PHUKET: The Russian consul to Phuket has arranged accommodations for a Russian woman who was found sleeping in the streets of Phuket Town this morning. Tourist Police were notified about the woman, who has a record of acting erratically and incoherently, at about 9:30am. “We were informed that she was only wearing a dress – no bra. The person who…