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  • Ban monkey business

    PHUKET: The recent introduction of two gibbons rescued in Phuket into the wilds of Northern Thailand is a landmark achievement for the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF) and the many affiliated groups and volunteers who played roles in making it happen. We join the rest of the island in thanking them all and wishing them the best of…

  • Marine Police ramp up inspections to promote Phuket boat safety

    PHUKET: Marine police are in the midst of a blitz on Phuket tourist boats and crew to promote safety over the four-day holiday weekend. “It’s our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers, especially during the long holidays, when more people are expected to be in Phuket,” said Lt Col…

  • Police suspect kickstand played role in fatal Phuket motorbike crash

    PHUKET: A helmet-less Myanmar national was killed after losing control of his motorbike on a curve while driving with his kickstand down in Phuket yesterday. When police arrived at the scene on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, they found 27-year-old Phyo Maung Maung’s motorbike, with the kickstand down, on the median and Mr Phyo’s body in a lane of oncoming traffic.…

  • Gaza toll passes 100; Israel to counter rockets ‘with all power’

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gaza toll passes 100; Israel to counter rockets ‘with all power’ Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ori Lewis PHUKET: An airstrike outside a family home early Saturday pushed the Palestinian death toll past 100 in four days of cross-border fighting as Israel…

  • Second man charged in train rape-murder | Thaiger

    Second man charged in train rape-murder

    PHUKET: Police have charged a second State Railway of Thailand employee over his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on an overnight train to Bangkok. After the interrogation of a 19-year-old train worker by Prachuap Khiri Khan police chief Maj Gen Thanes Sunthornsuk, an informed source reported that the teenager confessed that he was drinking…

  • B10.3bn allocated to tackle drug abuse

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community B10.3bn allocated to tackle drug abuse The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With a budget of 10.3 billion baht allocated for the 2014 fiscal year to tackle drug abuse, the Justice Ministry plans to have the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) find addicts who…

  • Police warn local officers over taxi mafia revival

    PHUKET: The leading police officer who spearheaded the recent purge of Phuket’s illegal taxi mafia has vowed to investigate any local police officers who allow illegal taxi drivers to return to their regular roosts. Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin of Region 8 Police said that he considered any further action against illegal taxi operators a matter to be dealt with by…

  • Big snake caught choking the chicken in Phuket

    PHUKET: A Phuket resident woke with a start in the middle of the night Tuesday after a python started dining in his chicken coop. “I heard my chickens panicking, so I went to the henhouse to see what was wrong,” Thanarat Manlin told the Phuket Gazette. “I was so shocked when I peeked inside and saw a big python killing…

  • Unemployed Phuket tour bus staffers plead for help

    PHUKET: Local tour operator staff made redundant by companies using their own buses, drivers and guides to provide tours of Phuket appealed yesterday to the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating their plight. Kanlaya Rakvaree, the lead representative of the group, explained that many local jobs had been lost to companies that no longer hire Phuket tour companies to conduct…

  • Phuket house burglar’s rampage comes to abrupt end

    PHUKET: Police yesterday snared a serial burglar who confessed to having robbed 12 Phuket residences since mid-June. The 22-year-old Phang Nga native, Raewat Kasirak, was identified by police from many CCTV footage clips recovered from throughout the island, explained Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of the Phuket City Police. Mr Raewat, who was arrested in front of the Phuket Vocational College…

  • Twin Sharks turns turtle, to rejoin regatta racing tomorrow

    PHUKET: Hot favorite Twin Sharks, which capsized during practice in strong winds off Phuket yesterday, is expected to begin its campaign in the Firefly Sport 850 class in the Multihull Solutions Regatta tomorrow. The racing catamaran turned turtle in Chalong Bay yesterday afternoon amid strong winds gusting up to 25 knots (story here). Skipper and owner John Newnham and his…

  • Pressure on Phuket Governor over Surin Beach ‘failure’

    PHUKET: Three Cherng Talay residents who last week filed a petition and a police complaint against Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut over the clearing of Surin Beach returned to Cherng Talay Police Station on Wednesday. The complaint alleged that Governor Maitri had failed to perform his duties as the Governor of Phuket by not clearing all structures from Surin Beach (story…

  • Argentina and Germany start final preparations

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina and Germany start final preparations Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina and Germany were both back at work on Thursday, secretly hatching their plans for Sunday’s World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. While their contrasting styles promise a classic battle between…

  • Phuket man found at lake bottom after midday fishing, drinking session

    PHUKET: The body of a 65-year-old man was recovered from a lake in Cherng Talay by rescue divers hours after his wife reported him missing. Arwin Norkam went searching for her husband, Don Norkam, at about lunch time this afternoon. At the lake, where he had gone to fish, she found his clothing, shoes, fishing tackle and a bottle of…

  • Rio’s Christ to light up Twitter’s World Cup campaign

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sport selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rio’s iconic Christ statue will be lit up on the eve of Sunday’s World Cup final in the colours of each of the finalists’ flags with Twitter users to determine which is displayed the longest. Starting on Wednesday, Twitter Inc users around the world can participate by…

  • ICC win the first match of the Outrigger T20 League

    PHUKET: In the first outrigger 20/20 cricket league match of the season, Island Cricket Club (ICC) played Village Cricket Team in the morning match on the 6th July 2014. Village captain Martin Platts won the toss and elected to Bat. Village opening batsman Divan Mydeen (1) was caught behind early on from the bowling of Arun Virdikar, who struck again…

  • Phuket to observe two-day alcohol ban starting at midnight

    PHUKET: The sale of alcohol will be prohibited in Phuket tomorrow and Saturday as part of a nationwide ban to honor the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent. “Alcohol sales are prohibited from midnight tonight until midnight Saturday,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The Saturday alcohol ban…

  • Nationwide checks continue to find fault with rice stocks

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nationwide checks continue to find fault with rice stocks The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Inspections reveal that the rice stocks from the controversial pledging scheme have become mired in both quality and quantity problems. An informed source said yesterday that inspections had found that most…

  • State rail chief rejects calls for resignation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community SRT governor rejects calls for resignation The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan yesterday vowed to stay on as SRT chief, saying his resignation would be deemed an escape from the problems surrounding the railways. “I am begging for…

  • Victim of rape on train in 2001 speaks up

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Victim of rape on train in 2001 speaks up The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Thai woman lost her bright career, her optimism and her ability to continue living in Thailand after a State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee raped her on a train 13…

  • Both candidates in Indonesia election claim victory

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both candidates in Indonesia election claim victory Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Both candidates claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday, suggesting there could be a drawn out constitutional battle to decide who will next lead the world’s third-largest democracy. Just a few hours after…

  • Anger mounts as Germany unearths second U.S. spy suspect

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anger mounts as Germany unearths second U.S. spy suspect Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: German politicians reacted angrily on Wednesday to news of a suspected U.S. spy in the defence ministry, which came days after the arrest of a German foreign intelligence agency worker as a…

  • Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina beat Dutch in shootout to reach final Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina’s Sergio Romero saved two penalties in a 4-2 shootout win over the Netherlands to seal their first World Cup final place in 24 years after the first ever goalless semi-final at the…

  • Rules announced for Phuket beach development

    PHUKET: Local residents have been forbidden to make any changes to the island’s new beachscape by order of Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. “If anyone tries to alter the beach landscapes or is caught violating the details of this order, they will face legal action,” the provincial order read. The order also provided the sole circumstances under which the beach could…

  • No crackdown on Patong nightlife, assures Phuket’s top-ranking soldier

    PHUKET: The top-ranking soldier on the island confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that the army and the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) have no plans to crack down on the Patong nightlife industry. “We haven’t even considered it,” Maj Gen Peerapol Wiriyakul said. “We understand that Patong is a tourist destination, and we would prefer to just…

  • Phuket Governor cleans Karon Beach, urges beachgoers to obey red flags

    PHUKET: While leading a mass beach cleanup at Karon this morning, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut urged tourists to heed the red flags posted along the waterline. “Beach guards have told me that tourists ignore the red flags,” Governor Maitri said. “This is very dangerous. We would like tourists to enjoy Phuket without putting themselves at risk. Please listen to the…

  • Breaking News: Phuket beach vendors push back at military attempt to clear Patong Beach

    PHUKET: More than 100 Phuket beach vendors surrounded Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab and Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong as they, with the backing of military personnel, attempted to clear Patong Beach this morning. “This is where we earn a living; we have been here for many years. We are not harming anybody. Why would you stop us from earning a…

  • Indonesians vote for new president

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesians vote for new president Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Indonesians began voting in a presidential election on Wednesday that has become a closely fought contest between the old guard who flourished under decades of autocratic rule and a new breed of politician that has emerged…

  • Girl’s killing unleashes media storm for law reform | Thaiger

    Girl’s killing unleashes media storm for law reform

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Girl’s killing unleashes media storm for law reform; SRT chief under pressure to quit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Social media has been in overdrive since midnight Monday when Wanchai Sangkhao, 22, an employee of the State Railway of Thailand, allegedly confessed that he had…

  • Girl raped, murdered on train: SRT employee says he was drunk when he did it

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community SRT employee says he was drunk when he inflicted crime The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A NEW employee of the State Railway of Thailand has claimed he was drunk when he raped and killed a 13-year-old passenger on a Bangkok-bound train early on Sunday.Wanchai Saengkhao,…