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Five Khon Kaen students let free without charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Five Khon Kaen students let free without charge The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Five Khon Kaen University students who were rounded up after surprising Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his first official visit to Khon Kaen with an anti-coup protest – including a three-finger salute…
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Welding sparks blamed for Phuket quarry facility fire
PHUKET: Sparks from a welder fixing a roof are believed to have set a quarry building on fire in Baan Yamu, on Phuket’s east coast, late last night. Two teams of firefighters arrived at the quarry at about 11:20pm. They brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes. “One of our staff was welding on the roof,” said 49-year-old…
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Two men injured after losing control of truck on notorious Phuket curve
PHUKET: Two men in a pick-up truck sustained minor head injuries after the driver lost control on a wet Phuket highway and slammed into a local shop on the side of the road. The driver, 62-year-old Somsak Jamjan, and his co-worker in the passenger seat, who police have yet to publicly identify, were travelling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when Mr…
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Governor joins merit-making for new Phuket Provincial Hall
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has given his stamp of approval to the new 449-million-baht Phuket Provincial Hall, hoping that its traditional Sino-Portuguese design will impress visitors. The governor recently made merit at the construction site, located on a 50-rai plot on Phang Muang Sai Kor, opposite Suan Luang (Rama IX or King’s Park) in Phuket Town, and participated in a…
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Two men nabbed in Phuket for posing as monks, begging for “alms’
PHUKET: Patong Police arrested two men yesterday for posing as monks after their odd behavior aroused suspicion and gave the charlatans away. Manit Keawsen, 33, and Sod Nhamjaidee, 49, both from Suphan Buri, were arrested in front of a 7-Eleven store on Sainamyen Road, while they were begging for “alms” from passersby. “I saw them just before noon while I…
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Krabi officials on watch for Rohingya
PHUKET: Officials on Koh Lanta, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, are on the lookout for any suspicious boats that may be carrying refugees after Myanmar identity cards were found discarded on the island. “We are now keeping watch for Rohingya and any people of other nationalities [sic] who may land on Koh Lanta,” said Pornpoj Pandaeng, chief administrative officer…
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Police hunt for Phuket teen motorbike gang after two men assaulted, robbed
PHUKET: Police are hunting down a teen motorbike gang after two men were kicked off their motorbike, beaten and robbed in Phuket on Tuesday night. Police received a report that there had been an assault and snatch-and-run case near Baan Ya village in Srisoonthorn at about 11:30pm, said Capt Narong Malavaechan of the Thalang Police. The two victims, Sattawat Pohab,…
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Phuket cement-truck driver charged over fatal collision killing student
PHUKET: The driver of the cement-mixer truck that crushed and instantly killed an 18-year-old student in Rassada last week has surrendered to police and been charged with reckless driving causing death. Chalermchai Lakbaan, a student at Phuket Rajabhat University, died instantly when his motorbike collided with a cement truck entering* the Phuket Cement Co Ltd site on Prachasamakkee Road in…
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NBC, Netflix cancel Bill Cosby’s shows after sex assault claims
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NBC, Netflix cancel Bill Cosby’s shows after sex assault claims Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: NBC said on Wednesday it has canceled an upcoming project with veteran comedian Bill Cosby, his second show to be pulled after accusations that he sexually assaulted women resurfaced in recent…
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Thai crusade pays off as looted treasures return from US museum
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai crusade pays off as looted treasures return from US museum The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Twenty-six years after the return of the Narai Stone lintel from the Art Institute of Chicago to Thailand, the US government has again officially handed over more ancient artefacts…
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‘Hunger Games’ sequel preview screenings cancelled
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Hunger Games’ sequel preview screenings cancelled The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Special previews set for today at two cinemas in Siam Square of the latest in the series idolized by coup protesters, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, have been abruptly cancelled. The anti-coup movement…
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Flights suspended after Army helicopter crash kills nine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Flights suspended after copter crash kills nine The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Third Army Area has suspended all helicopter flights in the wake of a Bell 212 crash that killed all nine soldiers on board on Monday evening. The family of one crash victim…
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PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: During the prime minister’s first visit to the Northeast, five student activists yesterday stole the show by making their way to the front of the stage and launching a protest against…
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Phuket woman in “miracle’ survival of juggernaut hit-and-run
PHUKET: A 55-year-old woman’s escape from serious injury has been hailed as a miracle after her motorcycle with sidecar (saleng) was struck by an 18-wheeled semi-trailer and dragged 20 meters along Thepkrasattri Road before the saleng was struck by a second vehicle. Wanna Damnadee, 55, was admitted to Thalang Hospital late yesterday afternoon with minor scratches and a swollen left…
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Asian Beach Games: Thailand lands 12 of 14 gold in single day
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand flexed their muscles to haul in 12 of the 14 gold medals up for grabs yesterday to stay atop the overall standings with 60 medals – including 25 gold – in the 4th Asian Beach Games being hotly contested in Phuket. Thailand made a clean sweep of both golds on offer in the beach petanque yesterday, with…
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Phuket police break open multi-million-baht drug network
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police yesterday presented four suspects arrested for dealing millions of baht of drugs that were delivered from Bangkok by bus. Presented as evidence at a press conference today were more than 19,000 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 120 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), as well as two illegal firearms and two cars. Phuket Provincial Police…
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Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Activists called yesterday for the Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped, ahead of the final decision today on the project’s Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report. Sasin Chalermlarp, chief of the…
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Criminal case against Yingluck ‘a step closer’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Criminal case against Yingluck ‘a step closer’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The move to get ex-PM Yingluck Shinawatra to stand trial in the Supreme Court’s Criminal Division for Holders of Political Positions – for alleged negligence to stop corruption and massive losses in the…
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Land offices most corrupt, police second: academic survey
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Land offices most corrupt, police second: academic survey The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Land office is the most corrupt agency in the Thai bureaucracy, while police are ranked second in this dubious list where households needed to make illegal payments to facilitate their service,…
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Obama to ease immigration rules on millions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama to ease immigration rules on millions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama is poised to give relief from deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or of permanent legal residents, according to a source familiar with White…
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Phuket beach town leaders shine light on umbrella rumor
PHUKET: Vice Governor Chamroen Tippayapongtada today re-confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that tourists are not allowed to bring their own umbrellas or sun loungers to Phuket beaches. The confirmation from one of the island’s top-ranking officials follows a news report claiming that the ban – made public by a Gazette report on Saturday (story here) – had been lifted. “I…
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Man killed while electrofishing in Phuket pond
PHUKET: A man was found dead in a Phuket pond this morning after he was killed while electrofishing. Suchart Chanaprasit, 36, was found dead at about 8:45am with the electric cable still in his hand, Capt Wittaya Sincharoen of the Thung Thong Police told the Phuket Gazette. “He was still gripping the electric cable he had been using to stun…
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Asian Beach Games: Muay Thai masters target medal takedown tonight
PHUKET: The opening rounds of the Muay Thai competitions for the Asian Beach Games get underway on Patong Beach, near the end of Soi Bangla. At 5pm, Hoang Duc Le of Vietnam will enter the ring to take on Eugene Tan of Singapore in Bout 1 of the quarterfinals of the Men’s 48kg-Light Fly division. Meanwhile, Chan Kai Tik from…
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Phuket beefs up Ebola security with specialized laboratory
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital has opened the first Designated Receiving Area (DRA) in Southern Thailand in response to the recent Ebola outbreak worldwide and the increasing number of visitors to the island. The DRA is a laboratory fully-equipped to quickly and accurately diagnose patients who show symptoms of highly infectious diseases, such as the Ebola virus. “This outbreak has alarmed…
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What to do when interest rates rise
PHUKET: IT IS widely believed that history does indeed repeat itself. What was true in the past is most likely to be true today and in the future. Sure, the events and names of companies change, but general economic principles will apply. When it comes to investing, one of the most important things for investors to understand is long-term interest…
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Drunk man stabs himself, calls for mother
PHUKET: An unemployed Phuket man stabbed himself with a kitchen knife several times last night after a bout of heavy drinking with a group of friends. The incident occurred at the Karn Keha housing estate in Rassada at about 7pm, Lt Preecha Rakjan of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “We received a call and arrived on the scene…
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Bull elephant beats handler to death in Phuket
PHUKET: A bull elephant beat his handler to death as the man attempted to unchain the animal to carry tourists visiting a Phuket elephant camp today. The 23-year-old elephant, Plai Por, was allowed to carry tourists at Phuchada Safari in Rawai yesterday, but was showing signs of musth, so was then locked up, Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijun of Chalong Police told…
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Phuket Town snatch thief caught within two hours
PHUKET: Police arrested a man who caused a woman to crash her motorbike after he ripped a gold necklace off her neck on the outskirts of Phuket Town yesterday. Pongchai Wongwan, 29, was caught walking around Koh Sireh, on the east side of Phuket Town, after selling the necklace to a gold shop for 16,200 baht. Police caught up with…
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Asian Beach Games: Thailand leads medal charge
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand plundered more gold in the 4th Asian Beach Games yesterday, sealing crucial victories to maintain their commanding lead in the medal tally. Despite another searing day in the seaside resort, crowds of Thai spectators and tourists braved the sun to watch the fun-packed competition on Phuket’s beaches and venues at Karon, Patong, Nai Yang and the Saphan…
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Arrest warrant sought for American man over missing body parts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arrest warrant sought for American man over missing body parts The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An arrest warrant will be issued for an American man who allegedly tried to courier human parts to the US. He faces charges of theft, possessing stolen items and falsely…
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