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  • World Cup gambling slated to reach B$43bn | Thaiger

    World Cup gambling slated to reach B$43bn

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Cup gambling slated to reach B$43bn The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thais are expected to spend an estimated Bt69 billion during the upcoming football World Cup in Brazil – with gambling on matches forecast to generate Bt43.5 billion alone, according to a University of…

  • Press chief charged over wife’s murder | Thaiger

    Press chief charged over wife’s murder

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Press chief charged over wife’s murder The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: In a twist in the recent murder of the wife of the chairman of the Songkhla-based Press Association of Southern Thailand, police have arrested the husband and alleged he masterminded the killing. The arrest…

  • Yingluck faces assets probe

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Yingluck faces assets probe The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The national anti-graft agency yesterday resolved to examine the assets of former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra and four other members of her Cabinet involved in her government’s loss-making and corruption-plagued rice price-pledging scheme. The National Anti-Corruption…

  • Hong Kong recalls Tiananmen killings, China muffles dissent

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong recalls Tiananmen killings, China muffles dissent Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Tens of thousands of people held a candlelight vigil in Hong Kong on Wednesday to mark the bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protesters 25 years ago in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, while mainland China authorities…

  • China sentences nine to death for terrorism in Xinjiang | Thaiger

    China sentences nine to death for terrorism in Xinjiang

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China sentences nine to death for terrorism in Xinjiang Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Authorities in China’s restive Xinjiang region sentenced nine people to death on Thursday for “violent terrorism” crimes, state media reported, as part of a nation-wide crackdown on separatist militants. China has launched…

  • Video Report: Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket

    PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…

  • Thailand’s coup given credit for taxi cartel crackdown in Phuket

    PHUKET: Thailand’s coup opened the gates for police to sweep Phuket clean of the island’s notorious taxi and tuk-tuk cartels, said Commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 Panya Mamen today. Lt Gen Panya explained that the Army’s support was instrumental in enabling months of hard police work to come to fruition. “Since the coup, it has been easy…

  • Illegal roaming abortion clinic shut down in Phuket

    PHUKET: Police arrested two Myanmar nationals operating an illegal abortion clinic in Phuket during a sting operation today. Sein Maung, 54, and Thein Thein Htwg, 35, were taken into police custody after preparing to give an abortion to a three-months-pregnant woman. “We received a tip-off about the roaming abortion clinic, so we set up a mole to get the telephone…

  • Teach environmental awareness when they’re young: Phuket Governor

    PHUKET: The key to lifelong environmental awareness is to teach children while they’re young, said Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut today in his opening address to mark World Environment Day. Taking part in a global initiative to increase awareness about environmental concerns, Phuket launched a three-day event to mark the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) global day, this year held under…

  • Krabi, Phang Nga next on list for curfew repeal

    PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports is planning to ask for the curfew to be lifted in Phuket’s neighboring provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga to ease public concerns and help tourism operators recover. Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Sports Suwat Sitthilor is planning to ask the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) to remove the curfew in…

  • Phuket’s power hungry to join energy-saving dress rehearsal

    PHUKET: Some of Phuket’s largest energy consumers will take part in a power-saving exercise this Saturday in preparation for the nearly month-long period during which a major gas field will go offline for upgrades. Though Phuket has been promised no enforced blackouts or power rationing, Phuket Energy Office Chief Wiroj Damkong has called for energy saving during the June 13…

  • Take it to the green with Environment Day in Phuket

    PHUKET: Phuket’s celebration of World Environment Day (WED) kicked off this morning as the province hosts a three-day event concluding on June 7. The event organizers’ goal is to encourage residents to take action against pollution and promote the preservation of the island for generations to come. The event will support this year’s United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) campaign called…

  • Phuket Town woman surprised by slithering squatter… again

    PHUKET: Anchalee Boonjit discovered an unexpected guest hiding behind her house when she opened the back door yesterday morning –a three-meter-long python. “I woke up in the morning and went to find a rag to wipe the floor, since it was wet from rain the night before,” said Ms Anchalee. “When I opened the door, I was shocked to see…

  • Phuket war weapons owners urged to lay down their arms

    PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut has made a plea for anyone harboring weapons of war to hand them over to authorities by the June 10 deadline rather than risk court martial and 20 years in jail. “No citizens are permitted to own weapons of war. There is no license that allows such weapons to be owned,” Governor Maitri told the Phuket…

  • Nadal sets up semi-final with Murray

    PHUKET: There is not much that spooks Rafa Nadal at the French Open, but David Ferrer managed to do just that – for 49 bewitching minutes – before watching in despair as his fellow Spaniard turned into a man possessed to set up a semi-final with Andy Murray. Facing a rival who had beaten him the last time they had…

  • Phatthalung Gold Rush: Villagers hand over more than 1kg of gold sheets

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Villagers hand over more than 1kg of gold sheets The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Phatthalung villagers have returned over one kilogram of gold sheets and a bracelet that were recently taken in a gold rush at a palm plantation in Khao Chai Son district in…

  • Junta plays music, movies, transparency to heal the rift

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Music, movies, transparency – healing the rift The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has resorted to festive fairs, music, historical movies, preaching by monks, oath-taking and campaigns to woo grassroots support as part of its efforts to bridge…

  • Assad declared landslide victor in wartime Syrian election

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Assad declared landslide victor in wartime Syrian election Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: President Bashar al-Assad has secured a landslide victory in a wartime election that was condemned as a sham by his opponents but demonstrated his tenacious hold on power after three years of brutal…

  • Army invades Phuket to clear violent, illegal taxi drivers

    PHUKET: A deployment of 100 soldiers from Southern Thailand today provided military support to a huge task force of 1,110 police officers and 40 volunteers who swept along the west coast of Phuket to purge the island of illegal, violent, abusive and cheating taxi, tuk-tuk and minivan drivers. The soldiers were acting under orders from Maj Gen Peerapol Wiriyakul, Commanding…

  • No power rationing in Phuket during gas field shutdown

    PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts or power rationing in Phuket when a major gas field supply line goes offline next week. Supply of natural gas from field A-18 in the Joint Development Area (JDA) between Thailand and Malaysia in the Gulf of…

  • Breaking News: At least one dead in Phuket cement truck smash

    PHUKET: At least one person died when a cement truck slammed into a pick-up truck and sedan on Kata Hill at about 5:19pm today. The cause of the fatal accident and number of other injuries or fatalities that occurred has yet to be confirmed by the Phuket Gazette. — Chutharat Plerin

  • Breaking News: Army leads blitz on illegal Phuket taxi, tuk-tuk drivers | Thaiger

    Breaking News: Army leads blitz on illegal Phuket taxi, tuk-tuk drivers

    PHUKET: A huge force of 1,150 police, volunteers and army personnel arrived in Phuket today and so far have arrested 73 illegal drivers of taxis, tuk-tuks and other commercial vehicles that prey on vacationing foreigners holidaying on the island. The arrests were carried out along the west coast of Phuket, in the Thalang, Kata-Karon, Cherng Talay, Kamala police precincts. No…

  • Coup puts dent in Phuket hotel occupancy numbers

    PHUKET: Hotel occupancy has taken a hit in coup-time Phuket with cancellation and booking rates falling short of last year’s numbers. Though figures vary between the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket Office and the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), both agencies agree that the coup has affected the tourism industry. “Booking cancellation rates are up about 10 per cent compared…

  • Karon Mayor arrested for taxi-mafia connections

    PHUKET: Tawee Thongcham, mayor of Phuket’s tourist-popular beach area Kata-Karon, was arrested today for his alleged connection to the powerful taxi mafia. “Mr Tawee surrendered himself to police after a warrant for his arrest was issued,” said Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, who once served as Phuket City Police and is now a deputy commander of the Royal Thai Police Region…

  • Phuket landslide, flood warning issued amid heavy rainfall

    PHUKET: Phuket residents are urged to beware of possible landslides and flooding as heavy rain is expected to pummel the island for the next four days. “From June 4 to June 8, heavy rain is expected throughout Thailand, but provinces in Central Thailand on the gulf coast and many in the south are at high risk for landslides and floods,”…

  • Prison Products Fair returns to Phuket

    PHUKET: The 11th Annual Prison Products Fair will get underway on Friday at Saphan Hin, on the outskirts of Phuket Town. “The fair is held to showcase the inmates’ hard work and offer their handmade products for people to buy,” said Phuket Provincial Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon. On display and for sale will be a wide range of products handcrafted…

  • Air bookings to Thailand plunge after coup, data shows

    PHUKET: Airline bookings to Thailand have collapsed, a travel association said on Sunday, after the military took over the government on May 22, hitting the tourism sector that accounts for 10 per cent of the economy. The coup followed months of protests that weakened the government of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, forced ministries to close for weeks on end, hurt…

  • Video Report: Phuket light-rail garners support, residents query impact on Old Town

    PHUKET: The effects Phuket’s long-awaited light-rail system will have on Phuket Old Town was a point of contention during the second public hearing for the project yesterday. Of the 370 Phuket residents in attendance, many voiced their support for the project, while others expressed their concern on how the tracks, which are planned to dominate some roadways through the heart…

  • Bosnia floods unearth grim wartime mass grave

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bosnia floods unearth grim wartime mass grave Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Floods in Bosnia last month have unearthed a secret mass grave containing corpses with hands tied behind their backs, apparently Muslim Bosniak victims of the country’s 1992-1995 war, an official said on Tuesday. “We…

  • Obama defends Bergdahl Taliban prisoner swap deal

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama defends deal that freed soldier amid growing demands for hearings Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: President Barack Obama defended on Tuesday the prisoner swap deal that freed a U.S. soldier from Taliban captivity in Afghanistan, and the Army pledged to investigate the circumstances of his…