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Sponsored Is tap water in Thailand safe to consume?
Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Principled park official saves the day for Iranian tourist
KRABI: An Iranian man was reunited with his lost wallet containing nearly 100,000 baht worth of cash on Wednesday after an honest national park officer reported finding it. Wuthichai Prathumthong, chief of a forest protection unit at Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, found a pair of trousers Tuesday containing the wallet on Maya Bay. “The…
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Missing yacht found sunk off Green Island
PHUKET: A 50-foot sailing yacht reported missing yesterday morning was discovered run aground off an island between Phuket and Phi Phi. Somboon Chooseng, the owner of Anemone, reported that the yacht had gone missing from Phi Phi Don on Wednesday night, confirmed Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. Within 45 minutes of the report being filed, Krabi Marine Police discovered…
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Finance: Rethinking the Big Mac Index for baht
PHUKET: The Big Mac Index has just been released for the year. The index was invented by The Economist as a lighthearted guide to whether currencies were currently undervalued or overvalued. Since I am always being asked my opinion on the baht, I thought this might be a good time to address the issue. The index is meant to be…
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No wastewater contamination at Kata Noi, says PMBC [video]
PHUKET: The first test results of seawater off Kata Noi showed no contamination by wastewater at the popular Phuket beach. Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) officers took water samples yesterday evening following a 43-second drone video going viral on Facebook. The video showed heavy discoloration of the water lapping against the beach. The title of the video is: ‘Kata Noi…
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Opinion: More beach blanket bilko
PHUKET: Recent photos sent to the Phuket Gazette by a concerned reader revealed that the popular Laem Sing Beach in Kamala has been encroached upon by ‘private investors’ who are renting out multiple rows of beach loungers and umbrellas on the ‘virgin beach’. This illegal activity requires immediate action by provincial officials and law enforcement officers before the re-emerging lawlessness…
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Murder rate climbs in Mexico, while other crimes fall
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Murder rate climbs in Mexico, while other crimes fall Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Murders in Mexico jumped nearly 9 percent last year, their first increase in four years, as President Enrique Pena Nieto struggles to make good on his election pledge to end the country’s…
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Poor labourers paying price for India’s cheap car boom
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Poor labourers paying price for India’s cheap car boom Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET:In a dingy factory in the sprawling industrial hub of Manesar in northern India, a plastic moulding machine malfunctioned, mangling Visheshwar Prasad Singh’s right hand as he made parts for a supplier to…
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One map, one more problem: PM Prayut told survey cut out 1,200 rai
PHUKET: Officials in Bangkok are fuming after Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha was told that the ‘One Map’ project, aimed at seeing state agencies using a map set at the same scale, sliced off about 50 billion baht’s worth of national park and forestry land in Phuket for the benefit of private investors. In the past, the use of maps…
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Myanmar releases political prisoners before power transfer
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar releases political prisoners before power transfer Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Myanmar began releasing the first of about 100 political prisoners on Friday, government officials said, days before democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi’s party is to form a new government after an election victory…
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Jet-skis’ truck-trailer chaos gets “okay’ for Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Nothing can be done about the morning and evening chaos caused by jet-ski rental operators driving their trucks and trailers right onto Phuket’s beaches, explained an embattled Phuripat Theerakulpisut, acting director of the Marine Office Region 5. “I will talk to them about being a bit more organized when they drop off and pick up their jet-skis. However, tourists…
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Team Thanyapura takes top honors at Tour of Takola
PHUKET: Team Thanyapura took top honors in the Tour of Takola in Takuapa on Sunday. Local cyclists competed in the challenging 70 kilometer course, which featured a rolling terrain and two climbs, totaling a distance of 9.3km with an average grade of six per cent. Daniel Amby, of Team Thanyapura, took the top spot on the podium finishing 25 seconds…
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Motorbike taxi driver found dead at Bang Wad Dam
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a Patong motorbike taxi driver after his body was found floating in a secluded area in Bang Wad Dam. Officers were called to the area after a local discovered the body of Chanon Phumpinai, 25, on Wednesday afternoon. “We had to walk quite a long way into the forest to reach the body,”…
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All tourist boarding boats must carry ID, says Gov
PHUKET: Tourists will be required to show a form of government identification to CCTV cameras before boarding boats at any piers on the island, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed to the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Having passengers show their identification will help us check on tourists’ safety,” Governor Chamroen explained. “If anyone goes missing or is involved in accident, we will…
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Man arrested in possession of numerous war weapons
PHUKET: A Phuket man was arrested in possession of war weapons and related paraphernalia at his home in Patong yesterday. Police were sent to the residence of Sompong Sakoonthap after several complaints were made last month about the sound of gunshots coming from his home, confirmed Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpo of the Patong Police “After a month long investigation, we…
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Minimum age requirement for jet-ski rental to be implemented in 30 days
PHUKET: New jet-ski regulations will now mandate that every renter must be at least 18 years of age to be allowed to operate the vehicle by himself. Six new jet-ski regulations are to be put in place within 30 days, confirmed Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat at a meeting with jet-ski operators this morning. “Should a driver be under the age…
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Taxi driver escapes death in single vehicle crash
PHUKET: A taxi driver narrowly escaped death early this morning after he crashed his taxi into a power pole in Thalang. Ong-art Kamruang, 32, ‘lost control’ of his vehicle near the entrance to Bang Kanoon Forest, in the northbound lanes of Thepkrasattri Road, confirmed Lt Col Sanit Nukong of the Thalang Police. “Witnesses stated that Mr Ong-art was driving too…
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French national found dead in Patong guesthouse
PHUKET: A French national was found dead in his Patong guesthouse last night. Police believe that Stephane Santin, 48, died two days before his body was discovered. “Mr Santin’s friend was concerned that he hadn’t heard from him since Monday,” said Lt Col Weerapong Rakhito of the Patong Police. “He went to go check on him at his room, but…
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Phuket Lighthouse Market back by popular demand
PHUKET: Building on its success last year, the Boat Lagoon Lighthouse Market is preparing to launch a redesigned layout at its venue as it continue to provide island exposure for local vendors and big-name luxury goods dealers. “We want to create an outdoor theater concept. Something similar to ‘theater in the park’ or ‘cinema in the park’, which are both…
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Jailed journalists in Turkey say arrest aimed at gagging press
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Jailed journalists in Turkey say arrest aimed at gagging press Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Two jailed Turkish editors accused of spying and helping a terrorist group have told Reuters in a faxed message from prison that their arrest was designed to send a warning to…
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Go vocational: Research shows Phuket university students jobless
PHUKET: The Phuket City Mayor called on Mathayom students to embrace vocational education in preparation for life after graduation following the release of research indicating a surplus of university graduates and a shortage of vocational workers. Addressing students at the ‘Learn for Life 2016’ event held at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat indoor gymnasium yesterday, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana pointed out…
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Quadrilingual website to guide Phuket investors
PHUKET: A quadrilingual website to guide foreign investors will be launched through the Phuket Provincial website next month, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada told the Phuket Gazette in an exclusive interview this week. The website will be launched in Thai, English, Chinese and Russian. “We are pushing hard to establish the Investment Institute in Phuket,” said Governor Chamroen. Phuket already has…
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Phuket to host “Lantern Festival’ in February
PHUKET: Phuket will hold a Lantern Festival next month as officials snowball a number of celebrations together: Valentine’s Day, the Chinese New Year and the induction of Phuket as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. The event will be held throughout the island and run from February 2-22. “We will fill the island with light, as well as promote the more…
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Koh Yao Noi locals return missing smartphones
PHUKET: Honest Koh Yao locals were prompt in returning two smartphones lost by tourists on Koh Yao Noi last week. “In Koh Yao Noi, we are all segments of our society – police, locals, tour operators and hotel operators cooperate to take care of tourists and each other,” said Koh Yao Police Superintendent Jirasak Lamsak. The first phone was recovered…
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Demand for women-only motorcycle taxis soars in Indonesian capital
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Demand for women-only motorcycle taxis soars in Indonesian capital Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Jakarta is seeing a growing number of transportation services catering exclusively to women, offering better security and comfort when compared to packed public buses and trains in the Indonesian capital of 10…
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Philippines plans tracking system for civilian flights over disputed sea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Philippines plans tracking system for civilian flights over disputed sea Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Philippines plans to install a $1-million satellite-based system to track commercial flights over the disputed South China Sea, after China landed its first test flights this month on a reef…
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Facebook begins Europe-wide campaign against extremist posts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook begins Europe-wide campaign against extremist posts Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Facebook Inc (FB.O) began a Europe-wide campaign on Monday to thwart extremist posts on social media, after German politicians in particular raised concerns about a rise in xenophobic comments linked to an influx of…
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EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A European Union delegation that is visiting Thailand to weigh its progress in battling illegal and unregulated fishing will not make a decision this week on whether to ban Thai seafood products,…
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Phuket man takes bullet in the groin
PHUKET: A Phuket man on a motorbike was hit twice during a drive-by shooting on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket late last night. Rawi Suksamran, 34, suffered a bullet wound to his groin area and lower back, confirmed a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker who arrived at the scene in Srisoonthorn. “According to witnesses, Mr Rawi was heading straight through the Thalang…
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PM informed: B50bn of national park land allegedly stolen by officials
PHUKET: Allegations of officials pillaging Phuket national park land, dividing it and then illegally selling it, were brought to the attention of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha today. “I have obtained and passed on information incriminating officials who abused their power and sold off about 1,200 rai of Sirinath National Park,” said Damrong Phidet, a member of the National Reform…
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Many young people fear losing their jobs to robots, survey finds
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Many young people fear losing their jobs to robots, survey finds Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Four out of ten young people believe machines will be able to do their jobs within a decade, an international survey published on Monday has found. Nearly half of young…
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