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Phuket power down starts tonight
PHUKET: The reduction of power usage throughout Southern Thailand provinces, including Phuket, is urged between 6:30pm and 10:30pm from today until July 10. “We would like everyone to conserve power during peak usage hours,” said Phuket Energy Chief Wiroj Damkong. However, the Phuket Energy Office and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have both confirmed that there will be no enforced blackouts…
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Schumacher comes out of coma
PHUKET: Formula One ex-champion Michael Schumacher, who sustained severe head injuries in a ski accident in late 2013, is no longer in a coma and has left the French hospital where he was being treated since the accident, his spokeswoman said on Monday. “Michael has left the CHU Grenoble (hospital) to continue his long phase of rehabilitation. He is not…
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Military Rule in Phuket: I’m thinking Maldives
PHUKET: Ask anyone, and their first impression of the Maldives is the iconic Indian Ocean archipelago with possibly the most beautiful beaches in the world. Everyone has heard of them, and most have wanted to visit them. What most people do not know about this collection of 1,192 islands is that it has developed its reputation as one of the…
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Best news: Notorious transport syndicates shut down
PHUKET: It may have taken military action, but the long-overdue purge against some of the island’s most notorious transport syndicates is, hands down, the best news the island has had in decades. While the Phuket Gazette remains cautiously optimistic – and staunchly secular – we cannot help but join our readers in rejoicing that something is finally being done about…
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Phuket crowds throng to revel in free Naresuan epic
PHUKET: Hundreds of people turned out at major cinemas throughout Phuket yesterday to enjoy a free screening of The Legend of King Naresuan 5. The latest cinematic installment recounting the insurmountable odds overcome by the famed king who laid the foundation for Thailand as a nation was shown free of charge at cinemas throughout the country under the “Return Happiness…
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Russian tourist dies after overshooting curve on wet Rawai road
PHUKET: A Russian tourist was thrown from his vehicle and died last night after overshooting a curve and crashing into a wall on Wiset Road. Chalong Police were called to the scene at about 11:30pm. “When we arrived, we found a badly damaged Toyota Fortuner lying on its side in the middle of the road. On the side of the…
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Heavy weather continues: Two Phuket drivers escape injury as wind levels trees
PHUKET: A motorist narrowly escaped injury last night when a falling tree toppled power poles onto the road, tearing off the driver’s rearview mirror, but leaving the rest of the car undamaged. Worawut Trisook, 32, was driving along the Baan Sakoo-Nai Yang Road at about 8:30pm when a rubber tree fell, striking power lines and pulling down five utility poles.…
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Mother denies rumors that pregnant daughter raped by twins committed suicide
PHUKET: The mother of the pregnant woman who was raped by twins earlier this year has stepped forward to dispute rumors that her daughter had committed suicide. The mother, who cannot be named to protect her daughter’s identity, pleaded for people to stop spreading the rumors, which she learned of through Facebook, the online chat application Line and word of…
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Iraq rebels seize Northwest town in heavy battle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iraq rebels seize Northwest town in heavy battle Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Sunni insurgents seized a mainly ethnic Turkmen city in northwestern Iraq on Sunday after heavy fighting, solidifying their grip on the north after a lightning offensive that threatens to dismember Iraq. Residents reached…
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Disaster averted at Phuket gas station as toddler rescued from locked BMW
PHUKET: Rescue workers safely averted a potential disaster early yesterday morning when they recovered a two-year-old boy from a locked BMW that was still running while parked at a Phuket gas station. Manus Chailiem, the boy’s grandfather, alerted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers to the danger at 6:30am. Mr Manus, his daughter and Nong Phi, age 2, were en route to…
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Phuket Police hunting boyfriend after woman slashed, beaten
PHUKET: Police are searching for the boyfriend of a woman who was repeatedly slashed and beaten in Thalang yesterday. Amporn Parawech, 23, suffered a deep cut in the neck and had multiple cuts and bruises on her back when she arrived at a shop near her house pleading for help, said Lt Col Sanit Nookong of Thalang Police. Rescue workers…
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Police raid gambling den near Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Police arrested 10 suspects for gambling after an impromptu raid on an abandoned house south of Phuket International Airport on Saturday afternoon. The raid, in Sakoo, took place at about 4pm after patrol officers noticed a large number of cars parked in front of the home, said Tah Chat Chai Police Deputy Superintendent Teerawat Liamsuwan. “Officers also saw several…
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Colombia’s Santos wins re-election, to push on with peace talks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Colombia’s Santos wins re-election, to push on with peace talks Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos won a second term on Sunday with an election victory that allows him to continue peace talks with Marxist guerrillas to end a half-century war. Santos…
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Pick-up avoiding motorcyclist flips onto rocky Kalim shore
PHUKET: A pick-up truck avoiding a motorcyclist on the Kalim-Kamala Road last night flipped over onto the Kalim shore. The driver suffered only minor injuries. Preecha Hachaiboon, 37, was headed from Patong to Kalim at about 11pm on a road slick with rain and spray from large waves when a motorcyclist allegedly cut in front of him. Mr Hachaiboon swerved…
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Tourists told to avoid speedboat trips as weather warning issued
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department has warned tourist against joining speedboat day trips, as a small boat warning is now in effect in Phuket due to big waves and high winds. “Wave heights are at 2-4 meters, and we will have wind speeds of up to 45k/h,” said Santhad Panbanpeaw, director of the Thai Meteorological Department’s Phuket Office. “All small…
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Patong Police sweep party town for illegal weapons
PHUKET: Only one gun was discovered during a sweep for illegal firearms in Phuket’s premier party town early this morning. The five-team sweep composed of Patong Police officers and Civil Volunteers raided five targets after securing search warrants from the Phuket Provincial Court, Lt Col Suttichai Chairat of Patong Police told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “We received orders to…
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Messi strike lights up Maracana as Argentina sink Bosnia
PHUKET: Lionel Messi finally made his mark on the World Cup and lit up the Maracana with his first goal in the finals for eight years as Argentina were forced to battle for a 2-1 win over debutantes Bosnia in their opening Group F match on Sunday. Messi, four-times world player of the year and Argentina’s best footballer since Diego…
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Rumors fried: Phuket KFC certified halal
PHUKET: A furor among local Muslims over whether the fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) serves halal food, which Islamic law permits to be eaten, has been resolved – yes it does. Rumors were circulating on Facebook and Thai forums that KFC’s food was not halal because the chain does not display a “halal approved” sign on its shops, Komol…
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One still missing after wave on Phuket’s deadliest beach sweeps six into deep water
PHUKET: Two foreigners and four others were caught by a single wave and dragged away from shore at Phuket’s deadliest beach this afternoon. Lifeguards were able to immediately save five of them. One is still missing. “Apisit Songkert, 13, went missing at about 5:50pm,” said Uten Singson, chief lifeguard Kata-Karon Beach. Mr Apisit, a Karon local, was at the beach…
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South African union holds mass meeting in deadlocked platinum strike
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South African union holds mass meeting in deadlocked platinum strike Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The leader of South Africa’s AMCU mining union is due to meet with its members this week to update them on the progress of wage talks with platinum producers after negotiations…
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Russia to submit draft UN resolution on Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russia to submit draft UN resolution on Ukraine Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Russia plans to submit a draft resolution to the U.N. Security Council to put pressure on Ukraine to implement a “road map” to peace, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying on…
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Crazed World Cup fans in Phuket: “Get it here!’
PHUKET: The FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3am tomorrow with the opening match between Brazil and Croatia, marking the 19th edition of the renowned tournament that has simply become known as the World Cup. An estimated 3.2 billion people around the world – roughly half the global population – are projected to watch the world’s finest players compete for…
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Iraq Kurds seize Kirkuk; Sunni militants surge toward Baghdad
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iraq Kurds seize Kirkuk; Sunni militants surge toward Baghdad Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Iraqi Kurds seized control of the northern oil city of Kirkuk on Thursday, while surging Sunni Islamist rebels advanced towards Baghdad, as the central government’s army abandoned its posts in a rapid…
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Phuket police suspect B900k armed robbery was inside job
PHUKET: Phuket City Police officers are questioning employees of the gas station whose staff were robbed at gunpoint of more than 900,000 baht in cash yesterday morning. Police hope to determine whether or not the armed robbery was an inside job, Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong told the Phuket Gazette today. “Police believe that the suspects might have relations…
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Body of newborn found in Phuket rubber plantation
PHUKET: Police are hunting for the mother of a newborn baby found dead in a Phuket rubber plantation this afternoon. Patong Police were notified of the body at about 12:30pm today by a resident who had gone to the Baan Kaen Lek plantation on Phetchakut Road to pick mushrooms. “The man told officers that he smelled something bad, followed the…
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Road divider to feature lights and landscaping
PHUKET: A road divider to improve safety and relieve traffic congestion on Chao Fa East Road is expected to be finished in two months. “We’re building it because of the number of accidents and traffic jams that occur on this stretch,” said Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luedwonghad. People making u-turns on the road pose a particular danger, Mr Samak…
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65 Cambodian laborers arrested on their way home – to be deported
PHUKET: A group of 65 Cambodian construction workers preparing to return home were arrested in Rassada yesterday and charged with illegally entering the country. Phuket City Police received information from undercover officers that the group would be arriving at a pier in Rassada in the evening. “We waited at the pier for an hour, and then the group of Cambodians…
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Land slip near Patong Hill Road, expected rainfall bring warnings from officials
PHUKET: Phuket officials are scrambling to repair land near the Patong Hill road which slid as a result of heavy rains last week. “We have inspected the road already and have determined that the landslide will not affect residents in the area, as no one lives near the site,” said Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luedwonghad. The area – to…
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Gun-toting Aussie re-arrested with drugs while on bail
PHUKET: Mark Robert Coutelas, 53, was arrested again for drug possession last night, while the Australian was out on bail waiting for his trial to be heard on previous drug and illegal handgun charges. Patong Police arrested Mr Coutelas on May 27 after finding him in possession of 530mg of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), a handgun and ammunition (story here).…
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Curfew lifted in more districts across 17 provinces
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Curfew lifted in more districts across 17 provinces The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The curfew has been lifted across certain districts in another 17 provinces, the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) announced on Tuesday night. The order applies to two districts in Songkhla…
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