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  • Student shot at Phuket school

    Student shot at Phuket school

    PHUKET: A 12-year-old boy is safe after getting shot in the leg at school yesterday evening. ‘Daeng’, a P6 student at Baan Manik School, and his friends were about to go home for the day when he felt something hit his leg. “I felt pain and looked down and saw that I was bleeding. My friends called the teachers over…

  • Thalang Police hunt temple thief

    Thalang Police hunt temple thief

    PHUKET: Police are hunting a man who was caught on CCTV stealing more than 10,000 baht worth of property from Srisoonthorn Temple on Saturday. Thalang Police were notified of the incident at about 2:30pm after the temple’s Supervisor of Cultural Tourism, Somchai Saethan, discovered that his office had been broken into while he was attending morning meditation. “The suspect used…

  • Phuket underpass construction site gobbles up taxi

    Phuket underpass construction site gobbles up taxi

    PHUKET: A Phuket International Airport taxi driver took his car for a swim after ignoring warning signs and plunging his vehicle into a large hole at the Samkong Underpass construction site on Saturday night. “Cars are only allowed to make left-hand turns onto the bypass road as they approach from Kathu. Despite the lights, signs and traffic control personnel, the…

  • High schoolers use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana – U.S. study | Thaiger

    High schoolers use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana – U.S. study

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community High schoolers use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana – U.S. study Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Nearly one in five high school students who said they used electronic cigarettes to vaporize nicotine also used them to vaporize pot, according to a survey of nearly 4,000 Connecticut teens.…

  • Greece asks EU for humanitarian aid to cope with migration crisis | Thaiger

    Greece asks EU for humanitarian aid to cope with migration crisis

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Greece asks EU for humanitarian aid to cope with migration crisis Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Greece asked the European Union on Monday for humanitarian aid to help it cope with what itcalled “a volatile situation” following the large flow of migrants and refugees from the…

  • Prosecutor might not charge mayor for billion-baht beach scandal, taxi mafia

    Prosecutor might not charge mayor for billion-baht beach scandal, taxi mafia

    PHUKET: Prosecutors have yet to decided if evidence provided by police against the mayor of Karon is strong enough for them to press charges for his alleged involvement in a billion-baht-beach scheme and the ‘taxi mafia’. Karon Mayor Thawee Thongcham, who has ruled the popular beach area of Kata-Karon for more than a decade, was arrested on June 4, 2014…

  • Unemployed, debt-ridden Austrian expat found dead

    Unemployed, debt-ridden Austrian expat found dead

    PHUKET: An Austrian expat, allegedly suffering from gambling issues and a drinking problem, took his own life yesterday morning after failing to have enough money to extend his visa in Thailand, a voice message left by the man explained. Walter Edhofer, 53, was found by neighbors at about 7am in a parking lot in Kathu, confirmed Lt Sawanya Eiadtrong of…

  • On Deck: United front for greater good

    On Deck: United front for greater good

    PHUKET: Thailand’s marine industry has received intermittent support from the Royal Thai Government over the years – sporadic and rarely strategic. In 2004, when the astronomical taxes on importing boats to Thailand was reduced from more than 200% of the value of the boat to 0%, this happened on the back of a concerted effort by the marine industry to…

  • A Decade Ago: Buses zoom around, as do katoeys

    A Decade Ago: Buses zoom around, as do katoeys

    PHUKET: When was public transport not an issue on the island? It seems to sneak into headlines week in and week out with the occasional big splash when authorities attempt to launch a new initiative. This week, it’s the 50-baht Phuket Town to Patong van service – which deserves the butts and bahts of those going from the island’s cultural…

  • First Person: Weeding out touts

    First Person: Weeding out touts

    Suwat Suksiri, 43, has been Chief of the Thung Talay Non Hunting Zone since 2010. He is originally from Chumphon Province and earned his bachelor’s degree in Forestry from Sukhothai Thammathirat University. He has been working in the forestry field since 1993. Here he talks about why animal touting is a serious problem for foreigners and not locals, and how…

  • Airport extension to finish on time

    Airport extension to finish on time

    PHUKET: The Phuket Airport Authority has confirmed that the 5.7-billion-baht expansion of the international terminal will be completed by its February 14, 2016 deadline, as promised. “The latest update from the contractor states that the building is almost 80 per cent finished and that construction is flowing steadily as the rainy season clears up,” said Amnuay Sarachart, executive vice president…

  • Phuket drug fugitive nabbed in Songkhla

    Phuket drug fugitive nabbed in Songkhla

    PHUKET: A fugitive wanted for possession of more than 5 million baht’s worth of drugs and related assets was arrested in Songkhla on Thursday. Anuwat ‘Obie’ Thongtan, 31, escaped from his Phuket home last month just before police arrived (story here). “On August 5, the Phuket Provincial Police went to search Mr Anuwat’s house at Si Suchat Grand View 5…

  • Asian Weightlifting Championships start tomorrow

    Asian Weightlifting Championships start tomorrow

    PHUKET: Due to the devastating earthquake in Nepal, the 26th Senior Women’s and 45th Senior Men’s Asian Weightlifting Championships are now taking place in Phuket starting tomorrow. Between September 6 and 11, almost 400 athletes from 38 countries will be flexing their muscles as they battle against gravity at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat Indoor Sports Complex. The event’s opening ceremony, chaired…

  • Phuket Yacht Show dates confirmed

    Phuket Yacht Show dates confirmed

    PHUKET: Dates for the first edition of the Phuket Yacht Show, now known as the Thailand Yacht Show, have finally been confirmed by organizers Singapore Yacht Events Pte Ltd (SYE) following a partnership agreement signed recently with the Marine Department of Thailand’s Ministry of Transport. The event is destined to become the focal point of the luxury charter yacht business…

  • Vegetarian Festival dates announced

    Vegetarian Festival dates announced

    PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has announced the dates for this year’s Vegetarian Festival with the new addition of a parade in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. The nine-day festival is slated to take place from October 13 to 21. “The parade to honor HM the King will take place on Wednesday, October 14 at Chai Field. There will also…

  • Phuket shark bite confirmed

    Phuket shark bite confirmed

    PHUKET: The animal that bit a pregnant Australian at Karon Beach on Tuesday is a shark, confirmed shark expert David Martin, who has more than 25 years of experience filming sharks for BBC, the National Geographic and a number of other publications. “In this kind of case, it is very important to look at all the facts before making any…

  • New food fair comes to Phuket

    New food fair comes to Phuket

    PHUKET: Phuket will play host for the first ever ‘Amazing Tastes of Thailand’ food fair from September 19 to 20, confirmed Anoma Wongyai, director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket. Selected food from across the nation, as well as popular Phuket dishes, will be available for visitors to enjoy on Thalang Road in Phuket Town. “There will also…

  • Bargains galore at Boat Arcade Garage Sale this weekend

    Bargains galore at Boat Arcade Garage Sale this weekend

    PHUKET: Bargain hunters can rummage through a treasure trove of used and second-hand items at the first East Meets West Weekend Garage Sale to be held at the new Boat Arcade community mall this weekend from 10:00am to 4:00pm. About 100 stalls will be popping up to offer everything from household items and furniture to boat parts, books, toys and,…

  • Business Buzz: Five tips for content creation for your business

    Business Buzz: Five tips for content creation for your business

    PHUKET: The first priority in marketing through social media is to decide what you want to achieve. Is it for people to find out about a new service; to get them to visit your Facebook page; to educate them on something unknown; to be funny; or to shock with facts; or just to create brand awareness? Also think about where…

  • Opinion: Monkey business

    Opinion: Monkey business

    PHUKET: The recent arrest of a number of touts for the illegal possession of gibbons on Phi Phi Don Island reveals, yet again, the continuation of the pathetic practice of using exotic animals as props to make money from uneducated tourists in Thailand. On a somewhat brighter note, the fact that the arrest followed images being sent to the Gazette…

  • Khao Sok diving ban maybe lifted

    Khao Sok diving ban maybe lifted

    PHUKET: In a knee-jerk reaction, national park officers enforced a ban on all diving in the Chio Lan Reservoir, the center piece to the extraordinary Khao Sok National Park, following the death of two experienced cave divers in a diving accident on technical rebreathers last year (story here). However, the ban might not last, Khao Sok National Park Chief Chaichana…

  • Phuket flyover plans grounded by locals

    Phuket flyover plans grounded by locals

    PHUKET: Locals rejected two government approved 100-million-baht flyover plans that were designed to reduce traffic congestion on Thepkasattri Road. The flyovers were planned for the u-turn at the first set of traffic lights just north of Thalang Town and the Baan Koh Kaew Tha Ruea u-turn in front of Baan Jee Teng (story here). About 180 people joined the public…

  • Phuket academic institute’s booze ban gets wider

    Phuket academic institute’s booze ban gets wider

    PHUKET: The booze belt around academic institutes (story here) in Phuket is set to get significantly wider after it was announced yesterday that the ban would be applied to all businesses within a kilometer of Phuket Rajabhat University. The university is the province’s pilot project for the national ‘Campus Safety Zone’ campaign, which will see security measures ramped up around…

  • Ministry of Interior blocks beach restaurant demolition

    Ministry of Interior blocks beach restaurant demolition

    PHUKET: The Ministry of Interior yesterday blocked the demolition of a Phuket restaurant that is allegedly on public, beachfront land. “The restaurant had previously been demolished. However, the owners just moved the business to nearby land,” said Lt Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command. “They are living on public land without a land title and the…

  • Finance: Cut to chase: advice or pitch

    Finance: Cut to chase: advice or pitch

    PHUKET: How do you know if the financial advice you are receiving is solid, or if it is a sales pitch in disguise? The first line of due diligence you should always employ is to check the educational background of the advisor. Ask where they did their financial studies and then verify with the institution that they do have the…

  • Experts divided over Phuket “shark bite’ culprit

    Experts divided over Phuket “shark bite’ culprit

    PHUKET: Experts are split, with many on the fence, about what species of marine animal is the culprit in the recent non-fatal ‘attack’ on an Australian tourist in shallow Phuket waters (story here). At the forefront of suspected species is the bull shark. However, black tipped reef sharks, giant barracuda, trigger fish and even puffer fish have been tabled as…

  • Understanding the PhuketWan “not guilty’ verdict

    Understanding the PhuketWan “not guilty’ verdict

    PHUKET: All charges filed by the Royal Thai Navy against Big Island Media, Alan Morison and Chutima Sidasathian were dismissed yesterday. However, the Navy’s right to file those charges was upheld. Judge Chaipawat Chayaanantapat addressed a courtroom packed with international journalists, but was noticeably devoid of members of the navy and the prosecuting team. According to the court hearing, the…

  • New initiative: Phuket Town to Patong for 50 baht

    New initiative: Phuket Town to Patong for 50 baht

    PHUKET: A new public transport initiative was set into motion yesterday with the launch of 50-baht van rides from the Old Phuket Town bus station on Phang Nga Road to Patong Beach. The 15 seat vans will stop at previously established bus stops at Phuket Provincial Hall, Phuket Prison, Satree Phuket School, Vachira Phuket Hospital, Bangkok Hospital, Tessaban Baan Samkong…

  • Australian “most likely’ attacked by shark, says expert

    Australian “most likely’ attacked by shark, says expert

    PHUKET: An Australian tourist in Phuket sustained a non-life threatening injury from an unidentified marine animal, believed by experts to be a shark, while swimming at Karon Beach this morning. Jane Neame, 37, shouted for help about 200 meters from shore after she felt like she had been bitten twice, explained Karon Municipality Tourist Rescue Center Chief Supachai Janpen. “When…

  • A Decade Ago: Parched ground trembles and Big Buddha construction starts

    A Decade Ago: Parched ground trembles and Big Buddha construction starts

    PHUKET: Ground was broken a decade ago for the iconic Big Buddha image, which has already become a reassuring and dominating fixture on the skyline of southern Phuket. “The world’s biggest meditating Buddha [Pang Manravichai] should be finished in the next three years,” Suporn Vanichakul, who remains the head of the project committee, told the Gazette in 2005. Ten years…