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Dry Phuket conditions cause another blaze to errupt
PHUKET: A fire broke out in a dry field along Thepkrassatri Road yesterday that required firefighters from three stations two hours to put out. The fire, which started at 12:45pm, affected about five rai of land but did not cause any damage to property or to people in the area, said a Thepkrasattri Municipality Emergency Medical Service worker. Ten firemen…
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Log caused Phuket speedboat accident
PHUKET: A log punched a hole in the hull of a speedboat that was rescued yesterday afternoon (story here), said the managing director of Andavaree, the company that owns the boat. “I was notified by our captain that the 47-foot boat, powered by three engines, struck a log near Koh Gai as it was taking 52 people to Phi Phi…
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Krabi villagers build bamboo barriers to protect the coast
PHUKET: After enduring huge waves and strong winds for several years, residents of a seaside village in the province of Krabi have adapted to the effects of climate change by using bamboo to build temporary barriers to prevent coastal erosion. The barriers were built along a 500-meter stretch of coastal area in the fishing community in Klong Prasong, Muang district,…
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Phuket Sport: To carb or not to carb
PHUKET: If you were to take a poll here in Phuket of the types of sports people do for fun or competition, chances are some form of endurance sport would rank number one. Our roads are constantly being utilized by cyclists or runners and our beaches have people going for long runs or swims to stay in shape. No matter…
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Region’s top cop praises understaffed Chalong Police
PHUKET: Despite a report that the Chalong Police force is understaffed, the region’s top cop praised officers there for their work. “Since I became Region 8 Commander in October last year, I have had no concerns about Chalong. The officers here have done a good job of maintaining the safety of both locals and tourists in the area,” said Region…
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Breaking News: Ship bursts into flames off Phuket
PHUKET: A ship carrying cargo was engulfed by flames near Koh Naka, off Phuket’s east coast this afternoon. Phuket Marine Police were notified of the incident at about 4pm by a speedboat captain. First reports are that all on board the ship were safely rescued by the passing speedboat. — Chutharat Plerin
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Phuket Gazette International Sports: Birmingham City FC boss busted for money laundering
PHUKET: Birmingham City Football Club boss Carson Yeung was sentenced to six years in jail on Friday for laundering $93 million following a high-profile trial that cast a spotlight on how the barber-turned-businessman made his fortune. Yeung, 54, was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on Monday of five counts of money-laundering. He had denied the charges. The businessman…
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Travel agent east of Phuket busted for using lost debit card
PHUKET: A Koh Lanta travel agency owner managed to steal almost 130,000 baht using a debit card he found on the ground. Polish tourist Magdalena Holak told Tourist Police that she had lost her debit card while on holiday on Koh Lanta in late February. After police checked with her bank and discovered that the lost card had been used…
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Sweden to Phuket: Epic cycling journey for island orphanage
PHUKET: A man is standing out in the cold in the snowy town of Karlskoga, his fellow citizens walk briskly past, unaware that within about a month the man will be departing their homeland on an epic cycling journey across half of the world to the shores of paradise – Phuket. Unlike many such great undertakings, which have been motivated…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Singapore police probe ‘unnatural’ death of American CEO of bitcoin trader
PHUKET: Singapore police are investigating what they have called the “unnatural” death of a 28-year-old American woman who ran a small exchange that traded virtual currencies, including bitcoins, from the Asian city state. Autumn Radtke, chief executive of First Meta Pte Ltd, was found dead at her Singapore home on February 26. “The police are investigating the unnatural death,” a…
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Phuket Sports: Reaching the ultimate goal [Video]
PHUKET: The ancient martial art of Muay Thai is alive and strong, especially in Phuket, where fighters from around the world make their way to train with some of the best. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV were able to get the scoop on what’s new in the island’s fighting scene during a recent visit to Tiger Muay Thai gym. Located…
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Phuket Sports: Train like a pro, win like a pro
PHUKET: Roughly 135 is the number of triathlons completed by Jaray Jearanai, Phuket’s homegrown triathlete. “I’ve been running for nine years and each year I run more than 15 triathlons,” he says. But as much as he likes it, it’s not all just for fun. “I want to be the best Thai triathlete. Right now, there are no Thais going…
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Phuket Business: Amcham to host MICE tourism conference
PHUKET: The island’s growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market is a key segment which can help Phuket attract quality visitors. On March 14 the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) has organized a tourism event at Angsana Laguna Phuket focusing on how to sustainably grow MICE business along with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) and the Australian-Thai…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Crimea joins Russia, Obama orders sanctions; Anwar faces sodomy verdict; India braces for elections
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Crimea votes to join Russia, Obama orders sanctions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia on Thursday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum in 10 days’ time in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian region that drew a…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Satish seeks royal pardon; Surapong to engage envoys; Satun in drought
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Satish appeals to HM over govt order to deport him The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Attempts were under way yesterday to stall a deportation order against Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal for joining the anti-government protests. Satish, 70, yesterday petitioned His Majesty the King to intervene…
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Phuket motorcycle taxi driver nabbed for swiping wallet
PHUKET: Police arrested a Phuket man early yesterday morning for swiping a wallet from a tour guide counter in Patong. Patong Police received a complaint from 47-year-old tour agent Urailuck Chaiphan that her wallet had been stolen from the M.E.G. tour counter. “We investigated CCTV footage and saw that the suspect had a tattoo on his arm and was wearing…
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Governor Maitri Inthusut honors Phuket Gazette’s 20th anniversary
PHUKET: Managers and staff members past and present were joined by more than 500 business leaders, readers, writers and friends of the island’s main newspaper to celebrate the 20th anniversary milestone of the Phuket Gazette at a party hosted by founder and publisher John Magee and wife Janpen Arno in Cherng Talay. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, a regular columnist for…
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Patong police delay action on tourist extortion claims
PHUKET: Patong Police Acting Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen confirmed today that no immediate action will be taken over claims that officers under his new command stand accused of extorting money from tourists. The news follows Phuket expats who assist the Patong Police as Region 8 International Volunteers revealing in a public statement yesterday that several of them had resigned over an…
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Phuket teacher recovering after blood donations allow for safe surgery
PHUKET: Donors answering an urgent call for A-negative blood allowed doctors to perform a four-hour operation to repair the fractured leg of Phuket teacher Dean Jackson last night. Mr Jackson, a teacher from HeadStart International School, was injured when he fell off his motorbike and rushed to the hospital with a broken leg (story here). “We are pleased to announce…
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Breaking News: Phuket tourists rescued from sinking boat off Phi Phi
PHUKET: All 47 European and Asian tourists and five crewmen have been safely rescued from a Phuket tour boat that started taking on water in Phang Nga Bay earlier today. Capt Wichai Chairap, 40, called for help after the tour boat Andavaree 919 started to struggle amid strong waves near Koh Gai off the coast of Krabi at 11:30am. The…
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Phuket Airport taxis face undercover sting operation
PHUKET: In an effort to compel airport metered taxi drivers to turn on their meters, Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada will send policemen to pose as tourists in a sting operation. “If the undercover officers find a taxi driver who refuses to turn on his meter, we will arrest him immediately,” Vice Governor Chamroen said. The move follows a complaint the…
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Drug dealer turns in Phuket suppliers
PHUKET: Police seized more than 3.7 million baht of property after a Phuket drug dealer gave up his suppliers Tuesday night. “We first arrested Kiatipoom ‘Tak’ Rangubwong, 34, in possession of 338 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills,1.8 grams of ya ice (crystalmethamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia at his house on Thung Thong Road at about 11pm,” said Col Jaroon Bangprasert of the…
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Breaking News: Phuket expat volunteers quit over police corruption allegations
PHUKET: At least five long-term Phuket expats who have spent years assisting police as volunteers in Patong have resigned over allegations that police officers have extorted money from tourists. The Region 8 International Volunteers who work out of Kathu Police Station – the formal name for the police station in Patong – met today to discuss their concerns about working…
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Phuket expat volunteers strike amid Patong Police fallout
PHUKET: The ousting of Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan on Monday has prompted expat police volunteers in Phuket to go on strike. Expat police volunteers will no longer assist police or carry out their highly-praised night patrols of Patong until a clear structure is established, explained Wal Brown, long-term Phuket expat and head co-ordinator of the Royal Thai Police Region…
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Phuket Marine Police conduct boat safety raids
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office conducted safety inspections of speedboats, dive boats and other vessels geared toward tourism at Chalong Pier yesterday. “It is our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers,” Chatchai Sakdee of the Phuket Marine Police said. Police confirmed that the boats were not carrying more than…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine
PHUKET: Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine. The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Interpol fugitives nabbed in Bangkok; Police seize weapons in South; Thai billionaires hit 11; B20bn for rice farmers next week
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police seize several caches of weapons in raids The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nakhon Si Thammarat police announced yesterday that they had seized 177 guns, 1,440 bullets and two M26 grenades from 179 suspects in raids and checkpoints from February 17-28.A self-proclaimed anti-government protest guard,…
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Phuket mini-crepe maker saved from sharks, gets gift of a lifetime
PHUKET: A Phuket vendor who saw his only source of livelihood – a mini-crepe cart – go up in smoke was able to avoid going to loan sharks to replace it because of help from an unlikely source, a New Zealander who has been to the province only twice. Prayoon Inpuang, 44, was preparing to sell mini-crepes in Phuket Town…
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Urgent call for blood to save Phuket teacher
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is urgently calling for donations of A-negative blood in order to save the life of Dean Jackson, a teacher who was injured in a motorcycle accident. “We received a request from Phuket International Hospital for two units of A-negative blood to save the patient’s life,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette…
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Burning rubber in dry grass leads to flaming car
PHUKET: A man trying to free his girlfriend’s new car from the sand of a Phuket beach yesterday sent it up in flames instead. “My boyfriend tried for 30 minutes to drive out of the sand, but it wasn’t working, so we kept increasing our speed. Then the engine suddenly caught fire,” said Nutcharee Madkatep, 37. “I only bought the…
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