News
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Top police face Lese Majeste charges
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Top police face Lese Majeste charges The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The suspended commander of the Central Investigation Bureau, Lt Gen Pongpat Chayaphan, and his deputy Maj Gen Kowit Wongrungroj, who have been accused of lese majeste, have confessed to their crimes, Royal Thai Police…
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After fierce snowstorms, New York braces for floods
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community After fierce snowstorms, New York braces for floods Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Emergency workers filled thousands of sandbags on Sunday as the area around Buffalo, New York braced for potential flooding as warming temperatures began to melt up to two meters of snow. Creeks appeared…
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One injured in boat engine explosion north of Phuket
PHUKET: Navy officers conducted a helicopter rescue mission north of Phuket after a man was injured in an engine room explosion early this morning aboard a boat transporting olive oil to Myanmar. Royal Thai Navy Region 3 rescue teams were dispatched by helicopter and speedboat, with a Vachira Hospital medical team in tow, after they received the report of the…
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Tourism industry leaders demand jet-ski cowboys be reined in
PHUKET: The lack of progress in reining in jet-ski operations on Phuket was one of many key topics at the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) forum yesterday, which focused on the future of Phuket’s marine tourism industry (story here). “We now have another governor to speak to, and, unfortunately, the first subject is going to be jet-skis,” Phuket Honorary Consul…
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South African family searches for missing son last seen in Phuket
PHUKET: The family of a South African man who went missing after arriving in Phuket in June is asking for any information about his whereabouts or safety. Ezra Jansen, 31, last contacted his mother on June 11, the day after he arrived in Phuket. “I tried to call him on his phone on June 11, but I could not get…
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Beach-umbrella ban remains, confirms Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has confirmed that umbrellas are not allowed on Phuket’s beaches until further notice. “If people keep bringing their own umbrellas to the beach, it will only cause confusion and endless misunderstandings,” he told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Until an official announcement is made, bringing umbrellas to the beach is not permitted. This is what we must…
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NFL Week 12 underway as Raiders record first win
PHUKET: Beleaguered Thailand-based fans of the Oakland Raiders finally had a reason to cheer on Friday morning local time, when their team chalked up its first win of the season, 24-20, against AFC East division rivals the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday Night Football (TNF). Even though playing in the friendly confines of Oakland Alameda County Coliseum, the 0-9 Raiders…
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Phuket officials consider postponing Christmas Day tsunami drill
PHUKET: Officials are considering postponing the Christmas Day tsunami drill in Phuket after receiving complaints from tsunami victims preparing for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy (story here). “Several foreigners filed complaints directly to me saying that they don’t want to witness the full-scale tsunami drill so close to the 10th anniversary day,” Governor Nisit Jansomwong told Phuket Gazette today.…
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British woman reunited with birth mother decades later in Phuket
PHUKET: A British national, born to an Aussie mining-site manager and a Thai woman in 1960 and then given up for adoption six months later, was reunited with her birth mother in Phuket after 54 years apart. Kimberley Ferreira, 54, was able to hold her 79-year-old mother, Yoklern Jankaew, in her arms for the first time yesterday due to the…
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Norwegian Dokset, on trial for Phuket murder, faces verdict in January
PHUKET: Stein Harvard Dokset, a retired car dealer from Norway and long-term Phuket expat on trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong, will have his verdict handed down after the New Year. The news came today after Mr Dokset testified in court. “Mr Dokset today gave his own testimony as a defense witness,” said the public prosecutor involved…
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Central Group opens its first learning center in Phuket
PHUKET: Central Group, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, opened Phuket’s first learning center last week at Baan Sapam Mongkol Wittaya School. Built and equipped with 3 million baht in funding donated by the Central Group, the new Chirativat Community Learning Center is part of the mall developer’s nationwide plan to build such centers in all 77 of Thailand’s…
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Video Report: Muay Thai starts swinging for the Olympics
PHUKET: The head of the two leading sports associations representing the Thai national martial art Muay Thai submitted a formal request on Tuesday for the sport to be included in the next edition of the Asian Games, to be held in Indonesia in 2018. The ultimate goal is to see the sport included in the Olympics, explained Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan,…
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Opinion: Saying it with puppets in Phuket [video]
Rat Puanrak, 40, graduated with an electronic engineering degree from Ragamangala University of Technology in Nonthaburi. However, he made a career switch to the tourism industry before becoming a professional freelance photographer. He then began studying the art of puppetry and eventually founded the Phuket Marionette. Here, he talks about how the art of puppetry can help children develop into…
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Waves of kindness in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket is famous and infamous for a list of commendable and questionable attributes. One thing that seems to have made it onto the list in certain circles is surfing. Because of the teasingly short surfing season and fickle beach breaks, Thailand will never qualify as a dedicated surfing destination. However, for beginners or less-seasoned surfers whose standards for waves…
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Phuket to hold full-scale tsunami drill on Christmas Day
PHUKET: A full-scale tsunami emergency-response drill will be held in Phuket on Christmas Day, ahead of three days of official events to remember those who perished in the disaster 10 years ago. The decision to stage the drill on December 25 was announced at a Provincial Hall meeting on Wednesday, attended by Russ Jalichandra, deputy director-general of the Department of…
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Opinion: Remember, Phuket, it’s a long road ahead to road safety
PHUKET: Phuket’s yet-to-be-observed first marking of the annual World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims (story here) needs to serve not only as a memorial to those who have perished on our roads, but also as a reminder that we have a long way to go in raising road safety to something resembling acceptable international standards. Statistics indicating a…
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Drafting of new Constitution to begin after New Year
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Drafting to begin after New Year: CDC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Borwornsak said 2015 was the most appropriate time to start the process after charter drafters receive opinions and proposals on reforms from the National Reform Council on December 19, while the CDC’s public…
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Corruption: B1bn deals tied to nationwide school futsal pitch scandal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Corruption: B1bn deals tied to nationwide school futsal pitch scandal The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: More than than 10 legal entities, with the help of several individuals, conducted transactions worth more than Bt996 million related to a futsal-pitch corruption scandal, according to the Anti-Money Laundering…
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Obama imposes historic immigration reform
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama imposes historic immigration reform Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: President Barack Obama imposed the most sweeping immigration reform in a generation on Thursday, easing the threat of deportation for about 4.7 million undocumented immigrants and setting up a clash with Republicans. In a White House…
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Asian Beach Games: China makes its move
PHUKET: Thailand were given a scare yesterday when their grip on the Asian Beach Games crown was loosened by a strong surge from reigning champions China, who scooped nine golds to leapfrog into second. At press time, the hosts lead the medal charge with 34 gold, 25 silver and 28 bronze medals, with China on 14 golds. Thai athletes enjoyed…
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Five Khon Kaen students let free without charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Five Khon Kaen students let free without charge The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Five Khon Kaen University students who were rounded up after surprising Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha during his first official visit to Khon Kaen with an anti-coup protest – including a three-finger salute…
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Welding sparks blamed for Phuket quarry facility fire
PHUKET: Sparks from a welder fixing a roof are believed to have set a quarry building on fire in Baan Yamu, on Phuket’s east coast, late last night. Two teams of firefighters arrived at the quarry at about 11:20pm. They brought the blaze under control within about 30 minutes. “One of our staff was welding on the roof,” said 49-year-old…
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Two men injured after losing control of truck on notorious Phuket curve
PHUKET: Two men in a pick-up truck sustained minor head injuries after the driver lost control on a wet Phuket highway and slammed into a local shop on the side of the road. The driver, 62-year-old Somsak Jamjan, and his co-worker in the passenger seat, who police have yet to publicly identify, were travelling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when Mr…
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Governor joins merit-making for new Phuket Provincial Hall
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has given his stamp of approval to the new 449-million-baht Phuket Provincial Hall, hoping that its traditional Sino-Portuguese design will impress visitors. The governor recently made merit at the construction site, located on a 50-rai plot on Phang Muang Sai Kor, opposite Suan Luang (Rama IX or King’s Park) in Phuket Town, and participated in a…
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Two men nabbed in Phuket for posing as monks, begging for “alms’
PHUKET: Patong Police arrested two men yesterday for posing as monks after their odd behavior aroused suspicion and gave the charlatans away. Manit Keawsen, 33, and Sod Nhamjaidee, 49, both from Suphan Buri, were arrested in front of a 7-Eleven store on Sainamyen Road, while they were begging for “alms” from passersby. “I saw them just before noon while I…
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Krabi officials on watch for Rohingya
PHUKET: Officials on Koh Lanta, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, are on the lookout for any suspicious boats that may be carrying refugees after Myanmar identity cards were found discarded on the island. “We are now keeping watch for Rohingya and any people of other nationalities [sic] who may land on Koh Lanta,” said Pornpoj Pandaeng, chief administrative officer…
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Police hunt for Phuket teen motorbike gang after two men assaulted, robbed
PHUKET: Police are hunting down a teen motorbike gang after two men were kicked off their motorbike, beaten and robbed in Phuket on Tuesday night. Police received a report that there had been an assault and snatch-and-run case near Baan Ya village in Srisoonthorn at about 11:30pm, said Capt Narong Malavaechan of the Thalang Police. The two victims, Sattawat Pohab,…
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Phuket cement-truck driver charged over fatal collision killing student
PHUKET: The driver of the cement-mixer truck that crushed and instantly killed an 18-year-old student in Rassada last week has surrendered to police and been charged with reckless driving causing death. Chalermchai Lakbaan, a student at Phuket Rajabhat University, died instantly when his motorbike collided with a cement truck entering* the Phuket Cement Co Ltd site on Prachasamakkee Road in…
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NBC, Netflix cancel Bill Cosby’s shows after sex assault claims
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NBC, Netflix cancel Bill Cosby’s shows after sex assault claims Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: NBC said on Wednesday it has canceled an upcoming project with veteran comedian Bill Cosby, his second show to be pulled after accusations that he sexually assaulted women resurfaced in recent…
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Thai crusade pays off as looted treasures return from US museum
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai crusade pays off as looted treasures return from US museum The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Twenty-six years after the return of the Narai Stone lintel from the Art Institute of Chicago to Thailand, the US government has again officially handed over more ancient artefacts…
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