News
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Killer elephants to return to jungle treks
PHUKET: Two bull elephants who killed their trainers in musth-induced fits of rage this past week will return to providing jungle trekking tours to tourists after the musth period has passed, the Phuket Gazette was told (story here). Wittawat Salangam, 22, was killed at the Phuchada Safari camp in Rawai on Tuesday when he went to unchain the 23-year-old bull…
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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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Opinion: Thailand’s choice – standing at a crossroads over foreign investment
Mark Kent has been British ambassador to Thailand since August 2012. Prior to that he spent a year learning Thai at universities and language schools in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen. He is also an alumnus of the King Prajadhiphok’s Institute course in Politics and Governance. Mark comes from Lincolnshire. He has a degree in Law from the University…
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![Opinion: Saying it with puppets in Phuket [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/14_20141121151938843_uxOFqVFYxQidcNYVcyQMdvbjqFVmpiOfUPWwtkkT_jpeg.jpeg)
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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No change in Rohingya policy as new top Navy brass takes charge in Phuket
PHUKET: Though their has been a change of top brass at the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command, based in Phuket, the official policy for managing the overwhelming flow of refugees and illegals escaping violence in their home countries remains unchanged. The recently transferred Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, now Commander of the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command, told the…
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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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Flood, landslide warnings for four provinces in the South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Flood, landslide warnings for four provinces in the South The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Disaster Warning Centre yesterday issued a flooding and landslide warning to four southern provinces – Phatthalung, Songkhla, Trang and Satun – for yesterday and today. Early yesterday morning, in…
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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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AMCHAM forum to tackle Phuket’s critical marine tourism issues
PHUKET Registration is building for the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) in Thailand’s special forum focusing on the future of Phuket’s marine tourism industry, to be held tomorrow evening (click here). “Many people have expressed great interest in the joining the forum and we’re looking forward to a large turnout from people who have concerns to be addressed and ideas…
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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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Asian Beach Games: Thailand eyes overall prize
PHUKET: Thana Chaiprasit, chef-de-mission of the Thailand athletes’ delegation in the 4th Asian Beach Games, currently being contested in Phuket, expressed his confidence that the Thai athletes will capture more gold medals than the 40 they had initially targeted. Thailand currently leads the medal tally with 71 medals, comprising 29 gold, 20 silver and 22 bronze. Japan is second place…
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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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‘Hunger Games’ sequel preview screenings cancelled
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Hunger Games’ sequel preview screenings cancelled The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Special previews set for today at two cinemas in Siam Square of the latest in the series idolized by coup protesters, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, have been abruptly cancelled. The anti-coup movement…
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Four dead, 47 injured in Ayutthaya crash; Four dead as train hits car in South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four dead, 47 injured in Ayutthaya crash; Four dead as train hits car in South The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) yesterday confirmed that it would take care of officials who were injured in a road accident yesterday in Ayutthaya’s Bang…
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PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM faces anti-coup gesture in his first Northeast visit The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: During the prime minister’s first visit to the Northeast, five student activists yesterday stole the show by making their way to the front of the stage and launching a protest against…
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Phuket woman in “miracle’ survival of juggernaut hit-and-run
PHUKET: A 55-year-old woman’s escape from serious injury has been hailed as a miracle after her motorcycle with sidecar (saleng) was struck by an 18-wheeled semi-trailer and dragged 20 meters along Thepkrasattri Road before the saleng was struck by a second vehicle. Wanna Damnadee, 55, was admitted to Thalang Hospital late yesterday afternoon with minor scratches and a swollen left…
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Asian Beach Games: Thailand lands 12 of 14 gold in single day
PHUKET: Hosts Thailand flexed their muscles to haul in 12 of the 14 gold medals up for grabs yesterday to stay atop the overall standings with 60 medals – including 25 gold – in the 4th Asian Beach Games being hotly contested in Phuket. Thailand made a clean sweep of both golds on offer in the beach petanque yesterday, with…
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Inheritance tax of 10% on estates over Bt50m approved
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Inheritance tax of 10% on estates over Bt50m approved The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday gave the nod to a draft bill for the country’s first-ever inheritance tax. “The tax will be a form of income distribution,” Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said after…
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Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Activists push for Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Activists called yesterday for the Mae Wong Dam to be scrapped, ahead of the final decision today on the project’s Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report. Sasin Chalermlarp, chief of the…
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