News
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Phuket Gazette World News: India diplomat indicted, asked to leave U.S.
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community India diplomat indicted, asked to leave U.S. Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Indian diplomat whose arrest and strip-searching in New York caused a major rift between India and the United States was indicted for visa fraud on Thursday, and the U.S. government immediately asked her to leave…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Protests may cost B40bn; Tourism fears rise; Army maintains no coup; OAG stirs elections wasteful
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prolonged siege may cost Bt40 bn The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Bangkok Shutdown is expected to whack Bt40 billion off the economy or 0.2 percentage point off its growth as consumers cut back on daily living and travel expenses, according to the University of the Thai…
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Deadly Phuket shooting over land, say police
PHUKET: Police believe a conflict over land was the motive for the deadly shooting in Phuket today. Echa Yala, 49, was shot dead while out in his garden, not far from a lagoon, after having a heated argument with a man who arrived in a white Toyota Fortuner (story here). “There were two men in the Fortuner. One man walked…
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Aussie fraud, embezzlement trial to start in June
PHUKET: Rell Hayes, the Australian founder of the Stoney Monday Oasis Hotel in Phuket, has denied criminal charges of embezzlement and six counts of fraud involving more than 80 million baht. His defense will be heard in court when his trial begins on June 10. Rell Vivien Hayes, 51, was arrested in Krabi in November after Phuket Provincial Court issued…
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Phuket Opinion: Victims of society have a friend in Phuket
Naovanit Intarasakul, 53, is the director of a government-run shelter for the needy, Ban Mit Maitri. A Yala native, Ms Naovanit has degrees in social development from Rajabhat University in Yala and in management from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University. Here, she explains what her shelter can provide and suggests what ordinary people can do to help. PHUKET: Phuket is one…
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Lethal Phuket tour bus crash prompts B10mn budget to fix road
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office has secured 10 million baht to widen the road at the bottom of Patong Hill in the hope of preventing further fatal bus crashes caused by brake failure. The announcement follows a runaway tour bus slamming into five vehicles, including one motorcycle, killing two people and leaving 26 others injured on December 29 (story here).…
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Phuket Opinion: Protesters impose will outside political sphere
PHUKET: This year’s Red Cross Fair ended on a bitter note, with incidents of lethal violence near the fairgrounds and a political protest that prevented one of Thailand’s most famous rock stars from taking the stage (story here). The last-minute cancellation of a scheduled performance by Sek Loso left scores of excited fans deeply disappointed, once again demonstrating that Phuket…
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Phuket Town sleeping python not left to lie
PHUKET: A python found taking a nap in a Phuket Town kitchen was escorted to more natural surroundings by rescue workers early this morning.When Anchalee Boonjit returned home from work at about 1am today, she realized that all was not right.“I heard a sound in my kitchen,” she said. “When I went into the room, I saw a snake on…
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Makro’s Rawai branch open for business
PHUKET: Siam Makro PCL, the Thai subsidiary of Dutch “cash and carry” chain Makro, on December 20 opened its third store in Phuket, on Wiset Road in Rawai. The new branch is Makro’s second “Food Service” format store in Phuket, following the opening of its first branch in Patong earlier this year. Speaking at the grand opening ceremony, Jantima Goiphol,…
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Phuket Filipina in 5-month legal limbo
PHUKET: A Philippine national charged with working in Patong illegally was forced to wait in legal limbo for five months before her case was put in front of a Phuket judge.In the meantime, she remained stuck in Thailand without a work permit, or legal way to support herself.Melanie Beleno, 35, was arrested on July 4 when Immigration Police went to…
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Phuket faces 40 per cent drop in Chinese tourist arrivals in January
PHUKET: Officials expect the number of Chinese tourists coming to Phuket to drop by 40 per cent this month, despite the fact that Chinese New Year falls on January 31.Chinese New Year traditionally brings a boost in Chinese tourism to Thailand, but this year fewer tourists from Greater China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan, are expected to celebrate the holiday…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.N. wants inquiry into strikers’ deaths in Cambodia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.N. wants inquiry into strikers’ deaths in Cambodia Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.N. human rights agency urged Cambodia to launch an investigation into the “disproportionate” use of force by security forces last week against garment factory workers striking over pay.Military police opened fire on workers protesting…
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Phuket Gazette World News: EU proposes sending military force to Central African Republic
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU proposes sending military force to Central African Republic Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: European Union officials proposed on Wednesday that the EU move quickly send troops to Central African Republic, either to the capital Bangui or the west of the country, diplomatic sources said.The proposals for an…
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Cruise high over Phuket with the PIMEX lucky draws
PHUKET: Jump into a gorgeous new airplane and get high above Phuket with this year’s PIMEX (Phuket International Boat Show), which opens tomorrow at the Royal Phuket Marina (map here). The Phuket Gazette in conjunction with Phuket Airpark is offering all registered visitors the chance to win a scenic flight over the island. Each daily drawing, from January 9 to…
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PIMEX boat show primed and ready to launch this morning
PHUKET: The heat is on and all are getting ready for this week’s Phuket International Boat Show, which opens today at 11am at the Royal Phuket Marina (map here). All of the major Thai and regional boat dealers and brokers are busy juggling yachts into position for what promises to be an excellent in-water display. Two entries exceed the official…
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Chinese-speaking guides protest Phuket Town travel company
PHUKET: About 100 Chinese-speaking Phuket tour guides protested in front of a travel company yesterday, alleging that the company was hiring illegal Chinese guides. Chaifu Saelee, 43, led the protesters to Tranlee Travel Co Ltd in Phuket Town, where they met with Kritchakorn Roongmongkolnam, the Managing Director of the company. The protest follows the arrest of three Thai guides for…
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Baby elephant illegally imported to Phuket returned to Phang Nga
PHUKET: An elephant camp owner charged in October with illegally bringing an elephant into the province has been fined and the elephant returned to its home in Phang Nga. Prasob Jerkae, 37, paid a 5,000-baht fine for bringing an elephant into the province without a permit, Kathu Livestock Acting Chief Jirayu Nirunwiroj told the Phuket Gazette. A tip-off had led…
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Thanyapura Phuket appoints new Sports Marketing Director
PHUKET: Continuing to gain momentum under new leadership (see story here), the island’s premier sports and wellness destination Thanyapura Phuket has made another key appointment in its quest to export its “active healthy lifestyle” concept globally. Debbie Dionysius, the key figure in transforming the Phuket Triathlon into Southeast Asia’s premier multi-sport event, has joined Thanyapura Phuket as its Director of…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Former Miss Venezuela shot dead in attempted robbery
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former Miss Venezuela shot dead in attempted robbery Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Gunmen shot dead a former Miss Venezuela and her ex-husband in the latest high profile case of violent crime in the South American nation, authorities said on Tuesday.Monica Spear, 29, a soap opera actress, and…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama to consult intelligence leaders, Congress on NSA review
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama to consult intelligence leaders, Congress on NSA review Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: President Barack Obama will hear from intelligence officials and congressional leaders as he nears the final stages of a review over how much to rein in U.S. surveillance practices in the wake of the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Record freeze extends to eastern United States, at least nine dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Record freeze extends to eastern United States, at least nine dead Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A deadly blast of arctic air shattered decades-old temperature records as it enveloped the eastern United States on Tuesday, snarling air, road and rail travel, driving energy prices higher and overwhelming shelters…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Bangkok readies for shutdown; Yingluck denies coup call; Corruption costs B300bn a year; DNA confirms another Nui victim
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Retailers gear for shutdown The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Wholesalers and retailers have scrambled to adjust their inventory and logistics strategies to ensure that they have adequate supplies of consumer goods and foods and don’t need to raise prices during the “Bangkok shutdown” planned by anti-government forces…
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Phuket Red Cross winners yet to claim more than B1mn in gold
PHUKET: One lucky person has yet to learn that he has won the top prize of 750,000 baht in gold from the lucky draw at the annual Red Cross Fair, which drew to a close on Sunday night. Even the winner of the second prize has yet to step forward to claim 375,000 baht in gold bars, Sarawut Rukkaw of…
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Chinese tour guide war in Phuket turns violent
PHUKET: Scuffles broke out in front of Wichit Police Station yesterday as tensions boiled over between Chinese-speaking Thai tour guides and Chinese nationals who they accuse of taking their jobs. More than 100 Thai guides gathered at the station in support of Suraphol Saelub, 24; Somchai Saetung, 39; and Ja Saema, also 39, who all face charges of attacking Chinese…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Snowden has more U.S.-Israel secrets to expose – Greenwald
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Snowden has more U.S.-Israel secrets to expose – Greenwald Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Former U.S. spy agency contractor Edward Snowden has more secrets to reveal that relate to Israel, the journalist who first brought his leaks to the world’s attention said on Monday.Among allegations aired by Snowden…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Emergency decree a last resort; Tanks out for Kid’s Day; Rice farmers on edge; Panda alert
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Emergency decree would be a last resort: Yingluck The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that invoking an emergency decree would be the last option in dealing with the current protests.Yingluck, who is also caretaker defence minister, expressed concern over a call…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Fuelled by Syria war, al Qaeda bursts back to life in Iraq
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fuelled by Syria war, al Qaeda bursts back to life in Iraq Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Al Qaeda gunmen seeking to form a radical Islamic state out of the chaos of Syria’s civil war are fighting hard to reconquer the province they once controlled in neighbouring Iraq,…
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Marine Chief sinks Phuket sea taxi rumors
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office chief today trounced rumors that the 240-million-baht budget for an airport-to-Patong “sea taxi” had been approved. “I do not know how the rumor that it was already approved was spread,” Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut told the Phuket Gazette. Director of the Marine Office 5 Wichai Khamkong plans to raise the issue of the…
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National politics dry-docks PIMEX Coastal Waters Safety Summit
PHUKET: Political turmoil has forced Safer Phuket organizers to postpone the Coastal Waters Safety Summit, scheduled to be held at this year’s PIMEX boat show (story here). “We’ve made a huge amount of progress, but with the current political situation, the momentum was starting to dissipate. Everyone is in interim status at the moment,” Safer Phuket founder Duncan Stewart told…
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Phuket Business: Go green, go electric
PHUKET: A new transportation option recently made its debut in Phuket. You don’t have to fill it up out of old whiskey bottles on the side of the road or break a sweat pedaling up the island’s steep hills. All you have to do is plug it in before you go to sleep at night.Electric bikes have undoubtedly been around…
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