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  • Breaking News: Armed robbers make off with almost a million baht

    Breaking News: Armed robbers make off with almost a million baht

    PHUKET: Employees of a company transferring over 900,000 baht in cash from a gas station in Phuket to a bank were robbed at gunpoint at about 11:30 this morning. The two employees had taken the large sum of cash from the Shell gas station on Phra-Phuket-Keaw Road to the Tesco Lotus in Samkong. They had parked their vehicle at the…

  • Phuket taxi operators no-show at own media event, fear assembly ban

    Phuket taxi operators no-show at own media event, fear assembly ban

    PHUKET: Taxi operators were no-shows at the media conference they scheduled for themselves at Loma Park yesterday. The operators had called the meeting in order to publicize how the destruction of their booths by police had affected their livelihoods (story here). About 20 reporters showed up at Loma Park for the 6pm meeting, but no taxi drivers appeared. After about…

  • Cause of Phuket wall collapse that killed three still unknown

    Cause of Phuket wall collapse that killed three still unknown

    PHUKET: Police still have not determined the cause of a wall collapse at a construction site yesterday that killed three Myanmar nationals. The accident occurred at the Crystal Wild Resort, a property under construction on the Ao Yon-Khao Khad Road, at about 4:30pm, said Lt Jarus Lempan of the Wichit Police. “The wall at the entrance to the hotel, which…

  • What it takes to stay safe while snorkelling in Phuket waters

    What it takes to stay safe while snorkelling in Phuket waters

    Special Report The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) says that about 80 per cent of visitors to Phuket plunge into the Andaman Sea with snorkelling gear to explore Thailand’s treasures below the surface. At least eight of those tourists have died while snorkelling within the last 16 months. The Phuket Gazette‘s Chutharat Plerin and Saran Mitrarat dive into the issue.PHUKET:…

  • No late openings in Patong for World Cup

    No late openings in Patong for World Cup

    PHUKET: The key representative for Patong’s nightlife industry today confirmed that bars in Patong have not requested extended trading hours so that tourists could enjoy World Cup matches live on television. “We haven’t considered asking for extended trading hours as we don’t think the extra hours are worth it,” said Weerawit Krueasombut, President of the Patong Entertainment Business Association. “We…

  • Curfew lifted in 20 more provinces, not Bangkok | Thaiger

    Curfew lifted in 20 more provinces, not Bangkok

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Curfew lifted in 20 more provinces, not Bangkok The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Council for Peace and Order last night lifted the curfew in 20 more provinces, but the curfew in Bangkok remains in effect. The provinces where the curfew was lifted entirely…

  • Taliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault

    Taliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taliban gunmen attack Karachi airport academy in second assault Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pakistan’s Taliban insurgents claimed responsibility for an attack on a security academy at Karachi’s airport on Tuesday, less than 48 hours after an all-night siege by Taliban gunmen at Pakistan’s busiest airport…

  • World Cup live broadcasts threatened by court ruling, warns RS

    World Cup live broadcasts threatened by court ruling, warns RS

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community RS warns it might scrap live telecast if court rules in favour of NBTC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: All 22 million households in the country might face a blackout of the 64 live matches of the World Cup football tournament if the Supreme Administrative…

  • Bird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    Bird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bird strike grounds Air Asia flight in Nakhon Si Thammarat The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: More than 100 Air Asia passengers were stranded at the Nakhon Si Thammarat airport yesterday morning after the aircraft booked for their flight was damaged, presumably in a collision with…

  • Korea ferry crew face trial

    Korea ferry crew face trial

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Shout of ‘murderer’ goes up in packed court as Korea ferry crew face trial Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Fifteen crew of a South Korean ferry that sank in April killing more than 300 people, most of them children, went on trial on Tuesday on charges…

  • Breaking news: Three workers dead, one injured in Phuket landslide | Thaiger

    Breaking news: Three workers dead, one injured in Phuket landslide

    PHUKET: Three female workers were killed and one injured in a landslide near Khao Khat Viewpoint in Wichit just before 5pm today. The injured worker was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where she is currently being treated. More information about the incident will be revealed as police investigate the cause of the landslide. — Kritsada Mueanhawong

  • “Fake cops’ not fake, but no extortion say Patong Police [video] | Thaiger

    “Fake cops’ not fake, but no extortion say Patong Police [video]

    PHUKET: Three plainclothes officers thought to be impersonators attempting to extort money from a local business yesterday have been verified as new members of the Phuket Provincial Police, said the Patong Police chief. The owner of La Boucherie in Patong submitted CCTV footage to the Phuket Gazette yesterday that showed three men who claimed to be Patong Police officers entering…

  • Weather expert issues small boat warning, but denies rumors of nationwide storm

    Weather expert issues small boat warning, but denies rumors of nationwide storm

    PHUKET: After an alarming report released this morning warned residents of a huge storm set to blow through two-thirds of the nation, the director of the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) Phuket office urged Phuket residents to stay calm and confirmed that the island would not be affected. “I heard about the warning of an approaching southwestern monsoon expected to bring…

  • MMA fight night proves successful

    MMA fight night proves successful

    PHUKET: The choice of Seduction Beach Club and Disco, one of Bangla’s most popular clubs, as the venue for Phuket’s inaugural Full Metal Dojo MMA event proves that the organizers had a lot of confidence in their success. And rightly so. At first impression, it seemed that only a few Thais were among the crowd of 500 or so MMA…

  • Phuket child, 3, dies after fatal shock

    Phuket child, 3, dies after fatal shock

    PHUKET: A three-year-old boy died in Thalang yesterday after apparently inserting a key into an electrical power strip. The death has prompted police to remind parents and caregivers not to leave young children unattended. Anwaree Yotharak, 3, lived with his grandmother, Romla Yotharak, 75. As Ms Romla showered and prayed yesterday afternoon, she left Anwaree to play by himself in…

  • Rik Mayall is dead | Thaiger

    Rik Mayall is dead

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community British comic actor Rik Mayall dies aged 56 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rik Mayall, the comic actor who pioneered a new wave of British television comedy in the 1980s, died on Monday, aged 56, his management company said. Famed for his anarchic comic style, Mayall…

  • Road works force closure of Patong-airport shortcut

    Road works force closure of Patong-airport shortcut

    PHUKET: A popular shortcut between Phuket International Airport and Patong has been closed for repairs, but is expected to open again in two weeks. Soi Han Farang, which passes the British International School Phuket and connects Thepkrassatri Road with Nanachart Road, is being repaved, explained Apichart Deekongsiang, the engineering officer of Koh Kaew Municipality. “We have to close the road…

  • TrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches

    TrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community TrueVisions to broadcast all World Cup 2014 matches The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: RS Inter announced late yesterday that it has authorised TrueVisions to broadcast all 64 matches of World Cup 2014 tournament. As recently as Friday, RS International Broadcasting and Sport Management were in…

  • Ukraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves

    Ukraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine sees ‘understanding’ with Russia on peace moves Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ukraine said on Monday it had reached a “mutual understanding” with Moscow on parts of a plan proposed by President Petro Poroshenko for ending violence in the east of the country. Kiev gave…

  • Police set to crack down on football gambling

    Police set to crack down on football gambling

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police set to crack down on football gambling The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ahead of the World Cup kick-off on Thursday, police have launched an operations centre to crack down on football gambling, both online and offline, as well as SMS lucky draws. According to…

  • Private U.S. report accuses another Chinese military unit of hacking

    Private U.S. report accuses another Chinese military unit of hacking

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Private U.S. report accuses another Chinese military unit of hacking Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A private U.S. cybersecurity company on Monday accused a unit of China’s military of conducting far-reaching hacking operations to advance the country’s satellite and aerospace programs. Security company CrowdStrike said Shanghai-based…

  • Druggy driver caught stealing from media-trip tourists

    Druggy driver caught stealing from media-trip tourists

    PHUKET: A druggy tour bus driver confessed to regularly stealing from Chinese tourists after being arrested in Phuket by police yesterday. Kanoksak Promdang, 21, was caught after stealing five bags from members of a Chinese media group from Beijing. “Mr Kanoksak picked of the group of about 30 people from their hotel and took them to Rassada Pier, where they…

  • Phuket police hunt ‘fake cops’ after possible extortion attempt

    Phuket police hunt ‘fake cops’ after possible extortion attempt

    PHUKET: Police are hunting three men who are believed to have been impersonating police in an attempt to extort a French manager at a restaurant in Phuket today. CCTV footage shows the three men, who claimed to be Patong Police officers, entering La Boucherie in Patong at about 12:30am. “They came in and asked for our manager, who is French,…

  • With taxis out, Patong Mayor outlines public transportation plan

    With taxis out, Patong Mayor outlines public transportation plan

    PHUKET: Patong will soon have a network of public vehicles that will circulate at regular intervals, charging a reasonable fee for a ride, if the town’s new mayor has her way. In an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette today, Mayor Chalermluck Kebsab and an associate outlined the system that they would like to see replace taxi ranks in the…

  • Phuket Prison remains “white’, overcrowded

    Phuket Prison remains “white’, overcrowded

    PHUKET: A pre-dawn search of Phuket Prison today failed to uncover any drugs or contraband hidden by prisoners, again branding the overcrowded facility a “White Prison”. More than 200 officers led by Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon started the mass search at 5am. All of the 2,870 inmates, male and female, were searched. The search included personal lockers, sleeping quarters,…

  • New species of gecko in Phuket not so new

    New species of gecko in Phuket not so new

    PHUKET: A new species of gecko was found in Phuket – two years ago, a specialist at the Khao Phra Thaew Wildlife Sanctuary in Thalang confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “The lizard was found in Khao Phra Thaew in 2012,” said Awat Nitikul, chief of the Environmental Conservation Unit based at the reserve. However, the species didn’t make headlines until…

  • After being freed in Phuket, Knudsen slashes pregnant girlfriend’s throat

    After being freed in Phuket, Knudsen slashes pregnant girlfriend’s throat

    PHUKET: Danish national Dennis Mark Knudsen, the intended target of a street shooting in Patong last year, has been arrested in Denmark for fatally slashing his 33-year-old pregnant girlfriend’s throat with a steak knife. Knudsen had previously been in custody in Thailand and released at least three times by Thai authorities. Knudsen was arrested on Saturday after police were alerted…

  • Jubilant honorary consuls, hotel staff offer thanks for war on taxi mafia

    Jubilant honorary consuls, hotel staff offer thanks for war on taxi mafia

    PHUKET: Several of Phuket’s honorary consuls joined hotel staffers yesterday to give heartfelt thanks to the man they said made their dreams come true by disbanding illegal taxi groups at key west coast beach towns. “What General Panya has done is something we thought was impossible,” said French honorary consul Claude de Crissey. Noting that the illegal taxis had operated…

  • Man confesses to human trafficking for Phuket fishing fleet

    Man confesses to human trafficking for Phuket fishing fleet

    PHUKET: Police arrested a Myanmar national at Phuket’s fishing port yesterday for scamming four compatriots into working on a fishing trawler for six months without pay. The suspect, identified as Ao Mo, 49, later confessed to human trafficking and helping illegal migrants avoid arrest, said Lt General Panya Mamen, commander of the Royal Thai Police Region 8 division. After Ao…

  • Thousands evacuated in Rayong over ‘toxic gas’

    Thousands evacuated in Rayong over ‘toxic gas’

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands evacuated over ‘toxic gas’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands of people were forced to evacuate their homes in Rayong’s Ban Chang district shortly past midnight and spend the night on a football pitch after smelling something like toxic gas. Children and the elderly…