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Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Phuket Songkran road toll remains at zero dead
PHUKET: The fifth day of the Seven Days of Danger nationwide road-safety campaign came to a close at midnight last night with the death toll for the Thai new year holiday period in Phuket remaining at zero.The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), which collates all road accident statistics in Phuket during the campaign, reported two motorbike…
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Gimp thief not gold shop killer; identified by chicken-frying ladyboy
PHUKET: It was briefly thought they had snared the Phuket gold shop killer (story here) when Karon Police yesterday arrested a burglar with a limp – one of the key characteristics in the search for the murderer. Phuket City policeman Lt Col Prawit Engchuan joined the questioning of the suspect but said afterward, “We determined that he has no connection…
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The rise of technical goods
PHUKET: The Technical Consumer Goods (TCG) market in Thailand last year saw positive annual growth in six out of seven sectors tracked by a recent regional market survey. The strong growth of TCG, which includes everything from smart phones, cameras, washing machines and cooking appliances, to TVs, tablets, air coolers and office equipment, was highlighted in a recent survey and…
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Tesco shopping online
PHUKET: Leading domestic hypermarket chain Tesco Lotus last week launched online grocery shopping and home delivery services for its customers in Bangkok. Asked if the retail giant had plans to launch such services in Phuket, Ms Salinla Seehaphan, Corporate Affairs Director, revealed that: “Our plan is to offer a convenient online grocery shopping service to all of our customers in…
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Phuket Police release graphic YouTube video of gold shop robbery
PHUKET: In an effort to identify an armed robber of a Phuket gold shop, police have released a graphic YouTube video of the man entering the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store and shooting dead one of the customers (story here). In addition to releasing the video compiled from CCTV camera footage, police will be plastering Phuket with wanted posters,…
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Eight injured as Phuket bus overturns in Krabi
PHUKET: Eight passengers received minor injuries when a bus heading from Phuket to Trang ran off the road and overturned in Krabi on Sunday.The accident occurred at about 2pm, Lt Panom Parnmart of Ao Luek Police told the Phuket Gazette.“Rescue workers rushed to the scene to find the bus on its roof in a roadside ditch about two meters deep.“Arjara…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Bombs devastate Boston Marathon, killing 3
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bombs kill three people, wound dozens at Boston Marathon Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Two bombs ripped through the crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, killing three people and injuring dozens, with some victims suffering amputations in what a White House official said would…
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All silent on Phuket Tourist Police kratom shootout
PHUKET: The two survivors of a lethal shootout at an apartment near Phuket Town last month have both refused to give police statements describing the events that led to the fatal gunfight. Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok of the Phuket Tourist Police remains at the Prince of Songkla University Hospital in Haad Yai, where he is recovering from gunshot wounds…
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Phuket Gazette World News Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet ‘dragged’ from sky
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Exclusive: Lion Air crash pilot felt jet ‘dragged’ from sky Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The pilot whose Indonesian jet slumped into the sea while trying to land in Bali has described how he felt it “dragged” down by wind while he struggled to regain control, a person…
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Phuket seawalkers deny destroying corals
PHUKET: About 200 square meters of coral have been damaged off Khai Nai island in Phang Nga, say local marine officials, in order to create a pathway for tourists to walk on the sea floor. The manager of the seawalking company at the site, however, has defended his business, telling the Phuket Gazette it is environmentally friendly and had not…
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Phuket Songkran: Zero road deaths through Day 3
PHUKET: Phuket maintained its zero death toll for Day 3 of the Seven Days of Danger national road-safety campaign for the Songkran Thai new year holiday period, while nationwide the death toll grew to 173. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), which collates all road accident statistics during the campaign, reported nine motorbike accidents, injuring 10…
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Phuket Gazette World News: All safe after Bali airplane ditches into water
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community All passengers safe as Lion Air plane lands in water in Bali Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: All 108 passengers and crew survived when a Lion Air Boeing 737 missed the runway on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Saturday and landed in shallow water, an airline…
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French tourist cries robbed after Phuket spending spree
PHUKET: A French tourist, afraid his wife would be angry at him for spending too much money on holiday in Phuket, was arrested yesterday for filing a false report to police, in which he claimed he was robbed by two teenagers. The Frenchman, named by police as Marc Forestier, 54, arrived at Karon Police Station at about 2:30pm to file…
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Filipino caught with 7kg of crystal meth at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Customs officials at Phuket International Airport yesterday arrested a Philippine national trying to smuggle seven kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) into the country.Officials estimated that the drugs netted had a street value of 30 million baht.The suspect, identified by police as Sonny Pasong Cornel, 31, initially claimed he had no knowledge the bag he was carrying contained drugs.However,…
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Phuket dignatories mark Thai New Year with Songkran mass blessing ceremony
PHUKET: Hundreds of people gathered at Saphan Hin this morning to join a Songkran blessing ceremony to celebrate their Thai New Year.At 7am, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut chaired the opening of the ceremony, joined by Vice Governors Sommai Prijasilpa, Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak and Chamroen Tipayapongtada.Among the other leading Phuket figures to join the mass ceremony, offering alms to 399 monks, were…
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Phuket Songkran starts early, Governor urges ‘Safety First’
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has called for all officers island-wide to make public safety their top priority during the Songkran celebrations, which unofficially started early in Patong late today.Governor Maitri specifically ordered that extra officers be posted at the six official water-play zones on the island: – Saphan Hin Park, Phuket Town– Kata-Karon beachfront– Soi Bangla and Patong beach…
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Unidentified body found off Phuket Deep Sea Port
PHUKET: Police are trying to determine the identity of a man whose body was discovered off Cape Panwa, on the east coast of Phuket, today.Local villagers found the body floating near the channel marker to the Deep Sea Port at about 12:30pm.“We believe the body was in the water for more than five days before it was found,” Sub Lt…
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Phuket Songkran: Four accidents but no deaths on Day 1
PHUKET: The first 24 hours of Phuket Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the Songkran holidays passed with zero deaths.The annual road-safety campaign this year began at midnight Wednesday night.In the 24 hours that followed there were four accidents, including two involving drinking and driving, according to statistics released today by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket…
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Phuket Marine officials bolster sea safety for Songkran
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office and Marine Police joined forces yesterday to launch a water-safety campaign aimed at ensuring the well-being of beachgoers and boaters during the Songkran holidays.“Our mission is to be on hand to help people and decrease the risk of marine accidents during the Seven Days of Danger,” said Phuket Marine Police Inspector Chatchai Sakdee, who was…
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Phuket Opinion: Let Songkran sanity prevail
PHUKET: As this edition arrives at newsstands across the island, readers can judge for themselves whether the Royal Thai Police are adequately enforcing the controversial nationwide ban on using pickups and other conveyances to fuel roadside water fights over the Songkran holidays.We sincerely hope that the ban will have a significant impact on the number of deaths and injuries related…
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The Formula 1 soap opera
PHUKET: In the lead up to Shanghai, Formula 1 is full of questions. Can McLaren possibly get it together? The news says “no”, but I think they could surprise us. We are all hoping that Force India will be a force to reckon with, after they sort out the problem with their nuts. Lotus will be intending to get back…
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The fall of sporting idols
PHUKET: Sports stars are among some of the most revered men and women on the planet. Those who excel at their chosen sport are seen as gods among us mere mortals and they are rewarded accordingly. But a fall from grace for someone at the top of their game is viewed with as much, if not more, interest than any…
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Phuket’s ACYC gives notice of race
PHUKET: The Ao Chalong Yacht Club (ACYC) has announced the 2013 ACYC Keel Boat and Multihull Club Championship Race Series 1 – FCI Watermaker Series. The fourth race is this Sunday, April 14. Eligibility and entry: The series is open to all keel yachts and multihulls with an overall length greater than six meters. Eligible boats may enter by completing…
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Phuket beefs up bus services, driver drug tests for Songkran
PHUKET: More buses and drug and alcohol tests for drivers have been ordered at the Phuket bus terminal in Rassada to ensure that everyone can travel, and travel safely, during the Songkran holidays.The Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) added 20 per cent more buses to accommodate the crowds returning home for the Thai new year and make sure no one…
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Phuket survives first day of Songkran Seven Days of Danger
PHUKET: The nationwide Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the Songkran holidays came into effect in Phuket at midnight last night.As of 5:30pm today, Phuket had yet to record its first fatality for the period, which is notorious for the number of deaths and injuries on Thailand’s roads as millions of people make the journey home to celebrate Thai…
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Phuket gold shop killing: Leads point police to two suspects
PHUKET: Testimony from witnesses has helped police narrow their focus to two possible suspects in the gold shop shooting on Monday (story here), Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat told the Phuket Gazette today. However, no match has been found for the killer’s fingerprints. “We are continuing to get information from witnesses,” said Gen Choti, “which has led us to…
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Topper Sail Phuket is tops
PHUKET: Topper Sail Phuket is the first sailing school in Southeast Asia to gain Royal Yachting Association (RYA) approval for dinghy sailing and power boating. The center also offers dinghy sailing, keelboat sailing (day boats), power boating, safety boats, and shore-based theory courses. Topper Sail Phuket can now offer RYA qualifications, which are highly regarded worldwide due to the high…
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Phuket’s TSLC will again host International Tennis Federation round
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC) will once again host a round of the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro tennis circuit. The 2013 ITF round, sponsored by Chang (ThaiBev Pcl) and the Sports Association of Thailand (SAT), will consist of two consecutive women’s tournaments, from April 20 to April 27, and then April 27 to May 4. This…
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Tour of Thailand official slams into power pole during Phuket storm
PHUKET: An official of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup Tour of Thailand 2013 cycling event, whose riders were in Phuket earlier this week (story here), was injured when his pickup truck slid off the road during the storm yesterday afternoon and slammed into a power pole. Surasak Ritphirat, 39, suffered a head wound in the impact and was rushed…
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Phuket Gazette World News: South Korea on high alert; Uruguay says yes to gay marriage; Louvre closes to pickpockets; Lufthansa danger flight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South Korea, U.S. remain on missile watch as North lauds Kims Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: South Korea and the United States remained on high alert for any North Korean missile launch on Thursday as the hermit kingdom turned its attention to celebrating its ruling Kim dynasty and…
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