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  • Phuket protesters mourn death of Prakong, blame government

    Phuket protesters mourn death of Prakong, blame government

    PHUKET: Protesters will gather tonight at Phuket Provincial Hall (map here) to mourn the death of Prakong Choochan, who died from injuries sustained in an attack on anti-government demonstrators in Bangkok yesterday. “We are devastated by what happened. He was fighting for our country,” said Phuket protest co-ordinator Amnuay Kumban. The 46-year-old taxi driver was one of 36 people injured…

  • Second unidentified body recovered in Phuket in two days

    Second unidentified body recovered in Phuket in two days

    PHUKET: A second unidentified body was found floating in the sea off Rassada this week. Unlike in the first case being investigated by police (story here), there were no signs of violence on the body recovered at Por Pichainawa fishing pier yesterday afternoon. “It looked like the man, who was probably 30-35 years old and 170cm tall, died about 24…

  • Phuket Poll: How to stop Patong Hill carnage?

    Phuket Poll: How to stop Patong Hill carnage?

    PHUKET: Two people crushed to death by a runaway bus in December is only the most recent disaster on the notorious Patong Hill road (story here). In response, Phuket officials are scrambling to find solutions to stop the carnage (story here). To this, the Phuket Gazette asks our readers in our latest online poll: “What is the best way to…

  • Phuket’s 250-million-baht provincial mosque to be built in forest reserve

    Phuket’s 250-million-baht provincial mosque to be built in forest reserve

    PHUKET: Land within a forest reserve was approved this week for the construction of the 250-million-baht Phuket provincial mosque complex in Thalang. On January 15, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut signed off on the use of over nine rai of the Pa Bang Khanun Forest Reserve near the Thalang Technical College. “Our budget was approved by Cabinet last year, and we…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack

    Phuket Gazette World News: Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Up to 15, mostly foreigners, killed in Kabul suicide attack Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Up to 15 people, mostly foreigners, were killed on Friday when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a popular Lebanese restaurant in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul, police said.Islamist Taliban insurgents claimed…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks

    Phuket Gazette World News: Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Syrian government, preparing for peace talks with rebels next week, handed the Russian co-sponsors of the conference a proposal on Friday for a local ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners.There was no immediate…

  • Governor paves way for congestion free Phuket

    Governor paves way for congestion free Phuket

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a survey yesterday of two road projects that should ease traffic congestion on the island. “With more than 50,000 vehicles travelling between Chalong Circle and Bang Khu Intersection in Kho Kaew daily, it is important to provide alternative routes and improve traffic flow,” Governor Maitri said. One of the projects examined was a two-lane…

  • Police pounce on pot peddler in Phuket

    Police pounce on pot peddler in Phuket

    PHUKET: Police arrested a Myanmar national yesterday morning for selling marijuana at the Phuket Fishing Port in Koh Sirey. Min Min, 38, was caught with 295 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and 980 baht in cash by officers from the Region 8 Police Crime Suppression Division.“Undercover officers tipped us off, so we staked out the port,” Maj Roongsak Maichandee said.“We…

  • Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill?

    Phuket Opinion: You call that a hill?

    PHUKET: I operated very large trucks, buses, cranes and earth-moving vehicles for more years than I care to remember, in various countries including Austria – whose mountain passes make “monster” Patong Hill look like a pimple on an elephant – and Australia, in giant mines in the northwest.The cardinal rule for going downhill is: Let your engine help retard your…

  • Phuket Opinion: Success of bus ban relies on enforcement

    Phuket Opinion: Success of bus ban relies on enforcement

    PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office’s trial ban on bus and truck traffic to Patong via the infamous Phra Barami Road over Patong Hill is a good idea. However, lack of proper enforcement by responsible officials, especially Traffic Police units, has the potential to jeopardize success during the trial period – and in the long term, if the measure is…

  • Breaking News: 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession

    Breaking News: 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: An unknown assailant lobbed a grenade at the procession led by People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban on Banthad Thong Road at noon today, injuring 28 protesters.As of 2:07pm, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan…

  • Phuket Police attempt to identify dumped body

    Phuket Police attempt to identify dumped body

    PHUKET: The body of a man who had been violently assaulted was retrieved from the water near Chokpanuchit fish processing plant in Rassada yesterday afternoon.“We think he was attacked about 24 hours earlier and then dumped from a fishing vessel,” said Lt Col Chaleaw Taihoo of the Phuket City Police.The man was about 165-170 meters tall. There was a stab…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse

    Phuket Gazette World News: Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Vatican grilled over scale of child sex abuse Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: United Nations child protection experts pushed Vatican delegates on Thursday to reveal the scope of the decades-long sexual abuse of minors by Roman Catholic priests that Pope Francis called “the shame of the Church”.The delegates,…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway

    Phuket Gazette World News: In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: His AK-47 tossed onto a pristine leather sofa in the plush lair of a leader of one of Mexico’s most feared drug cartels, vigilante fighter “El Love” says he is longing for an end…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian

    Phuket Gazette World News: NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.S. National Security Agency has been gathering nearly 200 million text messages a day from around the world, gathering data on people’s travel plans, contacts and credit card transactions, Guardian newspaper reported on…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: PM Yingluck faces corruption probe over rice scheme; EC urges to delay polls; Navy personnel caught armed amid protests

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: PM Yingluck faces corruption probe over rice scheme; EC urges to delay polls; Navy personnel caught armed amid protests

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM being probed in fake G2G rice deal The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: In another blow to embattled caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the anti-graft agency yesterday decided to investigate her in connection with the alleged irregularities in the government’s controversial rice pledging scheme.The fact-finding committee of…

  • Phuket bus drivers test positive for ya bah

    Phuket bus drivers test positive for ya bah

    PHUKET: Two more Phuket bus drivers tested positive for ya bah (methamphetamine) yesterday afternoon during an anti-drug blitz led by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. “We tested 33 bus drivers from two companies: Je-Siam Holiday Phuket and MKR Transportation,” Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (palad) Suthee Sirianan said. “Natthapong Chimree and Udon Sainate, both from MKR Transportation, tested positive for ya…

  • Yingluck pushes for elections, Phuket prepares for booze ban

    Yingluck pushes for elections, Phuket prepares for booze ban

    PHUKET: Phuket will face an alcohol ban starting on February 1 as caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra pushes ahead with the February 2 national elections (story here). “According to the Election Act, all alcohol sales in Phuket are banned from 6pm on February 1 until midnight on February 2 because of the MP elections,” Phuket Election Commission (PEC) Director Kittipong…

  • Phuket earns 21 medals at 42nd Thailand National Games

    Phuket earns 21 medals at 42nd Thailand National Games

    PHUKET: Athletes representing Phuket at the 42nd National Games, contested in Suphanburi from January 5-15, brought home 21 medals – five golds, five silvers and 11 bronzes. Based on medal tally, Phuket placed 25th out of 77 provinces and Bangkok. The National Games’ hosts Suphanburi cleaned up the event with 358 medals including 198 gold, 80 silver and 80 bronze.…

  • Phuket Airport Terminal X on target to open in February

    Phuket Airport Terminal X on target to open in February

    PHUKET: The new terminal at Phuket International Airport is on track to open on February 5, boosting the capacity of the island’s critical tourism portal by 4,000 people per hour.Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut announced the news yesterday during an inspection of the new facility, currently called “Terminal X”.“The actual construction of the terminal is finished. There is only cleaning up…

  • Phuket resort raided over beach beautification project

    Phuket resort raided over beach beautification project

    PHUKET: National park officers yesterday raided the Anantara luxury resort in Phuket and filed a police complaint for alleged encroachment on park land. The Mai Khao resort stands accused of clearing swathes of sea morning glory from the beach and planting palm trees as part of a beach beautification project. Sirinath Marine National Park Chief Cheewapap Cheewatham, who led the…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals

    Phuket Gazette World News: World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World may have to suck gases from air to meet climate goals – U.N. Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Governments may have to extract vast amounts of greenhouse gases from the air by 2100 to achieve a target for limiting global warming, backed by trillion-dollar shifts towards clean…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Violences kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support

    Phuket Gazette World News: Violences kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Violence kills 75 in Iraq, PM seeks world’s support Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Bomb attacks and shootings killed at least 75 people in Iraq on Wednesday, police and hospital sources said, making it one of the bloodiest days in months.In the deadliest incident, a bomb blew up…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt voters overwhelmingly back constitution, say officials

    Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt voters overwhelmingly back constitution, say officials

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt voters overwhelmingly back constitution, say officials Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egyptians who voted in a referendum overwhelmingly approved a new constitution, official sources said, citing early results of a ballot that could set the stage for army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to declare his candidacy…

  • Phuket Vice Governor, other officials, join anti-government protesters [Video Report] | Thaiger

    Phuket Vice Governor, other officials, join anti-government protesters [Video Report]

    PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa, along with three mayors and one district chief, joined the crowd of protesters gathered in front of Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday evening.The protesters vowed to provide their full support should the officials face criticism later.V/Gov Sommai was joined by Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana, Rawai Mayor Arun Solos, Kathu Mayor Chaianan Sutthikul and Thalang…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Four arrested for alleged involvement in attack at Abhisit’s house | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Four arrested for alleged involvement in attack at Abhisit’s house

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four arrested for allegedly attacking Abhisit’s house The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: Bangna Police have apprehended a woman and three men for alleged involvement in a series of attacks in Bangkok on anti-government rallies including a bomb attack at Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva’s Sukhumvit residence last night.Thaworn Senneam,…

  • Too fast to be furious: Phuket speed cameras can’t keep up

    Too fast to be furious: Phuket speed cameras can’t keep up

    PHUKET: Drivers on Phuket moving at reckless speeds of over 200km/hr are outpacing the ability of the island’s new speed cameras to capture clear images of them. “In Thalang, the cameras are set to photograph cars travelling in excess of 120km/hr. However, the images of the licenses plates on cars going extremely fast are too blurry to read,” Thalang Police…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Briton jailed 27 years for Florida murders seeks to reopen case

    Phuket Gazette World News: Briton jailed 27 years for Florida murders seeks to reopen case

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Briton jailed 27 years for Fla. murders seeks to reopen case Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Lawyers for a British man convicted in Florida for a 1986 double homicide sought to reopen the case on Tuesday, claiming that three Colombian drug traffickers were the real killers.Krishna Maharaj’s lawyers…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Protesters threaten SET, AEROThai; Delay poll says expert; Yala blast kills 2

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Protesters threaten SET, AEROThai; Delay poll says expert; Yala blast kills 2

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AeroThai and SET are in protesters’ sights The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: In an attempt to increase pressure on the government, the hard-line movement Students and People Network for Thailand’s Reform (STR) yesterday confirmed it planned to blockade the Stock Exchange of Thailand and the offices of…

  • Fatal accident on Kata Hill raises concerns about Patong Hill bus ban

    Fatal accident on Kata Hill raises concerns about Patong Hill bus ban

    PHUKET: Yet another bus accident, this time killing a motorcyclist on the Kata Hill road yesterday morning, has raised concerns about increased bus traffic in the area after the controversial Patong Hill bus ban takes effect. Worrapong Chaichomphu, 25, was travelling downhill toward Chalong when a bus travelling uphill crossed the center line and struck him in front of the…