Phuket News
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Phuket ‘spike girl’ returns victim’s passport
PHUKET: Another Phuket tourist is believed to have fallen victim to ‘drink spiking’ in Patong last night by a woman who made off with his valuables as well as the room safe, but made sure his passport was returned. Arndt Schneider, 47, from Germany, went out Tuesday night to a bar along Soi Sansabai to play pool with a friend…
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Italian man “stabbed by mistake’ in Phuket
PHUKET: The Italian man who was stabbed at Nai Harn Beach on Monday night has told the Phuket Gazette that he was probably “stabbed by mistake”. Giovanni, 33, who asked for his family name not to be published, is recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, in Phuket Town, where he was released from the hospital’s intensive-care unit (ICU) yesterday. He was…
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Phuket update: US embassy maintains terror threat warning
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok sees American citizens in Thailand as still facing the threat of terrorism and will thus keep a controversial warning on its website, despite the Thai government’s insistence that Thailand is not a target for international terrorists, a senior embassy official said yesterday. “Nothing changes” when it comes to the perceived threats and America’s need…
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Wiki blackout hits Phuket at high noon
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette would like to inform its readers that English Wikipedia will be shutting down at noon today (Phuket time) to protest proposed legislation in the United States. The proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the US House of Representatives and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the US senate “if passed, would seriously damage the free and…
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New 50-baht banknote in Phuket by this weekend
PHUKET: Phuket residents will have to wait until tomorrow or Friday before they can get their hands on the new 50-baht banknotes released nationwide today. The new-look 50-baht notes, announced by Bank of Thailand Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul last week, will not be available in Phuket until tomorrow at the earliest, banks on the island have told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Phuket Video Report: ‘Ae Inside’ murder re-enacted by suspect
PHUKET: Police today staged a re-enactment of the assassination of Phuket reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, who was shot dead amid rush-hour morning traffic last Thursday. Heavily-armed members of the Phuket City Police and the Phuket Special Operations Unit escorted the alleged driver in the attack, 43-year-old Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, through the events that led to the ambush of Mr…
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Phuket Simon Cabaret stars spread their wings
PHUKET: The Simon Star Cabaret show, Phuket’s third ladyboy extravaganza, opens on Thursday with a special discount available for Thai nationals only, through February. Executives of Simon Cabaret held a press conference at The Metropole hotel in Phuket Town today to announce the opening, which is the culmination of a 130-million-baht investment. The venue is located on the grounds of…
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Fire contained in densely populated area of Phuket Town
PHUKET: Three homes in a public housing community in Phuket Town were damaged last night in a fire that took firefighters about one hour to extinguish. The fire broke out at about 9pm in a home on Soi 9 of the Saphan Ruam 2 Community, on the east side of Phuket Town near the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) Hospital.…
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Phuket prepares for Chinese New Year
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is preparing an extravagant celebration to ring in the Year of the Dragon with the arrival of the Chinese New Year next week. The celebration is slated to kick off at Sanam Chai (the filed opposite Phuket Provincial Hall) at 4pm on January 23. “Acrobats from Puyang, China will be performing as well…
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French cinema fete coming to Phuket
PHUKET: French film enthusiasts will be in for a treat next month, when the French Thai Cultural Festival “La Fête” hits Phuket with free showings of five acclaimed movies at the Prince of Songkla University Phuket Campus. The five films, all with subtitles in English, will be: In Mom’s Head (Comedy / 2007 / Directed by Carine Tardieu) Me and…
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Phuket Video Report: Suspect denies any role in murder of journalist
PHUKET: The man who Phuket Police have arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in the case of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, today publicly denied any involvement in the killing. Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, 43, this afternoon told the press gathered at Phuket City Police Station that he used to come down to Phuket to sell fruit, but that that was years…
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Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?
PHUKET: Continuing my series of articles answering questions that I hear most often… the next question is one I expect to hear a thousand times in the next few months. It’s a little complicated, but you’re going to get confused anyway, so let me try to simplify things as best I can. “Woody, I hear that Thailand is finally going…
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Phuket Media Watch: 800 dogs rescued; Thailand number 1 for Brits
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 800 dogs rescued from smugglers in Nakhon Phanom Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A Mekong patrol unit headed by Captain Thirakiart Thong-aram found the dogs detained in more than 40 cases on a six-wheel truck on the riverbank in Don Paeng village in Tambon Ban…
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FC Phuket trashed by Hornbills in season closer
PHUKET: Despite determination for a strong finish and a surprise substitution late in the game, FC Phuket were no match for the Chainat FC “Hornbills” in the two sides’ final game of the season.The Southern Sea Kirin went down 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Chainat.Two of Chainat’s goals came in the first half, from an 18th minute goal by Suradet…
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Phuket update: Warrant issued for ‘Ae Inside’ murder suspect
PHUKET: Phuket Police have issued an arrest warrant for one of two men wanted for the assassination of investigative reporter Wisut ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwitthayaporn on Thursday. The police name the suspect as Noppadon “Pae” Praisri, 43, from Phetchburi province. The arrest warrant names Mr Noppadon as wanted for conspiracy to commit premeditated murder. The warrant was issued after witnesses were…
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Rampant rental car thefts in Phuket
PHUKET: Seven hire cars remain missing from a Phuket rental firm. Two suspects are in custody but three more are evading capture having failed to return the vehicles. The rental company owner suspects they may have been fraudulently sold or have been used to get finance from a pawn-broker. In the middle of October last year, Sarun Thongularn, 37 and…
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Phuket Sports: Flying start to Flynn’s 2012
PHUKET: Phuket’s Annissa Flynn started her 2012 surfing season in superb style with victory in the Women’s Division of the 6th annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge held at Desaru Beach in Southeast Malaysia. At 13 years old, Annissa was the youngest of the women finalists that included pros such as runner-up Nur Herwani from Malaysia, third place Michaela Partin…
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Phuket league win slips through Lizard’s hands
PHUKET: Two former Island Furniture League champions faced off recently when the Island Cricket Club (ICC) and the Liquid Lounge Lizards took to the ACG for the seventh match of the 2011-2012 season. Both teams looked to secure their first win of the season and gain a degree of confidence moving toward the business end of the season. A tight…
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Phuket’s Young throttles up for GP3
PHUKET: Prospects of Phuket-based Dylan Young reaching Formula 1 accelerated with news of an offer for the 22-year old to drive in the 2012 GP3 Series. Potential savior of Young’s career ambitions is the Marussia Manor team, junior squad of the Marussia Virgin Formula 1 team, who have handed Young a lifeline which could also see the Australian achieve a…
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Phuket Sports: Phang Nga Bay regatta beckons
PHUKET: Phang Nga Bay’s dramatic scenery will provide the spectacular setting for The 2012 Bay Regatta which is scheduled to run from February 1 to 5. Limestone karsts, cliffs, sandy beaches and tropical vegetation offer a superlative visual tour for sailors as well as natural objects to navigate around, but it is the parties and companionship and the down-to-earth nature…
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Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: In our third story on Phuket road carnage today, a Swiss man was killed instantly when his motorcycle was hit by a passenger car on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang early this afternoon. According to Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers at the scene, the Swiss man was traveling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when he was hit full force by a…
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“Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket police refute need for outside help
PHUKET: The Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 8 has spoken out against outside police help in the investigation into the murder of Phuket journalist Wisut ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwitthayaporn. Mr Wisut was shot dead in peak hour traffic on Thursday morning while driving to Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket Town. Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok made his announcement yesterday – just…
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Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked police to step up security at hotels with foreign guests throughout the island in the wake of the US embassy’s issuance of a terror warning to American citizens on Friday. The British embassy in Bangkok followed on Saturday by stepping up its terror warning for certain areas in Thailand. “Phuket has thankfully not…
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Phuket Roads: Napping driver crushed by 18-wheeler
PHUKET: A truck driver taking a nap beneath his 18-wheeler was run over and killed when the rig’s brake system failed at a hillside construction site in Phuket yesterday. Kamala Police identified the deceased as 31-year-old Boonruam Lekyai, a resident of Thonburi district, Bangkok. At about 12:30pm Kamala Police and rescue workers from the Kamala Ruam Katanyu Foundation were called…
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Gov calls for gun security after man shot dead in Kalim
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has called for police to boost gun security after a man was gunned down while riding home along the Kalim beach road last night. Jakkrit Nutad, 45, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was riding home when two men following him pulled alongside and opened fire at about 9pm, said Patong Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakao. “Both…
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Pheu Thai’s Prompong inspects B4bn ‘stolen’ Phuket land
PHUKET: Pheu Thai Party spokesman and party list MP Prompong Nopparit arrived in Phuket yesterday to inspect 65 rai of land near Patong that is under investigation for having been illegally issued land titles.The land, located behind Freedom Beach on the southern headland south of Patong, was brought to the attention of the National Counter Corruption Commission after it was…
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Chinese New Year to bring B900mn boost to Phuket
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office expects Phuket to rake in up to 900 million baht during the upcoming Chinese New Year festivities. The annual event, this year welcoming in the Year of the Dragon, is to be celebrated in Phuket from January 23-25. “The TAT expects 60,000 tourists, to arrive in Phuket to celebrate Chinese New…
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Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket reporters call for PM Yingluck to appoint chief investigator
PHUKET: The President of the Phuket Reporters Club, on January 11, filed a formal request for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to personally appoint the chief police officer who will lead the investigation into the murder of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn. Mr Wisut was shot dead in peak hour traffic on Thursday morning while driving to Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket…
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Phuket police ordered to “hunt down’ “Ae Inside’ killers
PHUKET: Regional Provincial Police commanders have ordered Phuket police to “hunt down” the men who gunned down reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn in broad daylight yesterday. The deputy commander of Police Region 8 arrived in Phuket to personally handle the investigation into the assassination of reporter Mr Wisut yesterday morning. Police Region 8 Deputy Commander Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok held…
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Phuket’s “Pla-wan’ recovering returns home, receives second Royal bouquet
PHUKET: Sri panwa resort General Manager Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara is recovering at Sripanwa Villa, Phuket, after being released from hospital on Wednesday. His release was followed by another gift of flowers, this time from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The Royal bouquet was presented to Pla-wan and the Issara family yesterday afternoon by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha. Mr Vorasit, who…
Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand. Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea allowing the west coast beaches fantastic sunsets right throughout the year. If you're looking for news in Phuket, go to thethaiger.com/phuket Or follow our instant news in our Facebook pages.
The good news is that Phuket is famous for its foodie scene with an enormously diverse range of local and international foods - Phuket and southern favorites, street food along with international choices catering for the 12 million visitors to the island each year. Thaiger follows Phuket news and information 24 hours a day with regular updates.
Phuket is only 'just' an island with a 300 metre bridge linking it to Thailand's mainland. We're always reporting in the news that the channel beneath is frequently dredged to maintain Phuket's status as an island. On the other side of Sarasin Bridge is the Province of Phang Nga.
Getting to Phuket is easy as the island has land, air and sea connections. Phuket is also used as a take-off point for local island trips as Thailand's largest island is surrounded by over 30 pristine islands. Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay are always in the news and would be the best known of the island's just off Phuket's shores.
Phuket is an island and a province. It's the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west.
It's about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of around 400-450,000 (but varies a lot with the influx of tourists and a workforce that is always changing). Most of Phuket remains jungle and tropical rainforest despite an acceleration of development over the past 20 years.
Unlike some of Thailand's other popular islands (that are in the Gulf of Thailand), the news is that Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is 878 km north of the equator.
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