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Marine police alert for EU fishing checks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Marine police alert for EU fishing checks The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: In a bid to improve Thailand’s illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problems ahead of the upcoming inspection by representatives from the European Union (EU), coastal provinces such as Chon Buri and Songkhla…
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Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tired of waiting for aid, angry Nepalis block roads Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nepali villagers blocked trucks carrying supplies for earthquake victims on Wednesday, demanding the government do more to help after last week’s disaster left more than 5,200 people dead and tens of thousands…
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Finance: Cashing in on retirement
PHUKET: Generating an income in retirement beyond any pension or government-sponsored retirement plan has become much harder in today’s low-interest-rate environment. The income from defined pensions and even retirement benefits from government-sponsored plans are no longer a sure thing. However, there are strategies that help to maximize income during retirement: Dividend-paying stocks or exchange-traded funds (ETFs) Dividend paying stocks are…
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GPS tracker sparks Phuket hotel bomb scare
PHUKET: The provincial Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit cleared the car park at the Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town in response to a reported potential bomb threat this afternoon. The EOD unit arrived at about 2:10pm, after receiving a call from the Phuket City Police. “A security guard found an object in the open area of the car…
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Phuket donations roll in to aid Nepal earthquake victims
PHUKET: Donations for victims of the disastrous earthquake in Nepal continue to roll in, with more than 1 million baht already having been raised for the ‘Phuket Together For Nepal Disaster Victims’ fund. As of this morning, the devastating quake had claimed more than 4,400 lives. The fund’s donation total more than doubled after two donors handed over more than…
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Divers clear marine trash to protect new Phuket reef
PHUKET: More than 100 volunteer divers yesterday recovered more than 200 kilograms of trash from the waters off Nai Yang Beach in an underwater cleanup operation aimed at protecting a new reef system there. The divers hail from Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi and Trang, explained Monrudee Gettuphan, director of Phuket International Airport. “Yesterday, the divers cleaned the area in front…
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Former national security chief denies forced dispersal of red shirts in 2010
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former national security chief denies forced dispersal of red shirts in 2010 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: There was no forced dispersal of anti-government protesters back in 2010 – they just left by themselves, Thawil Pliensri, then secretary-general of the National Security Council, testified yesterday.…
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Govt earmarks B100mn for Nepal; emergency team flies out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt earmarks B100mn for Nepal; emergency team flies out The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The government yesterday earmarked 100 million baht for agencies to use for relief efforts in Nepal, while 56mn baht was collected in donations from the public as of yesterday via different…
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Nepal quake victims still stranded, PM says toll could be 10,000
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal quake victims still stranded, PM says toll could be 10,000 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: People stranded in remote villages and towns across Nepal were still waiting for aid and relief to arrive on Tuesday, four days after a devastating earthquake destroyed buildings and roads…
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Indonesia executes drug convicts, sparks anger from Australia, Brazil
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia executes drug convicts, sparks anger from Australia, Brazil Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Indonesian firing squad executed eight convicted drug-traffickers from several countries today, prompting Australia to recall its envoy to Jakarta and bringing an angry reaction from Brazil. The leaders of Australia and…
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Thousands of police descend on Baltimore to enforce curfew after riots
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands of police descend on Baltimore to enforce curfew after riots Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: As night falls on Baltimore on Tuesday, thousands of police and National Guard troops fanned out to enforce a new curfew and prevent further violence as the mayor fended off…
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Tour company pulls down Phuket “marine life abuse’ video
PHUKET: Intense public criticism has forced a Bangkok tour company to remove a video showing sea-walking tourists handling marine creatures at Coral Island, off Phuket’s southeastern coast, from its Facebook page. Gift Box Travel, which sells package tours to Phuket, posted the controversial video on its Facebook page (click here) last Friday. The video showed tourists on a sea-walking tour…
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Phuket’s notorious Patong Hill road gets B25mn safety makeover
PHUKET: The Phuket Highways Office will close a 200-meter section of the outside westbound lane over the top of Patong Hill in order to repave the road and complete safety improvements at the notorious site. The lane will be closed from tomorrow through Sunday, confirmed Samak Luedwonghad, director of the Phuket Highways Office. “Warning signs have been installed to inform…
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Broken Phuket CCTV fail to capture footage of fatal hit-and-run suspect
PHUKET: The CCTV network at the Heroines’ Monument is undergoing maintenance following the failure to capture the licence plate number of a white pick-up truck that was involved in a fatal hit-and-run in Phuket on Saturday night. “The entire CCTV system there was broken, so we have no clues as to where the truck went or what its licence plate…
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Inside job: Police arrest Phuket spa robbers
PHUKET: Four suspects, including one spa employee, have been arrested for their involvement in the armed robbery of Imperial Spa earlier this month in Phuket Town. Two armed men stormed into the spa on April 5, robbing the staff at gunpoint and knifepoint of 500,000 baht before riding off on a motorbike with a third accomplice (story here). About 10…
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Phuket beachfront roadside vendors given eviction order
PHUKET: Vendors with stalls along the beachfront road at Nai Thon have been given two weeks to leave, or face legal action. The move follows Tah Chat Chai Police officers delivering verbal warnings yesterday. Formal eviction orders are expected to be issued today, Surachuai Sannoo, chief of Sirinath National Park, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “Once they receive the…
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Baltimore erupts in riots, National Guard called in
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Baltimore erupts in riots, National Guard called in Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Baltimore erupted in violence on Monday as hundreds of rioters looted stores, burned buildings and injured at least 15 police officers following the funeral of a 25-year-old black man who died after he…
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B200mn of African tusks seized in raid
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community B200mn of African tusks seized in bonded warehouse raid The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Customs Department seized a total of 511 tusks, weighing 3.1 tonnes and worth 200 million baht, from a Laos-bound container at a private company’s bonded warehouse on Saturday. Natural Resources…
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Phuket gold buyer dodges counterfeit money charge
PHUKET: No charges are being pressed after a counterfeit note was used by a local business owner in the purchase of 180,000 baht worth of gold. Weerachai Apichattakul, 36, who regularly buys gold bars for trade, withdrew 200,000 baht from the Kasikorn bank Thepkrasattri branch this morning. “I had no idea that the banknote was fake,” Mr Weeachai told the…
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Nepalis flee aftershocks, quake dead reaches 3,700
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepalis flee Kathmandu aftershocks, quake dead reaches 3,700 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands of Nepalis began fleeing the capital Kathmandu on Monday, terror-stricken by two days of powerful aftershocks and looming shortages of food and water after an earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people.…
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Catch and cull: Phuket taxi cheats under fire
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) is appealing for cheated or abused taxi passengers to file complaints. “Without a complaint, there is little we can do to ensure that passengers are being taken care of properly,” PLTO chief Terayout Prasertphol told the Phuket Gazette today. The call for complaints to be filed follows last Thursday’s announcement…
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Migrant workers injured as pick-up truck flips in Phuket
PHUKET: Six Myanmar workers were injured, one seriously, when the pick-up truck they were riding in the back of flipped on a curve at Cape Yamu, on Phuket’s east coast, yesterday. “One of the six was seriously injured, and could not talk or move,” said Lt Col Sanit Nukong of the Thalang Police. The pick-up truck was heading from the…
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Russian man survives crash in tree, garden wipeout
PHUKET: A Russian man survived crashing his car into a tree on Srisoonthorn Road while heading to Cherng Talay early this morning. When police arrived at the scene at about 3am, Kirill Abolemov, 27, had no visible injuries, but his white Toyota Fortuner had seriously damaged a tree and garden. “Mr Abolemov could not answer any questions at the scene.…
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Phuket sets up Nepal disaster-relief fund
PHUKET: A network of donation centers have been set up throughout Phuket to help victims of the earthquake in Nepal. Donations can be made at Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket Town, Phuket Red Cross Center at Saphan Hin and at any government offices on the island. A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck west of the ancient Nepali capital of Kathmandu on…
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Malaysia foils Islamic State attack amid Asean meet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia says foils plan by suspected militants to attack capital Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysian police have arrested 12 people linked to the militant group Islamic State and seized explosives, foiling a plan to attack several locations in and around the capital, which is hosting…
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World rallies to help Nepal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World rallies on social media to help Nepal The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that rocked Nepal’s capital Kathmandu and its surrounds on Saturday – resulting in a death toll nearing 1,900 yesterday – the assistance from countries, humanitarian organizations, companies and…
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Temple banned from making money off tigers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Temple banned from making money off tigers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: THE controversial “Tiger Temple” has been banned from charging tourists to visit dozens of big cats in their care, the parks department has said, following a dispute between monks and officials over the…
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Warrants obtained for five men over Samui car-bomb
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Warrants obtained for five men wanted over Samui car-bomb The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police yesterday obtained arrest warrants for five suspects accused of carrying out the Central Festival car-bomb attack on Koh Samui earlier this month. The five men have been identified as Asmin…
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At least four killed as 7.9 earthquake rocks Nepal
NEPAL: A 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck west of the ancient Nepali capital of Kathmandu today causing buildings to collapse, injuring many and leaving a pall of dust over the city, witnesses said. The initial unconfirmed death toll was at least four but could be expected to rise significantly as Kathmandu’s decrepit buildings, crisscrossed by narrow alleys, are home to large…
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Bomb squad diffuses cosmetics bag panic in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Fears that an abandoned bag might contain a bomb sent an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit rushing to Patiphat Road near Jui Tui Shrine in Phuket Town last night. “Phuket City Police called us after they were notified by locals who found an abandoned bag that looked like it might contain a bomb, so we went immediately to the…
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