Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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Phuket Sport PSS Academy host local tournament
PHUKET: The Phuket Soccer Schools (PSS) Academy Program welcomed Kajonkiet FC, Bang Jo and a Thalang team to Thanyaura Sports and Leisure Club for a three-team training tournament on Saturday. The PSS Under-8 team played two matches against Bang Jo. In the first game, the U8s went 1-0 up with a goal by Daniel C, but were pegged back by…
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Phuket Andaman Culture Festival deferred until December
PHUKET: The deputy chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Department Sophon Kiemkarn today confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Andaman Culture Festival, which was due to start tomorrow, has been postponed until December. “We have yet to be informed of the exact dates when the festival will be held,” Mr Sophon told the Gazette. Thai Prime Minister Yingluck…
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Phuket Sports: F1 – Gremlins, graunches, gruffness, grit and glory
PHUKET: After qualifying the script for the Abu Dhabi race was clear; Lewis Hamilton would coast around to win. Sebastian Vettel, starting at the back would make no impression; Fernando Alonso would take his customary third, while Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button would take some good points. It would be boring, but could open up both championships. I had fortified…
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Futsal World Cup: Thailand may still qualify for second round despite losing
PHUKET: Despite losing two of their group stage matches, hosts of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, Thailand, still have a chance to make history by advancing to the second round of the prestigious tournament. If Thailand does advance, it would be the first time in its four appearances. Going into the match last with a world ranking of 13,…
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Phuket Sports: IronKids by the kids
PHUKET: In the build up to IronKids 2012 on December 1, the Phuket Gazette interviewed six participants who will be featured throughout November. The first IronKid is 13-year-old Malaysian, Zoe Bowden. Phuket Gazette:Why are you competing in the IronKids competition?Zoe Bowden: To meet new people, to learn from others and also to have some exposure.Every time you go for a…
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Phuket Sports: BIS football tourney kicks-off tomorrow
PHUKET: British International School (BIS) Phuket opens its gates to the local and international community tomorrow, hosting for the eleventh year, the BIS Phuket International 7-a-side Football Tournament. Mr Rex Grey, event organizer and athletic director at BIS Phuket says: “We know from previous tournaments that competition will be keen, but first and foremost there is always good sportsmanship. We…
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The Andaman Culture Festival starts tomorrow
PHUKET: Six local provinces are preparing to host the Andaman Culture Festival. From tomorrow until Sunday the event will highlight the cultural identity of the region under the theme “Andaman – The World Experience”. Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa said that Minister Worawat Ua-Apinyakul has instructed the six coastal provinces of the region, which include Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi,…
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World Sports: Man Utd through; Celtic hold-up Barca
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World sporting news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Barca stunned by Celtic as United reach last 16 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Barcelona wasted their first chance to reach the Champions League last 16 after a surprise defeat by Celtic but Manchester United edged through and six-goal Bayern Munich rocketed closer to progression…
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Patong Hill road repairs on hold until March
PHUKET: Phuket Highways Office Director Samak Luedwonghad has revealed that the much-anticipated 22-million-baht permanent repairs to Patong Hill road may not begin until March. The section of road, just west of the Chinese shrine at the top of the hill, first collapsed during heavy rains last October, then again in early May with the advent of this year’s monsoon season.…
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Phuket dugong dies from hit by boat propeller
PHUKET: A dugong spotted injured off Cape Yamu, on Phuket’s east coast, last Saturday has died from its injuries after suffering severe cuts to its head and body inflicted by a boat propeller.Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the Marine Endangered Species Unit at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC), told the Phuket Gazette that the sea cow was an adult female…
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President Obama survives re-election
PHUKET: President Barack Obama rolled to re-election and a second term in the White House on Tuesday, defeating Republican challenger Mitt Romney and overcoming deep doubts about his handling of the US economy.Obama defeated Romney in a series of key swing states despite a weak economic recovery and persistently high unemployment as US voters decided to stick with the first…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Do or die for Thailand and Paraguay
PHUKET: It’s do or die for the Thailand national futsal squad, who are set to play Paraguay in their final group stage match of the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012. To be played at Bangkok’s Huamark Indoor Stadium this evening, the match-up is certain to be tense and full of high energy as both sides fight for passage onto the…
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Phuket Police impostor arrested, says he stole B1.5mn in “donations’
PHUKET: Police on Monday arrested a man for impersonating a police officer after he was caught in a sting operation soliciting 8,500 baht from a “victim” who was asked to pay for a dinner hosted by Phuket police chief Choti Chavaviwat.Chaowaroj Jangjob, 44, was arrested near Phun Phol Plaza in Phuket Town after police received a report from a person,…
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World Sports: Green Moon gives great feeling
PHUKET: Green Moon thundered down the straight to win the A$6.2 million (192 million baht) Melbourne Cup today, upsetting a host of highly-fancied foreign entrants to bring Australia’s most coveted racing prize back into local hands. The Robert Hickmott-trained stallion charged to the front with 300 meters to the line and held off fast-finishing runner-up Fiorente to win the two-mile…
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KBank issues ATM advisory to customers
PHUKET: Following the arrest of two Bulgarian men for “skimming” customer card details from a Kasikornbank (KBank) ATM in Karon, KBank has issued a statement to the Phuket Gazette calling for all its customers who suspect that their card details have been hacked to contact the bank immediately. The bank has the authority to temporarily stop the ATM and freeze…
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World Sports: Melbourne Cup overshadowed by betting scandal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World sporting news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Betting scandal overshadows Melbourne Cup Reuters PHUKET: Australian jockey Damien Oliver, who will ride Americain in the Melbourne Cup later today, has admitted to placing an illegal bet on a rival horse and could face a lengthy ban, local media reported. The allegations have cast…
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One Burmese dead, four seriously poisoned by “generator fumes’
PHUKET: One Burmese laborer is dead and four others are still in hospital after they spent the night guarding a construction site property, including a running generator in a closed room, police say.“Burmese told us that the five workers were ordered to stay in the office to look after equipment because items were being stolen,” said Lt Col Yongyuth Krongmalai…
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World Sports: Champions League preview
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World sporting news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Barca, United, Porto, Malaga are almost there Reuters PHUKET: Barcelona, Manchester United, Porto and unlikely contenders Malaga can book their tickets to the Champions League knockout stages by winning in midweek. The quartet have all won the opening three group games and if they win…
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Bulgarian ATM hackers arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Police last night arrested two Bulgarian men who were caught removing a “skimming device” from an ATM in Karon, on Phuket’s west coast.Tourist Police moved in and arrested Tervel Kaloyanov Dimitrov, 31, and Ancho Stankov, 33, at about 8pm while they were removing the panel from a Kasikornbank (KBank) ATM machine on Patak Road.The men used a “skimmer”…
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Americans, Australians injured in Phuket-bound tour bus crash
PHUKET: A tour bus carrying Australian and American tourists heading from Krabi to Phuket flipped and slammed into a wall of a house in Phang Nga early yesterday afternoon. Seven of the 18 tourists on the bus were taken to hospital. The rest were administered first aid by rescue workers and then taken to their hotel in Patong. Officers at…
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Futsal World Cup: Thailand falls to Ukraine
BANGKOK: Reinforced by a loud and synergetic home crowd, the ‘War Elephants’ climbed back from a five goal deficit, only to fall 3-5 to Ukraine in the two sides’ second group-stage match of the 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup. Played last night at a full-capacity Huamark Indoor Stadium in East Bangkok, the match’s first half was dominated by the world’s…
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FIFA Futsal World Cup: Day 3 roundup
EXCLUSIVE REPORT BY STEVEN LAYNEBANGKOK: The Futsal World Cup 2012 concluded the first of three rounds in the group stage, with the final eight teams in groups E and F playing their opening matches last night in Bangkok.It was the first night since the tournament kicked off on Thursday that there were no shared points – only winners and losers.Guatemala,…
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Phuket land raids spread, two resorts seized in Krabi land probe
PHUKET: Two beachfront resorts on Koh Si Boya, an island just offshore from Krabi Town and across the bay from Phuket, were raided and seized for allegedly encroaching on a protected forest area. The Krabi raids come after 366 officials were named to carry out a huge investigation into every plot of privately owned land along the border of Phuket’s…
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Human Rights Commission investigates Racha Yai land titles
PHUKET: The Human Rights Commission of Thailand is investigating claims by villagers on Koh Racha Yai that the Phuket Land Office is refusing to issue title deeds for plots that families there have been living on for generations. The land in question is not in a national park and is not registered as any type of protected area. The villagers…
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A Muslim voice lost in translation
SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Seven banners have appeared in Rawai in front of Muslim shops, houses and even a mosque. The English words dominating the banners are jarring to many. However, the Thai translation and the meaning behind the signs tells a very different story. The Phuket Gazette‘s Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai reports. The signs appeared overnight in a Rawai Muslim community with…
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International Sport: FIFA Futsal World Cup gains momentum on day two
BANGKOK: A total of 31 goals were scored in four high-intensity, memorable matches taking place on day 2 of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Thailand.In the first match, played yesterday evening at Bangkok’s Nimibutr Stadium, world number 3 Italy opened its Group D campaign in fine form, making easy work of Australia, ranked 30th, with a final score of 9-1.The…
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Phuket B2.7mn KBank robber arrested, confesses
PHUKET: Police late this afternoon arrested Anusit Kaewmookda, the man wanted for the armed robbery of a Kasikornbank (KBank) branch north of Phuket Town on Wednesday. A reported 2.7 million baht was stolen in the heist. Police moved in and made the arrest soon after 5pm at an apartment behind Surakul Stadium where Mr Anusit was in hiding with one…
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Phuket Court to try Swedish “killing’ duo separately
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Court today ruled that it will hear the cases of Swedish nationals Johan Sebastian Ljung and Tommy Viktor Soderlund separately. The pair both stand charged with the premeditated murder of Maksim Schantz, collaboration in robbery and carrying a knife and an unlicensed firearm with ammunition on August 2 last year. The court made its ruling after…
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Phuket Sports: Red Bull’s Indian take-away keeps them ahead
PHUKET: The 2012 season was McLaren’s to lose, and they lost it. In a smoggy and boring Indian GP, Red Bull reaffirmed its control. As in Korea, Sebastian Vettel dominated for the second successive year. Mark Webber had a KERS problem, so Fernando Alonso managed second place for Ferrari. McLaren chose the wrong tyre strategy and underperformed until they switched…
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Destitute British man in death plunge
PHUKET: A financially destitute 64-year-old British national took a plunge from a radio mast at the Phuket Tourist Police Station in Phuket Town this morning.Tourist Police Sgt Maj Phayong Tipsombat, who was on duty at the station, told the Phuket Gazette that about 7:15am he heard shouting from the back of the police station and went to investigate. On discovering…
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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