News
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Marines spearhead Phi Phi Island beach cleanup campaign
PHUKET: About 60 officers took to the beaches of the popular party island Phi Phi, east of Phuket, today to talk with seaside vendors and inspect buildings suspected of encroaching on national park land. “We only inspected the buildings. Tomorrow, we will file a complaint against any buildings we believe to be encroaching on park land,” Capt Prinyatham Poonpitagtham of…
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Bread truck kills man crossing Phuket road
PHUKET: A man was killed today in Phuket after being hit by a speeding Farmhouse delivery truck while he was trying to cross the road. The van, belonging to President Bakery Public Co Ltd, was delivering the well-known Farmhouse brand of bread when it struck the man on Thepkrasattri Road. “The victim, an unidentified male, is thought to be in…
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Phuket’s taxi mafia ‘our only target’, says Region 8 commander
PHUKET: Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Paween Pongsirin today affirmed that his officers’ mandate was to crack down on Phuket’s taxi mafia, not to tackle any corrupt activities allegedly perpetrated by the island’s police officers. “My specific orders are to crack down on Phuket’s taxi mafia,” Maj Gen Paween said. “There are about 10 officers in my team who are…
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NCPO chief to consider lifting martial law in tourist destinations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NCPO chief to consider lifting martial law in tourist destinations The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: First Army Area Commander Lt Gen Thirachai Nakwanit revealed today that he would propose to National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha to consider lifting martial…
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The magic of compounding interest
PHUKET: This column has previously discussed compounding interest and the magic it can work, and it is the main reason why it is so important to start saving early in life rather than later. Assuming a fixed amount is desired by a certain retirement age – which is not actually recommended financial planning, but serves for demonstration purposes – this…
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Bioplastics break into local market
PHUKET: Dairy Home, a leading dairy producer, has agreed to use bioplastics for all of its yoghurt packaging, in a deal struck with NatureWorks Asia Pacific, an affiliate of PTT Global Chemical, marking significant progress in PTTGC’s aspiration to turn Thailand into a hub of the bioplastics industry in Asia. Dairy Home Managing Director Pruitti Kerdchoochuen said he expected other…
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BISP students to train like the tennis champs
PHUKET: Even if you’ve never held a tennis racket and you don’t follow tennis news, you probably know the name of Rafael Nadal. Ranked number one by ATP, Olympic Gold medalist in Beijing, eight-time winner of the French Open, two-time Wimbledon Champion, two-time US Open Champion… the list goes on. But Nadal isn’t the only Spaniard to conquer the world…
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New Muay Thai stadium to open in Phuket
PHUKET: A new Muay Thai boxing stadium named Taied Stadium will open in Chalong on September 18.The stadium is located at the heart of the island’s Muay Thai training scene on Soi Taied in Chalong, on the same site as a temporary stadium that hosted several fights earlier this year in order to gauge spectators’ interest. The stadium’s owner, Tawatchai…
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India crush feeble England to win one-day series
PHUKET: India’s Shikhar Dhawan smashed a six to seal a crushing nine-wicket victory over hapless England in the fourth one-day international in Birmingham on Tuesday. The tourists cruised to a win that gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after another feeble England batting display in which the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 206 at Edgbaston.…
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HRW report exposes ‘wretched conditions’ for migrant children
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community HRW report exposes ‘wretched conditions’ for migrant children The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai immigration Police provide inadequate space, inadequate access to nutrition, inadequate education, exercise and bail rights to migrant children in detention, the latest report on the issue by Human Rights Watch (HRW)…
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Hong Kong activists say Beijing ‘brutally strangled’ democracy, vow action
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong activists say Beijing ‘brutally strangled’ democracy, vow action Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A pro-democracy movement that has threatened to blockade Hong Kong’s financial district has said Beijing “brutally strangled” its fight for full democracy and vowed to take action. On Monday, Hong Kong…
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Five more clinics found to be involved in illegal surrogacy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Five more clinics found to be involved in illegal surrogacy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Of the five new clinics found offering illegal surrogacy services, four appear to have acted as middlemen in seeking clients, while the fifth one was found to be in clear…
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Islamic state releases video of beheading of second U.S. hostage
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Islamic state releases video of beheading of second U.S. hostage Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Islamic State released a video on Tuesday purporting to show the beheading of American hostage Steven Sotloff, raising the stakes in its confrontation with Washington over U.S. air strikes on…
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Woman from Guinea cleared in Ebola tests
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Woman from Guinea cleared in Ebola tests The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Laboratory tests have cleared any concern that a woman travelling from Ebola-hit Guinea may have developed the deadly infection. The 24-year-old woman had been under quarantine for a day pending test results. Dr…
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Northern floods recede, but more on the way
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Northern floods recede, but more on the way The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Of 15 flood-hit provinces, only Phichit, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces remain inundated, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said yesterday. The department’s chief Chatchai Phromlert said that since August 26,…
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West Africa struggles to contain Ebola as warnings and deaths mount
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community West Africa struggles to contain Ebola as warnings and deaths mount Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The United Nations said on Tuesday the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa was causing food shortages in one of the world’s poorest regions and the U.S.…
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Phuket police officers accused of extortion to be formally charged in two weeks
PHUKET: An official from the Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) has announced that his officers need two more weeks to complete an investigation into three Chalong Police officers for their alleged abuse of power. “We are nearly ready to press formal charges and hand the case to the public prosecutor, but we need about two more weeks to finish our…
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Police raid offices of Phuket Pisona Group kingpins
PHUKET: Police this morning swooped in on the offices of the Pisona Group on Phra Baramee Road in Patong, home of the central holding company belonging to former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and his son Prab. Officers led by Maj Gen Paween Pongsirin, the Region 8 Police deputy commander who has spearheaded the purge of Phuket’s taxi mafia, seized one…
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Federer goes for another win under the lights
PHUKET: Roger Federer will get to break out his trademark all-black outfit again on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Swiss, five times the champion in New York, takes on Spain’s 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarter-finals, having won 24 of his 25 matches under the lights at Flushing…
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Dolphinarium company calls meeting with Phuket vice governor
PHUKET: A representative of Phuket Aqua Project Co Ltd, the company that is building the Nemo dolphinarium in Chalong, held a closed-door meeting with Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa this morning. “We have heard that many people do not agree with our project,” the representative, who declined to be named, told the Phuket Gazette after the meeting. “People need to…
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Manchester United confirm Falcao loan deal
PHUKET: Manchester United confirmed they had signed Colombian striker Radamel Falcao on a one-year loan deal from Monaco after the transfer window closed on Monday. “#mufc is delighted to announce Radamel Falcao has joined on a 1-year loan from Monaco with an option to buy,” the Premier League team said on its Twitter feed. Falcao was in Manchester for a…
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Phuket taxi mafia suspects Pisona Group’s Pian Keesin and the “Pisona Seven’ out on bail
PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, his sons “Prab” and Pattawee, and five other members of the Keesin-owned Pisona Group have been released on bail. Wanted on charges of extortion and criminal activities carried out by a criminal association (story here), Mr Pian and five other suspects from Pisona Group surrendered to officers at the Royal Thai Navy base at…
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AirAsia X to fly to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia X to fly to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai AirAsia X is spreading its wings to Japan to tap both the leisure and business segments using Thailand as its gateway to the Southeast Asia region. CEO Nadda Buranasiri said yesterday that…
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Britain says ‘deplores’ Israel decision to claim West Bank land
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Britain says ‘deplores’ Israel decision to claim West Bank land Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The British government said on Monday it deplored an Israeli decision to appropriate a large swathe of land inside the occupied West Bank, saying the move would seriously damage Israel’s international…
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No hotline for Phuket’s roaming metered taxis – yet
PHUKET: Though roaming metered taxis officially hit the streets of Phuket today, there is no metered-taxi hotline or call service available, confirmed Phuket Land Transport Office chief Terayout Prasertpol to the Phuket Gazette. “We are already planning a hotline, as well as a call service at the airport, but at the moment the number of taxis is just too small…
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Time to fight for the rights of Phuket’s Myanmar migrant workers
Htoo Chit, 49, from Kayah, Myanmar, is the executive director and founder of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), based in Phang Nga. FED is an NGO that works to promote and protect the rights of migrant Burmese workers. Htoo was recognized as an Ashoka Fellow in 2008 for his work to empower a new generation of migrants by…
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Looking out for those who look out for our Phuket community
Benjawan Tamphanuwat, 66, from Bangkok, is the president of the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation. She first served as head of the organization from 2000-2002, then took up the post again in 2009. Here, she talks about the importance of maintaining a positive, productive and safe working environment so that rescue workers, both paid and volunteer, can work together as a harmonious…
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Standing together against Phuket dolphinarium
PHUKET: With several advertisements boasting discounted tickets and all the hype of a new and exciting venture, the Phuket Dolphinarium is on track to open. The community of Phuket will add a new tourist venue that will try to cater to people’s love of marine animals, and to the growing tourist trade from Northern Europe and Asia. Is this what…
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Officials under fire for allegedly issuing illegal Phuket land documents
PHUKET: More than a dozen officials suspected of illegally issuing land titles in Phuket are now under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), confirmed an NACC official on Saturday. “Sirinath National Park officers filed complaints with the Thalang Police. We then received a list of 16 officials that work for various government departments,” explained Prasart Pongsivapai of the NACC’s…
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Casillas wants improvement from ‘horrible’ Real Madrid
PHUKET: Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has called for a big improvement after the European champions suffered a surprise early-season setback at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. Real were missing injured top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo for their second La Liga outing of the campaign but quickly went 2-0 ahead at the Anoeta in San Sebastian before…
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