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Sponsored 10 Best restaurants in Asoke, Bangkok
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Southern stars to headline Phuket’s Wat Chalong Fair
PHUKET: Famed Southern Thai singers and artists including top-billing performer Bow Wee will headline at the annual Wat Chalong Fair, which starts on January 30.Other stars performing at the seven-day event include Thai country music (luk-thung) singers Det Issara, Luang Kai, Tai Orathai and Ekachai Sriwichai.“Everyone is welcome to join the fun. There will be a lot of food, entertainment,…
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Video Report: Body of Phuket protest victim receives hero’s welcome
PHUKET: The body of Prakong Choochan, who died from injuries sustained when an explosive device was thrown at anti-government protesters in Bangkok, was welcomed home to Phuket by over 100 people lining Thepkrasattri Road this morning. The crowd waved Thai flags and blew whistles as his caravan passed by. “The body left Bangkok at about 9pm last night, escorted by…
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Phuket Court denies bail for Garry Halpin, former Tourist Police Volunteer
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Court denied bail for long-term expat and former Tourist Police Volunteer Garry Halpin, who is being held at Phuket Provincial Prison. “Mr Halpin was denied bail by the court and had also been denied bail by the Chalong Police on December 16,” said Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Jumroon Plaidoung. Police are waiting for drug test results…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Two men said by Islamist militants to have carried out suicide attacks in south Russia appeared in a video donning explosive belts and warning Vladimir Putin to expect a “present” at the Sochi Winter Olympics from fighters…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.N. chief Ban withdraws Iran invite for Syria peace talks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.N. chief Ban disinvites Iran from Syria peace talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon withdrew a last-minute invitation to Iran to attend peace talks on Syria on Monday after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott this week’s conference if President Bashar al-Assad’s main sponsor…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Army-police rift widens; Yingluck ponders martial law; Rice farmers join PDRC; Rhino horn for Hanoi bagged
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army-police rift widens The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Rifts between the police and the military appeared to be widening yesterday, as the Army commander in chief asked the national police chief to speed up investigation into recent attacks and a senior naval commander threatened to sue the…
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Phuket’s “invisible moorings’ sink B10mn luxury cruiser
PHUKET: The luxury charter cruise boat Lady Andaman sank after striking a concrete mooring in the approach channel to Chalong Pier late yesterday afternoon.The mooring punched a hole in the hull of the Phuket motor yacht as it was returning from Coral Island with 32 tourists on board, explained Australian boat owner “Sando”, who declined to be named in full.“It…
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Phuket police chase ends in fiery crash, suspects flee without handgun
PHUKET: A police chase ended in flames yesterday after two men blew through a Phuket City Police checkpoint.Officers pursued the suspects’ silver Honda Civic until the driver took a sharp turn into Soi Nimit 1 in Phuket Town and crashed into the side of a house. The men managed to escape the vehicle after an engine fire erupted, explained Lt…
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Qatar Airways launches three day sale for Phuket international flights
PHUKET: From today until Wednesday, January 22, Qatar Airways is offering some irresistible deals on international flights this year, with round trip fares on offer for as low as 1,700 baht!For these three days only, as part of its “New Year, New Journey three day sale”, Qatar airlines is offering deals of up to 50% off economy class and 25%…
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Phuket protesters to give Bangkok Shutdown victim a hero’s return
PHUKET: Anti-government protesters will mass at Sarasin Bridge tomorrow night to give a hero’s welcome to the remains of Prakong Choochan. Mr Prakong, 46, died early Saturday morning from injuries sustained when an explosive device was thrown at protesters during a street march in Bangkok on Friday (story here). “His body is being kept at Wat Thepsirin in Bangkok. It…
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Flames engulf Phuket housing complex near Kajonkietsuksa School
PHUKET: A fire erupted in a Phuket housing complex off Chao Fa West Road this morning about 500 meters from Kajonkietsuksa School in Wichit (map here). The Phuket City Fire Department was notified of the blaze at about 10am. “The Wichit Fire Department called us, and we rushed to the scene,” explained one firefighter. The fire swept through the building,…
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Winner of Phuket Red Cross top prize steps forward at last
PHUKET: The top prize winner of the Phuket Red Cross lucky draw didn’t know for several days that he had won because he didn’t check his tickets. “I never expected to win,” said Jittipong Sungthong, 34, a science and technology teacher at Phuket Rajabhat University. “I buy these tickets every year to show my support for the Red Cross. This…
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Phuket garbage truck downs streetlight near airport
PHUKET: The driver of a garbage truck lost control of his vehicle on the main route to the airport yesterday afternoon, knocking over a light pole on his way to landing the truck in a ditch, injuring himself and his helper. Theerawut Nasalhae, the 19-year-old driver of the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) garbage truck, was returning from a run…
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Phuket Gazette World News: UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syria’s political opposition said on Monday it will withdraw from international peace talks scheduled this week unless United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon retracts an invitation to Iran, President Bashar al-Assad’s main…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Quake measuring 6.3 strikes NZ’s north island
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Quake measuring 6.3 strikes NZ’s north island Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: An earthquake measuring 6.3 magnitude struck New Zealand’s north island on Monday, 63 km (40 miles) southeast of the town of Palmerston, the U.S. Geological Society said.The quake, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles),…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. spy chief questions whether Russia behind Snowden leaks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. lawmaker investigates whether Russia behind Snowden’s leaks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The head of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he is investigating whether former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden had help from Russia in stealing and revealing U.S. government secrets.“I believe…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Second grenade attack in Bangkok injures 28; Agitators blamed for Friday blast; Rice farmers warn of final showdown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Second grenade attack The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Some 28 people, including a number of anti-government protesters, were wounded yesterday afternoon when two grenades were thrown at a rally site at Victory Monument.Seven victims sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment at four hospitals. One of the…
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Phuket wife grieves death of Bangkok bomb victim
PHUKET: Tippayao Choochan, the grief-stricken wife of the Phuket taxi driver who died in the Bangkok bombing (story here), spoke with reporters this morning. “This was the fourth time Prakong attended the protests in Bangkok. Every time Suthep called for people to come, he joined them,” Mrs Tippayao said. “My husband desperately wanted the right things for the political system…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Phuket taxi driver killed in Bangkok bombing
PHUKET: A Phuket protester was the first to die in the “Bangkok Shutdown” after an unidentified person lobbed a bomb at a procession of demonstrators yesterday (story here). Prakong Choochan, 46 years old and a member of the Royal Paradise taxi rank, died at 1:57am from complications brought on by severe injuries sustained during the bomb attack. Bomb shrapnel pierced…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Phuket Opinion: Stiffer penalties needed for those going for gold
Chaiyut Prayoonyong, 65, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is the president of the Phuket Gold Shop Association. The owner of three gold shops on the island, Mr Chaiyut has over 40 years’ experience as a gold trader.Here, he talks about the steps gold shop owners should take to protect their shops against robberies, and suggests that the government create stricter punishments…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Phuket Town shop fire doused
PHUKET: Police presume an electrical short circuit started a fire that broke out in a small ceramics store in Phuket Town late last night. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused an estimated 50,000 baht in damage. Two fire teams were called to the scene on Bangkok Road (map here), at 11:10pm. “Firefighters took 30 minutes to put…
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