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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
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Phuket Sports: Chelsea favorite for FA Cup
PHUKET: Chelsea have been made favorites by bookmakers to secure their seventh FA Cup title following their victory over Portsmouth. The scoreline flattered the Blues who struggled in a dour first half to breakdown determined defensive play by the visitors. Just after the break however, Juan Mata received a low cross from Florent Malouda and swept the ball past Stephen…
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Bangkok terror alert: Deputy PM Chalerm denies threat
Following US Embassy warning to Americans, Thai authorities confirm arrest of suspect linked to Hezbollah PHUKET: Senior Thai officials scrambled yesterday to deny that Thailand faced an immediate terrorist threat, following a dramatic warning by the US Embassy to Americans living in Bangkok. The Thai authorities, led by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, however, confirmed the arrest of a terrorist…
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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…
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Phuket Police investigate electrician beaten, strangled
PHUKET: Phuket Police are investigating the apparent strangling murder of an electrician whose decomposing body was discovered in his rented room this morning. Thalang Police at 8am were informed by a landlord of a foul odor emanating from one of his rental homes opposite the TOT offices on Dom Chom Tao Road (Route 4030). At the scene, one unit in…
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BREAKING NEWS: US Embassy warns of possible terrorist attack in Bangkok
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok today issued an urgent alert for its citizens in Bangkok of possible terrorist attack. The alert said foreign terrorists may be currently looking to conduct attacks against tourist areas in Bangkok in the near future. US citizens are urged to exercise caution when visiting public areas where large groups of Western tourists gather in…
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Phuket Business: Trade, investment and green innovation on the up
PHUKET: Trade in Phuket flourished in 2011, while prospects for new investment and ground-breaking, eco-friendly innovation on the island are looking quite good in the year ahead. The latest 2011-2012 import-export figures released by the Phuket Customs House indicate that the island’s economy continued to grow over the past several years – mostly thanks to one viable yet heated commodity.…
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FC Phuket names Suphat “James’ as player-coach for season closer
PHUKET: FC PHUKET have named defender Suphat “James” Aonthong as player-coach for their last Division 1 league match on Saturday, an away fixture against Chainat FC. Traveling by road, the team left Phuket yesterday at 4pm and arrived in Chainat at 6am today and are scheduled for a 5pm training session at Khao Plong Stadium. Without a dedicated coach to…
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Phuket Media Watch: Cabinet to meet in Phuket; PM’s son to participate in celebrations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Mobile Meetings in all 77 Povinces Phuket Gazette / The Nation The Cabinet is expected to hold mobile meetings in all 77 provinces, including Phuket, in order to stay in touch with each locality, Deputy Prime Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said yesterday, voicing confidence that political stability…
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Phuket Media Watch: Marines urinate on corpses; Myanmar signs ceasefire
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. launches probe into video of U.S. Marines urinating on Afghan corpses Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The United States government yesterday announced it has launched an investigation into a YouTube video (WARNING: Graphic content – Phuket Gazette Editors) which shows U.S. soldiers urinating on…
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UPDATE: Phuket Police suspect land issues in murder of local journalist
PHUKET: Police suspect reporting on illegal issuance of titles for prime Phuket land as a possible motive for the assassination of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn in broad daylight during rush hour on a major Phuket thoroughfare today. The news was announced at a meeting of some of Phuket’s top police officers this morning. “We held the meeting to discuss how…
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Thai Customs ‘YouTube slapper’ faces probe
PHUKET: The senior Thai Customs official caught on video slapping a security worker has been transferred and faces a misconduct investigation following the explosive reaction to his antics being posted on YouTube. Suvarnabhumi Airport Police yesterday issued a summons for 55-year-old Sombat Chatchaiwaiyawit to present himself for questioning after a video was posted to YouTube showing him assaulting an airport…
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Czech beauties arrive in Phuket
PHUKET: The final 14 candidates for the Miss Czech Republic Beauty Pageant 2012 landed in Phuket yesterday ahead of a weekend of public activities and photo shoots. On clearing Customs, the 14 “beauties” were given flowers and welcomed to Phuket by Wannaprapa Suksomboon, deputy director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Phuket, and Phuket International Airport Director…
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Phuket Police step up staff drug testing at late night venues
PHUKET: Phuket City Police yesterday drug tested 47 staff, including the general manager, at the Sure Garden restaurant in Phuket Town. The mass drug testing comes amid the ongoing furore over the axe attack on Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara, the general manager at the Sri panwa resort and son of Thai construction magnate Songkran Issara. Mr Vorasit suffered many serious wounds…
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Phuket Media Watch: ‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Doomsday Clock’ moves closer to midnight Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (BAS) on Tuesday announced it has moved its symbolic ‘Doomsday Clock’ a minute forward, bringing it five minutes to midnight as a result of ‘inadequate progress’ on nuclear…
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Phuket newsman killed in gun attack
PHUKET: A Phuket newsman was shot dead by a man riding pillion on a motorbike this morning. Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, 40, was driving with his wife to Provincial Hall in Phuket Town when the ambush was sprung. He had just pulled out of the entrance of Srisuchart Grandview onto Thepkrasattri Road and was intending to make a U-turn on…
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Blood donation in Phuket Town tomorrow
PHUKET: The Phuket Vocational College at Saphan Hin will hold a blood donation drive in honor of HM The King from 9am to 3pm tomorrow. The donation will be held at Building 5 at the school, which is easily reached by public transport due to its location at the southern terminus of Pink Bus Route 3. The drive is part…
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Phuket safe and sound after tsunami scare
PHUKET: The National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC), at 3am this morning, canceled the tsunami alert (not ‘warning’) that had been put in place as a result of an undersea earthquake off the west coast of Sumatra at 12:37am. Director Somsak Khaosuwan told the Phuket Gazette this morning, “The warning was canceled at about 3am as the predicted time for a…
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Phuket Red Cross Fair winner hands prize to his wife
PHUKET: The lucky man who won the grand prize of the Phuket Red Cross Fair lucky draw, a brand-new Honda City car worth 590,000 baht, today gave the vehicle to his wife for her 57th birthday. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha handed the keys to 58-year-old Prasut Ruengjiradthien yesterday. Mr Prasut is a Level 9 officer at the Phuket Provincial Electricity…
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Phuket Media Watch: Brief tsunami alert; stampede at university
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Powerful earthquake off Indonesia triggers brief tsunami alert Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A powerful earthquake struck off the Indonesian island of Sumatra early this morning, seismologists said, prompting a brief tsunami alert but causing no damage. The 7.1-magnitude earthquake at 12.37am Phuket time today,…
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Phuket petrol prices take a jump
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has confirmed with PTT gas stations in Phuket that the price rises on petrol and gasohol will be in effect on the island from 5am tomorrow. The prices of all benzine petrol and most forms of gasohol will increase by 40 satang (0.4 baht) per liter. The E85 form of “Gasohol 95” will increase by 20…
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Phuket hospital denies “deadly greed’ killed mum, 74
PHUKET: The director of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (OrBorJor) Hospital today denied accusations that his hospital was “unethical” in its practices, which a man yesterday formally alleged contributed to his mother’s death. Hospital Director Dr Chack Somana today refuted allegations leveled yesterday by Narongphon Suwanmosee, who claimed that the hospital refused to allow his mother, Pa Khongjean, to be…
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Phuket Prison ‘kingpin’ suspected in huge meth bust
PHUKET: Police have arrested three members of a major methamphetamine trafficking ring operating throughout Phuket that is allegedly masterminded by a ‘kingpin’ resident behind the walls of Phuket Provincial Prison, officials said today. Seized as evidence in the case was the biggest drug haul in Phuket in recent memory: 20,200 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills and 718 grams of ya ice…
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Phuket Media Watch: Nepali child beaten to death for stealing 10 rupees
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepali child beaten to death for stealing 10 rupees Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: An 11-year-old boy was beaten to death in western Nepal after he and his friend were caught stealing 10 rupees ($0.18) from a butcher, a local newspaper reported on yesterday. Jeevan…
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Phuket Business Briefs: new AirAsia route; Sri Lankan E-visa; Dollar rise; Wallace leaves
Trang welcomes new AirAsia routeThai AirAsia has announced regular flights between Bangkok and Trang commencing in the middle of January. Currently Nok Air and Orient Thai service the destination. Tourism in the southern area of Trang continues to struggle with low demand. Sri Lanka starts E-visa requirementDespite a drive to increase tourism numbers into post-war Sri Lanka, the country is…
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Phuket Media Watch: Iran sentences U.S. citizen to death
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran sentences alleged U.S. spy to death Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: An Iranian court yesterday sentenced a U.S. citizen to death on charges that he worked as a spy for the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), state-run media reported. 28-year-old Amir Mirzai Hekmati, who…
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Phuket Business: Peak season tourism spike sees limited hotel vacancy
PHUKET: Occupancy rates at hotels along Phuket’s beaches have averaged more than 90 per cent during the current peak period and are expected to remain at or near capacity well into 2012, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has announced. Bangornrat Shinaprayoon, head of the TAT regional office in Phuket Town, said the island’s tourism sector is bustling not only…
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Phuket Business: Year-end events inject B370mn into economy
PHUKET: A number of large events held in Phuket during the final month of 2011 are expected to have generated as much as 370 million baht in revenue, government officials were told recently. The news was announced at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall. Chaired by Phuket Governor Tri Aukaradacha, the meeting was attended by representatives from various government departments.…
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Phuket Live Wire: Recovering after New Year
PHUKET: Continuing my series where I try to answer the computer questions I hear most frequently here in Phuket, this week I’ll tackle a question I hear over and over again around Christmas and New Year: “How do I recover photos or video I’ve deleted?” People tend to take a lot of pictures around the end of the year, and…
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Seventh arrest made over Phuket “Pla-wan’ stabbing
PHUKET: Phuket Police have arrested another suspect in connection with the assault of Sri panwa resort general manager Vorasit ‘Pla-wan’ Issara and an arrest warrant has been issued for an eighth suspect in the case. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit Wattanavrangku yesterday updated the media about progress in the investigation, which must be concluded and forwarded to the court within…
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