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Southbound bypass closed at Samkong underpass
PHUKET: Southbound traffic at the Samkong underpass construction site is being diverted east toward Samkong and west toward Kathu after recent heavy rain wreaked havoc on a section of road alongside the site and cracked one of the underpass walls (story here). “Those who want to go straight on to Central Festival now have to turn left, drive through the…
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Wat Chalong Fair kicks off on February 7 [video]
PHUKET: It’s that time of year again. Phuket’s biggest annual temple fair, held at Wat Chalong, will kick off on February 7 to offer one week of local fare and entertainment. “There will be plenty of food vendors, circus rides, games and stalls set up at the fair. Everyone is more than welcome to come and enjoy themselves,” said Chaiwat…
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British, French journalists free in Burundi, one day after arrest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community British, French journalists free in Burundi, one day after arrest Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A British and a French journalist arrested during a sweep for rebels in flashpoint districts of the capital were released on Friday, a witness said. Moise Nkurunziza, deputy police spokesman, said…
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Chinese police break silence on missing Hong Kong bookseller
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese police break silence on missing Hong Kong bookseller Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Chinese police have made their first statement on the fate of one of five missing Hong Kong booksellers, believed by many to have been abducted by mainland agents, acknowledging widespread concerns but…
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Business Buzz: Maximize social media impact
PHUKET: When using social media, it is very important to establish exactly what it is that you want to achieve. It is also important to understand that each social media platform works differently and can achieve different things. Overall, there are a many purposes for which social media can be used, but the most common are branding, lead generation, information…
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Finance: Fancy a punt in the semiconductor market?
PHUKET: The semiconductor industry helps drive technological progress and yet many semiconductor stocks have lagged the performance of the broader technology sector recently. However, small cap MaxLinear, Inc (NYSE: MXL) is an exception as shares are up 134 per cent from the start of 2015 to November, plus shares rallied close to 28 per cent after the company reported third…
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Opinion: Ignorance stokes illegal tour guide problem
PHUKET: The recent arrest and threat of deportation and blacklisting of a tour guide from China comes as little surprise given the preponderance of guides from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ who operate illegally in Phuket. Tour guiding is one of the many occupations restricted for Thai nationals under the ‘Working of Alien Act’, which was promulgated in 2008. Regardless, foreign guides…
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Fishing boat slaves rescued in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket and Bangkok officials raided a dormitory in Koh Sireh yesterday to rescue 32 illegal Myanmar workers being held captive and forced to work without pay. Officials were alerted to the dormitory after a worker, named only as Nai, escaped from the fishing boat they were forced to work on and swam ashore to call relatives in Myanmar. “Mr…
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Another Phuket Boat Crash: Five Chinese tourists injured in speedboat
PHUKET: Five Chinese tourists were injured after two speedboats crashed off Koh Phi Phi yesterday . Banthita 9 and Leeloo 3, carrying a total of 80 tourists, collided near the cape of Phi Phi Lay at about 5pm, confirmed Phi Phi Police Chief Jetsada Junphum. “Of the five injured, one was taken to Mission Hospital with a broken arm, while…
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Chanotes issued in 2005 for Rawai sea gypsy land
PHUKET: Representatives from Baron World Trade Co Ltd presented a thick set of documents on Wednesday backing their claim to the land that is currently occupied by Rawai sea gypsies in Phuket. Among the documents presented by Chatree Madsatun, a representative from Baron World Trade, were four Chanote land titles (9613, 78116, 12616, 12592); a letter of permission from the…
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Breaking News: Phuket underpass damaged, roadway cracked
PHUKET: Heavy rains last night left a section of road running alongside the troubled Samkong Underpass, as well as one of its walls, heavily damaged. “Police and rescue workers were on site last night until about 2am to help with the traffic congestion caused by the damaged road,” Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Traffic Police told the…
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‘Plane debris’ washes up on Malaysian east coast
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Plane debris’ washes up on Malaysian east coast Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A metal object believed to be plane wreckage washed up on the Malaysian east coast on Wednesday, prompting speculation for the second time in a week that debris from missing Malaysian Airlines aircraft…
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China charges Canadian with spying, stealing state secrets
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China charges Canadian with spying, stealing state secrets Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Canada said on Thursday it was concerned and monitoring developments closely after China indicted a Canadian citizen detained since 2014 on charges of spying and stealing state secrets. Kevin Garratt was detained in…
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WHO says Zika virus spreads explosively, 4 million cases forecast
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community WHO says Zika virus spreads explosively, 4 million cases forecast Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Zika virus, linked to severe birth defects in thousands of babies in Brazil, is “spreading explosively” and could infect as many as 4 million people in the Americas, the World…
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Island readies for 17th annual Old Town Festival
PHUKET: The 17th annual Phuket Old Town Festival, which celebrates Phuket’s unique culture and traditions, is set to kick off on February 13. The festival will get underway on four roads in the heart of Phuket Town: Thalang Road, Thepkrasattri Road, Soi Romanee and Krabi Road. “This is the 17th year that the Old Town Festival has been organized by…
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V/Gov clears Laem Sing Beach of illegal vendors
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat this week removed all the beach chairs and umbrellas set up by illegal vendors on Laem Sing Beach – one of Phuket’s ‘virgin beaches’. The Vice Governor ordered the beach to be cleared after aerial photographs of furniture strewn across its sands were published by the Phuket Gazette, and went viral on social media…
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Deputy PM happy with Phuket’s progress
PHUKET: During a tour of five Andaman provinces, Deputy Prime Minister Admiral Narong Pipatanasai visited Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to express his satisfaction with officials’ progress in solving local issues. Deputy PM Narong stopped by the Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office) and met with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada to discuss current issues facing the island and the actions taken to resolve…
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Navy saves Norwegian couple after sailboat capsizes
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy saved a Norwegian couple after the pair’s small catamaran capsized off Koh Lanta yesterday afternoon. The sailors, named by officers as ‘Thongunnor Bue’ and ‘Caron Bue’, but believed to be Thom Bue and Carol Bue, struggled to control the boat after their tiller broke. “Unable to control the boat, a large wave hit them broadside…
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All rock climbing banned on Phi Phi
PHUKET: All rock climbers, including independent climbers, are banned from scaling the bolted rock faces on Phi Phi Don as officials look to regulate safety standards. “We have already explained to nine tour operators offering climbing tours in the Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park area that they must suspend their services until they gain the necessary…
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NATO looks to combat Russia’s ‘information weapon’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NATO looks to combat Russia’s ‘information weapon’ Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: NATO may combat Kremlin “weaponisation of information” used to support action such as the 2014 seizure of Crimea by creating a new more powerful communications section and declassifying more sensitive material, according to draft…
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Serial Phuket burglary suspect to surrender
PHUKET: A suspect wanted for a series of burglaries that led to the arrest of his girlfriend on Monday will surrender to police, confirmed a family member. Mac Kotter, 27, is behind a number of thefts in Phuket, alleged 23-year-old Soraya Chantasri after she was arrested. Police apprehended Ms Soraya after she fell from her third-floor balcony and through the…
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Facebook shares soar as mobile drives big jump in ad sales
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook shares soar as mobile drives big jump in ad sales Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Facebook Inc smashed investors’ expectations with a 52-percent jump in quarterly revenue as it sold more ads targeted at a fast-growing number of mobile users, sending its shares sharply higher…
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Dozens injured in violent clash at Phuket sea gypsy village
PHUKET: More than 30 people were injured in a violent confrontation between private investors and sea gypsies in Phuket today. “At least 100 men came to our village and attacked us. They put up rock blockades to keep us from accessing our village and an area where we perform traditional ceremonies,” alleged Nirund Yangpan, 40, a Rawai sea gypsy representative.…
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Blood surge saves German in Phuket, more donations needed
PHUKET: Though news of the desperately needed A-negative blood to save the life of a German man produced eight units, more is still needed. Bernd Langer, 51, was involved in a single vehicle motorcycle crash in Rawai at about 5am on Sunday. “Witnesses said that Mr Langer fell over while driving his motorcycle,” explained Lt Chollada Chokdeesrijan of the Chalong…
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Doomsday Clock stays unchanged at three minutes to midnight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Doomsday Clock stays unchanged at three minutes to midnight Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Iran nuclear deal and movement on climate change prompted the scientists who maintain the Doomsday Clock, a symbolic countdown to global catastrophe, to keep it unchanged on Tuesday at three minutes…
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Google files patent for drone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Google files patent for drone “delivery receptacle” Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Google’s secretive drone delivery project could include a component designed to store packages securely. A patent filed Tuesday in the United States by the company, a unit of Alphabet Inc, describes a “delivery receptacle”…
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Heroin dealer arrested in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested a confessed drug dealer yesterday for selling heroin to Phuket teenagers and others in the Thalang area. “Nikom Damrongrit, 40, was arrested with 81.39 grams of heroin and other drug paraphernalia at his house in Paklok,” said Lt Col Kritsana Jannit of the Thalang Police said. “We searched his house after a tip-off led us to find…
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With China weakening, Apple turns to India
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community With China weakening, Apple turns to India Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: As red-hot sales in China show signs of cooling, Apple Inc (AAPL.O) executives are touting India’s growing appetite for iPhones. In an earnings call in which the company reported meager iPhone growth and forecast…
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Unidentified foreigner killed after allegedly jumping in front of tour bus
PHUKET: Police are working to identify a foreigner who was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a tour bus in Patong early this morning. Bus driver Somkhit Wongpan, 33, told officers that he was on his way to Patong after picking up about 20 Chinese tourists from the airport, confirmed Maj Pattapee Srichai of the Patong Police. “Mr Somkhit…
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MOTS director lays out strict guidelines for tour operators
PHUKET: Hundreds of tour operators gathered earlier this month to listen in on the government’s plans for Phuket’s tourism industry for the upcoming year. Santi Pawai, director of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office revealed his plans, which include the completion of several projects already in the works (story here). “We talked to the tour operators about…
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