News
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Sponsored Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort puts sustainability at its heart
The term sustainability is often thrown around as a buzzword in the hospitality industry, but at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, it’s genuinely part of their mission. Located in Makham Bay, just south of Phuket Town, the beautiful resort puts...
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Finance: Dodge a crash with right investment
PHUKET: For those of you who have been reading my columns for some time now, you probably know that I am not the biggest fan of the stock market at the moment. You may think I am an idiot because I have spent years waiting patiently for the next crash while the markets continue to march on to new highs.…
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Rescue workers struggle to bag mammoth python
PHUKET: It took rescue workers more than 20 minutes to remove a feasting five-meter-long python from a Phuket Town hen house last night. “It was quite a big snake, probably 40 kilograms, and had already eaten one chicken by the time we arrived,” said Natakorn Komutphon, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. The homeowner on Soi Roongrawee, near Vachira Phuket Hospital,…
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Police bust escaped Cambodian fishermen for pirated sunglasses
PHUKET: Three escaped Cambodian fishermen were arrested on Kata Beach for peddling fake name brand sunglasses to tourists yesterday. “We received a letter from the Damrongtham Center [ombudsman’s office] that tourists had been conned into buying pirated sunglasses by migrant workers on Kata Beach,” said Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Samran Yukunthorn. “The three said that they used to…
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Video Report: Aussie to circumnavigate Phuket by standup paddle board
PHUKET: Damien Rider, who was dubbed ‘Men’s Health Man of 2015’ after completing an 800km unassisted paddle boarding adventure in the shark infested waters of the Gold Coast, will depart Nai Harn Beach at 7am on October 5 as he attempts to circumnavigate Phuket on a standup paddle board (SUP). His four-day, solo SUP journey is designed to raise awareness…
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Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon ready to kick off
PHUKET: Those taking part in the new Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon 2015 will be running through the streets of Patong on October 18. “This is part of a four-province series of marathons,” said Kritthaput Khumboonraung of the corporate social responsibility team at Muang Thai Insurance, which is organizing the event. “We have already held one event in Bangkok and one…
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Plan accordingly with Vegetarian Festival’s schedule of events
PHUKET: The Vegetarian Festival will kick off in less than two weeks across the island, with yellow and red flags being raised to mark the popular annual event. This year the festival will take place during October 13-21 with the special addition of a parade in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday on October 14. The annual festival…
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Underpass construction digs in with delays
PHUKET: The need to remove more than 100 utility poles in preparation for building the Chalong Underpass ‘may’ delay the start of construction until next year. “It is hard work to remove that many poles on both sides of the road, while ensuring as few people are affected as possible. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Region 2 office, located in…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Flexible morals
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Officials nab illegal Korean tour guide at work
PHUKET: A South Korean national was arrested in Chalong today for working as an illegal tour guide for Narae Travel Co Ltd. Phuket Immigration Police, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office officials, apprehended Byoung Wook Lim, 43, while he was guiding a group at Chalong Pier. “We seized a list of tour programs, customer names…
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Triathlon training tips
PHUKET: We are now approaching the final weeks before the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and these next 8 weeks are vital to help you prepare for the race ahead, but it’s also a perfect time to challenge yourself. Here are some top tips compiled by Thanyapura’s Head Triathlon Coach Sergio Borges. HEAT AND HUMIDITY If you’re coming from overseas, I believe…
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Video Report: New Phuket Governor starts first day in office
PHUKET: The island’s newest top official appointed by Bangkok, Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, is settling into his first day of work after arriving to fanfare yesterday. Hundreds of people greeted Governor Chamroen and his wife, Wassana, when they arrived at Phuket International Airport yesterday afternoon. The Phuket local, and a former vice governor of the island, was then taken to…
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Body of missing fisherman found
PHUKET: The body of a fisherman who went missing yesterday evening at Sai Kaew Beach was found today near the spot he was last seen. Kaiyasit Wadeesirisak, 25, was fishing with friends when he decided to swim in rough seas in Tah Chat Chai last night. “According to his friends, Mr Kaiyasit jumped into the water to swim alone when…
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Jet-skis to rule roost for high season
PHUKET: Jet-skis will continue to offer their services on Phuket beaches this high season, Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong confirmed yesterday. “We will be implementing the same zones as last year to separate jet-skis and swimmers to ensure everyone’s safety,” Governor Nisit said. “I am aware that a lot of people do not want jet-skis on our beaches, as they have…
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Phuket prepares for King’s Cup Regatta 2015
PHUKET: The island is readying its sails for the King’s Cup Regatta 2015, which will take place off of Kata Bay from December 5 to December 12. Hosting international racing classes, the event will see more than 150 boats and 1,500 sailors competing for one of sailings most prestigious trophies. Inaugurated in 1987 to celebrate the 60th birthday of HM…
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Russian man found dead in swimming pool
PHUKET: A Russian man was found dead near his swimming pool this morning after his friend discovered him unconscious in the water. When police arrived at the house on Moo 2 in Rawai, they found Oleg Ten, 65, on the ground near the pool, confirmed Capt Patiwat Yodkwan of the Chalong Police. “We found no signs of a struggle and…
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Gov Nisit vouches for Chamroen’s beach management judgment
PHUKET: The new governor will make the right choices for Phuket’s beaches, vowed outgoing Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong today. “I believe that Chamroen Tipayapongtada knows Phuket much better than I do, as he is a native. I think his policies will be what’s best for Phuket,” Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette. Gov Nisit will leave his post on Wednesday,…
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Egco ready to fill power supply gap, if Krabi coal plant fails
KRABI: Electricity Generating (Egco) is well positioned to take part in the bidding for new power plants if the government’s coal-fired power projects fail to get off the ground, says its outgoing president. Sahust Pratuknukul said that if the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) was unable to proceed with its Krabi and Thepha coal-fired projects in the South, Egco…
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A Decade Ago: AA saves families, lives – test yourself
PHUKET: The 4-billion-baht pipe to bring water to Phuket from the Chieo Lan Reservior in Surat Thani was a ‘done deal’ according to Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvat, a decade ago. The mega-project was going to be the nail in the coffin for the island’s water worries and was expected to be completed in just 18 months. However, 120 months…
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First Person: A fond farewell to Phuket
Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong will soon take up a similar post in Nonthaburi to tackle new projects and challenges. After serving one year here, the governor, originally from Ratchaburi, stepped in with the aim to develop and make much needed changes in Phuket and its future. Here he reflects on his time in Phuket and the work that he is…
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Big wave sweeps fisherman from Phuket rocks
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police have failed to find a fisherman who was swept from a rock outcropping on Kamala Beach last night “Due to the current weather, it has been very difficult to conduct a thorough search,” said Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana today. “Rescue workers and Kamala Police Officers searched the area as soon as Prayat Janmee, 50,…
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Tourist drowns at Kata Noi Beach
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist drowned after being swept out to sea from a red-flag zone at Kata Noi Beach late yesterday afternoon. “According to witnesses, 26-year-old Junan Liu and his friend ignored warning signs and were playing in an unsafe section of the water when a big wave struck him and dragged him out to sea,” said Lt Chatree Chuwichian…
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Ten rescued from teetering Phuket yacht
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police helped dislodge a yacht stranded on a submerged rock outcropping off Koh Nai Nui yesterday afternoon, following the rescue of ten people from the boat. “The boat, Pim Praw, might have just settled onto the rock as the tide went out,” Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana told the Phuket Gazette. “We were called to the…
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Opinion: Free road accidents
PHUKET: Year after year, the vehicle population of Phuket has been growing rapidly, expressing itself dramatically in the island’s ever-worsening traffic problems. After 12 years here, I would say that the traffic is now worse than ever. It’s no wonder that the governor decided to spend money in order to reduce the congestion by building underpasses in certain areas. However,…
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Human-trafficking crackdowns return empty handed
PHUKET: The two-month crackdown on human smuggling and human trafficking on the island came up empty handed, despite several such cases ‘organically’ surfacing just last year. Last June, two debt-trapped Cambodians were freed from Phuket Town after officers were tipped off by one of the victim’s relatives (story here). Earlier that year, a 10-year-old Cambodian boy and his 6-year-old sister…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Flip-flop expats
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Finance: Focus on China when investing
PHUKET: China’s stock market is imploding and that’s not only shaking confidence in the country, it’s also impacting global financial markets. However, investors need to keep in mind that over the past 15 years, the Chinese stock market has actually experienced both sharp rises and steep falls, with the last crash occurring in 2007. The market then largely moved sideways…
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Russian tourist’s stolen phone recovered
PHUKET: A Myanmar national was arrested yesterday after being tracked down in Kathu for allegedly stealing a mobile phone from a Russian tourist. Dmithy Surkov, 32, reported that his phone was stolen from Patong Beach on September 12, said Phuket Tourist Police Chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit. “We tracked down the phone on September 19, when we were able to see that…
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Special Report: Paddling against child abuse
PHUKET: A great white shark knocked Damien Rider from his paddle board during one of eleven shark encounters he faced as he paddled 800 kilometers from Rainbow Bay, Gold Coast, to Bondi Beach, Sydney, in January 2015. However, the demon that he was battling wasn’t below the ocean’s surface, but in the vivid world of abuse that he endured as…
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Opinion: Paddle boarder’s laudable mission
PHUKET: The efforts of Australian paddle boarder Damien Rider to raise awareness of child abuse, which is an important, yet seldom-discussed, topic deserves the support of everyone on the island. At first glance, an 800-kilometer solo paddle board expedition through some of the planet’s most notoriously shark-infested waters in Australia might seem an impractical and dangerous way to try to…
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Python enjoys breakfast at Governor’s Residence
PHUKET: A massive python was caught gobbling up a chicken in the hen house at Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong’s Residence this morning. “Inside the chicken coop we found the engorged snake. It was barely able to move after having eaten the whole chicken,” said Nantapong Klaithin, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. Governor Nisit was not at home during the commotion,…
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