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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ICC too strong for Thalang, maintain grip on lead in Phuket cricket league
PHUKET: The Island Cricket Club (ICC) held onto its top position in the league with a 8/192 to 6/190 victory over the Thalang Cricket Team in a sea-sawing contest at the Alan Cooke Ground in Thalang last Sunday. Both teams fielded strong sides, with ICC bringing in Vaigankar and Mydeen while Thalang named Buck, Culpan, McMillan, Thomatos and Murphy in…
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Mandatory phone SIM registration begins on Sunday
PHUKET: A plan is underway for all 7-Eleven and Family Mart convenience stores throughout Phuket to register prepaid SIM cards for mobile phones at point of sale, as a convenient way for people to meet the new requirement for registration of SIM cards on or before the July 31 deadline. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced last week…
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Mum makes public plea to find deaf son missing in Phuket
PHUKET: A mother has made a public plea to find her missing deaf son, last seen near the family home in Phuket Town on Tuesday. Saithong Sankaeo filed a missing-person report at Phuket City Police Station yesterday in the hope of finding her 22-year-old son, Therdsak. “He walks with a limp, has dark skin, medium long hair and was last…
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PM wants Surapong to face junta summons
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM wants Surapong to face junta summons The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he would instruct the junta to summon former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul over comments seen as deepening the national divide. Mr Surapong made the comment…
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Phuket lifeguards gifted multi-language surf warnings
PHUKET: To break the communication barrier with non-English-speaking tourists, and hopefully save their lives, Phuket lifeguards have been issued multi-language cards that explain the dangers of the rip currents that lurk along the island’s beaches and entering strong surf. The cards are the brainchild of Simon Luttrell, a Tourist Police Volunteer who helps foreign tourists at Phuket International Airport and…
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5-day break in May backed by Cabinet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 5-day break in May backed by Cabinet The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to make May 4 a public holiday to extend the holiday period between Labour Day and Coronation Day to five days. The new holiday will be added…
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PM Prayut rebuts US snub
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prayut rebuts US snub The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday launched a full rebuttal against Daniel Russel, the visiting US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, saying the coup was staged to save democracy and that…
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AirAsia probe vets possible computer glitch, crew response
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia probe vets possible computer glitch, crew response Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Investigators probing the crash of an AirAsia jetliner are examining maintenance records of a key part of its automated control systems, and how the pilots may have handled the plane if it failed,…
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Russian woman rescued from Phuket Town streets
PHUKET: The Russian consul to Phuket has arranged accommodations for a Russian woman who was found sleeping in the streets of Phuket Town this morning. Tourist Police were notified about the woman, who has a record of acting erratically and incoherently, at about 9:30am. “We were informed that she was only wearing a dress – no bra. The person who…
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Woman dies in collision with Phuket tour bus
PHUKET: A woman was killed after her motorbike collided with a tour bus in front of the Phuket Shooting Range in Chalong at 9:30am today. Police and rescue workers were called to the scene, where they found the body of 33-year-old Rapeepat Kanphutra trapped under the Authai Thurahan tour bus, which was carrying Chinese tourists to a souvenir shop in…
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Phuket FC outgunned as Yokohama level pre-season series
PHUKET: Yokohama FC eventually outclassed Phuket FC to run out 2-0 winners at Surakul Stadium on Sunday, claiming a respectable 3-3 on aggregate against the islanders over two friendlies played in the past week. The home side, who have officially taken on the nickname “The Ronins”, held out the visiting J-League squad for the first half, but the superior skills…
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Slow police response to Phuket drive-by robbery draws ire
PHUKET: Relatives of a man who was robbed while lying injured on the road have lodged a complaint with the Phuket Provincial Police Commander after the Thalang Police failed to respond to the case. Akkarapol Chumnummanee, 27, was robbed on Sunday at about 3.30am after he fell off his motorbike near the entrance to Bang Kanoon Forest, on the northbound…
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Bullet fails to penetrate skull, Phuket teen survives
PHUKET: A teenager was discharged from hospital yesterday after being shot in the back of the head with a homemade handgun near the entrance of Kathu Wittaya School on Sunday. Pongchanasit Amtaisong, 19, walked into the Thung Thong Police Station after he was shot. “We immediately called an ambulance to take him to Vachira Phuket Hospital,” said Lt Sawanya Eiadtrong…
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Australia-Asia program to combat trafficking in persons
PHUKET: Thailand’s criminal-justice response to human trafficking received a boost from the Australian government yesterday, as an arrangement to commence the Australia-Asia Program to Combat Trafficking In Persons (AAPTIP) in Thailand was signed at a ceremony in Bangkok. This signing marks a milestone in the implementation of AAPTIP – a program through which the Australian government has made a five-year…
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Man to stand trial for attempted rape of Australian tourist
PHUKET: The Office of the Phuket Public Prosecutor has confirmed that it will prosecute a man for the attempted rape of an Australian tourist on Koh Maphrao, east of Phuket, in November. The man, who has yet to be named by police, surrendered to officers after staff at a resort on the island notified police of the incident, and officers…
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US brands Yingluck impeachment ‘politically driven’, calls to lift martial law
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US: Impeachment ‘politically driven’, calls to lift martial law The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The United States yesterday branded the former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s impeachment as being “politically driven” and called on the junta to lift martial law as well as push for “inclusive”…
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US charges three in alleged Russian spy ring in NYC
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US charges three in alleged Russian spy ring in NYC Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The U.S. government on Monday unveiled criminal charges against three men for their alleged involvement in a Russian spy ring operating in New York City. Evgeny Buryakov, Igor Sporyshev and Victor…
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Police nab pharmacy stick up artists
PHUKET: A pair of pharmacy stick up artists were cuffed after a six-day spree in Phuket. Hadsadin Art-aonsri, 26, and Jetsada Petkaeo, 24, were arrested by police after attempting to rob one pharmacy once and successfully robbing another twice. The pair were nabbed after robbing JK Health Care for the second time, this time at about 4:30am. “We actually recognized…
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Phuket Town lights up with LED streetlamps
PHUKET: More than 1,000 low-energy LED lights have been installed on the streets of Phuket Town to replace last-century sodium streetlamps, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana announced over the weekend. The LED lamps – numbering 1,176 in total – were installed last week as part of the nationwide “Road to LED” project that aims to cut down on public electricity…
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Opinion: Re-focus hunt from hormonal teens to gun-making enablers
PHUKET: Since mid-December, there have been four drive-by shootings reported in Phuket – three of which were fatal, and at least two of which were carried out by gangs of motorcycle-riding teenagers. The fact that these latest three attacks have occurred within the past month is truly horrifying, and is a far-from-comforting thought as the island’s tourism season continues to…
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Nightclub security guard dies in motorbike crash
PHUKET: A security guard at Hollywood Discotheque on Soi Bangla, Patong, died in a motorbike accident this weekend in what police believe was a case of “falling asleep while riding”. Anuchat Phoemphun, 37, died after sustaining severe head injuries when his motorbike slammed into a tree near the Go-Kart track at the bottom of Patong Hill at about 8:20am on…
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Tourist dies during snorkelling tour off Phuket
PHUKET: A 38-year-old Chinese tourist died during a snorkelling tour at Koh Racha, a popular day-trip island about 25km south of Phuket, yesterday. He Hua was with his family and friends when the tragic incident occurred, explained Phuket Tourist Police Chief Urumporn Koondejsumrit. “The other tourists were enjoying their lunch on a beach at Koh Racha when Mr He went…
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Yingluck will be arrested if she tries to flee: NACC
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Yingluck will be arrested if she tries to flee: NACC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who now faces criminal charges over the rice-pledging scheme, could be arrested if she shows any intention of leaving the country to avoid the court…
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Greek leftist leader Tsipras claims victory over austerity
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Greek leftist leader Tsipras claims victory over austerity Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Greek leftist leader Alexis Tsipras promised on Sunday that five years of austerity, “humiliation and suffering” imposed by international creditors were over after his Syriza party swept to victory in a snap election…
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Frenchwoman confesses to false snatch report
PHUKET: A French tourist has been charged with filing a false police report of a bag snatch in Phuket that never happened in order to claim her lost camera on travel insurance. Delphine Claudia Nicot, 43, yesterday reported to the Chalong Police that she had her bag stolen by two men on a motorbike while she was walking along the…
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No change in alcohol vending hours, despite new order from PM Prayut
PHUKET: A top-ranking police officer and a leading Phuket health official today both confirmed that there has been no change in the hours that alcohol may be sold, despite a new order signed into effect by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. PM Prayut signed the order on January 6, to be noted in the Government Gazette as coming into effect…
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Phuket named Thailand’s poster child for tourism
PHUKET: Phuket was named as the poster child of tourism for Thailand by Tourism and Sport Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul in an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette this week. “Phuket is the image of Thailand. Therefore, if Phuket has a good image, so does Thailand,” Ms Kobkarn said. Minister Kobkarn has become a regular visitor to the island following her…
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Beach chair leniency ends in Phuket (video)
PHUKET: Recent leniency concerning beach loungers on Patong Beach has come to an end to prevent further confusion, Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup has told the Phuket Gazette. The mayor was originally allowing beachgoers to bring onto the beach their own smaller, collapsible sun loungers, as well as other chairs, during the three-month beach-management trial run (stories here and here). “There…
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Drug suspect hunt begins after police blockade dodged
PHUKET: Police are searching for at least two men who dodged a police blockade and then threw 2,060 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) from their car while fleeing officers in pursuit early this morning. The suspects failed to stop at the first checkpoint, set up at at Baan Bangla in Pa Khlok, about two kilometers from the Heroines’ Monument, at…
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New Cherng Talay top cop promises crackdown on animal touts
PHUKET: The newly instated Cherng Talay Police superintendent, who took up the position last week, has vowed to crack down on animal touts on Phuket’s beaches. The promise to act follows a report from a concerned Phuket Gazette reader who spotted men on Laem Singh Beach offering tourists the opportunity to be photographed with different animals, including a snake, parrot…
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