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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Phuket’s Pryder Cup falls to the Rest of the World (video)
PHUKET: Late surges from the Rest of the World top order saw them come through and take the final singles 3-1 and eventually triumph comprehensively 9-5 to win Phuket’s premier lawn bowls trophy, the Pryder Cup, last Saturday. Named in honor of golf’s premier team competition, the biennial Ryder Cup, the annual Phuket Pryder Cup is the premier annual team…
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Italy-Brazil duo win ITF beach tennis tourney in Phuket
PHUKET: Alessandro Calbucci of Italy and his partner Vinicius Font of Brazil have been crowned champions of the inaugural Phuket Beach Tennis Tournament. Calbucci and Font outplayed runners-up Nikita Burmakin and Sergey Kuptsov of Russia to win the ITF-sanctioned event, which was held over three days at the Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort at Bang Tao, culminating with the final…
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Monster Phuket python caught, decade record set
PHUKET: Rescue workers wrangled a six-meter-long python out from under a Phuket home owner’s house early this morning. “It took us about two hours to remove the snake. It was absolutely huge. Weighing about 80kg, it was by far the biggest snake we’ve caught in the past 10 years,” said Sayan Thammapan, Ruamjai Rescue Foundation team leader. “When we received…
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New Editor-in-chief to guide Phuket Gazette multi-media development
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Isaac Stone Simonelli to the position of Editor-in-chief. Having spent his years at the Gazette in various roles, including PGTV news presenter, news editor and then Managing Editor (story here), Mr Simonelli is well versed in the major local, national and international issues that affect Phuket people most.…
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43 hurt in Krabi-bound bus crash; three-truck pile-up kills driver
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 43 hurt in Krabi-bound bus crash; three-truck pile-up kills driver The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A chartered bus carrying employees from Bangkok’s Thaweewattana District Office to a seminar in Krabi province lost control on a curve and overturned yesterday in Surat Thani’s Khian Sa district.…
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South hit by heavy rains, floods
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community The South inundated by heavy rains, floods The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rain-triggered forest floods from the Sankala Khiri mountain range have caused Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok River to overflow and inundate riverside homes and low-lying areas in Sukhirin, Waeng and Sungai Kolok districts. Sukhirin and…
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Thais score Suzuki Cup first-leg win over Malaysia
PHUKET: Thailand struck two late goals, including a penalty, to snatch a 2-0 first-leg home win over Malaysia in the Suzuki Cup final last night which was just reward for their relentless pressure in an action-packed game. They broke the deadlock with 18 minutes remaining when Charyl Chappuis converted a spot kick before Kroekrit Taweekarn sealed the victory with a…
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Taliban slay 132 students in Pakistan school massacre
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taliban slay 132 students in Pakistan school massacre Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 132 students and nine staff members were killed on Tuesday when Taliban gunmen broke into a school in the Pakistani city of Peshawar and opened fire, witnesses said, in the bloodiest…
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Phuket teens taken down for slash-threat motorbike theft
PHUKET: Police have arrested two teenagers who stole a motorbike out from under a 14-year-old after threatening to slash him with a box cutter in Phuket Town on Saturday night. “Kanokpol Vijitr, 18, and a 17-year-old minor cut off the younger boy in the middle of the road and threatened him with a cutter,” Provincial Police Commander Patchara Boonyasit explained…
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Frenchman uses Phuket Facebook group to sell chop-shop rebuild
PHUKET: Police arrested a Frenchman in Patong today for the theft of a motorcycle that he stripped to re-build his own bike, which he then sold through a Phuket Facebook group. Mathieu Alfano, 28, was arrested at his rental room on Phra Barami Road in Patong for the theft of a PCX150 Honda from Nanai Road on December 3. “We…
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Phuket young sailors to vie for SEA Games selection
PHUKET: Two exceptional young Phuket sailors – Nattapong “Max” Yuang-ngam, 13, and Cartoon “Toon” Jundet, 12 – have received personal invitations to attend the National Optimist qualifiers for selection to represent Thailand at the 28th Southeast Asian Games in Singapore next year. Max and Toon, both from the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC) based at Cape Panwa, will travel to…
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Phuket officials postpone Christmas Day tsunami drill
PHUKET: Phuket officials have postponed a full-scale tsunami drill that was planned for Christmas Day, following a number of complaints from victims’ families who are preparing for the 10th anniversary of the tragedy on Boxing Day. “We have cancelled plans to hold the full-scale drill on Christmas Day after receiving feedback from the victims’ families, who feel that the drill…
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Phuket police net three in crackdown on illegal drugs, firearms
PHUKET: Patong Police netted three men in two raids yesterday as part of a crackdown on illegal drugs and firearms. Somphon Baankluay, 39, and his 18-year-old son Satit were arrested at their house on Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road at about 10:30pm. “We were informed by undercover officers that suspects were spotted carrying weapons to and from the house,” Lt Col…
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Phuket Town Post Office opens Drive-Thru service
PHUKET: The main post office in Phuket Town has launched a new drive-through service so that customers no longer need to leave the comfort of their cars to pay bills or send mail. “Our new Drive-Thru Post service is more convenient, and there is no need for us to provide more parking spaces,” said Sukrit Phayu, acting director of the…
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Phuket Poll: Do you trust the Thai police?
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Police force is fighting off a barrage of slurs to its reputation to the extent that even the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has recognized the problem as its top “Health & Safety” concern for tourists (here). The recognition comes amid headlines of the ongoing corruption investigation centered on former Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) chief Pongpat…
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Warrants issued for top cop, driver in police debt-collecting racket
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police corruption scandal: Warrants issued for top cop, driver in debt-collecting racket The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two arrest warrants have been issued for a senior policeman and a civilian who were allegedly part of a debt-collecting racket that authorities say was run by former…
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Fishermen rescued off Trang as boat capsizes in heavy seas
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fishermen rescued off Trang as boat capsizes in heavy seas The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Meteorological Department has warned small boats from going to sea while rough conditions continue. On Sunday, strong wind and waves caused a boat to capsize about three nautical miles…
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Gas prices slashed as New Year ‘gift’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Government slashes gas prices as New Year ‘gift’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Energy Policy Committee has lowered the price of diesel fuel and petrol by 1 baht and 2 baht a liter respectively in what has been labelled a New Year gift…
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Police storm Sydney cafe to end hostage siege, three dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police storm Sydney cafe to end hostage siege, three dead Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Heavily armed Australian police stormed a Sydney cafe early on Tuesday morning and freed terrified hostages being held there at gunpoint, in a dramatic end to a 16-hour siege in which…
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Security forces storm Sydney hostage siege cafe, gunman named
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Security forces storm Sydney hostage siege cafe, gunman named Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Australian security forces on Tuesday stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were being held at gunpoint, in what looked like the dramatic denouement to a standoff that had dragged on for…
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Sydney siege man says bombs planted in the cafe and city
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sydney siege man says bombs planted in the cafe and city The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A man holding hostages in a Sydney cafe Monday has demanded that a flag of the Islamic State group be delivered to him and warned that four bombs have…
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Phuket tour bus crashes, 10 injured
PHUKET: Six tourists remain in hospital after their Phuket tour bus crashed on a sharp turn in adverse weather conditions in Phang Nga yesterday. Rescue workers were forced to use the “jaws of life” tool to cut free one of the 11 injured people travelling in the An Xin Tour Phuket bus, explained Lt Col Sanea Ukot of the Phang…
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Phuket leaders protest proposed election changes
PHUKET: About 100 local leaders protested outside Phuket Provincial Hall this morning against proposed changes to Thailand’s electoral system. “We are here because of changes proposed by the Constitution Drafting Committee on November 25,” said Kittisak Sotraksa, protest leader and president of Phuket’s association of kamnan (subdistrict chiefs) and phu yai baan (village chiefs). “One of the proposals is to…
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Illuzion show and discotheque to transform Phuket’s nightlife
PHUKET: To help tour operators capitalize on the changing demographics of clients on Phuket’s famed Soi Bangla, which has piqued the curiosity of families and tour groups over the past few years, Patong Dine & Show brings the party street Southeast Asia’s first combined interactive Vegas-style show and discotheque – Illuzion. With a 4-million-baht sound system, a 70sqm LED screen…
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Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window – local TV
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hostages held in Sydney cafe, Islamic flag seen in window – local TV Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Hostages were being held inside a central Sydney cafe where a black flag with white Arabic writing could be seen in the window, local television showed on Monday,…
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Floods swamp South: 1 dead, Army help sought
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Floods swamp South: 1 dead, Army help sought The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With flood threats raging in many southern provinces, the Royal Thai Army (RTA) has instructed all its units to closely monitor the situation and make the best effort in helping victims. The…
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Phuket official denies B5k fine for beachside parking ‘on sidewalk’
PHUKET: A Karon official has warned island-residents to obey the law or face the consequences, after a Phuket Gazette reader wrote in today about an alleged 5,000-baht fine for parking on a sidewalk. “On Friday, I parked my motorbike near the big statue of a snake [naga] at Karon Beach, like I’ve done for the past 11 years, but this…
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Patong bag-snatchers nabbed “within minutes’
PHUKET: Police arrested two men on the streets of Patong early this morning after a spate of bag-snatch thefts were reported within minutes of each other. Theerayut Dalem, 22, and Sarawut Apichai, 19, both from Kantang, Trang, were arrested shortly after 3am, explained Col Jirapat Phochanaphan of the Patong Police. Mr Theerayut was arrested on the beach road at about…
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Phuket police rescue Cambodian kids from human-traffickers in Patong
PHUKET: A 10-year-old Cambodian boy and his 6-year-old sister are under close watch by welfare officers after being rescued from human traffickers by Patong Police on Thursday. “The children are now safe in one of our shelters. We will talk to them more on Monday about what is going on, and that may lead us to more suspects,” said Sirumporn…
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Girl remains in ICU after truck crashes into Phuket sinkhole
PHUKET: A 7-year-old girl remains in Vachira Phuket Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after the pick-up truck she was riding in crashed into a massive sinkhole in a road in northern Phuket on Thursday. The sinkhole first started to form last month when heavy rains washed away part of Rural Road 4008 off Thepkrasattri Road, near Bang Jo Prison in…
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