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  • Concerns grow over Krabi’s proposed coal projects

    Concerns grow over Krabi’s proposed coal projects

    PHUKET: Fossilized shells at a beach dating back 75 million years and over 10,000 rai of the country’s second-largest seagrass area in Krabi would be destroyed if the coal seaport and coal-fired power-plant project go ahead, an environmental watch agency warned on March 6. Adding to the concerns over the project, the local tourism association in Koh Lanta is worried…

  • Region’s top cop praises understaffed Chalong Police

    Region’s top cop praises understaffed Chalong Police

    PHUKET: Despite a report that the Chalong Police force is understaffed, the region’s top cop praised officers there for their work. “Since I became Region 8 Commander in October last year, I have had no concerns about Chalong. The officers here have done a good job of maintaining the safety of both locals and tourists in the area,” said Region…

  • Breaking News: Ship bursts into flames off Phuket

    Breaking News: Ship bursts into flames off Phuket

    PHUKET: A ship carrying cargo was engulfed by flames near Koh Naka, off Phuket’s east coast this afternoon. Phuket Marine Police were notified of the incident at about 4pm by a speedboat captain. First reports are that all on board the ship were safely rescued by the passing speedboat. — Chutharat Plerin

  • Phuket Gazette International Sports: Birmingham City FC boss busted for money laundering

    Phuket Gazette International Sports: Birmingham City FC boss busted for money laundering

    PHUKET: Birmingham City Football Club boss Carson Yeung was sentenced to six years in jail on Friday for laundering $93 million following a high-profile trial that cast a spotlight on how the barber-turned-businessman made his fortune. Yeung, 54, was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on Monday of five counts of money-laundering. He had denied the charges. The businessman…

  • Special Report: Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia

    Special Report: Trafficking abuse of Myanmar Rohingya spreads to Malaysia

    SPECIAL REPORT PHUKET: Human traffickers have kept hundreds of Rohingya Muslims captive in houses in northern Malaysia, beating them, depriving them of food, and demanding a ransom from their families, according to detailed accounts by the victims. The accounts given to Reuters suggest that trafficking gangs are shifting their operations into Malaysia as Thai authorities crack down on jungle camps…

  • Sweden to Phuket: Epic cycling journey for island orphanage

    Sweden to Phuket: Epic cycling journey for island orphanage

    PHUKET: A man is standing out in the cold in the snowy town of Karlskoga, his fellow citizens walk briskly past, unaware that within about a month the man will be departing their homeland on an epic cycling journey across half of the world to the shores of paradise – Phuket. Unlike many such great undertakings, which have been motivated…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Singapore police probe ‘unnatural’ death of American CEO of bitcoin trader

    Phuket Gazette World News: Singapore police probe ‘unnatural’ death of American CEO of bitcoin trader

    PHUKET: Singapore police are investigating what they have called the “unnatural” death of a 28-year-old American woman who ran a small exchange that traded virtual currencies, including bitcoins, from the Asian city state. Autumn Radtke, chief executive of First Meta Pte Ltd, was found dead at her Singapore home on February 26. “The police are investigating the unnatural death,” a…

  • Phuket Sports: Reaching the ultimate goal [Video] | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: Reaching the ultimate goal [Video]

    PHUKET: The ancient martial art of Muay Thai is alive and strong, especially in Phuket, where fighters from around the world make their way to train with some of the best. The Phuket Gazette and PGTV were able to get the scoop on what’s new in the island’s fighting scene during a recent visit to Tiger Muay Thai gym. Located…

  • Phuket Sport: Getting back to the top

    Phuket Sport: Getting back to the top

    PHUKET: I first saw Alisa Kleybanova bouncing balls across the net during her morning tennis practice at Thanyapura. Not a hint of smile on her face, but 100 per cent focus, precision and power. Later, when she dips into Thanyapura’s Olympic size pool with the members of the Dutch elite swim team who are preparing in the sport complex for…

  • Phuket Business: Amcham to host MICE tourism conference

    Phuket Business: Amcham to host MICE tourism conference

    PHUKET: The island’s growing MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market is a key segment which can help Phuket attract quality visitors. On March 14 the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) has organized a tourism event at Angsana Laguna Phuket focusing on how to sustainably grow MICE business along with the British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) and the Australian-Thai…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Crimea joins Russia, Obama orders sanctions; Anwar faces sodomy verdict; India braces for elections

    Phuket Gazette World News: Crimea joins Russia, Obama orders sanctions; Anwar faces sodomy verdict; India braces for elections

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Crimea votes to join Russia, Obama orders sanctions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Crimea’s parliament voted to join Russia on Thursday and its Moscow-backed government set a referendum in 10 days’ time in a dramatic escalation of the crisis over the Ukrainian region that drew a…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Satish seeks royal pardon; Surapong to engage envoys; Satun in drought

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Satish seeks royal pardon; Surapong to engage envoys; Satun in drought

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Satish appeals to HM over govt order to deport him The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Attempts were under way yesterday to stall a deportation order against Indian-born businessman Satish Sehgal for joining the anti-government protests. Satish, 70, yesterday petitioned His Majesty the King to intervene…

  • Protests hold up Phuket sea gypsy DNA results

    Protests hold up Phuket sea gypsy DNA results

    PHUKET: DNA tests that could prove the residency of sea gypsies in Rawai and help them counter land claims of private investors seeking to evict them have been delayed due to the Bangkok Shutdown. The tests are being done on bones found last year buried in the dirt floor of a sea gypsy home. If there is a match between…

  • Governor Maitri Inthusut honors Phuket Gazette’s 20th anniversary

    Governor Maitri Inthusut honors Phuket Gazette’s 20th anniversary

    PHUKET: Managers and staff members past and present were joined by more than 500 business leaders, readers, writers and friends of the island’s main newspaper to celebrate the 20th anniversary milestone of the Phuket Gazette at a party hosted by founder and publisher John Magee and wife Janpen Arno in Cherng Talay. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, a regular columnist for…

  • Patong police delay action on tourist extortion claims

    Patong police delay action on tourist extortion claims

    PHUKET: Patong Police Acting Superintendent Sakchai Limcharoen confirmed today that no immediate action will be taken over claims that officers under his new command stand accused of extorting money from tourists. The news follows Phuket expats who assist the Patong Police as Region 8 International Volunteers revealing in a public statement yesterday that several of them had resigned over an…

  • Phuket teacher recovering after blood donations allow for safe surgery

    Phuket teacher recovering after blood donations allow for safe surgery

    PHUKET: Donors answering an urgent call for A-negative blood allowed doctors to perform a four-hour operation to repair the fractured leg of Phuket teacher Dean Jackson last night. Mr Jackson, a teacher from HeadStart International School, was injured when he fell off his motorbike and rushed to the hospital with a broken leg (story here). “We are pleased to announce…

  • Phuket Business: Mövenpick appoints two new key vice presidents

    Phuket Business: Mövenpick appoints two new key vice presidents

    PHUKET: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts recently announced two key new appointments – Jan Bundgaard has been internally promoted to the position of vice president of development, Europe and Africa, and Paul Mulcahy joins the company as vice president of distribution and revenue management. The two new members of the company’s corporate center team based in Zurich will be focusing on…

  • Phuket Airport taxis face undercover sting operation

    Phuket Airport taxis face undercover sting operation

    PHUKET: In an effort to compel airport metered taxi drivers to turn on their meters, Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada will send policemen to pose as tourists in a sting operation. “If the undercover officers find a taxi driver who refuses to turn on his meter, we will arrest him immediately,” Vice Governor Chamroen said. The move follows a complaint the…

  • Drug dealer turns in Phuket suppliers

    Drug dealer turns in Phuket suppliers

    PHUKET: Police seized more than 3.7 million baht of property after a Phuket drug dealer gave up his suppliers Tuesday night. “We first arrested Kiatipoom ‘Tak’ Rangubwong, 34, in possession of 338 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills,1.8 grams of ya ice (crystalmethamphetamine) and drug paraphernalia at his house on Thung Thong Road at about 11pm,” said Col Jaroon Bangprasert of the…

  • Breaking News: Phuket expat volunteers quit over police corruption allegations

    Breaking News: Phuket expat volunteers quit over police corruption allegations

    PHUKET: At least five long-term Phuket expats who have spent years assisting police as volunteers in Patong have resigned over allegations that police officers have extorted money from tourists. The Region 8 International Volunteers who work out of Kathu Police Station – the formal name for the police station in Patong – met today to discuss their concerns about working…

  • Phuket Marine Police help thirsty sea gypsies

    Phuket Marine Police help thirsty sea gypsies

    PHUKET: Koh Sireh sea gypsies received 6,000 liters of water yesterday after they told Phuket Marine Police they had a water shortage. “It is not our job to do this, but we have a good relationship with the Koh Sireh sea gypsies,” said Marine Police Inspector Chatchai Sakdee. “And if we can do something to help people, we will.” “When…

  • Phuket Marine Police conduct boat safety raids

    Phuket Marine Police conduct boat safety raids

    PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office conducted safety inspections of speedboats, dive boats and other vessels geared toward tourism at Chalong Pier yesterday. “It is our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers,” Chatchai Sakdee of the Phuket Marine Police said. Police confirmed that the boats were not carrying more than…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine

    Phuket Gazette World News: Russia test-fires ICBM amid tension over Ukraine

    PHUKET: Russia said it had successfully test-fired an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) on Tuesday, with tensions high over its seizure of control in the Crimea and its threat to send more forces to its neighbour Ukraine. The Strategic Rocket Forces launched an RS-12M Topol missile from the southerly Astrakhan region and the dummy warhead hit its target at a proving…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Interpol fugitives nabbed in Bangkok; Police seize weapons in South; Thai billionaires hit 11; B20bn for rice farmers next week

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Interpol fugitives nabbed in Bangkok; Police seize weapons in South; Thai billionaires hit 11; B20bn for rice farmers next week

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police seize several caches of weapons in raids The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nakhon Si Thammarat police announced yesterday that they had seized 177 guns, 1,440 bullets and two M26 grenades from 179 suspects in raids and checkpoints from February 17-28.A self-proclaimed anti-government protest guard,…

  • Phuket speed cameras return to bypass road this week

    Phuket speed cameras return to bypass road this week

    PHUKET: Speed cameras on Phuket’s bypass road will be put back in position this week after officials removed them on Friday. “The pictures the cameras were taking at night were not clear or bright enough to identify license plates,” Lt Col Rungrit Rattanapagdee of the Phuket City Police told the Phuket Gazette yesterday morning. “We hired mechanics from Nextech System…

  • Urgent call for blood to save Phuket teacher

    Urgent call for blood to save Phuket teacher

    PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is urgently calling for donations of A-negative blood in order to save the life of Dean Jackson, a teacher who was injured in a motorcycle accident. “We received a request from Phuket International Hospital for two units of A-negative blood to save the patient’s life,” PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak told the Phuket Gazette…

  • Burning rubber in dry grass leads to flaming car

    Burning rubber in dry grass leads to flaming car

    PHUKET: A man trying to free his girlfriend’s new car from the sand of a Phuket beach yesterday sent it up in flames instead. “My boyfriend tried for 30 minutes to drive out of the sand, but it wasn’t working, so we kept increasing our speed. Then the engine suddenly caught fire,” said Nutcharee Madkatep, 37. “I only bought the…

  • Phuket Business: Making gym cool again

    Phuket Business: Making gym cool again

    PHUKET: There sure are some exiting sports out there – diving, rock climbing, free running, gym fitness training… wait, the gym? It might be challenging and fulfilling but few would call it exciting. At least this is how things were up until now. A new place here in Phuket is on a mission to change that image. “Unit-27 has been…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Inflation hits 7-month high; Construction companies adjust; Rice funds still lacking

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Inflation hits 7-month high; Construction companies adjust; Rice funds still lacking

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community February inflation hits 7-month high The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is likely to grow continuously in the following months because of the higher cost of raw materials and fresh foods amid rising concern over drought. The Commerce Ministry reported yesterday…

  • Woman saved from Phuket mob after fatal motorbike collision

    Woman saved from Phuket mob after fatal motorbike collision

    PHUKET: Rescue workers saved a Phuket woman from the wrath of an angry mob in Pa Khlok early yesterday evening after her car struck a local man and dragged him to his death. The accident occurred in Baan Bangla, about two kilometers east of the Heroines Monument (map here), at about 6:30pm, Lt Chatree Chuwichian of the Thalang Police told…