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  • Drunk Russian topples statue of Phuket abbot, bungles lorry theft [VIDEO] | Thaiger

    Drunk Russian topples statue of Phuket abbot, bungles lorry theft [VIDEO]

    PHUKET: A Russian tourist has blamed overindulgence in alcohol for a spree in which he pushed over a statue honoring a temple abbot in Karon late Tuesday night. Oleg Fomenko, 31, was arrested at 9pm and taken to Karon Police Station for questioning on Thursday night after officers identified him through CCTV footage at Wat Karon (map here). The video…

  • Phuket’s Road to Freedom under fire for corruption

    Phuket’s Road to Freedom under fire for corruption

    PHUKET: Winai Chidchiew, the Subdistrict chief (Kamnan) for Kata-Karon, has lashed out over the project to build a new road to Freedom Beach, accusing local officials of trying to push the project through for their own benefit. Kamnan Winai alleges that the road, planned for the headland south of Patong Bay (story here), is being pushed through by local officials…

  • NFL Week 7: Colts down Manning, Broncos

    NFL Week 7: Colts down Manning, Broncos

    PHUKET: In week seven’s marquee match up, Bronco’s quarterback Peyton Manning’s return to Indianapolis to take on his former team did not turn out as many predicted, with rising star quarterback Andrew Luck outshining the veteran to carry his Colts to an exciting 39-33 win. Manning and the Broncos entered the game undefeated and were favored by five points over…

  • Phuket’s Dylan inks formula deal

    Phuket’s Dylan inks formula deal

    PHUKET: Island-based Australian racing driver Dylan Young announced that he has signed a deal to compete in a second season of the 2013 MRF Challenge Formula 2000 Championship, with gracious support from Wahoo Phuket, Kata Rocks and Indigo Pearl. The series will commence this weekend with the first two races being held alongside the Airtel Indian Formula 1 Grand Prix…

  • Phuket Opinion: Warding off bad luck with a smile

    Phuket Opinion: Warding off bad luck with a smile

    PHUKET: Scams, robberies, thieves, taxi mafia… this place is evil, one might think. Especially if he gets his information from the internet, from online discussion forums and so on. Scary!Yet, in some mysterious way most of these evil things seem to happen to other people and almost never to me personally. Sure, visas are an everlasting struggle and I had…

  • Head’s up for 27th Phuket King’s Cup

    Head’s up for 27th Phuket King’s Cup

    PHUKET: Recognized throughout the eastern hemisphere as the premier sailing event of its kind, the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta will host a week of incredibly close racing in the beautiful Andaman Sea off the coast of Southern Thailand from December 1-6, 2013. The 27th Phuket King’s Cup Regatta sees a new Bareboat Charter division, intended to address any disparities between…

  • Phuket Opinion: The fine art of garnering government support

    Phuket Opinion: The fine art of garnering government support

    Anucha Deeviset, 35, is a freelance photographer and member of B&W Photo Phuket Club. A Chaiyaphum native, Mr Anucha has a photography degree from Rangsit University and spent 13 years working in production companies in Bangkok and Phuket before becoming a freelancer. Here, he talks about why more people don’t know about Phuket’s art scene and how the government can…

  • Phuket’s youth futsal squad tops the South

    Phuket’s youth futsal squad tops the South

    PHUKET: A flawless shoot-out by Phuket’s provincial youth futsal squad, against regional rivals Phatthalung on October 17, guaranteed the young islanders a place at the 30th National Youth Games next year. With the final 8-4 victory, Phuket have qualified to be Southern Thailand’s representatives at the games, scheduled to be held in Si Saket, March, 2014. The match, played at…

  • Phuket’s TSLC sporting tips: How to become a faster cyclist

    Phuket’s TSLC sporting tips: How to become a faster cyclist

    PHUKET: In a continuing series of sporting tips provided by Phuket’s Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club, resident experts Brian Finniss tells you to stand up straight, though first Jürgen Zäck gets you out of your comfort zone. A lot of cyclists and triathletes do spend quite some time in the saddle and wonder why they do not deliver on race…

  • Phuket’s ACYC Club Sailing Race 6

    Phuket’s ACYC Club Sailing Race 6

    PHUKET: All are welcome to join Phuket’s ACYC (Ao Chalong Yacht Club) Sunday sailing races. Breakfast is available at the club from 8am onwards. Anybody wishing to sail but who doesn’t have a boat are advised to turn up before 10:30am and we will do our best to get you on a vessel. Eligibility and entry: The series is open…

  • Phuket’s Tri-Fest just round the corner

    Phuket’s Tri-Fest just round the corner

    PHUKET: The 20th Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) will take place on Sunday, November 24, marking the beginning of Laguna Phuket’s week-long Tri-Fest. This year’s LPT will celebrate its 20th anniversary while welcoming the inaugural Challenge Laguna Phuket (CLP) on Sunday, December 1 to its iconic multi-sports week-long event – Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest 2013. During the proceeding seven days, Laguna…

  • TSLC continues their attention to detail – Phuket sports

    TSLC continues their attention to detail – Phuket sports

    PHUKET: In a continuing series of sporting tips provided by Phuket’s Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club, resident experts Tennis Head Coach Roger Cochrane talks layering, but firstly Aquatics Head Coach Randy Simon gives some attention to detail. Attention to detail… when I was in the military, it was something I learned a LOT about. But it was a necessity. When…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Germany, France demand No Spy accord with US; UN warns Myanmar over anti-Muslim violence; China H7N9 bird flu fears rise

    Phuket Gazette World News: Germany, France demand No Spy accord with US; UN warns Myanmar over anti-Muslim violence; China H7N9 bird flu fears rise

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Germany, France demand no-spy agreement with U.S. Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: German Chancellor Angela Merkel demanded on Thursday that the United States strike a “no-spying” agreement with Berlin and Paris by the end of the year, saying alleged espionage against two of Washington’s closest EU…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Supreme Patriach passes away; Furby fury reduced to suspended sentence; Mahouts in jumbo fight

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Supreme Patriach passes away; Furby fury reduced to suspended sentence; Mahouts in jumbo fight

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Supreme Patriach passes away The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara Somdet Phra Sangharaja passed away Thursday after enduring ailments and undergoing hospital treatment in recent months.He turned 100 on October 3 and is considered the longest living Supreme Patriarch in…

  • Phuket Governor requests lifeguards for Racha Yai to stop the drownings

    Phuket Governor requests lifeguards for Racha Yai to stop the drownings

    PHUKET: In response to the growing number of tourists drowning at Racha Yai Island, Governor Maitri Inthusut has called for a lifeguard station at the popular day-trip location. “There are no lifeguards on the island now. Among the many things we need to do in Phuket to support tourism, having a lifeguard station there is an important one,” he told…

  • Another armed drug suspect arrested in Phuket

    Another armed drug suspect arrested in Phuket

    PHUKET: Police on Wednesday raided a house in a residential area in Thalang, where they seized 2,446 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and about 408g of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine). Acting on a tip-off from plainclothes officers, Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Pisit Chunpet served a warrant to search the house, in Baan Don, for drugs. “We arrived at 3pm and…

  • Phuket hotel singer dies in visa run crash | Thaiger

    Phuket hotel singer dies in visa run crash

    PHUKET: Police have confirmed that the Philippines woman who died in the visa run van accident in Trang province early Monday morning worked in Phuket as a singer in a hotel restaurant.The woman, who police have yet to name, was sitting in the back row of seats in the van at the time of the accident.“There was heavy rain that…

  • Phuket hotel staffer arrested on murder charges

    Phuket hotel staffer arrested on murder charges

    PHUKET: A hotel employee at Banthai Beach Resort & Spa in Patong was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly taking part in a gang attack that led to a death in Phitsanulok five years ago.Danai Thonglaima, 35, is alleged to have joined in a roadside attack in May 2008, after which he fled to Phuket and lived a secret life.Officers from…

  • Villagers battle for access to Phuket public land

    Villagers battle for access to Phuket public land

    PHUKET: Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak visited Pa Khlok yesterday afternoon to investigate claims made by residents that a path on public land had been blocked off, denying them access to a pier where they keep their fishing boats. About 50 residents had travelled to Phuket Provincial Hall the day before to lodge a complaint with Governor Maitri Inthusut (story here).…

  • Phuket visa run crash leaves one dead

    Phuket visa run crash leaves one dead

    PHUKET: A Philippine national has died and an unknown number of Phuket expats were injured in a visa run van crash in Trang early Monday morning.A representative at Phen Phet Visa Run confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today that the accident occurred in Trang province, about 300km south of Phuket, at about 2am on Monday.The van was carrying tourists and…

  • Phuket Governor denies sweeping mafia problems “under the carpet’

    Phuket Governor denies sweeping mafia problems “under the carpet’

    PHUKET: The Phuket Governor has strongly denied allegations of ignoring rampant corruption and “mafia” operations in Phuket. “Phuket has never swept problems under the carpet,” Governor Maitri sternly told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. The public statement followed a consortium of leading Phuket travel figures on Monday insinuating that some of Phuket’s top officials were not willing to help “take out…

  • Phuket marks Chulalongkorn Day

    Phuket marks Chulalongkorn Day

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut this morning led an assembly of officials in a ceremony to honor Chulalongkorn Day, known in Thai as Wan Piya Maharat.The ceremony held at the “Chulalongkorn the Great” monument at Phuket Provincial Hall began at 9am. Officers adorned the statue with flowers and speeches were made honoring the great achievements of HM King Chulalongkorn.Known by…

  • Phuket handyman caught robbing safe in Russian woman’s room

    Phuket handyman caught robbing safe in Russian woman’s room

    PHUKET: Police Monday night arrested a hotel staffer in Karon who used a master key and a stolen room safe key to rob a Russian tourist of the equivalent of nearly 20,000 baht in banknotes.The thief also deleted CCTV records at the Karon Phunaka Resort and Spa in the hope of covering his tracks.Tatiana Gorshkova discovered 10,000 baht cash, US$100…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Isarn floods worst in 50 years; Pattaya on fire; Santika Pub owner aquitted

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Isarn floods worst in 50 years; Pattaya on fire; Santika Pub owner aquitted

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Flooding in East worst in 50 years: Plodprasop The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Flooding in Phimai district in Nakhon Ratchasima, one of the hardest hit areas, is expected to peak over the next few days.“At this point, I am most worried about Phimai,” Water and Flood Management…

  • Phuket Governor orders probe into alleged land grab

    Phuket Governor orders probe into alleged land grab

    PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut today ordered a task force to investigate claims by local residents in Pa Khlok, on Phuket’s central east coast, that public land had been encroached on.The villagers, numbering about 50 and led by Baan Bangla village headman Samarn Bumroongna, arrived at Provincial Hall at 10am in protest.Chief among their complaints was that someone who claimed to…

  • Phuket travel consortium casts doubt on local support for mafia crackdown

    Phuket travel consortium casts doubt on local support for mafia crackdown

    PHUKET: A consortium of four major travel organizations yesterday publicly voiced their doubt that top local officials fully support the ongoing multi-agency crackdown to clean up rampant corruption and “mafia” operations in Phuket.Top figures representing the Phuket Tourist Association (PTA), the Thai Hotels Association Southern Chapter, the Phuket Spa Association (SPA) and the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA) called a…

  • Drug web unravels as police make arrests from Phuket Town to Thalang

    Drug web unravels as police make arrests from Phuket Town to Thalang

    PHUKET: In a cascading string of confessions, police arrested five drug dealers on Saturday, collecting along the way over a kilogram of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and almost 4,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills. The first arrests that started the domino effect were at Suan Luang Park (Rama IX Park) (map here) when police noticed a man and a woman acting…

  • Phuket Town drinkers take down armed robber

    Phuket Town drinkers take down armed robber

    PHUKET: Two men sitting in front of their house drinking in the early hours this morning made a citizen’s arrest, taking down a man who had just robbed a Phuket Town convenience store at knifepoint. Phuket City Police were notified of the arrest at 3:40am. “By the time we arrived, Ronnarit Klinchuen, 21, and his friend Ponlawat Kaensub, 22, had…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Floods close factories; Laos crash bodies to return home; Chalerm in relapse; Jakkrit mourned

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Floods close factories; Laos crash bodies to return home; Chalerm in relapse; Jakkrit mourned

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Industrial estate battles floodwater The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate in Chon Buri is facing a severe battle keeping out floodwaters, which have forced 15 factories in its compound to suspend operations.Another 78 factories outside the protection of estates, mainly in the Northeast,…

  • Failed motorbike ram attempt wins policeman B10k reward for bravery

    Failed motorbike ram attempt wins policeman B10k reward for bravery

    PHUKET: A patrol policeman who broke his collar bone while ramming bag-snatchers with his motorbike in an attempt to stop their getaway was rewarded with 10,000 baht yesterday morning for his bravery. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Ong-art Phiwruangnont issued the bonus on hearing how Sgt Songwut Noosuk of the Phuket City Police attempted to apprehend the perpetrators on Saturday afternoon.…