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  • Phuket Opinion: Deputy PM adds insult to injury

    Phuket Opinion: Deputy PM adds insult to injury

    PHUKET: Recent protests over inflammatory comments made in Chiang Mai by controversial Deputy Prime Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi are just one small reflection of growing national unease with the administration of Yingluck Shinawatra. In an address to the people of Chiang Mai, Deputy PM Plodprasop said the refusal of the people of Phuket to elect a Pheu Thai Party candidate would…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: US approves arms to Syria rebels; Turkey talks to end protests; Czech PM in police raids; Mandela’s health holds

    Phuket Gazette World News: US approves arms to Syria rebels; Turkey talks to end protests; Czech PM in police raids; Mandela’s health holds

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama approves US arms to Syria rebels Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: President Barack Obama has authorized sending U.S. weapons to Syrian rebels for the first time, a U.S. official said on Thursday after the White House said it has proof that the Syrian government had…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Akeyuth murder mired in complicity; Supercar importers in tax spin; Borrowing the Burmese White Elephant; Ramadan ceasefire; School’s out

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Akeyuth murder mired in complicity; Supercar importers in tax spin; Borrowing the Burmese White Elephant; Ramadan ceasefire; School’s out

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Akeyuth murder motive more than ‘theft’: Panel The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Senate panel on human rights yesterday called on the Royal Thai Police to change the chief investigator in the case involving the murder of businessman and government critic Akeyuth Anchanbutr. Somchai Sawaengkarn,…

  • Mass tourism market blamed for degradation of Phuket

    Mass tourism market blamed for degradation of Phuket

    PHUKET: The Senate Standing Committee on Tourism yesterday highlighted a series of issues plaguing Phuket due to the rapid development of the province into a major center for mass tourism in Thailand.“The growth of the tourism industry in Phuket is the source of many problems at its natural tourist attractions. Land and beach encroachment, as well as air and water…

  • Asian junior wrestling takes hold of Phuket

    Asian junior wrestling takes hold of Phuket

    PHUKET: The 2013 Asian Junior Wrestling Championships started today with dozens of bouts taking place this morning at Saphan Hin’s 4,000-seat Indoor Sports Complex; and will conclude on Sunday (click here for map). The Wrestling Championship will be the first time some competitors have competed since the World Wrestling Body (FILA) introduced changes to the point system last month. With…

  • Special Report: Burmese manager climbs to the top of Phuket hotel industry

    Special Report: Burmese manager climbs to the top of Phuket hotel industry

    Special Report: Kyaw Kyaw Khine is a piece of living Phuket history. At 47 years old, he is the first Burmese national to become a hotel manager in Phuket’s critical tourism industry, at one of the best known hotels on the island: the On On Hotel on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town. Here he tells the story of his…

  • Heavy Phuket rains send snake slithering for shelter

    Heavy Phuket rains send snake slithering for shelter

    PHUKET: A large python sought accommodation and food in a local Phuket woman’s home yesterday morning.“During heavy rain, pythons often come to find things to eat. My house has many chickens, which is good food for a snake,” said Kanittha Saechau.On spotting the snake, which stretched to about four meters long, Ms Kanittha contacted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers.The rescue workers…

  • Phuket flood, landslide warning issued as weekend deluges forecast

    Phuket flood, landslide warning issued as weekend deluges forecast

    PHUKET: An island-wide flood and landslide warning has been issued as heavy rains continue to soak Phuket. The warning was issued to all local authorities across the island, San Jantharawong, chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket), confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this morning. “There has been heavy rain every day for days…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Ekkayuth’s body found, three arrested; Supercar probe gains speed; Bangkok by-election race heats up; Brick-thrower caught on camera

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Ekkayuth’s body found, three arrested; Supercar probe gains speed; Bangkok by-election race heats up; Brick-thrower caught on camera

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ekkayuth’s body found; theft motive disputed The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Mystery still surrounds the murder of businessman and government critic Ekkayuth Anchanbutr, whose body was found in the southern province of Phatthalung yesterday.Questions regarding a motive for the murder remain unanswered, as observers and his lawyer…

  • Phuket ITU Triathlon cancelled

    Phuket ITU Triathlon cancelled

    PHUKET: The Local Organizing Committee of the 2013 Phuket ITU Long Distance Triathlon Series event has announced the cancellation of the event set to be held in Patong on November 9-10. The weekend of triathlon activities was to include a series of triathlon events over two days, culminating in the first ever ITU Long Distance triathlon in Thailand. Part of…

  • Phuket beach encroachment top concern of Senate tourism sortie

    Phuket beach encroachment top concern of Senate tourism sortie

    PHUKET: A fact-finding tour of Phuket’s top west coast tourist beaches yesterday identified encroachment by hotels, resorts and restaurants as the top concern among members of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism. The tour of beaches began at about 8:30am, led by Phuket Senator Tunyaratt Achariyachai, who is also the chair of the Senate Standing Committee on Tourism. Joined by…

  • US Ambassador Kenney showers praise on Phuket

    US Ambassador Kenney showers praise on Phuket

    PHUKET: US Ambassador Kristie Kenney praised an array of aspects of Phuket during her one-day outreach trip to the island yesterday. “I am very thankful for every Phuket police officer. I am aware of how hard your work is, especially as Phuket is a tourism city and you have to take care of not only Thai people, but also foreigners,”…

  • Phuket gold shop gives B170k to fiancee of slain man

    Phuket gold shop gives B170k to fiancee of slain man

    PHUKET: The fiancee of the man shot dead trying to stop a gold shop robbery in Phuket in April received 170,000 baht from the shop owner on Monday. Surasak Wattananawin, owner of the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store, had promised to donate the money shortly after the murder of Apichet Choo-kliang, 32, and had already made one donation of…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Turkish patience runs out; Greek tragedy; Cabbie stabber confesses; Swiss banks shaken

    Phuket Gazette World News: Turkish patience runs out; Greek tragedy; Cabbie stabber confesses; Swiss banks shaken

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Skirmishes in Turkey after police storm Istanbul square Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Turkish riot police fought running battles with pockets of protesters overnight after storming a central Istanbul square in a show of force that risked ratcheting up tensions almost two weeks after anti-government demonstrations began.Prime Minister…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Businessman murdered; Drug dealer wanted by FBI arrested; F1 in Phuket; Size not important

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Businessman murdered; Drug dealer wanted by FBI arrested; F1 in Phuket; Size not important

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Driver admits killing Ekkayuth, police say The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The chauffeur of missing businessman Ekkayuth Anchanbutr admitted to his murder last night, former police spokesman Pol Lt General Prawut Thavornsiri said on his Twitter account.Two other suspects who allegedly helped Santiparb Pengduang are on the…

  • Phuket’s new Airport Bus slated for July 1 launch

    Phuket’s new Airport Bus slated for July 1 launch

    PHUKET: The Phuket transport authorities today verbally agreed to launch the new Phuket Airport Bus service on July 1.The provincial transportation committee will meet again next Tuesday to ratify the decision in writing, Phuket Vice Governor and committee chairman Chamroen Tipayapongtada confirmed.Of the 29 government officers, airport officials and tourism and hotel industry representatives present at the meeting today, not…

  • Phuket flood warning issued as Patong hospital, police station access hampered

    Phuket flood warning issued as Patong hospital, police station access hampered

    PHUKET: The torrential rains across Phuket this morning caused more flooding in Patong, with access routes to the Patong Hospital and Patong Police Station under water. The downpours this morning saw 56.2mm of rainfall recorded within just three hours in Phuket Town, from 7am to 10am, while the weather monitoring station at Phuket Airport recorded 14.4mm from 4am to 7am…

  • Phuket Police suspect arson in three-truck fire

    Phuket Police suspect arson in three-truck fire

    PHUKET: Three pickup trucks burned early this morning in a fire police believe was caused by a faulty liquid gas tank (LPG) tank or arson.Police responded to a report just after 1am that a vehicle was ablaze at a commercial building near the entrance to Wat Manik in Srisoonthorn, Thalang.Firemen took 30 minutes to put out the fire, which appeared…

  • PHUKET FINANCE: Don’t let a ‘wall of worry’ cut you off from a bull market

    PHUKET FINANCE: Don’t let a ‘wall of worry’ cut you off from a bull market

    PHUKET: Although the economic numbers coming out of the United States are not exactly impressive, the S&P 500 has been hitting all time highs and at the end of April, was up some 14.5% since the start of the year, while gold, the ultimate investment of market contrarians, plunged the most in 33 years. In other words, the US stock…

  • Long-awaited Patong Phuket Immigration office to re-open Thursday

    Long-awaited Patong Phuket Immigration office to re-open Thursday

    PHUKET: The Patong Immigration office, scheduled to re-open almost a year and a half ago (story here), will open on Thursday, and provide limited immigration services in addition to general immigration information. The office, located on Thaweewong Road next to the Patong Tourist Police Volunteers office (map here), will provide 90-day resident reporting services. In addition, hotels will be able…

  • Phuket International Boat Show 2014 sponsorship opportunities

    Phuket International Boat Show 2014 sponsorship opportunities

    PHUKET: A number of commercial sponsorship and partnership packages are now available for the next Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX), which will celebrate its eleventh anniversary next January. Sponsorship experts, Paul Poole (South East Asia) Co Ltd, will represent PIMEX 2014 in its drive to attract new sponsors and partners, offering several package tiers (click here for site). Andy Dowden…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Supercar crackdown looms; Bangkok raid nets prized wildlife; Transgender ID photos approved

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Supercar crackdown looms; Bangkok raid nets prized wildlife; Transgender ID photos approved

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DSI tells luxury car owners to keep valid documents ready The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: People who own or possess 488 luxury cars, whose domestic prices start at Bt4 million each – mostly senior police and military officers, businesspeople and politicians – are required to produce relevant…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Egyptian war talk; Rains leave 40 dead; Thwarted Taliban attack; Mandela still serious; Suspected Taliban behead boys

    Phuket Gazette World News: Egyptian war talk; Rains leave 40 dead; Thwarted Taliban attack; Mandela still serious; Suspected Taliban behead boys

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt “war” talk raises Ethiopia Nile dam stakes Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egypt does not want war with Ethiopia but will keep “all options open”, President Mohamed Mursi said yesterday, turning up the heat in a dispute over a giant dam Addis Ababa is building across the…

  • Phuket Police find Swedish expat dead in Chalong | Thaiger

    Phuket Police find Swedish expat dead in Chalong

    PHUKET: A Swedish expat was found dead in Chalong yesterday evening. The body of Aino Marianne Seppala, 57, was found lying on a couch in her living room. Ms Seppala’s right hand was heavily bandaged and a variety of medications were on the coffee table, said Wuttiwat Liang-boonjinda of the Chalong Police. There was no evidence of violence in the…

  • Laguna Phuket International Marathon sees fun and fund-raising

    Laguna Phuket International Marathon sees fun and fund-raising

    PHUKET: Michael Page of the UK won the eighth Laguna Phuket International Marathon (LPIM) when the annual running festival took to the island’s roads over the weekend. More than 4,000 entrants of all ages and abilities from 45 countries competed on a variety of distance courses in an atmosphere of community fun and charity fund-raising. Page finished the 42 kilometer…

  • Drunk looking German busted for meth in Phuket

    Drunk looking German busted for meth in Phuket

    PHUKET: A German national whose inebriated driving style caught police attention on Saturday was arrested in Patong after he failed a drug test and confessed to having drugs in his hotel room. The 44 year old was stopped by Phuket Immigration officer Capt Angkarn Yasanop at about 1:30am. “We were on patrol as usual,” said Capt Angkarn. “When we arrived…

  • V for Thailand unmasks Phuket unrest

    V for Thailand unmasks Phuket unrest

    PHUKET: Thousands of Phuket residents donned white Guy Fawkes masks and joined anti-government group “V for Thailand” to protest the current administration’s running of the country. “We are not a mob, we have gathered to let the government know that their management of Thailand has failed,” said a statement issued under the name of V-Phuket to the media during the…

  • Rainstorm drowns out Phuket FC

    Rainstorm drowns out Phuket FC

    PHUKET: The rainstorm that swept over the island last night forced officials to abandon the football match between Phuket FC and PTT Rayong; the decision was made more than halfway through the 0-0 deadlock at Surakul Stadium. Attending the half-match last night were several VIP guests of Phuket FC President Pamuke Achiriyachai, including Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut, Mr Pedro Moreira,…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: NSA leak Snowden seeks refuge in Hong Kong; Germany evacuates as Elbe floods; Nazi diary undusted; Tanks in Beirut

    Phuket Gazette World News: NSA leak Snowden seeks refuge in Hong Kong; Germany evacuates as Elbe floods; Nazi diary undusted; Tanks in Beirut

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-CIA man says exposed U.S. spy scheme for better world Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A former CIA employee working as a contractor at the U.S. National Security Agency revealed in an interview published on Sunday it was he who leaked details of a top secret U.S. surveillance…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI seizes 20 luxury cars; Anti-Thaksin tycoon feared abducted; Deep South peace talks hit YouTube

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI seizes 20 luxury cars; Anti-Thaksin tycoon feared abducted; Deep South peace talks hit YouTube

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More luxury cars snared in tax scam raids in and near Bangkok The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation yesterday impounded 20 luxury cars on suspicion their owners had not paid proper import taxes. The high-end cars were seized pending tax clarification…