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Java on fire to win Phuket Multihull Solutions Regatta
PHUKET: Mick Coleman and his crew on Java blazed around the course off the east coast of Phuket over the weekend to win the Racing Multihull Class in the Phuket Multihull Solutions Regatta. Java mastered wind blasts of up to 30 knots to score four firsts and two second-place finishes, amassing a total of just six points to lift the…
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EC defends its proposals to overhaul political system
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EC defends its proposals to overhaul political system The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Election Commission (EC) yesterday denied that its reform plan put to the National Council for Peace and Order last week came at the expense of politicians, saying its intentions were above-board…
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Anti-graft agency probing rice deals, links to ministers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anti-graft agency probing rice deals, links to ministers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Anti-Corruption Commission sub-panel is deeply probing alleged irregularities in the rice-pledging scheme’s financial transactions to identify possible nominees linked to five former ministers under investigation, NACC deputy secretary-general Warawit Sukboon…
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Thousands flee Gaza after Israeli warning
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands of Gaza civilians flee after Israeli warning Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands fled their homes in a Gaza town on Sunday after Israel warned them to leave ahead of threatened attacks on rocket-launching sites, on the sixth day of an offensive that Palestinian officials…
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Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Germany’s impressive strength in depth proved the decisive factor in their 1-0 extra-time World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday as Lionel Messi failed to deliver the golden touch for the South Americans.…
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DNP chief locked and loaded: targets high-ranking officials over Phuket land snatching
PHUKET: More than 1,000 rai of Phuket land illegally owned by former ministers, deputies and provincial governors will be returned to the public, said Samak Donnapee, director of the Bureau of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). “The 92 plots being taken back are in Sakoo and Cherng Talay,” confirmed Sirinath National Park Chief Kitiphat Tharapiban to the Phuket…
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Phuket police hunt human smugglers after rescuing debt-trapped Burmese fishermen
PHUKET: Fast action by the Phuket Marine Police freed two Myanmar nationals who were trapped in indentured labor on a fishing vessel as Thailand continues its campaign to rebut its downgrade to the lowest tier on the US State Department’s “Trafficking in Persons” report. “We take this issue very seriously,” Lt Col Panya Chaichana of Phuket Marine Police told the…
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Speedboat rescues Phuket captain found floating at sea in life jacket
PHUKET: A boat captain bobbing at sea in a life jacket was rescued by a speedboat 20 minutes after his boat sank near Koh Yao Yai yesterday afternoon. Apichart Lawthong, 51, was the only person on board when the boat, which was carrying construction supplies, foundered in rough seas. “I left Phuket at about 11am, headed to Phi Phi,” Mr…
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Phuket Opinion: Taxing alcohol – a taxing issue
Sean Gabb is Director of the Libertarian Alliance in London and has written on subjects as diverse as gay marriage, handicapped parking and second-hand smoke. From 1991 to 1992, he served as Economic and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Slovakia. He is the author of 20 books, including novels and poetry. His new novel, The Break, has been…
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Ban monkey business
PHUKET: The recent introduction of two gibbons rescued in Phuket into the wilds of Northern Thailand is a landmark achievement for the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF) and the many affiliated groups and volunteers who played roles in making it happen. We join the rest of the island in thanking them all and wishing them the best of…
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Marine Police ramp up inspections to promote Phuket boat safety
PHUKET: Marine police are in the midst of a blitz on Phuket tourist boats and crew to promote safety over the four-day holiday weekend. “It’s our responsibility to continually check on the boats and strictly enforce regulations to ensure the safety of passengers, especially during the long holidays, when more people are expected to be in Phuket,” said Lt Col…
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Police suspect kickstand played role in fatal Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A helmet-less Myanmar national was killed after losing control of his motorbike on a curve while driving with his kickstand down in Phuket yesterday. When police arrived at the scene on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, they found 27-year-old Phyo Maung Maung’s motorbike, with the kickstand down, on the median and Mr Phyo’s body in a lane of oncoming traffic.…
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Military silent on ‘cash for clearance’ at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Navy officers have fallen silent over their investigation into immigration officials at Phuket International Airport who allegedly solicit cash payments from tourists to clear immigration queues. On Wednesday, one of the top-ranking officers who led a Monday raid of the airport declined to reveal to the Phuket Gazette whether or not his officers were continuing their investigation into the…
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Second man charged in train rape-murder
PHUKET: Police have charged a second State Railway of Thailand employee over his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on an overnight train to Bangkok. After the interrogation of a 19-year-old train worker by Prachuap Khiri Khan police chief Maj Gen Thanes Sunthornsuk, an informed source reported that the teenager confessed that he was drinking…
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B10.3bn allocated to tackle drug abuse
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community B10.3bn allocated to tackle drug abuse The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With a budget of 10.3 billion baht allocated for the 2014 fiscal year to tackle drug abuse, the Justice Ministry plans to have the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) find addicts who…
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Police warn local officers over taxi mafia revival
PHUKET: The leading police officer who spearheaded the recent purge of Phuket’s illegal taxi mafia has vowed to investigate any local police officers who allow illegal taxi drivers to return to their regular roosts. Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin of Region 8 Police said that he considered any further action against illegal taxi operators a matter to be dealt with by…
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Kathu Culture Street Festival kicks off today
PHUKET: The Kathu Culture Street Festival, showcasing the unique blend of cultural heritage of the area, starts today with a parade at 4:00pm. The parade will begin at Kathu Municipality and end at the Kathu Public Health Center, followed by an opening ceremony at 6pm. “The goal of the festival is to encourage locals and tourists to learn more about…
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Unemployed Phuket tour bus staffers plead for help
PHUKET: Local tour operator staff made redundant by companies using their own buses, drivers and guides to provide tours of Phuket appealed yesterday to the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating their plight. Kanlaya Rakvaree, the lead representative of the group, explained that many local jobs had been lost to companies that no longer hire Phuket tour companies to conduct…
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Phuket house burglar’s rampage comes to abrupt end
PHUKET: Police yesterday snared a serial burglar who confessed to having robbed 12 Phuket residences since mid-June. The 22-year-old Phang Nga native, Raewat Kasirak, was identified by police from many CCTV footage clips recovered from throughout the island, explained Lt Col Somsak Thongkliang of the Phuket City Police. Mr Raewat, who was arrested in front of the Phuket Vocational College…
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Twin Sharks turns turtle, to rejoin regatta racing tomorrow
PHUKET: Hot favorite Twin Sharks, which capsized during practice in strong winds off Phuket yesterday, is expected to begin its campaign in the Firefly Sport 850 class in the Multihull Solutions Regatta tomorrow. The racing catamaran turned turtle in Chalong Bay yesterday afternoon amid strong winds gusting up to 25 knots (story here). Skipper and owner John Newnham and his…
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Gaza dead reach 78 as Israelis hint at invasion
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gaza dead reach 78 as Israelis hint at invasion Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 78 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive, Palestinian officials said on Thursday as militants in the enclave kept up rocket attacks on Tel Aviv,…
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Argentina and Germany start final preparations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina and Germany start final preparations Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina and Germany were both back at work on Thursday, secretly hatching their plans for Sunday’s World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. While their contrasting styles promise a classic battle between…
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Phuket man found at lake bottom after midday fishing, drinking session
PHUKET: The body of a 65-year-old man was recovered from a lake in Cherng Talay by rescue divers hours after his wife reported him missing. Arwin Norkam went searching for her husband, Don Norkam, at about lunch time this afternoon. At the lake, where he had gone to fish, she found his clothing, shoes, fishing tackle and a bottle of…
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Rio’s Christ to light up Twitter’s World Cup campaign
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sport selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rio’s iconic Christ statue will be lit up on the eve of Sunday’s World Cup final in the colours of each of the finalists’ flags with Twitter users to determine which is displayed the longest. Starting on Wednesday, Twitter Inc users around the world can participate by…
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Phuket catamaran flips in regatta warm-up
PHUKET: All crew are safe after a Phuket boat flipped in practice this afternoon ahead of the Multihull Solutions Regatta, which starts tomorrow. Twin Sharks, one of the fastest Firefly catamarans in the fleet, flipped in strong winds gusting up to 25 knots on Chalong Bay. The boat owner, John Newnham, and his three crewmen are safely back on shore…
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Phuket to observe two-day alcohol ban starting at midnight
PHUKET: The sale of alcohol will be prohibited in Phuket tomorrow and Saturday as part of a nationwide ban to honor the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent. “Alcohol sales are prohibited from midnight tonight until midnight Saturday,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The Saturday alcohol ban…
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Nationwide checks continue to find fault with rice stocks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nationwide checks continue to find fault with rice stocks The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Inspections reveal that the rice stocks from the controversial pledging scheme have become mired in both quality and quantity problems. An informed source said yesterday that inspections had found that most…
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State rail chief rejects calls for resignation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community SRT governor rejects calls for resignation The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan yesterday vowed to stay on as SRT chief, saying his resignation would be deemed an escape from the problems surrounding the railways. “I am begging for…
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Phuket beach shops fetched B7mn apiece, B400k a year in rent, say officials
PHUKET: Shops and restaurants torn down by officials at Nai Thon Beach yesterday were bought for as much as 7 million baht apiece and fetched rental fees of up to 400,000 baht a year, officials have revealed. “It is obvious that the people who run these shops are business operators, not local people living day by day,” Sirinath National Park…
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Both candidates in Indonesia election claim victory
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both candidates in Indonesia election claim victory Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Both candidates claimed victory in Indonesia’s presidential election on Wednesday, suggesting there could be a drawn out constitutional battle to decide who will next lead the world’s third-largest democracy. Just a few hours after…
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