- World News
Somalia estimates 200-300 citizens may have died in migrant drowning
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Somalia estimates 200-300 citizens may have died in migrant drowning Phuket Gazette / Reuters NAIROBI: Somalia’s government said on Monday that between 200 and 300 Somalis may have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea while trying to cross illegally to Europe, based on information it has gathered…
- Phuket News
Officials mull big bike licence
PHUKET: A specific driver’s licence for those wanting to mount a big bike is still in the works, officials told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “I know that there are ongoing discussions about the possibility of creating a separate driver’s licence for motorcycles with engines that are at least 400cc,” said Jaturong Kaewkasi, chief policy adviser at the Phuket Land Transport…
- Hua Hin News
Major steel producers fail to reach deal on overcapacity, U.S. chides China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Major steel producers fail to reach deal on overcapacity, U.S. chides China Phuket Gazette / Reuters BRUSSELS/BEIJING: China and other major steel-producing countries failed to agree measures to tackle a global steel crisis as the sides argued over the causes of overcapacity, prompting U.S. criticism of…
- World News
Three days after Ecuador quake, hopes for survivors dwindle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Three days after Ecuador quake, hopes for survivors dwindle Phuket Gazette / Reuters ECUADOR: Earthquake-stricken Ecuador faced the grim reality of recovering more bodies than survivors as rescue efforts moved into a third day on Tuesday and the death toll climbed over 400 in the poor…
- Phuket News
Surin beachfront operators make one last plea
PHUKET: More than 30 Surin business operators begged the Phuket Governor to postpone the looming demolition of their shops along the recently dubbed ‘Honorary Beach’. Though the well-known Catch Beach Club had already thrown in the towel with its ‘One More Time’ party held on Saturday night (story here), other business operators were hoping that the governor would step in…
- Phuket News
Flames ravage Phuket speedboats
PHUKET: One person was seriously injured as a blaze ravaged a number of speedboats at Chalong Pier this morning. Firefighters operating from five fire trucks spent about three hours battling the flames due to the massive amount of fuel on board, explained Phuket Marine Police Chief Panya Chaichana. “The fire wasn’t completely out until about 6am,” Lt Col Panya said.…
- Phuket News
Text messages may offer clues in fatal fall of Finnish tourist
PHUKET: Police investigating the death of a 19-year-old Finnish woman, who fell from the rooftop of a Patong guesthouse last month, have so far ruled out foul play in her death. However, they are hoping that her final text messages will reveal clues about her state of mind that night. Ida Maria Bexar fell from the rooftop of the Good…
- Phuket News
Loose flip-flop causes flip out near monument
PHUKET: A barefoot truck driver who flipped his vehicle near Heroines’ Monument last night said he lost control because his loose shoe got in the way when he tried to hit the brakes. “Subin Kulmuangdoan, 31, was driving back after delivering mushrooms in Patong at about 11:50pm,” reported Capt Santichai Srimai of the Thalang Police. “As he approached the monument,…
- World News
Myanmar president frees 83 political prisoners
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar president frees 83 political prisoners Phuket Gazette / Reuters YANGON: Myanmar’s new president has pardoned 83 prisoners held for political crimes, officials said Sunday, just weeks after the first government in half a century not connected to the military took office. The order, signed by…
- Phuket News
The Songkran scoreboard
PHUKET: Three deaths marred Phuket’s attempt to keep the road-death toll at zero for the entire Songkran ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign. The province slipped past April 13, typically the most deadly day in the annual campaign, without a single death. However the next day, 41-year-old Swedish national Johnny Daniel Soederstroem died after losing control of his bike, while…
- Phuket News
Rip currents wreak havoc at Nai Harn, one swimmer in ICU
PHUKET: A woman is on life support after being pulled unconscious from the waves of Nai Harn yesterday afternoon. Vachira Phuket Hospital staff declined to name the woman, who is thought to be in her 20s. “She was swimming in a red-flag zone with a group of about six other people. In total, there were about 20 Thai people in…
- Phuket News
Algae to blame for murky water in Patong Bay
PHUKET: The cloudy green-colored surf off Patong Beach is a normal occurrence caused by an annual algae bloom, not pollution, officials confirmed today. Vice Governor Kajornkiet Rakpanitmanee made the reassurances today after members of the public became concerned that untreated wastewater was to blame for the usually clear water in Patong Bay turning a muddy green-brown color in recent weeks.…
- Phuket News
Phuket Instagram enthusiasts to join Worldwide InstaMeet
PHUKET: Phuket Instagrammers can celebrate Earth Day with other photography enthusiasts at the Phuket meet-up of the Worldwide InstaMeet 13 on Saturday, April 23. Going by the official hashtag #LifeOnEarthWWIM13, this year’s meeting aims to inspire Instagrammers to discover the beauty and wonder of our planet, in celebration of Earth Day (story here). An ‘InstaMeet’, or meeting of Instagram enthusiasts,…
- Phuket News
Fatal collision: Russian driver in wrong lane
PHUKET: A motorcyclist died after a collision with a car driven by a Russian man who may have simply forgotten which side of the road he was supposed to be driving on. The accident occurred on Saiyuan Road in Rawai at 11:45pm on Thursday night. Russian national Ruslan Gainutdinov, 37, who had arrived in Phuket just three days before the…
- Phuket News
Rotting whale carcass could still reveal clues
PHUKET: Marine biologists are hoping that the rotting carcass of a five-tonne whale, found washed up yesterday on Lampi Beach, Phang Nga, will reveal clues about how it died. Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) staff had been looking for the dead cetacean, ever since it was spotted floating off Koh Bon in the Similan National Park by a tourist on…
- Phuket News
Patong Girl wins Grimme Award
PHUKET: The Grimme Institute in Germany awarded its prestigious Grimme Prize to the lead Thai actress in the movie Patong Girl for her stellar performance in the trilingual film set in Phuket. Aisawanya Areyawattana flew to Marl, Germany to join other cast members on April 8 for the award ceremony, which was broadcast on German television. The Thai-German co-production is…
- Phuket News
Milo the orangutan on the mend [video]
PHUKET: Milo, an orangutan recently confiscated from Phuket Zoo and moved to the Phang Nga Wildlife Nursery Station, is on the mend from a debilitating blood disorder. “Her legs became weak, she could not walk and did not want to eat,” explained Songkrit Jearanasin, a vet at the station. “After analyzing her blood, we confirmed that she had vasculitis.” Vasculitis,…
- World News
Aftershocks rattle southwestern Japan after quake kills nine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Aftershocks rattle southwestern Japan after quake kills nine Phuket Gazette / Reuters TOKYO: Aftershocks rattled southwestern Japan on Friday after a strong quake the night before killed nine people, injured at least 1,000 and cut power and water across the region, forcing the temporary shutdown of…
- World News
Protesters clash with police in Paris
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Protesters clash with police in Paris Phuket Gazette / Reuters PARIS: Protesters attacked shop windows and cash dispensers in the east of Paris on Thursday, a Paris police spokeswoman said. “There are 300 people currently causing very important damage,” the spokeswoman said, adding that a police…
- Phuket News
Swede dies in big bike crash, first death in Phuket road-safety campaign
PHUKET: A Swedish man died in a motorcycle accident on his way across Thepkrasattri Bridge in Phuket yesterday evening. The death of Johnny Daniel Soederstroem, 41, marks the first death of the ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign in Phuket, which coincides with Phuket Bike Week. “He was riding a Honda CB650F, which crashed into the concrete railings along the…
- Thai Life
Where’s the new generation of sailors?
PHUKET: It was amazing how the ‘good old days’ stories kept popping up as I enjoyed after-race drinks at the Phuket Yacht Club (PYC). I could overhear, again: “Wow, the old sailors are really into it (as always), but what about the new generation? Where are they?” Well, they’re right under our noses, but are hardly seen or heard of.…
- Business News
Local fishermen dish out ‘fishy’ details
PHUKET: Anchovies may be small fry, but they are big business for some fishermen operating out of Phuket’s main fishing port. Known locally as ‘pla ching chang’, anchovies have been a steady source of income for the last 40 years for fishing boat owner Kumnueng Dumead. However, business is not always plain sailing, especially during the rainy season. “During the…
- Phuket News
Neighbors break down door to stop condo fire
PHUKET: Neighbors at a condominium in Phuket Town helped put out a fire, before firefighters arrived to finish the job last night. The fire broke out in one of the units on the tenth floor of Supalai Park condominium on Nakorn Road at about 10:30pm, confirmed Lt Chatree Vetrangsi of the Phuket City Police. The owner of the unit was…
- Phuket News
Pak Khlok residents raise concerns over new marina plans
PHUKET: Pak Khlok residents are worried that a new marina to be built in the area will have a negative impact on the environment and their livelihoods. The Kung Bay Marina is one of four new marinas slated to be built along the Andaman coast as part of a government-supported initiative to develop marine tourism in the region (story here).…
- Pattaya News
Battling the HIV/AIDS stigma
PHUKET: Eighteen year old ‘Nok’ is a normal, healthy-looking school girl struggling to cope with a dark past brought about by the shame and stigma of being diagnosed HIV positive. She found out she had contracted the disease when she became pregnant at 15 years old. “I was scared and confused. I asked my parents for help and they made…
- Opinion
A Decade Ago: Songkran, road-safety and dive regulations
PHUKET: Despite having significantly fewer people, fewer cars, fewer motorbikes and fewer tour buses on the island ten years ago, the Songkran ‘Days of Danger’ safety goals were much more reasonable. As has become the trend over the last few years, Phuket is joining the nation in a ‘Seven Days of Danger’ campaign this year with the unrealistic provincial goal…
- Opinion
Opinion: Legalizing Phuket’s illegal laborers
Kriengkrai Arpabuthsayapan is the head of the Phuket Provincial Office of Labor Protection and Welfare, a position he has held since May 2015. From Surin Province, Mr Kriengkrai has worked in the field for more than 15 years, serving in many provinces during his career. He graduated with a Master’s Degree in Labor and Welfare Development from Thammasat University. Here…
- Phuket News
Police confiscate more 100 vehicles from drunk drivers in Songkran safety blitz
PHUKET: More than 100 drunk drivers in Phuket have had their vehicles confiscated by police in the first three days of the Songkran ‘Seven Days of Danger’ road-safety campaign. Impounding vehicles driven by drunk drivers is part of the National Council for Peace and Order’s ‘No Drink Driving’ campaign during the Songkran holiday. It requires that officers hold vehicles seized…
- World News
Facebook’s next frontier: chatbots, live video
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook’s next frontier: chatbots, live video Phuket Gazette / Reuters SAN FRANCISCO: Facebook Inc said yesterday that it has opened up its Messenger app to developers to create “chatbots,” hoping that by simulating one-on-one conversations between users and companies it will expand its reach in customer…
- Thai Life
Profile: Redefining the path to success
PHUKET: Prachoom Tantiprasertsuk has made her mark as a female general manager in the largely male dominated Phuket hospitality industry, and has done it with an ease and elegance entirely her own. Her unassuming demeanor belies her very real, very lofty accomplishments – becoming one of the youngest female hotel directors in Thailand when she was less than 27 years…
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