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Opinion: Directing ships of cash to Phuket
PHUKET: After months of reporting one marine mishap after another, the inaugural Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) comes as a refreshing and long overdue reminder of just how important the marine leisure industry is to the island – and why all sides need to work harder to further develop the province into the true marine hub of the region. Phuket’s marine…
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More than 5 dozen tourists saved after speedboat sinks
PHANG NGA: More than five dozen tourists were safely rescued after their overloaded speedboat sank near the Similan Islands yesterday evening, reported officials. The 50-passenger boat, owned by the Rak Talay tour company, was carrying 63 tourists at the time of the incident, said Phang Nga Marine Police Chief Jakkree Mekumphonsuit. “According to the captain, they were headed back to…
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Australian cuts to climate change research may hit drive into Asia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australian cuts to climate change research may hit drive into Asia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Funding and job cuts at Australia’s climate change research body could undermine the country’s goal of dominating the Asian premium food market by placing farmers at a disadvantage to U.S.…
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Massive granite slab kills one, critically injures another
PHUKET: One Myanmar national was killed and another seriously injured last night after an enormous slab of granite that they were delivering fell on them. Mong Mia, 23, was part of a four-man crew unloading the slabs in a warehouse in Kathu, when they lost control of a piece they were carrying, estimated to weigh between 300 to 500 kilograms.…
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Google: U.S. guidance crucial to development of self-driving cars
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Google: U.S. guidance crucial to development of self-driving cars Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Alphabet Inc’s Google (GOOGL.O) unit told U.S. auto safety regulators that the government’s interpretation of motor vehicle safety rules is “extremely important” to its further development of fully self-driving cars. In a…
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Superyachts arrive: Thailand to be Asean marine hub
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapragorn opened the inaugural Thailand Yacht Show (TYS) in Phuket on Thursday, as the country positions itself to directly, and indirectly, benefit from superyachts and their ultra-wealthy owners. TYS, currently underway at Ao Po Grand Marina, will run until February 14, with about 40 yachts and at least 14 superyachts on display. Gracing the waters…
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CPR brings tourist back to life
KRABI: Rescue workers revived a Chinese tourist after she was pulled unconscious from Krabi waters by friends Tuesday afternoon. “Jian Jingpia, 28, was swimming with a large group of friends at a depth of about one meter, when she lost her footing and began floundering and choking,” said Jumpen Pompakdee, head of the Koh Hong National Park. Ms Jian lost…
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Rescued three-year-old boy transferred to PICU
PHUKET: The three-year-old boy who was found after going missing for six days, has been transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Vachira Phuket Hospital, confirmed hospital staff. Nong DJ was rescued yesterday from a shallow waterway about three kilometers away from his home (video report here). “Nong DJ is now in the PICU due to a stomach…
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Australia set to legalise cultivation of medical cannabis
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australia set to legalise cultivation of medical cannabis Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Australia is expected to legalize the cultivation of cannabis for medical or scientific purposes with a bill introduced to parliament on Wednesday – the first step towards doctors eventually prescribing it to patients…
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Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong riot police fire warning shots in bloody street clashes Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hong Kong riot police fired warning shots on Tuesday during clashes that erupted in the Chinese-ruled city when authorities tried to remove illegal street stalls set up for Lunar New…
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Taiwan developer in custody after deadly quake fells building
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taiwan developer in custody after deadly quake fells building Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A local court in the southern Taiwan city of Tainan ruled on Tuesday to take into custody the developer of a building which collapsed during an earthquake at the weekend that killed…
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Krabi Police bust illegal gun ring
KRABI: Krabi Police captured one suspect and are searching for two others who were able to flee the scene of a raid on Monday in Ao Luek. Police were alerted to the location after neighbors complained of an illegal gun production ring. “We were able to capture Noppadon Surachawadee, 34. However, his younger brother, Prasit Surachawadee, 28, and their associate,…
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Video Report: Missing boy reunited with family
PHUKET: Tireless efforts made by police, search teams and rescue workers today helped reunite a missing three-year-old boy with his family. Nong DJ was recovered safe and sound on a hill about three kilometers from his home in Wichit, where he went missing on Wednesday (story here). “We found him at about 11:40am lying in a shallow waterway, covered by…
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Canadian national dies after night out in Patong
PHUKET: Police are waiting for doctors to confirm the cause of death of a Canadian man who died in his hotel room in Patong this morning. Micheal Jerry Talbot, 28, collapsed at about 5:30am after suffering from chest pain and shortness of breath, confirmed Capt Yingyong Chuoykij of the Patong Police. “Mr Talbot’s roommate told us that Mr Talbot went…
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Escaped toothfish-poaching vessel netted in Senegal
PHUKET: Authorities in Senegal have detained the internationally wanted toothfish-poaching vessel Kunlun, which slipped through the fingers of Phuket authorities after having been seized in March last year. Reports allege that the illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing vessel had previously falsified its registry, claiming Indonesia as its flag state. This allowed the vessel to be detained in Senegal on formalities…
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Breaking News: Phuket rescue workers save missing 3 year old
PHUKET: A missing 3-year-old boy was found today after having disappeared from his family home on Wednesday. “The boy is very weak and cold. He was in the woods alone for days,” said Kusoldharm rescue worker Thanakorn Teechanon. “When we found him, he wasn’t even crying, as he was so weak. We are now taking him to Vachira Phuket Hospital.”…
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A Decade Ago: Whole lot of monkey business
PHUKET: Though an exotic beast to most foreigners when they first find their footing in Thailand, it takes very few interactions with monkeys to realize that they are properly aggressive, arrogant deviants. This sort of Monkey Business, far different than the mafia muppeteering that destroyed our public transportation system and deflowered our beaches, made page one in the February 4-10,…
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Opinion: Creating a World Heritage Site
Kosol Tang-Uthai is a Phuket native and is currently deputy mayor of Phuket City and president of the Thai Peranakan Association, a group dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Phuket’s unique Chinese culture. He earned his doctorate from Mahidol University and has been serving as president of the association since 2007. Here he talks about the difficulties involved…
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Aussies tackle unidentified medical patient quagmire in Phuket, Bali
PHUKET: Australian-based company IDTracker was launched to tackle the frightening number of unidentified foreign patients arriving unconscious or incoherent at Phuket hospitals. The company’s simple, durable wrist bands provide a unique emergency identification code number that is linked to the wearer’s secure on line profile and can be used by medical staff to access insurance details, emergency contacts, medical history…
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Another tourist dies on Phuket speedboat trip
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist was recovered unconscious from the waters off Koh Racha while on a speedboat trip today. Ju Zekai, 24, was rushed back to Phuket and transferred to Chalong Hospital where he was pronounced dead. “Mr Ju was on a day trip around Koh Racha with his girlfriend and 20 other tourists. He had gone for a swim…
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Phuket flyover projects garner public clearance
PHUKET: Two major flyover construction projects that were grounded by public opinion last year are clear for takeoff. Out of the 339 voting participants at the public meeting Thursday morning, 259 approved the project, a dramatic contrast to the 65% of 95 voters who shot down the plan on August 10 last year (story here). The flyovers are planned for…
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Brit found dead in Srisoonthorn villa
PHUKET: Police do not suspect foul play in the death of a British national found dead in his Srisoonthorn villa this morning. Martyn William James, 64, was discovered by his housekeeper after Mr James’ wife asked her to check on him. “Mrs James asked the housekeeper, Darunee Banrob, to check on Mr James after she tried calling him but got…
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Phuket police clueless in hunt for missing 3-year-old
PHUKET: Days after a woman called on the public to help find her missing three-year-old son, police have no leads. The distraught 23-year-old mother, Saowalak Chaiyo, said her son went missing while playing in front of their home in Wichit on Wednesday. Jetsadakron Chaiyo, nicknamed Nong DJ, was wearing a white hoodie with a black Angry Birds logo, orange shorts…
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Taiwan quake toll climbs to 35, president to visit disaster scene
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taiwan quake toll climbs to 35, president to visit disaster scene Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Feb 8 The death toll from an earthquake in southern Taiwan at the weekend climbed to 35 on Monday, with more than 100 people still listed as missing under a…
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Tourist dead, family in hospital after boat capsizes
PHUKET: An elderly Chinese woman is dead and her family recovering in hospital after the longtail boat they hired capsized in rough seas in Krabi yesterday. Boat driver Niyom Suebhet, 32, said that the longtail had started taking on water before capsizing in waves about three meters high. “We left Koh Mai Pai at about 3pm. The tourists, four adults…
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Phuket sea gypsies use black magic to fight land barons
PHUKET: Rawai Sea gypsies have turned to black magic in a last-ditch effort to fend off real estate developers in Phuket. About 200 sea gypsies took part in the ancient ‘Ah Boi‘ ceremony Saturday morning, which was attended by village chiefs from Phuket, Phang Nga and Krabi, in an effort to garner spiritual help against Baron World Trade Co Ltd.…
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Russian involved in fatal Phuket crash
PHUKET: Police have yet to charge a Russian man who was involved in a fatal road accident on Phuket yesterday morning. “Cherkasov Mikhail, 37, waited for police to arrive after the accident. He explained that Sakol Kunnui, 20, had crossed into his lane, then fell off his bike. Mr Mikhail was unable to stop in time,” said Lt Col Rassada…
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Opinion: Snorkelling safety snafu
PHUKET: The recent death of Chinese tourist Weidong Lu, 49, who was killed while snorkelling off Koh Racha Yai, further exemplifies the need to provide tourists with fully trained and certified tour guides. Though it is uncertain whether or not a tour guide was present on the speedboat that was hired to carry Mr Weidong and his family, it still…
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Officials launch safe-sex campaign ahead of Valentine’s Day
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is urging people to practice safe sex as part of an awareness campaign for Valentine’s Day this year. “HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases [STDs] can be prevented if people practice safe sex. It is crucial to be aware of ways to keep yourself protected,” says PPHO Chief Buncha Kakong. Dr Buncha is…
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Phi Phi park chief allows additional dive sites
PHUKET: After a lengthy meeting, Phi Phi officials have agreed to allow 18 dive sites to remain open following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers (story here). “After talking to all relevant parties, we have decided to allow diving to continue at many of the current sites in the park,” confirmed Sarayuth Tanthien, chief…
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