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Phuket university partners with China’s National Space Science Center
PHUKET: Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket campus signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China’s National Space Science Center (NSSC) on Tuesday to solidify an agreement for further collaboration between the two organizations. The NSSC is an agency under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) that is responsible for planning, developing, launching and operating China’s space science satellite missions.…
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Singapore officials consider Phuket consulate
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several popular tourist destinations in Thailand being considered as the location for a consulate for the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore. Gabriel Liow, a counsellor from the Singapore Embassy, visited Phuket on Wednesday to wish the island’s officials a happy eew year and discuss issues that concern Singaporean tourists and expats in Phuket. “Mr…
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New Zealander shot in scuffle with Thai stepfather in Phuket
PHUKET: A New Zealander, born to a Thai mother, was shot late last night in an attempt to wrestle a handgun from his stepfather, who was allegedly drunk at the time. Jamie Smith, 30, was rushed to the new Dibuk Hospital on Chao Fa West Road (story here) after his mother called the police at about 11pm. When police arrived…
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Illegal tour guide swept up in Phuket crackdown
PHUKET: Another illegal tour guide was swept up at the Karon View Point in a recent crackdown aimed at protecting the job for Thai nationals. Liang Yang, 33, has denied the charges of operating an illegal tourism business, working illegally as a tour guide and working without permission. He told officers that the six Chinese nationals he was with were…
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Patong Police to launch emergency call box service
PHUKET: Patong Police are hoping to launch an emergency call box service in the popular tourist town as an alternative method for tourists needing to get in touch with police. “The call box gives tourists a way to contact police in case they do not have a mobile phone, or if they are lost,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit…
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Government puts end to Myanmar concert plan, cites security concerns
PHUKET: The first concert in Phuket dedicated to entertaining Myanmar nationals has been blocked by the local government, which has cited security concerns. The “Myanmar – Thai Cultural Relationship Concert” was to be held in a field behind Bus Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, tomorrow night. The event was to feature Myanmar celebrities R Zarni, Ni…
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Phuket’s shining light in the shade business
PHUKET: Local Phuket startup Window Design and Awnings Co Ltd, which has rapidly made a name for itself since its founding in 2009, is now looking to expand beyond the Kingdom’s borders. People may have noticed the white curved fabrics spread out over the walkways at Boat Lagoon, but the majority of the company’s clients are four, five and six-star…
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Interest in Super Bowl undeflated as big game nears
PHUKET: After almost two full weeks of media hype, controversy over “deflated balls” and an orgy of wagering on Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots have emerged as very slight favorites to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy when they play the defending champs the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale Arizona on Super Bowl Sunday [Stupor Bowl Monday for Phuketeers –…
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Opinion: This isn’t a game of musical chairs
PHUKET: Comfortably nestled into a computer chair in front of a screen, it is hard to fathom why so many people appear to care so deeply about chairs on Phuket’s beaches. Chairs seem to be such a strange household item to polarize a community – except for maybe musical chairs. Nonetheless, the number of people engaged on the Gazette Facebook…
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Phuket sea gypsy, 59, denied hospital treatment for broken leg
PHUKET: A 59-year-old woman from Phuket’s sea gypsy community in Rawai denied treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital for a broken leg sparked a mass visit to Governor Nisit Jansomwong by more than 30 angry villagers yesterday. “Pohnao Bangjark broke her left leg while collecting shellfish at Rawai Beach on January 16,” sea gypsy Sanit Sae-Thua told Governor Nisit at Phuket…
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Opinion: Phuket teens can booze, thanks to local shops
PHUKET: The recent order by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that the basic terms of the controversial Alcohol Control Act of 2008 will remain unchanged comes as great news for “mom-and-pop” store operators across the nation, as it ensures that they will maintain their most important competitive advantage over increasingly powerful chain store competitors: the ability to sell alcohol…
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Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket officially appointed
PHUKET: The Australian embassy in Bangkok yesterday officially confirmed the appointment of Canadian national Michelle Hawryluk, a partner in the Phuket-based law firm Hawryluk Legal Advisors, as the Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket. Ms Hawryluk has jurisdiction in the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, read a statement from the embassy issued yesterday. An experienced lawyer, Ms Hawryluk has…
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Malaysia declares MH370 an “accident”, airline to proceed with compensation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia declares MH370 an “accident”, airline to proceed with compensation Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Malaysia declared on Thursday the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 an accident, clearing the way for the airline to pay compensation to victims’ relatives while the search for the plane…
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Two teens dead in Phuket Town midday shootout
PHUKET: Two teenagers are dead after a rival gang of four second-year university students gunned them down in broad daylight, along with two others, on the streets of Phuket Town today. Sakdarin Kiembuth, 17, a former student at Phuket Technical College, died at the scene. Piaphat Jadsarng, a first-year student at Phuket Technical College, died from his injuries in hospital,…
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Corrupt Phuket officials paid B700mn for parkland, Isoc told
PHUKET: A top-flight general from Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 yesterday heard first-hand that applicants had paid 700 million baht for land titles to be issued for plots within Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. Maj Gen Ronnarong Koatdamrong, who serves as deputy director-general of Isoc Region 4, heard the account at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, attended by…
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Norwegian expat Dokset jailed 9 years for Phuket murder
PHUKET: Norwegian national Stein Harvard Dokset, a long-term Phuket expat, has been sentenced to nine years in prison for the murder of his ex-girlfriend Rungnapa Suktong. The sentence, which was handed down this afternoon at Phuket Provincial Court, stipulates that Mr Dokset will serve 7.5 years for murder, six months for concealing the evidence of the crime and one year…
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ICC too strong for Thalang, maintain grip on lead in Phuket cricket league
PHUKET: The Island Cricket Club (ICC) held onto its top position in the league with a 8/192 to 6/190 victory over the Thalang Cricket Team in a sea-sawing contest at the Alan Cooke Ground in Thalang last Sunday. Both teams fielded strong sides, with ICC bringing in Vaigankar and Mydeen while Thalang named Buck, Culpan, McMillan, Thomatos and Murphy in…
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Mandatory phone SIM registration begins on Sunday
PHUKET: A plan is underway for all 7-Eleven and Family Mart convenience stores throughout Phuket to register prepaid SIM cards for mobile phones at point of sale, as a convenient way for people to meet the new requirement for registration of SIM cards on or before the July 31 deadline. The National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) announced last week…
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Mum makes public plea to find deaf son missing in Phuket
PHUKET: A mother has made a public plea to find her missing deaf son, last seen near the family home in Phuket Town on Tuesday. Saithong Sankaeo filed a missing-person report at Phuket City Police Station yesterday in the hope of finding her 22-year-old son, Therdsak. “He walks with a limp, has dark skin, medium long hair and was last…
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PM wants Surapong to face junta summons
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM wants Surapong to face junta summons The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday that he would instruct the junta to summon former foreign minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul over comments seen as deepening the national divide. Mr Surapong made the comment…
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Phuket lifeguards gifted multi-language surf warnings
PHUKET: To break the communication barrier with non-English-speaking tourists, and hopefully save their lives, Phuket lifeguards have been issued multi-language cards that explain the dangers of the rip currents that lurk along the island’s beaches and entering strong surf. The cards are the brainchild of Simon Luttrell, a Tourist Police Volunteer who helps foreign tourists at Phuket International Airport and…
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5-day break in May backed by Cabinet
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 5-day break in May backed by Cabinet The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday approved a proposal to make May 4 a public holiday to extend the holiday period between Labour Day and Coronation Day to five days. The new holiday will be added…
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PM Prayut rebuts US snub
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prayut rebuts US snub The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday launched a full rebuttal against Daniel Russel, the visiting US assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, saying the coup was staged to save democracy and that…
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AirAsia probe vets possible computer glitch, crew response
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia probe vets possible computer glitch, crew response Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Investigators probing the crash of an AirAsia jetliner are examining maintenance records of a key part of its automated control systems, and how the pilots may have handled the plane if it failed,…
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Russian woman rescued from Phuket Town streets
PHUKET: The Russian consul to Phuket has arranged accommodations for a Russian woman who was found sleeping in the streets of Phuket Town this morning. Tourist Police were notified about the woman, who has a record of acting erratically and incoherently, at about 9:30am. “We were informed that she was only wearing a dress – no bra. The person who…
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Woman dies in collision with Phuket tour bus
PHUKET: A woman was killed after her motorbike collided with a tour bus in front of the Phuket Shooting Range in Chalong at 9:30am today. Police and rescue workers were called to the scene, where they found the body of 33-year-old Rapeepat Kanphutra trapped under the Authai Thurahan tour bus, which was carrying Chinese tourists to a souvenir shop in…
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Phuket FC outgunned as Yokohama level pre-season series
PHUKET: Yokohama FC eventually outclassed Phuket FC to run out 2-0 winners at Surakul Stadium on Sunday, claiming a respectable 3-3 on aggregate against the islanders over two friendlies played in the past week. The home side, who have officially taken on the nickname “The Ronins”, held out the visiting J-League squad for the first half, but the superior skills…
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Slow police response to Phuket drive-by robbery draws ire
PHUKET: Relatives of a man who was robbed while lying injured on the road have lodged a complaint with the Phuket Provincial Police Commander after the Thalang Police failed to respond to the case. Akkarapol Chumnummanee, 27, was robbed on Sunday at about 3.30am after he fell off his motorbike near the entrance to Bang Kanoon Forest, on the northbound…
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Bullet fails to penetrate skull, Phuket teen survives
PHUKET: A teenager was discharged from hospital yesterday after being shot in the back of the head with a homemade handgun near the entrance of Kathu Wittaya School on Sunday. Pongchanasit Amtaisong, 19, walked into the Thung Thong Police Station after he was shot. “We immediately called an ambulance to take him to Vachira Phuket Hospital,” said Lt Sawanya Eiadtrong…
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Australia-Asia program to combat trafficking in persons
PHUKET: Thailand’s criminal-justice response to human trafficking received a boost from the Australian government yesterday, as an arrangement to commence the Australia-Asia Program to Combat Trafficking In Persons (AAPTIP) in Thailand was signed at a ceremony in Bangkok. This signing marks a milestone in the implementation of AAPTIP – a program through which the Australian government has made a five-year…
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