Biggest factory on island to shut down
KOH KAEW: Phuket’s largest non-tourist-related business, the Pulse electronics factory, is to close, probably at the end of July, leaving some 500 employees jobless.

Project aims to cut down pig farms' waste output
PHUKET: Phuket is a tourist center. It also has dozens of pig farms, and pig farms don’t always mix too well with tourism.

Senior police officers moved to Surat Thani
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Chalit Tintanee, the superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, and Pol Lt Col Wutthichai Kamput, deputy superintendent (Crime Suppression Division) of Thalang Police Station, have been transferred to Surat Thani.

Governor denies being ‘too strict’ over work permit applications
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi has denied being too strict on work permits and new company registrations. In a statement made on April 26, he insisted that he was simply enforcing the law.

Mayor meets Governor over 2 am petition
PHUKET TOWN: Thirty entertainment venue owners, led by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, met with Provincial Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi at his home on May 1, to inquire about the results of last week’s petition asking for Patong to be given an exemption from the 2 am limit on opening hours.

TAT rejects film-maker’s ‘too costly’ criticism
PHUKET: Anupharp Thirarath, director of the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has rejected criticism leveled by a German movie producer that Phuket has priced itself out of the market as far as the making of movies is concerned.

Headless body found floating in sea off Freedom Beach
PATONG: A headless corpse was found floating in the sea near Freedom Beach on the afternoon of April 28.

Marine police seize 2 tons of smuggled meat
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Marine Police raided a warehouse in Moo Bann Irawadee on the bypass road on the evening of May 1, after receiving a report that it contained smuggled cigarettes.

B30 health plan: public urged to update records
PHUKET: The Provincial Public Health Office (PHO) has started a public information drive, urging people to update their house registration documents (tabien baan).

16 die in motorcyle accidents
PHUKET: Sixteen people died in traffic accidents between January 20 and February 20 according to statistics from the Wachira, Thalang and Patong government hospitals.

Offer to train Thai divemasters
PHUKET: The Dive Operators’ Club of Thailand (DOCT), Phuket Chapter, is looking for Thais to train as divemasters.

Japanese tourist drowns off Mai Thon
MAI THON: The body of Japanese tourist Na-Ao Yukimura, 35, was found on a beach on Mai Thon Island on May 1.

Bars to display drugs message
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor Pongpayome Vasaputi has announced that a new law is to be introduced requiring bars and entertainment venues to publicly display an anti-drugs message.