News
Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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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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Former Krabi policeman confesses to killing Phuket officer
KRABI: A former Krabi police officer surrendered himself to police yesterday afternoon after shooting a Phuket police officer to death during an early-morning drinking session in Ao Luek. According to witnesses, Sub Lt Kwanbavorn Thanasarn, 54, of the Tah Chat Chai Region 8 Police, was shot in the head and abdomen by retired Sgt Major Somsak Chumcheun while the pair…
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Diving restricted in Phi Phi following speedboat accident
PHUKET: Diving in the Phi Phi archipelago has been limited to three dive sites following an incident on Wednesday when a speedboat seriously injured two Russian divers. “We will be strictly enforcing the rule that allows diving only at Loh Samah Bay, Bida Nai and Bida Nok,” said Boonnam Chuyradom, assistant chief of Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Thai body language
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: Baron vs sea gypsies
PHUKET: The ongoing land dispute between the Rawai Sea Gypsy community and a powerful real estate investment firm needs to be resolved peacefully and equitably. Working out a solution will certainly not be easy and will require concessions from both sides. Phuket has a long, rich history of land rights disputes between some of the richest and poorest elements of…
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Unpaid and angry, some Chinese workers ditch holidays to protest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community INSIGHT-Unpaid and angry, some Chinese workers ditch holidays to protest Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China This year, laborer Fan Fu and 20 or so colleagues working on the Zixia Garden apartment complex in Hebei province have not joined China’s legion of migrant workers returning home…
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Beefed up: McDonald’s edging out KFC, Pizza Hut in China revival battle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Beefed up: McDonald’s edging out KFC, Pizza Hut in China revival battle Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Yum Brands Inc (YUM.N), the home of KFC and Pizza Hut, is falling behind rival McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) as the pair battle to revive flagging sales in China –…
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Paklok to host “Yamu Night Fishing Games’
PHUKET: The mayor of Paklok announced plans this week to hold the first Yamu Night Fishing Games at Laem Yamu harbor from March 4 through 6. The fishing tournament is part of the municipality’s annual plan to develop the area with more public facilities and tourist attractions, said Mayor Panya Sampaorat on Wednesday. “Cape Yamu has an abundance of natural…
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Video Report: Quattro Design brings fine furnishings to Phuket
PHUKET: Boat Avenue has added one more top-notch outlet with the grand opening of Quattro Design’s 900-square-meter showroom. Co-owner Praowphan Laoha-pongchana, and Design Director and Co-Founder Wichada Sritakarin, hosted the stylish event on Wednesday. Following the launch of a pop-up store at the Boat Lagoon last November, the pair decided to move ahead with establishing a full-size Quattro Design showroom…
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Mother desperate to find missing son, 3
PHUKET: A desperate mother has appealed to the police and the public to help find her three-year-old son, who has been missing since Wednesday. The distraught 23-year-old mother, Saowalak Chaiyo, said her son went missing while playing in front of their home in Wichit. Jetsadakron Chaiyo, nicknamed Nong DJ, was wearing a white hoodie with a black Angry Birds logo,…
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Speedboat operator charged for maiming Russians
PHUKET: The driver of the speedboat that crashed into two Russian divers on Wednesday is being charged with reckless driving causing serious injury. Russian nationals named by police as Sergei Dmitriev, 30, and Dmitry Kurynov, 48, were diving near Maya Bay when they were hit by the speedboat, causing one diver to lose his leg and the other to suffer…
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New pathway planned as quick fix for sea gypsy land dispute
PHUKET: Land officials led by Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul yesterday measured out boundaries so that a three-meter-wide path can be cut through public land near Rawai Beach to allow members of the local sea gypsy community to access traditional ceremonial grounds while a dispute rages between the gypsies and a developer over land use rights. The decision to clear…
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U.S. gun traders rush to set up new sites after Facebook firearms ban
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. gun traders rush to set up new sites after Facebook firearms ban Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: U.S. gun traders are setting up new websites to arrange deals after Facebook Inc barred private gun sales on its platform. With gun rights and safety registering as…
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