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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Bangkok Bank warns of viral fraud
PHUKET: Bangkok Bank has issued a warning about malicious software designed to make bank transactions from the accounts of customers who have registered for their online banking service, ‘Bualuang iBanking’. Bangkok Bank’s warning explained that false messages have been sent to iBanking customers via SMS, MMS and emails purporting to be from the bank. The messages ask the receiver to…
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Opinion: On same-sex marriages
Robert R Virasin serves as managing director of Virasin and Partners. He is a licensed United States attorney and a graduate of the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Houston Law School and Chulalongkorn University. Here he talks about the real issue with same-sex marriages and the legal obstacles that these couples face. PHUKET: After 15 years of…
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Pothole suspected in Phuket bikers death
PHUKET: Police suspect a large pothole caused the death of a man driving a Honda 150cc CBR motorcycle on a curvy road in Mai Khao last night. Pattanapong Nainet, 20, was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, said Lt Thanom Thongpan of the Tah Chat Chai Police. “There was no identification cards on his person, only 42,360…
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Video Report: Bodyslam rocks for Phuket charity
PHUKET: Five thousand fans crowded the sold-out ‘Bodyslam’ concert at Laguna Grove on Saturday evening. The charity concert featured local band ‘Boynavio Group’, as well as a performance from the local youth group ‘Umbrella’ as opening acts for Thailand’s famous rock band, ‘Bodyslam’. Bodyslam vocalist Mr Toon, who is a frequent visitor to Phuket, enjoys spending time at various sporting…
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Phuket and Koh Samui promoted in Australia
PHUKET: Samui and Phuket tourist associations teamed up for the first time ever to promote Thai tourism in Melbourne, Australia earlier this month. Phuket Vice Governor Suthee Thongyam and Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization members also joined in the Phuket & Samui Roadshow Table Top Sale and its mission to promote Thailand’s tourism. The group was hosted by Jirachai Pankrasin, Thailand’s…
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Finance: Cash in on six forms of passive income
PHUKET: I have written before about the ideal financial situation. This exists when you have multiple streams of passive income which exceed your desired lifestyle. In this scenario, you can live as long as you want and your means will continue to grow, allowing you to contribute to society with the excess. There are different forms of passive income, and…
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Business Buzz: Consistency is the key
PHUKET: One of the most frequent comments I receive from unsuccessful people is that they believe social media does not work and is all hype and myth. It is interesting that so many say this, especially when successful users swear that without social media their business would be dead. So to help the doubters, here are points that have probably…
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Phuket arrivals rise despite Bangkok bomb
PHUKET: The total number of passengers arriving at Phuket International Airport this week has increased compared with the same period last year, President of Phuket Tourism Association Sathirapong Na Takuatung said at a meeting held yesterday to discuss the aftermath of Monday’s bombing in Bangkok. “We are concerned about the number of tourists dropping, but the number of tour groups…
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Electrical fire near gas station sends residents running
PHUKET: Residents in the Koh Kaew area suffered power outages and heavy traffic jams after power cables caught fire across from the PTT gas station on Thepkrasatti Road yesterday afternoon. The flames frightened many shop owners, including 70-year-old Aree Jindapol. “At about noon, while we were selling food at the market, I heard what sounded like a bomb,” Ms Aree…
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Beach chair judgment day put on hold
PHUKET: The final decision on how to the manage Phuket’s controversial beach chair services has been delayed yet again as Prince of Songkla University (PSU) researchers and Governor Nisit Jansomwong have not yet discussed the university’s research results. Governor Nisit previously told the Phuket Gazette that the PSU Phuket campus would be presenting their results to him on August 20…
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Opinion: Usual suspects
PHUKET: Authorities here in Phuket have acted sensibly in the wake of the recent terrorist bombing at the Erawan Shrine in Bangkok, stepping up security at popular tourist destinations across the island and urging the public not to unduly panic or believe everything they see in social media. Sadly, in this case, it was not only the social media where…
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Thai Iron Chef to cook at Andaman Hotelier expo
PHUKET: Andaman’s biggest hospitality expo, Andaman Hotelier 2015, will take place next month at Limelight Avenue with the full support of private businesses and government organizations. Kritsada Tonsakul, president of the Southern Region Hotel Association, explained that Andaman Hotelier is the biggest skill-training expo for the hospitality circle in the Andaman area. “There are eight departments, according to each career,…
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Park fees plundered, millions allegedly skimmed
PHUKET: Hundreds of millions of baht disappeared during the collection of national park fees at Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park over the last three years, alleged Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a member of the National Reform Council (NRC). A two-month, national-level investigation by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) uncovered unnerving discrepancies in…
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Rogue waves sink Phi Phi cargo ship
PHUKET: Fishermen rescued two men after their cargo ship was allegedly sunk by rogue waves in Krabi yesterday afternoon.Phon Boon Phi Phi Don 1, carrying construction materials to Phi Phi, was reported missing by the boat owner at about 3:30pm, said Krabi Marine Police Chief Anurak Parinyasathiragul.Marine Police and the Navy immediately began a search for the 15-meter-long boat and…
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Officials announce alternative routes for Chalong Underpass
PHUKET: Officials have released alternative routes for the first and second phase of the Chalong Underpass, with construction slated to start next month. “Though we do have routes sorted out for the first two phases of the project, we are still negotiating with private land owners in order to secure necessary alternative routes for phase three and four, which will…
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Cobra slithers into Phuket kitchen
PHUKET: A two-meter-long cobra chased a terrified homeowner out of her kitchen last week. The woman, who declined to be named, immediately fled her kitchen, closing the door behind her before calling the Kusoldharm Foundation. “At first, when we arrived, we couldn’t find the snake in the kitchen,” said Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker Sakun Naepnean. “However, after moving the fridge,…
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Karon Plaza blaze guts ten shops
PHUKET: Police are investigating the cause of a blaze at Karon Plaza that engulfed 10 shops along the Karon beachfront road last night. Five firetrucks from Karon and Patong were called to the scene at about 11:50. It took firefighters about 40 minutes to extinguish the flames. “Luckily, the stores were closed and nobody was injured,” said Lt Weerayuth Thansirisukhaworakul…
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30kg python caught with mouth full
PHUKET: A 30 kilogram python was caught midway through gobbling up a chicken in Phuket earlier this week. “It was about 2am when we woke to the sound of our chickens causing a ruckus,” Wisit Powikit told the Phuket Gazette. “It was strange, so I went to investigate.” Mr Wisit owns about 10 chickens that he keeps in a henhouse…
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Budget peddles out cash for bike lanes
PHUKET: Work on Phuket’s eagerly awaited bike lanes will start in October with an already approved budget of more than 50 million baht, confirmed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. “Over 30 million baht from the 2016 fiscal year budget has been approved for the development of Bang Wad Reservoir, which will include the installation of bike lanes,” said Governor Nisit. “We…
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Calling all Phuket hotel beauties and footballers
PHUKET: Phuket Football Club (Phuket FC) will be holding their second Hotel Cup competition and first ever Miss Hotel competition next month at the Republic Phuket football field in Chalong. “The main purpose of organizing this event is to support the strong cooperation and friendship between all hotel businesses in Phuket through sport. Hotel employees can relax from work and…
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Fireboat bound for Phuket following death of 12-year-old
PHUKET: The island’s first ever fireboat is coming soon, confirmed Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong. The announcement follows the death of a 12-year-old tourist on passenger ferry Ao Nang Princess 5, which burst into flames as it was headed to Phuket in April (story here and here). More than 80 passengers and five crew were safely evacuated from a ferry. However,…
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New 1,000-baht note on streets tomorrow
PHUKET: A new 1,000-baht banknote will be available at commercial banks in Phuket and throughout the country tomorrow, Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul revealed on Monday. “The 1,000 baht banknote ‘Series 16’ will enter circulation on August 21. The design is to glorify His Majesty King Chulalongkorn for his incomparable contributions to the country,” Mr Prasarn said. The new…
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More than 1,000 children killed, injured in Yemen
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More than 1,000 children killed, injured in “brutal” Yemen conflict – U.N. Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Months of brutal conflict in Yemen have killed or injured more than 1,000 children, and the number of young people recruited or used as fighters has soared, the United…
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Groom gives bride a coffin
PHUKET: The cliche for weddings around the world is that ‘diamonds are forever’. However, the Thai groom from Loei Province had a different wedding gift idea that would be ‘forever’ – a coffin. Yes, a man named only as ‘Diao’ by Kapook.com dug in deep for a coffin for his bride-to-be for what he thought would be a valuable, lasting…
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Tourism industry braces for bombing aftermath
PHUKET: The fatal bombing near a tourism attraction in the heart of Bangkok will have an impact on Phuket’s tourism industry, experts told the Phuket Gazette today. “The situation obviously affects tourism. Within three hours of the explosion, English, American and French Embassies had already sent out warnings to their citizens in Thailand. Within one hour, international television channels reported…
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Dirty Digs: Navy unearths nine illegal excavators
PHUKET: A Royal Thai Navy raid dug up nine men working at an illegal excavation site that local Phuket officials are allegedly involved in. “The men were arrested on two different Mai Khao plots of land that have unclear borders that are most likely overlapping with preserved forest land,” said Lt Sompop Kamkana of the Royal Thai Navy. “Additionally, one…
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A decade ago: The murder of Debra O’Hanlon dominated the news
PHUKET: A picture of the smiling 31-year-old and her boyfriend at the time – the confessed killer – was page one of the August 13-19 issue of the Phuket Gazette. In hindsight, it is hard not to find yourself searching their eyes and faces for some hint of what was going to come during their time on this paradise island.…
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Phuket increases security following Bangkok bombing
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong this morning urged Phuket residents and tourists not to panic about the devastating bombing of a tourist destination in Bangkok that killed at least 20 people and injured more than 100 last night. “We have boosted security throughout the island. There is no need to be afraid,” Governor Nisit told the Phuket Gazette. “We are increasing…
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Phuket’s aspirations call for new projects
Nisit Jansomwong, 52, from Ratchaburi, landed on the island in October to take up the position of Phuket Governor. He has a master’s degree in administration from Chulalongkorn University, where he graduated with honors. Before coming to Phuket, Governor Nisit was governor of Ratchaburi province for a year. Governor Nisit is pushing mega infrastructure projects in Phuket in order to…
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Video Report: “Bike for Mom’ sets Guinness World Record
PHUKET: People on Phuket, and throughout Thailand, smashed the Guinness World Record for most cyclists riding at the same time yesterday with the ‘Bike for Mom’ event honoring HM Queen Sirikit’s 83rd birthday. The event set the record with 146,000 ‘eligible’ cyclists riding at the same time, which more than doubled the previous record set by Taiwan. The recorded-breaking event…
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