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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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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Both sides suffer from violent clashes; New plan to pay rice farmers; MP registration by mail; Foreign investors continue retreat from stock market
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community On both sides, victims share the bitter pain of street clashes Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A junior policeman has become a hero for kicking away a grenade in his bid to protect colleagues during a Bangkok clash – but his wife thinks his fame…
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The Terminal: asylum seekers’ limbo at Phuket Airport to end soon
PHUKET: The six stateless asylum seekers who have been housed under guard at Phuket International Airport for over a month may soon be leaving the island.Malaysia has agreed to accept the four Syrians in the group, and the two Lebanese men will be sent to Bangkok, said Prapansak Prasansuk, Chief of Immigration at the airport.How the men, said to be…
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Italian busted for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: An Italian man was busted for selling ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) to undercover cops in a sting operation in Patong Monday evening.Fabio Milan Bocca, 35, was arrested at a rental house on Pisitkoranee Road in possession of 8.52 grams of ya ice, 6.79g of marijuana and a single ya bah (methamphetamine) pill. “Our superintendent asked us to stomp out…
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Chalong steals Phuket’s booze ban spotlight this weekend
PHUKET: Parts of Chalong will be effected by a booze ban this weekend for local elections.“Alcohol sales will be banned in District 2 of Chalong from 6pm on February 21 until midnight on Saturday due to local elections,” Phuket Election Commission Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette.The ban will cover five Chao Fa West villages, Chalong Municipality Election Commission…
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Thailand Breaking News: Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Centre reported at 3pm today that two civilians and a policeman had been killed. Additionally, 58 others were injured in the clash between police and protesters…
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DSI chief says one policeman killed in Bangkok clash
PHUKET: One police officer was killed and 17 others injured during violent clashes during an operation to re-take traffic space from protest sites on Rajdamnoen Road.Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pendith announced that a policeman was shot in the head.He said the officers were injured by M79 grenades and bullets although they were using peaceful measures in the…
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Phuket Gazette appoints new Managing Editor
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is pleased to announce the recent promotion of Isaac Stone Simonelli to the position of managing editor. Having spent his years at the Gazette in various roles, including PGTV news presenter, news editor and then head of both the news and reporter teams, Mr Simonelli is well versed in the major local, national and international issues…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Crackdown sees several injured, including police
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Crackdown sees several injured Phuket Gazette/ The NationPHUKET: At least two policemen were reportedly shot and injured and a protester was hurt in a clash on Rajdamnoen Road.The clash started at 11:20 when police opened fire on the protesters.Since then, sounds of gunfire were heard now and…
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Swedish tourist falls to death from slippery Phuket bar
PHUKET: A Swedish tourist fell to his death early this morning while dancing on top of a bar counter in Patong.“Witnesses in the bar said that the man had been drinking before he decided to climb onto the countertop and dance,” said a Kusoldharm Patong rescue foundation worker.“The bar was wet and slippery. He slipped and hit his head hard…
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Phuket Vice Governor champions Australian’s metered taxi complaint
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada stepped forward to champion a complaint about an airport taxi driver who refused to use his meter to take an Australian expat home to Kamala. The 51-year-old man arrived at Phuket International Airport last Sunday and was met by a metered taxi tout, who explained that it costs 650 baht to go to Kamala.…
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Deaf Ukrainian begging tourist arrested in Central Festival Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Tourist Police arrested a deaf Ukrainian tourist on Sunday for disturbing restaurant customers in Central Festival Phuket.Mykola Chornyi, 30, was dropping cards on restaurant tables that said he was deaf and asked for patrons to either donate money or purchase an Angry Bird key chain for 100 baht, Wichit Police Superintendent Chawalit Phetsipear explained.“We were notified by a…
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Phuket Gazete World News: Co-pilot hijacks Ethiopian plane, surrenders in Geneva
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Co-pilot hijacks Ethiopian plane to Geneva, exits cockpit by rope Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: A co-pilot who hijacked an Ethiopian Airlines flight to seek asylum in Switzerland on Monday surrendered to police at Geneva airport after jumping out of a cockpit window and scrambling down an emergency…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice, bank runs and elections
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Most banks say deposits normal after Bt30 billion pulled from GSB accounts Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Major private banks have not detected a wave of deposits, even though 30 billion baht in cash was withdrawn by customers of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) yesterday. Weidt Nuchjalearn,…
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Phuket residents close accounts in protest of massive loan for rice-pledging scheme
PHUKET: Phuket residents flocked to several branches of the Government Savings Bank (GSB) today to withdraw money and close accounts after the bank lent 20 billion baht to the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC) on Sunday.“Monday is always a busy day, since it is the first of the week. However, we admit that 10 per cent of our…
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Phuket Tourist Police help Chinese bag-snatch victims arrange for new passports
PHUKET: A Chinese couple who lost their passports to a bag snatcher yesterday are en route to their embassy in Bangkok today, with a little help from the Phuket Tourist Police.After the couple were robbed while walking to a market along the Baan Don-Kok Tanod Road, Thalang Police got in touch with the Tourist Police.“We contacted the Chinese Embassy for…
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Missing Phuket woman with Alzheimer’s killed in hit-and-run
PHUKET: A woman with Alzheimer’s disease who had wandered away from home was killed in a hit-and-run motorbike accident in Thalang last night.Pranit Parteep Na Talang, 75, first went missing from her home in Ban Don at about 2pm yesterday afternoon.“My mother had Alzheimer’s, but she could walk well for her age and often went missing because of her illness,”…
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Thailand downs Hong Kong in Phuket Davis Cup
PHUKET: The Thai Davis Cup team triumphed against Hong Kong 4-1 in the regional (Asia/Oceania) matchup at Thanyapura Phuket yesterday. After an uncertain start (story here) which saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark defeated in the opening match against Hong Kong’s Phillip King, the home team rallied to win the following four matches over the weekend to triumph with an impressive margin.…
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New ports to be developed for popular island gateways north of Phuket
PHUKET: The Marine Department on Friday announced plans to develop two major seaports at Phang Nga jump-off points to the popular Similan and Surin islands. “Our aim is to promote sustainable tourism for Phang Nga’s Andaman islands. We also want to promote it as another diving location,” said Marine Office 5 Director Wichai Khamkong. The news follows two public hearings…
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Phuket Police arrest scissor-wielding French thief
PHUKET: Police arrested a Frenchman for threatening a Phuket convenience store clerk with a pair of scissors in an attempt to get a refund on Saturday.Riad Lahkim, 37, bought a mobile phone at a 7-eleven on Thursday. Dissatisfied, he took it back to the store two days later – at 4:30am.“He bought the phone for 1,200 baht and asked for…
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Phuket baby born with rare condition out of ICU, finally home
PHUKET: A Phuket baby who survived surgery after being born with her intestines protruding from her abdomen was discharged from the hospital this weekend. Ornpreeya “Ang-Sing” Saisrikosol was born earlier this month with a rare condition called gastroschisis, and immediately underwent emergency surgery (story here), explained Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Jessada Chungpaibulpatana. Ang-Sing’s parents, at first devastated by their daughter’s…
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Phuket Gazette World News: At least three killed in Egyptian tour bus blast
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two Koreans and Egyptian driver die in Sinai tourist bus blast Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: A bomb on a tourist bus in Egypt’s Sinai killed at least two South Koreans and the Egyptian driver on Sunday, army and security sources said, in the first attack on tourists…
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Phuket Police pounce on booze ban violator
PHUKET: Police discovered one shop in Phuket Town illegally selling alcohol during the celebration of Makha Bucha Day. The bust yesterday was made by Phuket City Police, who arrested two other vendors for trading after hours, said Phuket City Police Superintendent Sermphan Sirikong. “We apprehended three local shop owners: one in Phuket Town near Surin Circle at 11pm and two…
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Déjà vu for Phuket Passport Office
PHUKET: The Phuket Passport Office had a false start this week as it re-opened its doors for service on Monday, just to close them again on Friday. Protesting has forced the second closure of the Passport Division in Bangkok, the first of which closed the Phuket office for nearly a month (story here). The headquarters in the capital terminated its…
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Thailand tied with Hong Kong after first Davis Cup matches
PHUKET: Thailand and Hong Kong are now tied, one win each, following the opening matches of the Davis Cup (Asia/Oceania region group 2) at Thanyapura yesterday. The first match of the day saw Thailand’s Warit Sornbutnark (ranked number 1,258 in the world for singles) lose three straight sets to Hong Kong’s Phillip King (2-6, 6-7, 3-6). However, Thailand’s players redeemed…
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Mixed holiday keeps Phuket temples and shop owners busy
PHUKET: Reverence for Makha Bucha Day outshined Valentine’s Day in Phuket, but flower shop owners benefited from the lovers’ day rush. Local temples and flower shops had a busy day as Phuket residents flocked to make merit for Makha Bucha Day and ordered flowers for their loved ones. Wat Wichit Sangkaram on Narisorn Road saw a high volume of visitors…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Operation Valentine a success says CMPO; Rice farmers told to take out loans to ease distress
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chalerm vows non-stop campaign to clear sites Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The man in charge of the government’s Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) yesterday vowed to step up the operation to evict anti-government protesters, while the protest groups remained defiant about continuing their…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Kerry says China willing to pressure North Korea on nuclear plans
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Kerry says China willing to pressure North Korea on nuclear plans Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Friday that China is willing to exert more pressure to get North Korea to give up its nuclear programme. He told reporters…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Russia, NATO plan joint operation on Syria’s chemical weapons
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russia, NATO plan joint operation on Syria’s chemical weapons Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Russia and NATO are drawing up plans for a rare joint naval operation in the Mediterranean to protect the U.S. ship that will destroy Syria’s deadliest chemical weapons, officials and other sources…
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Patong Bay’s brown water is safe, says Phuket expert
PHUKET: Despite its brown color and stench, Patong Bay is clean and safe, Suppakorn Meekaew, Patong Municipality’s Sanitation Department Chief, told the Phuket Gazette on Tuesday. “People swimming and enjoying the beach should not panic about the color of the water. They can swim as usual – it will not affect their health,” Mr Suppakorn said. “The brown color doesn’t…
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Phuket Opinion: Taking the higher path to reporting
Boonrat Apiwanthanakorn, 56, from Haad Yai, is the new president of the Phuket Press Club. He has a BA from the Teacher College in Songkhla and over 20 years experience in journalism, working for Kietibhumi and Chaotai newspapers and Thai TV Channels 3 and 5. He now works for Khaosod newspaper and the Phuket Andaman, which he owns.Here, he talks…
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