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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Sponsored What do you need before moving from the US to Thailand?
The Thaiger key takeaways The most common medical emergencies for expats in Thailand include motorcycle accidents, tropical diseases, and food or water-borne illnesses. Air pollution and heat-related conditions like heatstroke also pose serious seasonal health risks, especially in northern and...
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Phuket Gazette World News: 13 dead in Myanmar Muslim school fire; US-Korea tensions rise; Sex attacks hurt India tourism; Death penalty sought for Dark Knight shooter
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 13 children die in fire at Muslim school in Myanmar Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An electrical fire at an Islamic school in Myanmar’s biggest city killed 13 children early on Tuesday, authorities said. The children, all boys, died of suffocation in the fire at a…
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Trash fires cause evacuations on Koh Lanta
PHUKET: Villagers on Koh Lanta, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket, have evacuated their homes because of respiratory problems caused by garbage fires at a landfill. Local authorities say they are unable to control the fires. The villagers sought to publicize the trash burning problem about three weeks ago by appealing to the Krabi Press Club, saying that local authorities…
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Phuket pond cleanup uncovers dumped motorbike
PHUKET: Police are looking into whether a motorbike found this morning dumped in a lagoon in Rawai was stolen or had been involved in a crime. Rawai Municipality officials found the red-and-black Yamaha Nouvo after they began dredging the Baan Sai Yuan public pond near the Rawai Palm Beach Resort at about 10am. “The pond was shallow because mud was…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Murray’s win takes him to number 2 in world rankings; Serena sees off Sharapova
Murray goes to number two with Miami tie-break win over Ferrer Reuters/ Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain’s Andy Murray defeated Spain’s David Ferrer 2-6 6-4 7-6 in a grueling Sony Open final yesterday to move above Roger Federer to second in the world rankings. Murray was far from at his best against a dogged Ferrer but won the tie-break comfortably 7-1…
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Phuket Sports: Howlers, hunger, humbling and howls – F1
PHUKET: What an unexpectedly delicious race Sepang provided.The race was characterized mainly by sins; sins of omission and sins of commission. Errors took Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus, and Force India out of contention, leaving only Red Bull and Mercedes to take the first four places. But that summary contains none of the drama that left three miserable men on the podium.…
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Phuket Songkran may be drier than usual
PHUKET: Following the ban on “water battles” in trucks recently announced by Deputy Interior Minister Chat Kuldilok for Songkran celebrations (link here), the Gazette has been informed of possible new restrictions being proposed, given the island’s current drought-like conditions. Phuket is facing its driest quarter in 10 years with only about 2.9mn cubic meters at the Bang Wad Dam (story…
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Cyclists head to Phuket
PHUKET: THE final stage of this year’s cycling event, the “Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand”, will be held here in Phuket. Lt Gen Decha Hemkasri, secretary general of the Thai Cycling Association, under the Royal Patronage of His Majesty The King said: “The Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand will be held from April 1-10…
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Phuket Blood Center stocks up for Songkran
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) wants to boost its blood reserves to prepare for higher demand during the Songkran Festival. “We maintain a daily minimum stock of 200 units of A, B and O blood types, and 20 units of Rhesus-negative blood, but during the Songkran Festival we anticipate more accidents and more people needing blood, so we…
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Burmese man crushed under Phuket juggernaut
PHUKET: A 43-year-old Burmese man dodging between another motorbike and a 22-wheeled truck and trailer died instantly yesterday afternoon when he lost control of the motorbike and was crushed under the rear wheels of the juggernaut. Thalang Police were notified of the accident, near the Baan Nai Klum u-turn, about 500 meters south of Tesco Lotus Thalang (map here), at…
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Italians take path less travelled
PHUKET: An Italian couple who lost their way while sight-seeing at the Khao Phra Thaew wildlife sanctuary in Thalang were recovered safely on March 27. Meiko Parisani and Valentina Bolognini entered the park at about 3:30pm, hoping to see the Ton Sai Waterfall, but soon lost their way. “We were very scared. We saw a monkey with big teeth, it…
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Phuket Gazette Business: US tax regime to scrutinize taxpayer bank accounts
PHUKET: In light of the ‘federal fiscal fiasco’ in Washington DC – to the tune of nearly 17 trillion dollars – the American government is looking to expand its worldwide tax base. As such, US citizens and green card holders conducting, contracting or controlling business operations in or from countries outside the US, including Thailand, need to ensure consistency and…
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Phuket Business: Thai football market value to triple by 2017
PHUKET: Thailand-based sports media corporation, Siam Sports Syndicate Pcl, has set a five-year target for the value of the Kingdom’s professional football market to grow by 300%.VIPs from Thailand’s professional football leagues met last month in Bangkok to sign a five year licensing management and administration agreement for the broadcasting and promotion rights, and work out benefits of the lucrative…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Messi nets record, United and Bayern march on
Sio shines as Sochaux sink Lyon Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Lionel Messi scored in a 19th successive league match as Barcelona maintained a 13-point lead in La Liga despite being held to a draw by Celta Vigo, while a deflected goal kept Manchester United 15 points clear in England. Claudio Pizarro scored four times as Bayern Munich hammered Hamburg SV…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Govt readies to evacuate Thais from South Korea; Democrat Kingkarn to challenge Chiang Mai; Charter showdown looms
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt readies evacuation plan for Thais in South Korea The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Labour Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap yesterday instructed the Thai ambassador in Seoul to prepare a plan for the speedy evacuation of all Thais after North Korea on Saturday declared it was at a “state…
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Phuket Gazette World News: US stealth fighters in Korea; New bird flu in China; Cyprus banks’ pitiable payout
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. F-22 stealth jets join South Korea drills amid sabre-rattling Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The United States sent F-22 stealth fighter jets to South Korea on Sunday to join military drills aimed at underscoring the U.S. commitment to defend Seoul in the face of an intensifying campaign…
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Breaking News: Phuket FC inhale victory against Tobacco Monopoly
PHUKET: The dozens of die hard Phuket FC football fans who’ve so far spent 16 hours on the road since yesterday night, have something to celebrate on their 12-hour ride home following their team’s victory away to TTM Lopburi (0-1) tonight in Bangkok. The match’s only goal was scored by Phuket’s Kritsada Sakaeo from a perfectly weighted free kick late…
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One dead, two thrown from car as workmen head to Phuket Airport
PHUKET: One man is dead and two are lucky to be alive after the pickup they were travelling in skidded on oil and struck a power pole on Phuket’s Thepkrasattri Road, at the north end of the island, this morning. The three men, all steel workers from Takuapa in Phang Nga, were on their way to work on the expansion…
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Phuket helps turtles break for the waves
PHUKET: The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation and JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa hosted the 4th Mai Khao Turtle Release yesterday afternoon. The important annual event is organized to raise funds for, and awareness of, the plight of Phuket’s critically endangered sea turtles. Supported by the Phuket Marine Biological Center and the Royal Thai Navy, the event released rehabilitated…
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Phuket Police on lookout for three drivers in two fatal hit-and-runs
PHUKET: Chalong Police are looking for the drivers of three vehicles involved in two separate hit-and-runs on Thursday night. Just after midnight yesterday morning, police received a report that a man had died in a road accident near the entrance to Soi Pratana on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong (map here). Chalong Police investigator Wuttiwat Liangboonjinda identified the victim…
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Phuket hotels given one month to start reporting foreign guests
PHUKET: Hotels and other guest accommodation establishments across the island have until May 1 to start filing daily reports identifying their guests to Phuket Immigration before officers start raiding – and charging – the hotel operators. The news follows Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykij on Thursday laying down the law to his officers, ordering them to launch a campaign to…
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Truck water fights banned for Thai New Year
PHUKET: Deputy Interior Minister Chat Kuldilok yesterday announced that people engaging in running water battles from the backs of trucks and pickups during the upcoming Thai New Year Songkran festival will be subject to criminal charges. The news follows a meeting of the national Road Safety Center on Thursday to draw up road-safety measures to be enforced during Songkran, Lt…
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Phuket Opinion: Expats in need – who you gonna call?
Bruce Stanley is an American who has been helping foreigners in Phuket for over 20 years. For the past 10 years he has been a warden with the American Embassy, fulfilling a similar function. Here, he talks about resources available to expats in need of assistance. PHUKET: For most foreigners who live on Phuket or those who choose a visit…
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Phuket Opinion: Fuelling the tyranny of greed
PHUKET: It is high time for authorities to take serious steps to crack down on oil smuggling in Thai waters. The latest reported case in Phuket revealed itself in the most noxious of fashions last week, when the 20-meter fishing trawler Premika sank in the shallow waters of Klong Tah Jeen, allowing much of its cargo of tens of thousands…
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Phuket Sports: Dive into TSLC
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) welcomes some of Asia’s most prolific rising sport stars from Malaysia, the Philippines, Hong Kong and mainland China to compete alongside local swimmers in the 2013 Thanyapura Long Course Swim Championships this weekend. The competition takes place at Thanyapura’s world-class Olympic-standard Aquatics Center. “We are excited to be hosting yet another of Asia’s…
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Phuket job fair offering more than 6,000 jobs
PHUKET: More than 6,000 jobs are up for grabs at the two-day “e-jobs@Phuket 2013” employment fair, which started today at Phuket Rajabhat University (map here). “The fair offers prospective employers and employees the opportunity to meet directly and increase their chances of finding a ‘best match’ for the work and the people they are seeking,” Phuket Provincial Employment Office chief…
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Murder fugitive’s 10-year run ends with drug-fuelled road frenzy
PHUKET: A murder fugitive on the run for a decade was arrested yesterday in Phang Nga, just north of Phuket, after an armed drug binge ended with police shooting out his tyres.Phonchai “Bao” Phetrit, from Trang, wanted by Ladprao Police in Bangkok on a murder warrant issued in 2003, was finally placed under arrest after he rammed through three checkpoints,…
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Spate of Phuket parking lot robberies prompts security boost
PHUKET: Five car burglaries in two months at the Bang Maruan lagoon in Srisoonthorn has prompted Deputy Mayor Sakchai Mulikabutr to boost the number of security guards patrolling the area in the evenings. “Chonnakarn Puttharuksa, 34, parked her car near the lagoon and went to exercise there at about 6pm on Thursday evening,” Thalang Police officer Narong Muangdoung told the…
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Phuket Gazette Queer News: The live lizard eater of Kamphaeng Phet
PHUKET: A 74-year-old man in Kamphaeng Phet Province has revealed his secret to staying healthy: eating live lizards.Dokrak Umsaeng, originally from Ang Thong, says he has been eating small geckos, which are commonly found on walls in Thailand, for 12 years – and has no plans to stop it.Lert Thetjaem, the former village chief of Khlong Si Nuan in the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Possible 300 dead in Brazil hospital murders; N Korea readies rockets after US bomber flight; US$155mn Picasso sold
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Brazilian doctor charged with 7 murders, may have killed 300 Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A Brazilian doctor who was charged with killing seven patients to free up beds at a hospital intensive care unit may have been responsible for as many as 300 deaths, according to a…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Cyprus banks open; Japan ghost town on Street View; Pope includes women; Portugal teeters on austerity
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cyprus reopens banks under tight restrictions Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Cypriots queued calmly at banks as they reopened yesterday under tight controls imposed on transactions to prevent a run on deposits after the government was forced to accept a stringent EU rescue package to avert…
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