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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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Sponsored New in July: Save 10% for life on family health plans in Thailand
Cigna has a special offer this July for families in Thailand. When you sign up three or more people on a family health plan, you will save 10% on your premiums for life. This deal helps you get affordable, high-quality...
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23 day tax break to stimulate economy
The Cabinet on Tuesday approved a 23-day tax break for consumers to boost shopping activities nationwide by an estimated 10 billion baht and stimulate the economy. The Finance Ministry will lose about 2 billion baht in personal income tax collection as a result of the campaign, but the retail and other sectors will probably gain a combined 10 billion baht…
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UPDATE: Krabi rape case
The results from a complete body examination of the 15 year old girl from Krabi, who was allegedly raped by her stepfather for five consecutive years, will be ready in one month. The President of Muslims for Peace revealed that the stepfather also forced her to get an abortion when he realised she was pregnant. “The relatives told me that…
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Phuket’s Annissa Flynn wins Flowboard Worlds in Cancun, Mexico
Female athletes in Thailand have added another major achievement by winning the 2017 World Flow Boarding Tour Finals in Mexico. Phuket’s Anissa Flynn is already acclaimed as one of the best womens’ surfers in Asia after winning the Asian Womens Open surfing tour at aged 12 and has now added a World Championship to her growing list of big wins.…
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178 rai at Layan & Laypang beaches to be public park
Phuket’s Governor has set up a committee to work on the 178-rai land’s issues at Layan and Laypang beaches. He’s made it quite clear… “businesses and whoever is occupying the beach land must move out”. “We will enforce the law according to the court to evict them. First of all,we will announce that it is illegal from now on to…
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Sports tourism flourishing in Phuket
By Paul Poole, Thailand’s sponsorship guru Few places in Thailand host more sporting events than Phuket, and every year thousands of tourists – both local and foreign – head to the island to participate in or witness a sporting event. Hardly a month goes by without a sporting event taking place on Phuket. Be it swimming, biking, running, golfing or…
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15 year old allegedly raped by stepfather for 5 years
Muslims for Peace Foundation rescued a 15 year old girl who alleges she was a rape victim of her 67 year old stepfather for 5 years. The Foundation as well as the staff of Krabi Children and Family Shelter brought the girl to the police on November 2 claiming that she had been raped since she was 10 years old…
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Gulf of Thailand battered – heading towards the Andaman Sea, north of Phuket
(There is an update from the TMD at the bottom of this article – the tropical depression is weakening as it moves across the landmass from Gulf of Thailand towards the Andman Sea, north of Phuket) A severe weather warning was issued for the South Eastern Region on Monday, as the Meteorological Department forecast heavy rain for the entire region,…
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Phuket’s Centre for Rights and Liberties Protection in Criminal Cases officially opens
Today (November 6), the Centre for Rights and Liberties Protection in Criminal Cases has officially opened at the Phuket Provincial Juvenile and Family Court aiming to offer proper protection and education to the people involved in criminal cases and to assist the legal process to continue under the rule of law. “This will help people understand more about the rights…
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50 year old Brit’s dream holiday turns into a nightmare
A dream holiday turned into a nightmare for a husband and wife when he was robbed at gunpoint and left so badly hurt he needed emergency surgery. Mik Laverty was mugged during he and wife Denise’s first full day in Thailand and now the couple’s friends are raising money towards his treatment and to help get them home. Mr Laverty…
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THAIGER TODAY Monday, November 6
Layan Beach restaurants poised for eviction following loss of Supreme Court battle | No selfies with ‘Toon’ please | 65 year old woman finds a partner after posting an ad on her gate | Hua Hun-Pattaya ferry service suspended today | Local tour boat capsizes with 16 on board.
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Fake land deeds in Krabi
UPDATE on the fake land deeds in Krabi… The Village Chief, Sucha Wansuk, said that after checking, the land deeds were indeed fake with the name of dead people and fake signatures on them. “One of the title deeds for 7 rai has the name of the owner as Malem Pankwan, who passed away at least 10 years ago,” said…
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Tourist boat capsizes off Phuket
A tour boat carrying 16 Chinese tourists and several Thais sunk off Phang Nga Bay on Sunday morning, as a mechanical issue was being repaired and large waves capsized the vessel, said Ao Phang Nga National Park chief Sarayuth Tansathien. A 29 year old Chinese tourist sustained bruises on her chest and arms while the rest of the passengers were…
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Royal Crematorium tours might continue beyond November
Deputy PM Tanasak Patimapragorn yesterday says that he would seek to extend public tours at the Royal Crematorium beyond the end of November if there is sufficient interest. But the scheduled closing at the end of this month would remain if only a small number of people wish to tour the sacred site, he said. Tanasak said the PM would…
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Supreme Court says Layan beachfront is ‘public land’
PHOTO: y Travel Blog Today the Phuket Gazette visited Layan Beach following the verdict in the Thai Supreme Court that confirmed that the land, where six beach restaurants and businesses continue to operate, was public land. The land in question spans the an entire 3 kilometre frontage including stretches of Layan and Laypang beaches and covering some 178 rai of…
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Loy Krathong attracts big crowds around Phuket and Thailand.
Around the country, provinces attracted crowds watching parades of giant floats representing government and private agencies, beauty pageant contests, and stage performances, while many sent off krathong floats onto rivers, lakes and ponds as an apologetic gesture to the Goddess of River. In Phuket all the major waterways had a big turnout with the predicted bad weather holding off. The…
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Phuket strengthens security measures at croc farms
Following the rains in Phuket which resulted in some areas being flooded, Phuket Fisheries Officers visited crocodile farms to ensure the security for locals and tourists preventing the farms’ reptiles from escaping to outside waters. There are 4 businesses with about 500 crocodiles in Muang Phuket and Thalang District and one personally owned crocodile in Thalang District. The team of…
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THAIGER TODAY Friday, November 3
Parts of Royal Crematorium now closed to visitors | Flights cancelled to Chiang Mai Airport | Bodyslam ‘Toon’ kicks off his 2,000 km charity run | Bad weather still being predicted | Big joint venture announced between Central and JD.com.
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90 flights cancelled over Loy Krathong
Several airlines have cancelled a total of 90 flights to and from Chiang Mai during the Loy Krathong Festivities today and tomorrow out of safety concerns. Authorities say the cancellation of flights is a precaution against possible air accidents from the release of hot-air, smoke and lantern during the festival. Two years ago in 2015, 27,000 lanterns were released but the…
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Prayut praises Toon for Charity Run
Bodyslam’s ‘Toon’ collects 47 Million Baht in the first day of his national run. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has extended moral support to rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, who started a 2,191 kilometre charity run yesterday (Wednesday). “I’m giving encouragement and blessing for Toon to achieve his goal and to be safe while running throughout the long journey,” government…
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Governor visits flooded areas and discovers clogged drains
After a flash flood occurred on October 31 following just an hour of rain, Phuket Governor with his team visited the concerned areas and found that the drains were clogged by trash (again!). A budget of 220 million Baht is being set aside as part of the solution. A team consisting several departments at the Provincial office visited Thepkasattri Road…
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THAIGER TODAY Thursday, November 2
Flooding around north-east should ease within 14 days | Royal Crematorium now open for tours | 30 year old Australian still in Vachira Hospital | Thailand ‘Ground Zero’ for illegal wildlife trade | New flights to Phuket from Air Asia and Viet Jet.
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Royal Crematorium open for public tours
Public tours of the Royal Crematorium at Sanam Luang in Bangkok begin today following yesterday’s trial run. Deputy Prime Minister Tanasak Patimapakorn said Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn would officially open the grounds to the public at 7am, with tours beginning shortly thereafter. As many as 100,000 people are expected to visit the exhibition each day, with the…
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Travelling to Thailand? Check your travel insurance.
A cautionary tale… 30 year old Australian Stacey Liddle is still holed up at Vachira Hospital after a traumatic road accident in Chalong caused a lot of damage to her leg which doctors are now trying to save. Whilst she had travel insurance her insurance didn’t cover this accident due to fine print in the contract. Speaking to news.com.au from…
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‘Toon’ takes off on epic run for hospitals
Rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai started the first leg of his 2,191-kilometre run under the banner the “Kao Kon La Kao”, or “Take One Step Each”, campaign from his starting point in Yala’s Betong district on Wednesday morning. As he and other participants started running at 6.09am from the mouth of Betong Mongkolrit Tunnel with many members of the public…
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Celebrate the third anniversary with a spectacular brunch at Kata Rocks
Kata Rocks is marking its third anniversary on Saturday, December 2 with a ‘Champagne Brunch of The Year’ Anniversary Pool Party that celebrates Phuket’s luxury lifestyle. The resort’s DJ-fuelled brunches are legendary for their stylish party atmosphere. This year’s event is centred around an enticing combination of excellent entertainment, delicious food and chilled ‘bubbles’ plus an exclusive fashion show next…
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Phuket ready to host Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand
Having hosted triathlons for more than 20 years, Phuket is in an enviable position as the leading triathlon destination in South East Asia and the island is set to bolster its sports tourism credentials further when it hosts the 2017 Foremost IRONMAN 70.3 Thailand, Sunrise Sprint and Foremost IRONKIDS Thailand on 25 and 26 November, 2017. “IRONMAN is a global…
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AirAsia introduces Phuket-Khon Kaen route
Esan here we come AirAsia is strengthening its Phuket base with a new route from Phuket to Khon Kaen, designed to stimulate local regional tourism. Mr. Arun Lilapantisitti, AirAsia’s Station Head for Phuket, said that Phuket is one of AirAsia’s main airport hubs as it offers a variety of routes both domestic and international and has continued to grow steadily.…
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When Thai Tinder doesn’t work, try this
A 65 year old woman in Ubon Ratchathani’s Pibul Mangsahan district has put up a sign on her house’s gate seeking a good, pensioner boyfriend. Sompong Chomphupraphet said she is advertising in this way because she has become lonely after divorcing her German husband. “Woman 65, needs boyfriend between 60-70 years old, pensioner, who is good and sincere and has…
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Clothes thieves caught on shop CCTV – Expo
A clothes shop in Expo named ‘Perdsakad’ had clothes stolen by two women pretending to be customers. The CCTV camera at the store clearly recorded their identity. The footage shows that two women entered the shop. One of them was talking to the staff while the other walked to the corner of the shop and grabbed 4 pieces of clothe…
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Happy Loy Krathong. Here are your kratong launching locations in Phuket.
Happy Loy Krathong. That one day of the year where you can celebrate with fireworks, sky lanterns and sparklers. But this year authorities are saying ‘only floating Krathongs thanks’, and preferably no polystyrene or steel pins. Bangkok’s Governor Aswin Kwanmuang is quoted as saying that only “polite celebrations” should be organised for this year’s festivities. He alluded to the timing…
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