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.

  • Sponsored

    Digital nomading in Chiang Mai? What US$1,000 a month really gets you

    Chiang Mai has become a popular destination for digital nomads due to its low living costs, rich culture, and active remote work community. The city offers affordable housing, tasty food, reliable internet, and many co-working spaces, making it a great...

  • Phuket doctors unaffected by health care pay reform

    Phuket doctors unaffected by health care pay reform

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) today confirmed that the introduction of the new P4P “Pay for performance” system of calculating rural doctors’ remuneration will not affect any public health care services in Phuket.The news follows at least 146 doctors – among them 11 specialists –announcing they will resign their positions at public hospitals across the country in protest…

  • Phuket Police stage riot control drills

    Phuket Police stage riot control drills

    PHUKET: More than 300 officers from every police station in Phuket have been rehearsing their riot control skills at the field behind Phuket City Police Station yesterday and today in preparation for a contest that will pit them against fellow police from throughout Upper Southern Thailand.“The objective is to maintain our preparedness for situations of civil unrest and to prepare…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: Baseball opening day – a celebration of hope and renewal

    Phuket Gazette Sports: Baseball opening day – a celebration of hope and renewal

    Baseball opening day – a celebration of hope and renewal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The crack of the bat, packed crowds and the smell of hot dogs on the grill signaled Major League Baseball’s Opening Day, a celebration of hope and renewal giving teams and their fans a fresh start to a new season. It is a rite of spring…

  • Phuket Sports: The rise of Thailand’s futsal team

    Phuket Sports: The rise of Thailand’s futsal team

    PHUKET: Sitting on a weathered white couch in the VIP section of the Saphan Hin Indoor Sports Complex, Thailand’s national futsal coach, Vic Hermans looks like he’d rather be on the touchline at the Phuket United vs Surat Thani match instead of watching it from the stands. The Dutchman visited Phuket recently to check out a few members of the…

  • Luckless fisherman lands crocodile in Phuket heartland

    Luckless fisherman lands crocodile in Phuket heartland

    PHUKET: Decades since a freshwater crocodile was last spotted in the wild on Phuket, a local fisherman on Sunday accidentally landed a baby specimen while fishing in Srisoonthorn, in central Phuket.Khamchit Sangsuwan, 32, a resident in the neighboring district of Kathu, went fishing at Baan Bang Jo canal. After two hours of luckless angling, the end of his line suddenly…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Leaning tower condemned; Thaksin tweets; Natural Fruit human rights under fire

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Leaning tower condemned; Thaksin tweets; Natural Fruit human rights under fire

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tilting building near Bangkok urged demolished The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A seven-storey apartment building under construction at the back of Zeer department store north of Bangkok has been declared off limits, after it tilted and was inspected by local administrators.Public works officials with Khu Khot Municipality…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: Liverpool FC to visit the ‘Big Mango’

    Phuket Gazette Sports: Liverpool FC to visit the ‘Big Mango’

    PHUKET: Liverpool FC have announced the club will visit Thailand as part of their 2013-14 pre-season tour presented by Standard Chartered. The Reds, who last visited Thailand in 2009, will play a match at Bangkok’s Rajamangala National Stadium on Sunday, July 28. Liverpool FC are estimated to have over 14 million followers in Thailand and this summer’s visit will form…

  • 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 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…

  • Phuket pond cleanup uncovers dumped motorbike

    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…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: Murray’s win takes him to number 2 in world rankings; Serena sees off Sharapova

    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…

  • Phuket Russian teen students still in ICU after motorcyclist crash

    Phuket Russian teen students still in ICU after motorcyclist crash

    PHUKET: Two Russian students from Phuket’s British International School are tonight still in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Phuket International Hospital after being involved in a horrific motorbike accident on the bypass road yesterday. Staff at the hospital declined to give details of the students’ condition, but did confirm that both Vlabislan Adrashko and Sevastan Lukashov were still under…

  • Phuket Sports: Howlers, hunger, humbling and howls – F1

    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.…

  • Cyclists head to Phuket

    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…

  • Phuket Blood Center stocks up for Songkran

    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…

  • Phuket FC constructing a new complex on Chao Fa West road

    Phuket FC constructing a new complex on Chao Fa West road

    PHUKET: THE island’s football club, Phuket FC, are in the process of constructing a new state-of-the-art training facility just south of Phuket Town, en route to Chalong. This complex will afford players badly needed upgrades to equipment and facilities and will include a natural grass football pitch, as well as an artificial grass pitch, swimming pool, fitness center and physical…

  • Burmese man crushed under Phuket juggernaut

    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…

  • Phuket Gazette Business: US tax regime to scrutinize taxpayer bank accounts

    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…

  • Phuket Business: Thai football market value to triple by 2017

    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…

  • Phuket Business: Formaldehyde free for the AEC

    Phuket Business: Formaldehyde free for the AEC

    PHUKET: The Deputy Minister of Public Health declared the Baan Saan fresh market in Phuket Town as formaldehyde free, following an inspection tour of the market earlier this week. The Baan Saan market, also known as the Phuket City municipality public fresh market number 1, is located on Ranong Road, near the local bus (sawng taeo) boarding area in Phuket…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: Messi nets record, United and Bayern march on

    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…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: US stealth fighters in Korea; New bird flu in China; Cyprus banks’ pitiable payout

    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…

  • Breaking News: Phuket FC inhale victory against Tobacco Monopoly

    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…

  • Phuket Immigration seeks help in coping with overload of Rohingya arrivals

    Phuket Immigration seeks help in coping with overload of Rohingya arrivals

    PHUKET: The arrival of more than 100 Rohingya men, women and children last weekend has left Phuket Immigration overflowing, with no respite on the horizon. The huge influx of refugees fleeing strife-torn Myanmar has forced Phuket Immigration to seek help elsewhere, said Capt Angkarn Yasanop. Of the 102 Rohingya taken into custody last weekend when the refugees sought shelter on…

  • One dead, two thrown from car as workmen head to Phuket Airport

    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…

  • Phuket Police on lookout for three drivers in two fatal hit-and-runs | Thaiger

    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…

  • Phuket hotels given one month to start reporting foreign guests

    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…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar’s biggest city

    Phuket Gazette World News: Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar’s biggest city

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Muslims vanish as Buddhist attacks approach Myanmar’s biggest city Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Muslims of Sit Kwin were always a small group who numbered no more than 100 of the village’s 2,000 people. But as sectarian violence led by Buddhist mobs spreads across central Myanmar, they…

  • Truck water fights banned for Thai New Year

    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…

  • Phuket Opinion: Fuelling the tyranny of greed

    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…

  • Phuket Sports: Dive into TSLC

    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…