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 Top 10 reasons for expats to get a comprehensive health insurance in Thailand
Moving to Thailand offers a prospect full of excitement and adventure, but in the same vein, if any injuries were to occur (and god forbid it does), the local healthcare system can be confusing at first glance for many expats...
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Phuket Opinion: Keep hands steady for return to island time
PHUKET: There is a special relationship between time and islands, which Einstein might have narrowly missed quantifying in his examination of the Theory of Relativity. The theory points out, among many other things, that space travellers moving at nearly the speed of light might reach a distant galaxy and only age 26 years. However, here on Earth millions of years…
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Phuket Opinion: Island paradise – it’s the bomb
PHUKET: News of the the unprecedented bomb explosion outside of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) offices on August 1 (story here) came as just the latest blow to the reputation of Phuket as a safe tourist destination. Fortunately, nobody was physically harmed in the incident, though a number of vehicles were damaged. While the bombing itself was as completely…
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Rohingya riot north of Phuket pre-planned escape attempt, says Immigration
PHUKET: The Rohingya refugees’ rebellion against their captivity during the Muslim holy day Eid-al Fitr yesterday was a pre-planned attempt to escape the facilities and leave Thailand, Phang Nga Immigration Police told the Phuket Gazette today. “The refugees were convinced by visitors to protest and attempt to escape to another country,” Phang Nga Immigration Inspector Neti Khanboon said. Lt Col…
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Phuket drug users scramble free of police net – two women arrested
PHUKET: A police drug bust yesterday netted only two female meth dealers after several teenagers using drugs at a bungalow in Phuket managed to scramble to freedom.One of the two woman arrested, Supattra Kanam, 24, spotted the police arriving at the bungalow, about half a kilometer from the Heroines’ Monument. She was able to run into the house and warn…
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Last Call – Digging my way down to China
PHUKET: Growing up in California, one of my favorite pre-teen past times was digging holes. Not just holes but dark inviting spaces with a purpose. A fort, or looking for buried Aztec treasure, putting time capsules away to be dug up after people are weekending on Mars or the sadness of burying a demised goldfish or two. We never quite…
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Phuket warned human-trafficking record may result in European ban on seafood
PHUKET: Any deterioration in Thailand’s human-trafficking record may lead to a European ban on importing seafood from the Kingdom, Phuket Marine Police were warned yesterday.The message was delivered at a seminar intended to remind local Marine Police and those involved in Phuket’s fishing industry of the legal obligations to be upheld regarding human trafficking.The seminar, headed by visiting senior prosecutor…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Gorbachev still alive; Israel-Palestine peace talks; Chile blunder; Top Mafioso arrested in London
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gorbachev denies false reports of his death after hacker attack Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Mikhail Gorbachev announced to the world he was alive and well after hackers broke into microblogs run by a news agency late on Wednesday and posted false reports of his death.“I’m alive and…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: BRN threatens no more peace; Amnesty bill under review; Trang Airport still closed, Fugitive’s son weds star actress
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Insurgents threaten to quit peace talks in latest video message The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: In another YouTube video message released on Tuesday night, insurgents in the deep South threatened to quit the peace dialogue, using inflammatory statements to lambaste Thai authorities on unspecific issues.The clip shows…
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Krabi murder defendants claim US Embassy translator unfair
PHUKET: The three Thai musicians charged with the murder of American tourist Bobby Ray Carter Jr in Krabi on July 31 (story here) have refused to have the translator provided by the US Embassy in Bangkok involved in the trial. The lawyer representing the three defendants explained the complaint to the judge at Krabi Provincial Court on Tuesday, when defendants…
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Body of executed pregnant woman found in Khao Sok National Park, north of Phuket
PHUKET: An unidentified pregnant woman was executed by gun and her body left in Khao Sok National Park, Phang Nga police said today.The body of the woman, believed to have been in her late 20s, was found by villagers in Phang Nga’s Kapong District yesterday.“She was wearing an orange-red maternity dress, and appeared to be pregnant,” Prajak Rodkantuk of the…
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FIVB beach volleyball world tour’s return to Phuket has interest spiking
PHUKET: The return of the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour to Karon beach Phuket has created plenty of interest among both players and fans. With the tournament still just under three months away, over 40 teams from 19 countries have already entered the US$75,000 Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT, which will be held from October 29 to November 3.…
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Citizen rescue to bolster safety at Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Scores of everyday people are voluntarily undergoing lifeguard training in order to help Phuket’s strained contingent of lifeguards cope with the growing number of tourists, expats and local residents who need to be saved from dangerous surf.There are currently 38 beach guard stations at 13 beaches in Phuket, staffed by a total of 108 lifeguards, explained Phuket Lifeguard Club…
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Oil spill damage not as great as feared, say Phuket Marine Biologists
PHUKET: The environmental damage to Koh Samet is not as great as initially feared, according to five Phuket-based marine biologists who have just returned from a fact-finding mission to the oil-spill stricken island (story here). The Phuket group’s findings were similar to those reported by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. “We did not find any remains or evidence…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama snubs Putin; Egypt at deadly stalemate; Nairobi fire threatens regional economies; Saudi offers Russia arms deal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama snubs Putin over Snowden row Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama is cancelling a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for next month in Moscow, the White House said on Wednesday.The Obama administration has repeatedly expressed disappointment after Moscow granted temporary asylum to…
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Phuket Pitak Siam protesters to head home, for now
PHUKET: The Phuket contingent of Pitak Siam supporters who joined the anti-government rally in Bangkok will head back home today. The thousands-strong peaceful protest – intended to “only escort” former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Prime Minister and Democrat chief adviser Chuan Leekpai to Parliament House – was headed off by “riot” police at Ratchawithi Intersection yesterday. The protest…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Amnesty bill begins; Democrats happy with rally; Nok Air plane slides off runway; Corals damaged in oil spill areas
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Parliament begins amnesty bill process The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The controversial amnesty bill cruised through the initial parliamentary process last night when the House voted 301-160 against a proposal by opposition and Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva to postpone deliberations on the bill. Last night’s vote kick-started…
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“No worries’ over Aussie police workshop on transnational crime in Phuket
PHUKET: The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are in Phuket to hold a joint workshop with Phuket authorities on tackling the issue of transnational crime on the island.“Phuket is one of the most famous tourist destinations in the world. Every day, large numbers of tourists from all over the globe come to visit us,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee…
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Black taxis scoff at Phuket Airport organized crime center
PHUKET: A taxi company using illegal “black taxis” to serve Phuket International Airport said it will continue to do so despite the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) opening its Organized Crime Center for Tourism there on Friday (story here). “Our black plate taxis will still work as usual. If the DSI officers arrest them, I will explain to the officers…
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Phuket Gazette World News: US-Iran relations; Rebels surprise Assad; Americans in Yemen warned to leave immediately; WikiLeaker Manning’s potential jail time reduced
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran’s leader reaches out to U.S., vows to resolve nuclear row Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Iran’s incoming President Hassan Rouhani yesterday offered an olive branch to the United States in talks on Tehran’s disputed nuclear programme, raising hopes of progress after years of stalemate. Rouhani,…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Fears of major clash; Data on Imam killing; Military gunmen shot unarmed people: Court; US pushes for tougher trafficking sentences
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fear of major clash if rivals face off at House The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A political confrontation is looming between pro- and anti-government mobs, with Democrat Party MPs having decided to lead a group of supporters to Parliament House today, which is protected by…
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Phuket weather delays salvage of sunken cargo vessel
PHUKET: Efforts to salvage the cargo ship Unity, which sunk in high seas on its way to Phi Phi Island last week (story here), have been postponed until tomorrow due to the current spate of bad weather. “We will begin the recovery of the ship tomorrow, as today we have been preparing the machinery and the equipment needed to recover…
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Raising bar past low-tide mark – Phuket Business
PHUKET: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has a long-standing and ill-fated tradition of stopping at the low-tide mark. For mountain resorts in the French Alps, which do not rely on what is beneath the ocean surface to draw guests, such an oversight is understandable. However, the trend of CSR projects not safeguarding heavily threatened marine systems, such as the coral reefs…
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Heavy rain brings minor floods across Phuket, huge tailbacks
PHUKET: Heavy rain in Phuket this morning caused minor flooding across the island, including in Patong on the west coast, in Chalong in the south and in Srisoonthorn in Thalang.Roads cut off by flash-flood runoff forced traffic to a standstill as small vehicles could not get through.Traffic was backed up in front of the TOT office on Chao Fa West…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Syrian child soldiers being recruited; Radioactive water seeping into ocean in Japan; Python strangles Canadian kids
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Audit of Syrian refugees finds organised crime and child soldiers Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Many Syrians who have escaped their country are now desperate to escape from U.N.-run refugee camps, where women are not safe and teenage boys are recruited as soldiers to fight in…
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No infrastructure damage to Krabi International Airport, despite ramp road subsiding
PHUKET: Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) officers confirmed that there was no structural damage to the domestic terminal at Krabi International Airport after heavy rains caused the ramp road of the terminal to subside (story here). The DCA has already approved a budget to make repairs to the airport, which recently underwent a 743-million-baht upgrade. The budget is set to…
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Phuket FC appoints seasoned Brazilian as new coach
PHUKET: The Islanders’ vacancy for a head coach (see story here) has already been filled – by a skillful and respected Brazilian, Stefano Cugurra Teco. Known formally as Alessandro Stefano Cugurra Rodrigues, “Coach Teco” was born on July 25, 1974 in Rio de Janeiro, and has been involved with Thai professional soccer since 2010. As a football manager and former…
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Thief ransacks Chinese tour guide’s Phuket home, steals 100,000 baht cash, Rolex
PHUKET: A Chinese tour guide withdrew 80,000 baht from her bank account yesterday and by this morning it had been stolen from her house, along with her boyfriend’s Rolex watch valued at 300,000 and 20,000 baht she already had stashed in the house. When police responded to the 9:30am call at Phuket Villa Daorung, they found a ransacked living room…
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Dutchman’s girlfriend dies mysteriously in Phuket
PHUKET: The 39-year-old Thai partner of a Dutchman was found dead yesterday morning with no specific cause of death confirmed. At just after 10am, Hans Lehner, 68, called the Patong police to inform them that his girlfriend, Pranee Srijaem, had died in her sleep. “I took the call. His girlfriend apparently died in bed while sleeping,” Patapee Srichai of the…
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Cola wars: which one passes the Phuket taste test?
PHUKET: Since the launch of the cola soft drink “est” into the Thai market late last year (story here), local companies have been competing with global giants, vying for consumer allegiance among expats, Thais and tourists across the island. Est producer Serm Suk Co, which until recently bottled and distributed Pepsi across Thailand, is aiming to achieve 8 billion baht…
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Phuket blaze guts bedroom in Patong apartment
PHUKET: Police suspect a spark from an electrical socket near a bed set ablaze a third-floor apartment at the Baan Chalika complex in Patong early yesterday morning. The fire caused an estimated 30,000 baht in damage. No injuries were reported. Officers were called to the the four-storey apartment block, in Soi Prasertsub 2 on Ratchapatanusorn Road (map here), at 12:45am…
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