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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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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 restaurant built illegally on beach, public land to face charges
PHUKET: Phuket officials were ordered to take action today against a restaurant found to be illegally built and encroaching on the beach south of Patong.“We ordered every relevant government organization to take action against the restaurant’s owner after we established that the restaurant was built on public property,” Chief of the Damrongtham Center Prapan Kanprasang told the Phuket Gazette.Acting on…
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Oi! and Katsu sail ahead early in Phuket Raceweek 2013
PHUKET: Peter Ahern’s TP52 Oi! out of Langkawi drew first blood in IRC Racing I class today in the opening race of the Phuket Raceweek 2013 regatta, this year celebrating its 10th anniversary. With Scott Bailey and Fergus Wilmer on board, Oi! finished the regatta opener on corrected time two minutes ahead of Ben Copley’s Katsu. Roles reversed in the…
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Burmese women rescued from prostitution in Phuket and Phang Nga
PHUKET: Raids by law enforcement officials rescued 12 Burmese women from forced prostitution in Phang Nga and Phuket on July 10.Three suspects were taken into custody for sex trafficking during the raids, and arrest warrants were issued for two others believed to be part of a human trafficking gang.Agents from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) were tipped off by…
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Overcrowding blamed for Rohingya immigration escape
PHUKET: Detention cells strained beyond capacity with Rohingya refugees at Phang Nga Immigration have been blamed for the escape of 11 Rohingya men early yesterday morning. More than 300 Rohingya men are being detained in large caged rooms at the center, originally built to accommodate 250 inmates, Immigration Police Lt Col Neti Khanboon explained. “At about 3am, the men broke…
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Thai badminton players hungry for gold in North America
PHUKET: In last week’s 2013 US Open Badminton Championships contested in Los Angeles, California, Thai badminton player Sapsiri “Popo” Taerattanachai beat Japanese Yuka Kasunose for the event’s women’s singles title. It was the first time Popo, ranked 15th in the world, met the Japanese player ranked at 173rd. Popo’s victory in two sets secured a prize of US$9,000 USD (about…
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Russian arrested in Phuket for illegally hawking spa products
PHUKET: A 22-year-old Russian man was arrested by Immigration Police in Patong last night after he was caught attempting to sell spa products to a plainclothes officer.Immigration officers arrested Russian national Alexander Pushkarer at a shop on the Patong beach road at about 7pm.“We were informed by one of our officers that a foreigner was working illegally at a shop,”…
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Phuket father files assault charges against son’s teachers
PHUKET: A Phuket father has filed an assault complaint with police against two teachers at his 9-year-old son’s school. The father told Wichit Police on Tuesday afternoon that teachers at Wichitsongkram School had struck his son several times over the last month. “Mr Pichit told us that on June 14, that one teacher hit his son’s hand and made it…
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Phuket volunteers replant vandalized mangrove saplings to re-honor HM Queen Sirikit
PHUKET: In a joint effort to repair the work of vandals, Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa led 200 volunteers in planting mangrove saplings in the Klong Mudong area of Chalong yesterday. Some of the 24,000 mangrove saplings planted in the area last May 17 in honor of HM Queen Sirikit were destroyed on the night of July 11 by a…
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Russians targeted in Phuket illegal company crackdown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 56 Phuket firms targeted for using Thai nominees The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Commerce Ministry is targeting 56 companies in Phuket suspected of breaching the Foreign Business Act (FBA) by having Thais acting as nominees so that foreigners can hold majority control. The ministry…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Finance Minister warns graft threatens growth; Arrest warrant for missing monk; B100mn fire in Haad Yai
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Finance Minister warns graft threatens growth The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Global credit-rating agency Fitch Ratings believes lessening corruption in the Thai public service will help prop up the Thai economy, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.Following discussions yesterday with Fitch Ratings, Kittiratt…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The beatings were accompanied by threats: If his family didn’t produce the money, Myanmar refugee Abdul Sabur would be sold into slavery on a fishing boat, his captors shouted, lashing him with bamboo sticks.It had been…
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DSI called in to tackle taxis and raid foreign businesses
PHUKET: A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) task force will arrive in Phuket next week to carry out raids and arrest illegal taxi drivers and foreign business operators found breaking the law. The officers, expected to arrive on Thursday for a two-day campaign, will target taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport and businesses suspected of using Thai nominees. The news…
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Sumatra quake gives Phuket ‘a little shake’, nothing to fear
PHUKET: The earthquake off the northern tip of Sumatra this morning was felt in Phuket, but was no cause for alarm, the head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), San Janthawong, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. No tsunami alert has been issued for Phuket or any other province along the Andaman Coast. “The earthquake…
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Phuket Gazette World Sports: England maybe next for self-employed builder as cricketing world buzzes
English club player hits 311 runs in 40 overs Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A self-employed builder from Cornwall in south-west England hit 311 runs from 40 overs to help his club to a regional record scoreline yesterday, at a strike rate of 130. The BBC reported that Andrew Brenton lashed 53 boundaries, with 11 sixes, after coming in at…
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Phuket Gazette World News: NK war weapons ship caught in Panama; England gay marriage on its way; No Islamists in Egypt Cabinet; Glee star Monteith died of overdose; Bulgaria bishop flippers out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korean ship caught carrying weapons through Panama Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Panamanian authorities might take up to a week to search a North Korean cargo ship that was seized last Wednesday on suspicion that the vessel was hiding missile equipment in a shipment of brown sugar…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice contamination fears grow; Floating parade marks Buddhist Lent; Sadao named in Deep South ceasefire; Ramkhamhaeng bombers in court
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt urged to inspect rice for contamination The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A consumer watchdog is calling on the government to inspect packaged rice after random tests found several samples to be tainted with high levels of methyl bromide, which is used to kill rice-eating…
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Phuket beach rescue saves Japanese surfer from strong surf
PHUKET: A Japanese surfer rescued this afternoon from the strong surf at Kata Noi Beach, on Phuket’s west coast, is conscious and recovering, the Phuket Gazette was told.Lifeguards saw the man, believed to be in his early 50s, out surfing the large waves at the popular tourist beach.“We are are not sure what happened, but the next time the lifeguards…
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Phuket sea turtle on the hook – saved
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) rescued an Olive Ridley sea turtle with a large fishing hook penetrating one of its flippers yesterday.“A fisherman near Lone Island notified us that there was an injured sea turtle that needed our help, as it had been pierced by a fishhook,” Phuket DMCR chief Thanate Mannoi…
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Phuket braces for more strong wind, heavy thundershowers
PHUKET: The erratic stormy weather across Phuket today, with heavy showers and gusts of wind reaching up to 35km/hr, is no cause for alarm, says the local weather office.However, islanders should prepare to hold onto their hats as the wind is expected to breach Force 6 on the Beaufort scale by Thursday.“So far no weather warning has been issued for…
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Free seminar in Phuket to focus on overseas investments for expats
PHUKET: A free investment seminar focusing on portfolio management for expats living off the interest produced through their ventures will be held on July 25 at Loch Palm Golf Club.The seminar is being organized by one of the longest standing financial consultancies in Thailand, Montepelier (Thailand) Ltd. Leading the seminar for Montepelier Wealth Management will be Ron Keyte, who has…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Oregon father and son accused of repeatedly raping young girls
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Oregon father and son accused of raping young girls Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A father and son have been arrested over allegations they repeatedly raped at least two young girls at their home in the US state of Oregon, but investigators believe there may…
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Unable to escape Phuket checkpoint, man arrested with heroin
PHUKET: A man trying to avoid a police checkpoint in Chalong last night was caught by Phuket police and arrested for possession of heroin.“We were at a checkpoint at Soi Thanoothep on Chao Fa East Road,” said Chalong Police Lt Phansak Chaithong.“At 11:50pm, we signaled a man to pull over, but he turned his bike around and tried to ride…
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Drunk driver walks away from motorbike crash with parked 18-wheeler
PHUKET: A man charged for drunk driving survived slamming into the door of a parked 18-wheeler in Phuket before dawn today. Rescue workers called to the scene at 3am this morning found Nattapol Kansol, 44, with a bloodied face and injured eye next to his motorbike about 500 meters south of Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road (map here). Witnesses…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Spain’s PM won’t resign; Rohingya relief – Myanmar disbands Border Patrol force; Asiana to sue over names gaffe; Cartel kingpin caught; Hundreds netted in child sextortion ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Spain’s Rajoy rules out stepping down in blackmail scandal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday rejected calls to resign over a ruling party financing scandal and said he would not allow the matter to hold back his reform plans.The political pressure mounted…
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Phuket Pythons: “Magic’ baby snake appears in locked locker
PHUKET: A soybean milk vendor was given a fright today after a baby python pulled a Houdini and appeared in a her locked locker. Phuket Kusoldham Rescue Foundation workers, responding to the frightened woman’s emergency call, were able to wrangle the one-meter python from its new resting place. “The shop owner closed her shop normally last night, and there was…
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First cop to be charged with trafficking suspended from force
PHUKET: Sgt Maj Weerayuth Feuangfu, the Phang Nga policeman believed to be the first Royal Thai Police officer charged with human trafficking (story here), was indefinitely suspended from active duty last week. “He was suspended from the Royal Thai Police last week pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” Phang Nga Provincial Police Commander Chalit Kaewyarat told the Phuket Gazette…
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Phuket police net motorbike thieves
PHUKET: Police arrested three Phuket teenagers yesterday for stealing multiple motorbikes and selling the parts for pocket money. The teenagers were caught in possession of nine stolen bikes in good condition and one that had been dismantled, said Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Prawit Engchuan. The teenagers’ activities came to police attention on July 2 when a Mattayom 2 student…
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Bullets, but no guns: Phuket man charged for illegal possession
PHUKET: Police caught a Phuket man illegally in possession of over 50 rounds of ammunition for multiple types of handguns, but were unable to uncover any weapons during their raid yesterday morning. Phuket City Police secured a search warrant for the house of Suwat Saramas, 30, after receiving a tip-off that he was in illegal possession of firearms. “After we…
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VIDEO REPORT: Go Eco Phuket scrambles to remove fishing net at top dive site
PHUKET: Local marine conservation group Go Eco Phuket on Friday launched two dive boats in an emergency procedure to remove a fishing net at one of Phuket’s top dive destinations, Shark Point. At a Go Eco Phuket meeting last week, in preparation for the group’s annual massive reef and beach cleanup (story here), local dive company Sea Bees revealed video…
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Thai skipper sails Sansiri into the lead at TRANSPAC
PHUKET: The 2013 Transpacific Yacht Race (TRANSPAC) started in perfect Southern California conditions on Monday July 8 with Thai entry Sansiri in the first of three starts in a westerly breeze of 15 knots. Co-skippered by Michael Spies and Thai sailor Patinyakorn Bunranrom, the five-strong crew on Sansiri are the first ever Thai entry in a global Ocean Race and…
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