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 How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Official probe finds Tiger Disco failed to meet fire-safety regulations
PHUKET: The findings of an official investigation into the Tiger Discotheque fire that killed four people on August 17 were publicly released yesterday. They cite failure by nightclub management to adhere to multiple fire-safety regulations. The report, compiled by the Building Society Inspectors and Officers Association (BSA) and the Association of Siamese Architects (ASA), did not cite the cause of…
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World champion eyes Laguna Phuket Ironman 70.3 title
PHUKET: The recently-crowned 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, Leanda Cave, has signed up for the Laguna Phuket event less than 24 hours after completing her epic World Championship victory in Las Vegas on September 9, and before resuming training for her next title bid at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 13, it was revealed by the…
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Dealer busted after kratom smuggled into Phuket as ‘fresh vegetables’
PHUKET: Phuket Police acting on a tip-off yesterday arrested a dealer and seized 54kg of kratom leaves from an address in Cherng Talay. Col Jirasak Siemsak received the tip-off at about 5pm and quickly put together an investigation team under the command of Maj Pongnarin Suthin. On arrival at a house on Soi Pasak 4, off the Baan Don-Cherng Talay…
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Wife begs gold-thief husband to turn himself over to Phuket Police
PHUKET: The captured wife of a brazen smash-and-grab gold thief last night begged her husband to turn himself over to the Phuket Police so that she could return to Burma and take care of her children. In the midst of tears, Mrs Musa insisted that she did not know the shampoo bottles she was fleeing to Burma with were stuffed…
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Where the Phuket buffalo roam
PHUKET: To highlight the diminishing number of buffalo still grazing on the island, Phuket Democrat MP Raywat Areerob joined local farmers on Tuesday at a small country fair that included a bovine beauty contest. The event, organized by the National Farmers Council (NFC) Phuket office and Srisoonthorn Municipality, with support from the Phuket Agricultural Office, was held at the field…
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Phuket Airport officials unveil how they caught their woman
PHUKET: Following the arrest of a woman wanted by authorities in Bangkok for human trafficking charges, Phuket Airport Immigration officers revealed how they caught the suspect before she could fly out of the country. Phuket Airport Immigration officer Lt Col Wannee Songchaisanguan said that Snr Sgt Maj Wanchai Narin was on duty in the departure hall on September 14 when…
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Fears of Phuket underpass traffic jams prompt ‘alternative routes’ plan
PHUKET: The Highways Department yesterday held a public meeting to suggest alternative routes for motorists to alleviate traffic congestion when construction of Phuket’s first underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection, in front of Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, begins next month. The news came at a public meeting chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa at Wichit Municipality Office. Present were…
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Phuket gold thief’s wife tips off police
PHUKET: Phuket Police this morning are combing the Kathu Waterfall area after the wife of smash-and-grab gold thief Mr Koson tipped off police to his probable whereabouts. The Burmese woman, yet to be named by police, was arrested at the Mo Chit Bus Station in Bangkok last night with gold jewelry valued at about 1.8 million baht in her possession,…
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Thailand News: Protest forces US embassy to close early
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anti-US protest forces embassy to shut early Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Five companies of anti-riot policemen were deployed to guard the US Embassy in Bangkok yesterday as about 400 Muslims staged a protest against the US government over an anti-Islam film. “Destroy America!” the…
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Manhunt for Phuket gold shop thieves begins
PHUKET: Police now have arrest warrants issued for the two men wanted for the robbery of a Phuket gold shop yesterday and have set up two teams of officers to track the men down. Meanwhile, police stations throughout Southern Thailand have been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspects in their respective jurisdictions. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit…
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Phuket tour companies wary of national park admission fee hike
PHUKET: Many Phuket tour and dive companies are waiting to see how the final confirmation of the significant hike in national park fees will affect their businesses.The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced that the entrance cost at many popular national parks in Thailand would see their first jump in a decade starting January 1.“Although I…
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Phuket consuls praise Provincial Hospital
PHUKET: The British and Australian honorary consuls in Phuket have heaped praise on the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) Hospital. Martin Carpenter, British honorary consul, and Larry Cunningham, Australian honorary consul to Phuket, also called for local media organizations to publicize the facility so people can take advantage of the new hospital’s services. At the meeting of Phuket’s honorary consul…
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Phuket Business: Pickup sales champ
PHUKET: Reinforced with continuous, cutting-edge improvements to its steering and suspension systems, the Toyota Hilux Vigo Champ looks to retain its stronghold on the domestic pickup market. The Phuket Gazette had the opportunity to join an exclusive tour of Toyota Motor Thailand’s (TMT) Ban Pho production plant recently, gaining a first-hand look at the prized truck’s production and assembly line.…
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Phuket Business: 200 years of market crises
PHUKET: With the US stock market sitting near its 52-week high, and already having made a 100% move upwards from its low at the peak of the sell-off that occurred during the financial crisis, I have dug a bit deeper into history to get a feel for the frequency of crashes. I have a good grip on the longer bull/bear…
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Phuket Police identify one brazen gold thief
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have identified one member of the brazen gold bandit duo who robbed a shop of about 3 million baht worth of gold jewelry yesterday. Police identified the man only as “Son”, a roadside food vendor. After a dragnet attempt at a fish factory left police empty handed, they raided Son’s home, only to find that he…
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Live Wire: All I want for Xmas is a 3G tab
PHUKET: Welcome to the fourth and final installment of my series about where the computer industry is headed (click here to see related articles). With the Christmas season just around the corner many people are thinking about buying new electronics – computer, tablet, phone, maybe even a TV. This column will help you stay on top of developments between now…
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Phuket honorary consuls grill local transport chief over new taxi fares
PHUKET: In their first “regular” quarterly meeting with Phuket government officers since February, Phuket Honorary Consuls today delivered a barrage of questions over the new standard taxi fares “agreed to” on September 12. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, recently returned from a cultural tourism roadshow in Nepal, asked for input from honorary consuls about the new standard fares. Phuket Land Transportation…
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Thai woman arrested in Phuket on prostitution human trafficking charges
PHUKET: Immigration officials arrested a Thai woman believed to be at the center of an international human trafficking ring at Phuket International Airport on Friday as she tried to board a flight to Bahrain.Dujdao “Champagne” Yarana*, 27, was arrested at 7pm by Capt Suppachai Moongaew and immediately taken to Bangkok.After questioning by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) she was charged…
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Phuket Police gold thief dragnet comes up empty
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have given up their attempt to net a pair of brazen gold thieves at a fish factory today. They have now issued “wanted alerts” for the two men to police stations throughout the neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. Included in the alerts are images of the two wanted men, who police believe are Burmese,…
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Phuket Sports: Quiksilver Open finishes on the crest of a wave
PHUKET: Topping a long list of highlights in the four days of non-stop surfing and extreme sports action at the Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand, Bali’s Mega Semadhi took the ASC/ISC Open Division final yesterday for his first contest win this year, while reigning Men’s Asian Surfing Champion Raditya Rondi (also from Bali, Indonesia) hoisted his second consecutive ASC Championship trophy…
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Phuket Business: Smile – you’re on THAI
PHUKET: Last week Prasert Tanhansa, manager of the THAI Airlines (TA) district sales office in Phuket, announced new Phuket routes to be serviced, starting next month, by the national carrier’s new airline, THAI Smile (TS). Here, the Phuket Gazette’s Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai speaks exclusively with Mr Prasert about market positioning, strategies and more. PHUKET GAZETTE: TS has been called by some…
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US Embassy prepares for anti-American demonstrations in Thailand
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the recent security warning issued to all American citizens was not linked to any specific threats in Thailand. The warning, issued by the US Embassy in Bangkok, reads: “As a general precaution, the U.S. Embassy advises you to exercise caution and to be aware of your surroundings,…
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PM Yingluck pledges splurge on developing Phuket tourism
PHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday named Patong Beach, Old Phuket Town and Promthep Cape as three Andaman tourist attractions to receive “emergency budget” support.Also on the list to receive special attention were Phi Phi Island and Ao Nang, both in Krabi province, to make them more “tourist friendly” ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) coming into effect…
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“I think we’re all wise enough to understand…
“I think we’re all wise enough to understand that people write things and that what is written is not necessarily what is true. There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a lot of stories that aren’t true.” PHUKET: Lewis Hamilton responds to speculation surrounding his future. The Mclaren driver has been strongly linked in the past week with a move away…
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Prime Phuket land sold to mystery buyer for B1.64bn
PHUKET: An unknown buyer has acquired 455 rai of land on Phuket’s west coast from the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company for 1.64 billion baht, reports Phuket Gazette Property columnist Bill Barnett. Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company’s largest shareholder, BTS, had planned to develop the site north of Kamala Beach under the entity Kamala Beach Resort Company before…
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Phuket Sports: Islanders entertain with hard fought draw
PHUKET: The Islanders moved up one place into eleventh in the 18-team Thai Yamaha One league thanks to a 1-1 home draw last night with southern rivals Pattalung FC. Both sides, facing the threat of falling into the relegation zone, were hungry for points in the tense, high-stakes match that saw a new record for attendance this season set at…
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Police urge motorists to slow down as wet weather warning No 14 issued
PHUKET: Thalang Police are urging motorists to exercise caution while driving in Phuket during the current spate of heavy thundershowers that has plagued the island for the past week. Thalang Police Superintendent Col Witoon Kongsudjai urged drivers to reduce speed on the slippery roads in order to prevent accidents. “Please drive with caution in the rain. Thalang Police received reports…
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Phuket to host first Southern Thailand Museum Festival
PHUKET: For the first time, more than 30 museums from across Southern Thailand will be collaborating to create a single event: the Southern Thai Museum Festival 2012, to be held in Phuket next week. “Visitors will be able to experience the exhibition which will include precious antique objects. We are proud to be able to show these antiques as they…
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Phuket Opinion: Through the revolving door
PHUKET: After eight months serving as Phuket’s top-ranking police officer, Chonasit Wattanvrangkul will be transferred out of the province to continue his career elsewhere. At the same, at the end of this month, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha will retire. While Col Chonasit’s replacement will be Narathiwat Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, a replacement for Governor Tri has yet…
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Phuket News: Inaction over Tiger inferno sparks fire-safety blitz
PHUKET: The lack of follow-up on fire safety standards more than a month after the deadly Tiger Discotheque inferno on August 17 that killed four people, has prompted Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha to launch a campaign to improve fire safety at large public venues across the island. Governor Tri told the Phuket Gazette that he had already called on the…
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