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.

  • Phuket Sports: Patong pull clear at the top; Round 2 Junior league | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: Patong pull clear at the top; Round 2 Junior league

    PHUKET: After securing a first win of the season in their last match, the Village were confident of another successful outing against Phuket’s senior cricket league leaders, Patong, who loss in their last match to Jabudays (ICC). With only 3 points separating the top four teams, a win for the Village, last seasonfs runners up, would put them back in…

  • Phuket sea gypsies unearth human bone under home | Thaiger

    Phuket sea gypsies unearth human bone under home

    PHUKET: Sea gypsies in the southern Phuket beach area of Rawai panicked after discovering a bone believed to be human buried underneath a house.The bone could be up to 100 years old, said Panuwat Uasamal, an archaeologist at the Fine Arts Department Office in Phuket, who was contacted by the sea gypsies.The bone was discovered under Waek Lakkoh’s house while…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Senators walk on Charter change; Korn calls B2tn bluff; Baht dips; Yingluck wants quality | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Senators walk on Charter change; Korn calls B2tn bluff; Baht dips; Yingluck wants quality

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Six senators withdraw support for charter amendment bills The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Six senators have withdrawn their names supporting three bills for Constitution amendment submitted to Parliament on Wednesday.Some said the content of the amendment in the submitted bills had been changed after Pheu Thai MPs…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: China’s Xi in Russia; Myanmar riot; Damascus blast; Sarkozy probe; US poll for migrants; Gillard survives | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: China’s Xi in Russia; Myanmar riot; Damascus blast; Sarkozy probe; US poll for migrants; Gillard survives

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Curfew in Myanmar town after 10 killed in riots Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A central Myanmar town declared a curfew for a second night yesterday after clashes killed 10 people, including a Buddhist monk, and injured at least 20, authorities said.Riots erupted in Meikhtila, 540km north of…

  • Phuket Opinion: Hi-so holidays harder for tourists to afford | Thaiger

    Phuket Opinion: Hi-so holidays harder for tourists to afford

    PHUKET: Over the years, a number of my friends have made the journey from England to visit Phuket and enjoy a well-earned holiday. The recurring theme of their time here used to be how cheap the island was compared to the UK, but that has now changed. When I first moved to Phuket, years ago, the exchange rate from baht…

  • Phuket Tourist Police shootout cop loses leg to gunfight injury | Thaiger

    Phuket Tourist Police shootout cop loses leg to gunfight injury

    PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Police officer injured in a shootout yesterday morning has had his right leg amputated in order to save his life. Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok, 34, was quickly transferred to the Prince of Songkla University Hospital in Haad Yai yesterday after he was shot in the leg and in the stomach in a gunfight at a…

  • Body washes ashore near Phuket Town | Thaiger

    Body washes ashore near Phuket Town

    PHUKET: Police are trying to determine the identity of a man whose body was found this morning washed ashore at Laem Tukkae, on the east side of Phuket Town. The man was likely a Burmese crewman aboard one of the many vessels operating out of Phuket, said Phuket City Police Duty Officer Chaleaw Taihoo. “He may have had an argument…

  • Russian tour agent in Phuket faces deportation | Thaiger

    Russian tour agent in Phuket faces deportation

    PHUKET: Phuket Immigration officers arrested a Russian tour saleswoman in Patong yesterday for working illegally and for illegally entering the country. “We inspected the Kathu area for illegal foreign workers,” explained Phuket Immigration Investigator Chidchanok Sakornyen. “As we reached the tour counter of the Leon Speedy Travel company on Thaweewong Road [map here], we found Oleg Tikhomirova, 34, discussing tour…

  • Phuket’s international boat show comes of age | Thaiger

    Phuket’s international boat show comes of age

    PHUKET: The 10th Anniversary Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) opened today to a large gathering of island dignitaries, VIPs, exhibitors, visitors and media. While the traditional boating markets of Europe and the USA continue to struggle in the current economic climate, Phuket is driving Asia’s growth and continues to attract top international boat brands and marine products to exhibit. Pivotal…

  • Phuket Opinion: Housing boom making snail mail slower | Thaiger

    Phuket Opinion: Housing boom making snail mail slower

    Boonsong Maneechai, 52, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, served as Postmaster of the Thaweewong Post Office in Patong for four years before becoming the Postmaster of the Rawai Office in 2009. Here, he talks about why the residents of Rawai and Chalong have been experiencing mail delivery delays, and outlines the steps he is taking to correct the problem. PHUKET: The…

  • No wildfire warning in Phuket, but fire alert remains | Thaiger

    No wildfire warning in Phuket, but fire alert remains

    PHUKET: The lack of rainfall across the island in recent weeks has yet to prompt the authorities to issue a wildfire warning for Phuket, but they have called for people to be vigilant as a precaution.“We have not issued a fire warning as there are small packets of rain falling on scattered areas,” Phuket Forest Protection and Fire Control Director…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Cyprus crisis; Aus PM Gillard in leadership battle; Killer bees attack SA school | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: Cyprus crisis; Aus PM Gillard in leadership battle; Killer bees attack SA school

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cyprus scrambles to avert meltdown, EU threatens cut-off Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Cyprus considered nationalising pension funds and ordered banks to stay shut till next week to avert financial chaos after it rejected the terms of a European Union bailout and turned to Russia for aid.Crisis talks…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: UN to rescue the World Cup | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Sports: UN to rescue the World Cup

    Exclusive – Brazil enlists U.N. help to ready World Cup stadium Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Brazil’s capital city, struggling to finish a new football stadium in time for an upcoming dress rehearsal for the 2014 World Cup, is turning to a surprising partner for help: the United Nations. The Brasilia government signed this week a 35 million reais (11.65…

  • Police arrest 25 Sri Lankan refugees trafficked to Phuket | Thaiger

    Police arrest 25 Sri Lankan refugees trafficked to Phuket

    PHUKET: Police today arrested at least 25 refugees found walking along the busy Chao Fa East Road in Chalong. “The group included 18 men, six women and a 2-year-old boy. Among the six women, one was two months pregnant,” Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Det-intarasorn told the Phuket Gazette. None of the refugees could present passports, he explained. Some had United…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI chief to repeat ‘Men in Black’ testimony; Monarchy loyalists rally; Thailand gets happy | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: DSI chief to repeat ‘Men in Black’ testimony; Monarchy loyalists rally; Thailand gets happy

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community House panel wants to hear from DSI chief again over ‘men in black’ The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A House committee yesterday unanimously resolved to summon Department of Special Investigation chief Tarit Pengdith to repeat his statement to the committee about the operations of the so-called “men…

  • Phuket Russians targeted in Thai New Year crackdown | Thaiger

    Phuket Russians targeted in Thai New Year crackdown

    PHUKET: Kathu District Chief Weera Kerdsirimongkol, who took up his position in Phuket less than a month ago, will target Russians, Nepalese and Vietnamese working illegally in Phuket, starting on April 14, the first day of the Thai new Year, he told a Provincial Hall meeting yesterday.“Initially, we will work with Phuket Employment Office and issue warnings to businesses involving…

  • Tourist Police hit in Phuket Town shootout, killing two | Thaiger

    Tourist Police hit in Phuket Town shootout, killing two

    PHUKET: A Phuket Tourist Police officer is in hospital this morning recovering from wounds sustained after a gunfight in a neighbor’s room which left two men dead early this morning. Sen Sgt Maj Pinchai Piyadilok was shot in the leg and in the stomach in the incident, and is recovering from surgery. Police have yet to question him. Officers received…

  • Phuket Business: Why Google is still the best | Thaiger

    Phuket Business: Why Google is still the best

    PHUKET: The word ‘Google’ is a household name, synonymous with the word ‘search’ or even ‘research’ for most people around the world. The name itself originated from the word ‘Googol’, coined by Milton Sirotta, meaning the number 1 followed by 100 zeros; basically an extremely large number. It represents the vast universe of information that Google makes available to the…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Deep South peace talks to table Special Admin Zone | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Deep South peace talks to table Special Admin Zone

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New administration strategy for South set to be discussed The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: All eyes will be on the first official peace talks scheduled for next Thursday between the separatist movement Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) and Thai officials, during which a proposal to set up a…

  • Phuket Gazette Sports: Salute, suspicions and sympathy | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Sports: Salute, suspicions and sympathy

    Katidis banned for rest of Greek season for Nazi salute Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: AEK Athens have suspended Giorgos Katidis for the rest of the season after the 20-year-old midfielder made a Nazi salute to fans during a game at the weekend.The former captain of his country’s under-19 side had already been banned from all international teams for life by…

  • Fear of attacks on Phuket’s new airport buses delays launch date | Thaiger

    Fear of attacks on Phuket’s new airport buses delays launch date

    PHUKET: The long-awaited and much supported Phuket Airport Bus Express – marking Phuket’s first ‘hop on-hop off’ bus service from the airport to major tourist beaches along the west coast (story here) – will not be launched this month. The news came at a provincial transport committee meeting at the Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) this afternoon led by ardent…

  • Phuket Property Watch: Koh Samui puts on a game face | Thaiger

    Phuket Property Watch: Koh Samui puts on a game face

    PHUKET: War is hell. While the opinion on developing tourism often ranges from heaven to hell or somewhere in-between those luxury hotel 400 thread count fine Egyptian bed sheets (as usual I can’t help but take a quick detour off into the realms of upscale bedding). Apparently there is an ongoing controversy over thread count linen and whether the claims…

  • Phuket to become land probe role model | Thaiger

    Phuket to become land probe role model

    PHUKET: A Deputy Ministry of Interior arrived on Phuket yesterday to launch a land title deed investigation geared to establish Phuket as a role model for land probes.“Many plots of land have been acquired through corrupt officials,” Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Prasopdee told the Phuket Gazette.“This investigation, commencing immediately and lasting 30 days, will establish Phuket as a role model…

  • Phuket Sports: ‘Imagina na Copa!’ | Thaiger

    Phuket Sports: ‘Imagina na Copa!’

    PHUKET: It’s the catchphrase of the year in Brazil: “Imagina na Copa!”It basically means “Imagine what it’ll be like during the World Cup,” and it has become a favourite among Brazilians stuck in traffic or in line at their woefully overcrowded airports.The underlying belief is that the chaos will be worse when Brazil hosts the football tournament in June 2014,…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: China in Top 5 arms dealers; President Li in US talks on cyber war, trade | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette World News: China in Top 5 arms dealers; President Li in US talks on cyber war, trade

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New China leader Xi to meet U.S. to discuss cyber row, trade Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will meet new Chinese President Xi Jinping today at a critical time in relations between the world’s two largest economies, with cyber hacking, the Chinese currency…

  • Land prices upcountry doubling | Thaiger

    Land prices upcountry doubling

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Provincial land prices double as big developers go upcountry Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The expansion by leading property firms of their investment in the provinces during the course of last year has resulted in land prices doubling in many areas. The main provinces and areas subject to…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand among Asia’s highest achievers; Thai TV unplugged; drought, erosion bite hard | Thaiger

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand among Asia’s highest achievers; Thai TV unplugged; drought, erosion bite hard

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand joins ranks of ‘high achievers’ in East Asia The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand has made it into the UNDP’s list of “high achievers” in East Asia, along with China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. The rapid human development progress of Thailand and Asia-Pacific nations…

  • Phuket Police bag two as snatch turns snitch | Thaiger

    Phuket Police bag two as snatch turns snitch

    PHUKET: A young Thai woman wanted as a bag-snatcher was placed under arrest by Phuket Police yesterday after she presented herself at Thalang Police Station to seek guidance over being beaten by her boyfriend. Rudeemas “Yaem” Sumeng, 22, reported the whereabouts of her partner to Thalang Police after he allegedly beat her. She walked into the police station apparently unaware…

  • Ministry of Justice steps up to help Phuket sea gypsies | Thaiger

    Ministry of Justice steps up to help Phuket sea gypsies

    PHUKET: Thailand’s Ministry of Justice is spearheading a multi-agency effort to provide assistance to sea gyspies in Phuket.Leaders of the small sea gypsy community in Rawai currently face legal action from investors for allegedly encroaching on private land, despite the previously nomadic people having lived there for decades.Many of the indigenous fisherfolk from Rawai have also been arrested, and released…

  • Phuket Business: Tax filing deadline nears | Thaiger

    Phuket Business: Tax filing deadline nears

    PHUKET: With the peak of the Thai hot season fast approaching, the Personal Income Tax (PIT) filing deadline is also nigh. Usually, the deadline is March 31, but since the last day of March this year falls on a Sunday, income earners in the Kingdom have been given until Monday, April 1 to file their paper returns, or until Tuesday,…