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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BISP students to train like the tennis champs
PHUKET: Even if you’ve never held a tennis racket and you don’t follow tennis news, you probably know the name of Rafael Nadal. Ranked number one by ATP, Olympic Gold medalist in Beijing, eight-time winner of the French Open, two-time Wimbledon Champion, two-time US Open Champion… the list goes on. But Nadal isn’t the only Spaniard to conquer the world…
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New Muay Thai stadium to open in Phuket
PHUKET: A new Muay Thai boxing stadium named Taied Stadium will open in Chalong on September 18.The stadium is located at the heart of the island’s Muay Thai training scene on Soi Taied in Chalong, on the same site as a temporary stadium that hosted several fights earlier this year in order to gauge spectators’ interest. The stadium’s owner, Tawatchai…
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Phuket’s White Prison status untainted by porn cache
PHUKET: The overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison maintained it’s unblemished White Prison status despite dirty magazines, as well as other contraband, being turned up in a pre-dawn raid this morning. “We searched all possible places that inmates could be hiding contraband and found three adult-content magazines, two pairs of box cutters and a leather belt,” said Phuket Prison Chief Rapin Nichanon.…
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India crush feeble England to win one-day series
PHUKET: India’s Shikhar Dhawan smashed a six to seal a crushing nine-wicket victory over hapless England in the fourth one-day international in Birmingham on Tuesday. The tourists cruised to a win that gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after another feeble England batting display in which the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 206 at Edgbaston.…
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Hong Kong activists say Beijing ‘brutally strangled’ democracy, vow action
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hong Kong activists say Beijing ‘brutally strangled’ democracy, vow action Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A pro-democracy movement that has threatened to blockade Hong Kong’s financial district has said Beijing “brutally strangled” its fight for full democracy and vowed to take action. On Monday, Hong Kong…
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Five more clinics found to be involved in illegal surrogacy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Five more clinics found to be involved in illegal surrogacy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Of the five new clinics found offering illegal surrogacy services, four appear to have acted as middlemen in seeking clients, while the fifth one was found to be in clear…
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Myanmar beauty queen wants apology before returning crown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar beauty queen wants apology before returning crown The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Myanmar beauty queen dethroned for alleged misconduct said yesterday she would only return her crown if South Korean pageant organisers apologised. She also denied accepting free breast implants. May Myat Noe,…
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Islamic state releases video of beheading of second U.S. hostage
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Islamic state releases video of beheading of second U.S. hostage Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Islamic State released a video on Tuesday purporting to show the beheading of American hostage Steven Sotloff, raising the stakes in its confrontation with Washington over U.S. air strikes on…
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Northern floods recede, but more on the way
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Northern floods recede, but more on the way The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Of 15 flood-hit provinces, only Phichit, Nakhon Sawan and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces remain inundated, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said yesterday. The department’s chief Chatchai Phromlert said that since August 26,…
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West Africa struggles to contain Ebola as warnings and deaths mount
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community West Africa struggles to contain Ebola as warnings and deaths mount Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The United Nations said on Tuesday the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in West Africa was causing food shortages in one of the world’s poorest regions and the U.S.…
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Phuket’s Keesin family ‘betrayed’ by police in mafia case
PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin today said that the police had betrayed him in an attempt to discredit his political career and his years of service to Patong. “I accept that the police are just doing their job, but I have no idea what the mafia charges are about. All those years I was a leader in Patong, I…
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Phuket police officers accused of extortion to be formally charged in two weeks
PHUKET: An official from the Public-sector Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) has announced that his officers need two more weeks to complete an investigation into three Chalong Police officers for their alleged abuse of power. “We are nearly ready to press formal charges and hand the case to the public prosecutor, but we need about two more weeks to finish our…
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Federer goes for another win under the lights
PHUKET: Roger Federer will get to break out his trademark all-black outfit again on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court at the U.S. Open on Tuesday. The 32-year-old Swiss, five times the champion in New York, takes on Spain’s 17th seed Roberto Bautista Agut for a place in the quarter-finals, having won 24 of his 25 matches under the lights at Flushing…
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Dolphinarium company calls meeting with Phuket vice governor
PHUKET: A representative of Phuket Aqua Project Co Ltd, the company that is building the Nemo dolphinarium in Chalong, held a closed-door meeting with Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa this morning. “We have heard that many people do not agree with our project,” the representative, who declined to be named, told the Phuket Gazette after the meeting. “People need to…
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Australian father charged with abusing Thai surrogate twins
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australian father charged with abusing Thai surrogate twins: report The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Australian has been charged with sexually abusing twins he fathered with a Thai surrogate, reports said Tuesday, the second case in as many months to ignite debate about commercial surrogacy.…
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Manchester United confirm Falcao loan deal
PHUKET: Manchester United confirmed they had signed Colombian striker Radamel Falcao on a one-year loan deal from Monaco after the transfer window closed on Monday. “#mufc is delighted to announce Radamel Falcao has joined on a 1-year loan from Monaco with an option to buy,” the Premier League team said on its Twitter feed. Falcao was in Manchester for a…
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AirAsia X to fly to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia X to fly to Tokyo and Osaka in Japan Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thai AirAsia X is spreading its wings to Japan to tap both the leisure and business segments using Thailand as its gateway to the Southeast Asia region. CEO Nadda Buranasiri said yesterday that…
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Britain says ‘deplores’ Israel decision to claim West Bank land
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Britain says ‘deplores’ Israel decision to claim West Bank land Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The British government said on Monday it deplored an Israeli decision to appropriate a large swathe of land inside the occupied West Bank, saying the move would seriously damage Israel’s international…
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Keesin family trio denied bail over Phuket mafia charges
PHUKET: Former Patong mayor Pian Keesin, two of his sons and five others wanted for their alleged role in taxi mafia activity on the island were denied bail by police today. Patong kingpin Preechawut “Prab” Keesin announced on his Facebook account on Thursday that he would turn himself over to the authorities on Monday [today], but did so at the…
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No hotline for Phuket’s roaming metered taxis – yet
PHUKET: Though roaming metered taxis officially hit the streets of Phuket today, there is no metered-taxi hotline or call service available, confirmed Phuket Land Transport Office chief Terayout Prasertpol to the Phuket Gazette. “We are already planning a hotline, as well as a call service at the airport, but at the moment the number of taxis is just too small…
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Looking out for those who look out for our Phuket community
Benjawan Tamphanuwat, 66, from Bangkok, is the president of the Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation. She first served as head of the organization from 2000-2002, then took up the post again in 2009. Here, she talks about the importance of maintaining a positive, productive and safe working environment so that rescue workers, both paid and volunteer, can work together as a harmonious…
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Standing together against Phuket dolphinarium
PHUKET: With several advertisements boasting discounted tickets and all the hype of a new and exciting venture, the Phuket Dolphinarium is on track to open. The community of Phuket will add a new tourist venue that will try to cater to people’s love of marine animals, and to the growing tourist trade from Northern Europe and Asia. Is this what…
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Phuket taxi drivers: Do as the Borneo taxi drivers do
PHUKET: The world renowned tourist destination of Borneo is without a doubt full of wonders: wild orangutans, the rare proboscis monkey, “head houses” with plenty of human skulls to go around, schools of hammerhead sharks and incredibly friendly taxi drivers. Flying half way around the world to remote Malaysia Borneo isn’t worth the trip only to witness the honest, fixed-rate…
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Officials under fire for allegedly issuing illegal Phuket land documents
PHUKET: More than a dozen officials suspected of illegally issuing land titles in Phuket are now under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), confirmed an NACC official on Saturday. “Sirinath National Park officers filed complaints with the Thalang Police. We then received a list of 16 officials that work for various government departments,” explained Prasart Pongsivapai of the NACC’s…
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AMCHAM to host forum discussion about “New Phuket’
PHUKET: The impact of recent changes throughout Phuket following the coup in May will be the focus of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand forum on September 12. The forum, to be hosted by brand-development company Quo Global’s founder and CEO David Keen, will examine how Thais, expats and foreign tourists are expected to perceive the recent transformation of…
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Former Patong mayor surrenders to Navy for Phuket taxi mafia charges
PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin surrendered to officers at the Royal Thai Navy base at Phuket’s Cape Panwa this morning. Mr Pian, and six other members of his operating company Pisona Group, including his son Pattawee Keesin, presented themselves at the base and were taken into custody. Under military escort, all seven suspects were handed over to Phuket City…
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Metered taxi prices jump as roving service starts in Phuket
PHUKET: A hike in metered taxi fares comes as roving metered taxis officially begin foraging Phuket for passengers, after the grand opening of the new island-wide service this morning. “We will now see more metered taxis driving throughout the island. There will eventually be about 1,400 metered taxis on Phuket,” said Phuket International Airport Director Prathuang Sornkham. “These metered taxi…
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Phuket taxi mafia fugitive Prab Keesin surrenders in Bangkok
PHUKET: Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, son of former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, surrendered to police in Bangkok this morning. Mr Prab and his father are both facing charges for their alleged involvement in Phuket’s taxi mafia, and were the main targets in a high-profile raid last week (story here). Specifically, they are facing charges of extortion and criminal activities carried out…
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PM Prayuth targets jet-ski outlaws
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM Prayuth targets jet-ski outlaws The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: While Thailand is attracting tourists because of its beautiful beaches and wide variety of water sports, the country’s jet-ski rental businesses have become notorious after it emerged some operators were extorting money from tourists. Prime…
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Alleged Bangkok protest gunman dies in custody
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Alleged Bangkok protest gunman dies in custody The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A man accused of the murder of a protest leader during a rally against the Yingluck Shinawatra government early this year succumbed to illness while being held in detention last week, the Corrections…
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