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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Thalang triumph over ICC at ACG
PHUKET: In Sunday’s JLL league match, the Thalang cricket team chased down 143 runs in 22.4 overs at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) to defeat the Island Cricket Club (ICC). In their first encounter of the season on February 9th. ICC set the record for the lowest team total on the ACG of just 37 runs. Winning the toss this…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Sweden demands EU shares out asylum seekers burden
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sweden demands EU shares out asylum seekers burden Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With numbers of asylum seekers in Europe reaching a two-decade high, Sweden’s immigration minister said many member states were sitting on the sidelines and warned the EU needed to share out the burden…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Dozens of angry relatives of passengers on a lost Malaysian jetliner clashed with police in Beijing on Tuesday, accusing the Southeast Asian country of “delays and deception” a day after it…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Bus ravine plunge leaves dozens dead; Grenades rock Bangkok; NSC chief gets his job back
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bus plunges into ravine in Tak, killing 29, injuring 23 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A double-decker bus plunged into a ravine in Tak province on Monday night, killing 29 passengers* and injuring 23 others. Most of them were elderly people. As of press time,…
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Phuket kidnapping suspect wanted by Russian Police
PHUKET: Police heading the investigation into the alleged kidnapping of Iana Strizheus and Alexey Slabinskiy have confirmed that one of the two main suspects is a Russian fugitive. “We are aware that Ukrainian Oleksandr Boychuk, 44, is wanted by the Russian Police,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewvatee told the Phuket Gazette. “We know only that he was wanted…
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French resort manager, Ukrainian tour guide nabbed in work permit raids
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration last night arrested the manager of The Blue Garden Resort & Spa in Cherng Talay, where Russian woman Iana Strizheus was found bruised and battered after her alleged kidnapping ordeal (story here). Officers moved in and arrested French national Eric Raymond Seigneurin, 55, at about 9pm after plainclothes police posing as tourists observed him serving tourists at…
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Chalong Police chief denies Phuket dive industry shakedowns
PHUKET: Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn has publicly denied that any of his officers are – or have been – involved in arresting and extorting money from foreign dive instructors in Phuket. Col Krittapas’ denial of corruption among his officers follows more than 20 dive instructors being rounded up at Chalong Pier (map here) and taken to Chalong Police Station…
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Phuket Gov warns against showing ‘too much’ skin during Songkran
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut issued a warning yesterday about showing too much skin during the Thai New Year Songkran Festival next month. “Tourists need to be aware of how they dress and of their surroundings when participating in the Songkran Festival. Please do not just wear a bikini, as it might make you a target for sexual harassment,” said…
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Sister of Russian missing in Phuket offers B500,000 reward
PHUKET: The sister of missing Russian Alexey Slabinskiy has offered half a million baht for information leading to the arrest of the two men believed to be involved in his disappearance. An additional 100,000 baht is offered to whoever finds her brother. WANTED: Olexsande Boychuk. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong Mr Slabinskiy disappeared with his girlfriend, Iana Strizheus, on March 7 (story…
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Phuket FC versus Sriracha City FC tomorrow night
PHUKET: Come out to support your local Yamaha League One 11th place Phuket FC Ronins as they take to the pitch against 17th place Sriracha City FC. The game starts at 6:30pm tomorrow night, March 26, at Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town – get there early to get a good seat!
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A moving meditation
PHUKET: Making a guest appearance at the Aikido of Phuket dojo across from Bangkok Hospital, Aikido Grand Master Nobuo Maekawa exceeded my per-conceived expectations of the quintessential Japanese martial artist. Small in stature but huge in confidence, aging but incredibly able and agile, lighthearted yet deeply philosophical and reflective. “It is a moving meditation. Blend, like cafe au lait. If…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama sought support from European allies and China on Monday to isolate Russia over its seizure of Crimea, and Ukraine told its remaining troops to leave the region after…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Suthep rallies as DSI mulls next move; Abhisit faces 2010 charges; Trawler crew eyed for murder
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DSI mulls more action against PDRC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will combine its investigation into People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) moves to stop voters from casting their ballot on February 2 with allegations of insurrection, for which PDRC…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Death toll from Washington state mudslide climbs to 14, scores missing
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Death toll from Washington state mudslide climbs to 14, scores missing Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The confirmed death toll from a devastating weekend mudslide in Washington state climbed to 14 people on Monday as six more bodies were found, while scores of others remained listed…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Bad weather and rough seas on Tuesday forced the suspension of the search for any wreckage of a missing Malaysian jetliner that officials are now sure crashed in the remote Indian…
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Phuket black water problem to be taken on by Bangkok officials
PHUKET: In an effort to combat the black water debacle in Karon, officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to temporarily relinquish control of wastewater management in the area to the Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand (WMA). “Municipality officers signed the MoU on March 13. It allows the WMA to take charge,” Director of Regional Environmental Office 15 Pornsri Suthanaruk…
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Myanmar Embassy Official visits Phuket over allegations of workers’ rights violations
PHUKET: The Labour Attache to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok landed in Phuket on Friday to dig into allegations by Myanmar construction workers of labor law violations. “I came down to Phuket to follow up on a complaint on March 5 against Nantawan Co, Ltd, which employs about 200 workers from Myanmar,” said Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, Mr Lwin had just…
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England cricket captain Broad fined for outburst
PHUKET: England captain Stuart Broad has been fined 15 percent of his match fee for criticizing the officials after his side’s rain-affected World Twenty20 defeat to New Zealand, the International Cricket Council (ICC) said on Sunday. Broad, who admitted a Level 1 charge of publicly criticizing the match officials, said following Saturday’s nine-run defeat that the decision to keep the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death on charges including murder on Monday, a defence lawyer said, in a sharp escalation of a crackdown on the movement.…
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Northern Phuket at full flush as water supply restored
PHUKET: Water supply throughout huge residential areas of northern Phuket returned today after waterworks crews completed repairs to a main that burst in Baan Bang Jo, Cherng Talay, on Saturday (story here). “The burst main left residents in Cherng Talay, Koh Keaw, Rassada, Koh Sireh, Srisoonthorn and Baan Porn, Srisuchart and the Rock Garden housing development without mains supply over…
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Phuket Police warn of slick roads after new graduate dies in motorcycle accident
PHUKET: Police issued a warning about driving on rain-slicked roads after a new graduate of Phuket Rajabhat University was killed in an accident on Saturday night. “People need to drive very carefully when it rains, because the roads are slippery. Motorcyclists must wear a helmet. If you’re involved in an accident, it could save your life,” said Capt Narong Muangdoung…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: EC prepares for new election; Red Shirts to rally April 5; Illegal loggers threaten last Siamese rosewood forest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EC starts preparing new general election The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Election Commission (EC) met Monday to prepare for a new general election after the Constitutional Court ruled Friday to annul the February 2 snap poll. The EC hoped to reach a conclusion on…
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Phuket dive companies move to end alleged police corruption
PHUKET: A new consortium of dive operators staged a meeting on Saturday calling for Phuket dive companies to sign up as members in order to present a unified front in combating alleged corruption by the Chalong Police. The meeting, held by the recently formed Association of Thailand for Underwater Sports (ATUS), drew an estimated 50 representatives from dive companies across…
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Phuket Governor calls for better voter turnout after dismal advance polling
PHUKET: The dismal turnout at the Phuket polls yesterday for the advance voting in the national Senate election prompted the Phuket Governor to call on the public to turn out in force at the main polls next weekend. Although about 90 per cent of voters registered in Phuket who said they would advance vote did so, only about 2.19 per…
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Helping youngsters to get back on the right track
Chatree Taveesup, 47, is a Krabi native who graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ramkhamhaeng University in 1989. He worked at Juvenile Observation and Protection Centers in Songkhla, Phang Nga and Yala before becoming Director of the Juvenile Center in Phuket in 2012. Here, he talks about the problem of juvenile crime in Phuket and suggests ways to deal…
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Busted pipe leaves Phuket areas dry
PHUKET: Water supply has been interrupted in parts of Phuket today after a pipe transferring water from Baan Bang Jo exploded. The areas affected are Cherng Talay, Koh Keaw, Rassada, Koh Sireh, Srisoonthorn and Baan Porn, manager of the Phuket Water Authority (PWA) Pisak Chonlayut told the Phuket Gazette today. “High-water pressure caused the issue at about midnight. We are…
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Phone of Russian missing in Phuket used days after girlfriend found
PHUKET: The telephone of missing Russian Alexey Slabinskiy was used on Thursday, four days after his girlfriend was found injured in a Phuket hotel room. Police were able to trace Mr Slabinskiy’s telephone to Chalong, and raced to find him, but came up empty-handed, said Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Wissanu Muangpraesri,. Gen Wissanu was in Phuket yesterday to follow…
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Karon voted 18th best beach in Asia, despite wastewater problems
PHUKET: Despite all the recent reports of waste water, including human waste, flowing across it, Karon Beach was recently named as one of the 25 best beaches in Asia by TripAdvisor. Three other Phuket beaches were among the top 25 in the 2014 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards: Nai Harn, Kata Noi and Freedom. Nai Harn was in fifth place, Kata…
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30 green sea turtles to taste freedom in Phuket today
PHUKET: Sea turtles will be making their way across the sands of Phuket today in an event sponsored for the first time by the Nai Yang Beach Resort. Thirty green sea turtles will be released starting at 3pm this afternoon during the “Keep Calm & Love Turtle” festivities, staged in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command, Honda…
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No tsunami alert issued in Phuket after 6.5 magnitude earthquake off Nicobar Islands
PHUKET: Phuket Officials have confirmed that the 6.5 magnitude earthquake north of Aceh, Sumatra will not result in a tsunami or effect Thailand. Safety concerns were raised earlier today on the popular Facebook page Phuket New Era Expats after Reuters reported the US Geological Survey data of the initial quake, which was at a depth of about 10 kilometers about…
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