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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Crowds gather to witness enormous hauls of fish
PHUKET: Local fishermen at Patong showed off their enormous hauls of fish this morning, photos of which went viral on social media. A number of locals gathered at the beach to take a look at the occurrence, which was earlier thought to be unnatural by some. “Local fishermen make their way to this part of the Andaman Sea to catch…
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Wicker products a hit with tourists
KRABI: Handmade bamboo and wicker products manufactured by senior citizens have generated much interest from tourists and foreigners in Krabi. The group is now represented under the Krabi One Tambon One Product (OTOP) banner. The project started in 2014 when a team of 14 senior citizens in Khao Kram sub-district decided to learn the craft and manufacture wicker items in…
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Phuket man charged with lese majeste early this morning
PHUKET: A man was charged with lese majeste early this morning after several hundred angry people gathered in front of his shop in Samkong to protest against his negative social media posts regarding His Majesty the King on Thursday. By 8pm last night, about 20 people had gathered in front of Suthee Arammetapong’s soymilk shop looking for him. As users…
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Business Buzz: Advent of panoramic photos
PHUKET: While there has been a lot of news in the press recently about Twitter and what is going to happen with the new relaxed 140 character rules, or the Samsung Note 7 exploding with regularity and being banned from all commercial airlines, the interesting news for me is what we can all use to promote our businesses and get…
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Opinion: Stick to the legal limit
PHUKET: The light court sentencing against a Thai driver who ran over and killed German national Andreas Walter last year (story here) serves as yet another example of why the police need better training in how to respond and collect evidence at road accident scenes. The late Mr Walter, who was a long-term expat in Phuket, was run over and…
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No jail time for driver who killed German in road accident
PHUKET: The driver of a car that killed a German man and severely injured his Thai partner in Kata last year will walk away without serving any jail time. The dramatic court case over the death of Andreas Walter and the severe injury of his Thai partner Patcharin Lammai ended on October 6 at Phuket Provincial Court. Jakarin Rodpradit, the…
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Officials to strictly monitor social media activities
PHUKET: Social media users and their activities are under strict scrutiny by authorities following the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej yesterday, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan announced today. “We have set up a special team comprising police officers, military personnel and IT staff to keep a close watch on social media,” said Governor Chokchai. “We are on the lookout…
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Phuket entertainment venues shut for weekend
PHUKET: As the Kingdom mourns the loss of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, Phuket’s governor today requested that the touristic island’s entertainment venues close over the weekend. “I would like to ask all entertainment venues not to put on performances at least for the next three days,” Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan said. “It’s not an order and we won’t be enforcing it,…
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Bangla falls silent to mourn the passing of His Majesty
PHUKET: Entertainment venues in Phuket fell silent last night as a sign of mourning for the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej at 3:52 pm yesterday. Bars and nightclub owners in Bangla, Patong turned off their music and instead lit up candles at their venues to pay tribute to His Majesty. A similar show of grief could be seen…
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Phuket Governor urges officials, public to abide by PM’s declaration
PHUKET: As Thailand enters a period of mourning following yesterday’s announcement from the Bureau of the Royal Household that His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away at 3:52pm, Phuket Governor Chokchai Dejamorthan expressed his deepest condolences and ordered officials to strictly abide by a declaration issued by the Prime Minister’s office. In a televised announcement yesterday evening, Prime Minister Gen…
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Nation weeps over His Majesty’s departure
PHUKET: His Majesty the King has passed away this afternoon, the Royal Household Bureau has now confirmed. The bureau said that His Majesty died at 3:52pm, at the age of 89. His Majesty had been hospitalized for years.
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Phuket police commemorate Royal Thai Police National Day
PHUKET: Phuket Police officers marked ‘Royal Thai Police National Day’ today. Hundreds of Phuket police officers joined the event, which is part of nationwide celebrations to honor the force. The ceremony was held at the Phuket Provincial Police Headquarters in Phuket Town. The celebrations started with a Buddhist blessing before the official ceremony, led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol…
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Bulletin issued on HM the King’s health
BANGKOK: The Bureau of the Royal Household has indicated His Majesty the King’s condition remains unstable and under close monitoring. In its 38th statement issued on the condition of HM the King, the Bureau of the Royal Household indicated that the team of doctors providing treatment to His Majesty on Tuesday diagnosed a further drop in his blood pressure, a…
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Drunk American attacks vehicles on Thepkrasattri
PHUKET: An intoxicated American man was arrested for throwing bottles at vehicles and running in and out of traffic on the northbound Thepkrasattri Road in the early hours of yesterday morning. Tah Chat Chai Police charged thirty-eight year-old Stephen Leonard with drunk and disorderly conduct and damaging property . He was fined 200 baht. Mr Leonard allegedly smashed the window…
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Checkpoint nets nearly 100kg of marijuana
PHUKET: Tah Chat Chai police officers seized nearly 100 kilograms of marijuana at Phuket’s northern checkpoint on Tuesday. Col Prawit Suttiruengarun told the Phuket Gazette that the police arrested a Trang man after ordering the vehicle to stop for a routine search. The man, who police have identified as 37-year-old Annop Dueramare, reportedly attempted to drive away after the officers…
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Opinion: Gov Chokchai outlines his plans for Phuket
PHUKET: On his first day as new Phuket Governor, Dr Chokchai Dejamorthan promised to deal with bad driving in the province and strategize Phuket’s path to smart city status. Originally from Chachoengsao, he holds a doctorate in philosophy from the Christian University of Thailand, a master’s in Social Development from the National Institute of Development Administration, and a bachelor’s degree…
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Drive-by road rage shooting suspect arrested
PHUKET: Sakoo Police yesterday arrested a Thai man who critically injured another man in a road rage-fueled drive-by shooting on Thursday. The 23-year-old suspect, Pawarut Thepabutra, told police that he left his house about 5am on the morning of the incident with his girlfriend to join a Vegetarian Festival parade at Bang Neow Shrine in Phuket Town but then went…
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New team pledges allegiance to Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Phuket’s three new vice governors officially assumed their duties yesterday morning. The Interior Ministry announced the appointments of Sanit Sriwihok, Theera Anantasereewittaya and Siwaporn Chuasawat last week (story here). The V/Govs officially reported to Phuket Governor Dr Chokchai Dejamornthan, who arrived on September 30 to take up his post here on October 1, at Provincial Hall. The new team…
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Biz leaders make French connection
PHUKET: Phuket’s tourism industry leaders are banking on boosting the number of foreign visitors to the province by about 20 per cent during the year-end high season by attracting more French tourists. Local hoteliers, tour operators and agencies are hopeful of a new influx of French nationals after a string of successful roadshows in Nice, Lyon and Paris, from September…
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16 arrested in gambling ring bust
PHUKET: Police apprehended 16 suspected gamblers and confiscated more than 130,000 baht in cash and gambling paraphernalia during a raid of an illegal gambling ring in Wichit yesterday. City Defense Deputy Jiradet Burarak and other officials led the raid on a house in Soi Thepanusorn at about 6pm after locals complaining about the level of noise emanating from the residence.…
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Police hunt Phuket Town mobile robber
PHUKET: Police are looking for a man who allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a student at gun point in Phuket Town on Saturday morning. The incident took place outside the Phuket City Office of Non-Formal and Informal Education on Damrong Road. “The victim, Kritsana Harinsalai, 24, is registered at the Rawai office but had come to the Phuket City…
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Frenchman found dead in Patong hotel room
PHUKET: The naked body of a Frenchman was found in a hotel room in Patong on Saturday. The body of Sylvain Bernard Renia, 27, was discovered by housekeeping staff at The Nest Resort on Nanai Road. “His body was found in the toilet. He was naked and his face and body were resting against the wall,” said Capt Sininat Cherdchutrakulthong…
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Diving instructor charged with reckless driving
PHUKET: Police filed charges against a diving instructor after his reckless driving was caught on camera yesterday. A viral video on Facebook titled ‘Please help. Am I in the wrong?’ shows the driver of a Honda Accord attempting to turn right from the left-hand turning lane at the intersection of Chao Fa West and Thep Anusorn Road in Wichit, near…
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Samui suffering from serious drought
KOH SAMUI: Desperate drought-hit residents on Koh Samui are turning to spirits for help after receiving little assistance from local authorities. “There has been no help from the local government,” said Samui villager Sawat Limsuwan, 61, yesterday having prayed for the heavens to open at a makeshift shrine on his parched land early last month. Mr Sawat told the Phuket…
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Hotel owner faces forest encroachment charges
PHUKET: A team from the Royal Forestry Department (RFD) raided a hotel located on the Bypass Road this morning after locals complained that the establishment was encroaching on forest land. “We got a complaint in March that the Hilltop Hotel and Residence, located behind the Wang Mai wooden shop, was encroaching on forest land,” said RFD Deputy Director General Somchai…
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B3mn damages in Yamu speedboat blaze
PHUKET: Investigators confirmed today that an electrical short circuit was the cause of a speedboat blaze off Yamu Pier in Pa Khlok on September 24. Three crew members were injured in the fire, with one of them sustaining serious injuries including a broken leg and burns on 40-50 per cent of his body (story here). He is still under doctors’…
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Fliers still facing long queues at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Three weeks after the official opening of the new international terminal at Phuket Airport, frustrated travellers are still putting up with long lines at the immigration counters due to a lack of essential equipment. Only 13 of the 34 immigration counters at the international departure area had computers on the September 16 opening day of the new terminal; causing…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Your mom doesn’t call anymore
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Opinion: A warm welcome for Governor Chokchai
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette is pleased to welcome new Governor Chokchai Dejamornthan to the island and also to thank him for taking the time to outline his objectives to Phuket’s international community through our monthly ‘Governor’s Letter’. Dr Chokchai, the island’s 47th governor and the 11th since the year 2000, clearly understands that his new position will present a host…
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Phuket Smart City emblem revealed
PHUKET: The Phuket Chamber of Commerce launched Phuket’s official ‘Smart City’ logo at an awards ceremony late last month. The colorful contemporary design of a Sino-Portuguese style archway was designed by Ekkachai Jingjai, who was handed the award of 10,000 baht by Chamber President Surachai Chaiwat. The intricately thought out design symbolizes Phuket’s past, present and future. Mr Ekkachai’s logo…
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