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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
-
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....
-
Officials tour Taj Exotica resort site in Phuket
RAWAI, PHUKET: The developers of the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa planned for Koh Lone will consider abandoning their request to build a pier if the idea is rejected during the environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval process, the Gazette has learned. Members of a provincial oversight committee on Monday afternoon toured the proposed 136-rai project site, located on the east…
-
Fixtures announced for Phuket Kata Group Cup
PHUKET CITY: Organizers of the Phuket Kata Group Cup have announced the opening fixtures for the four-team tournament, which kicks off on October 27 at Surakul Stadium. In the semifinal matches, the Thailand XI, coached by new boss and former England star Bryan Robson, will face 2009 Myanmar National League Cup winners Yadanabon FC, while Thai Premier League champions Muang…
-
Villagers protest Phuket Panason City Project
WICHIT, PHUKET: For the fifth time in three months, villagers living in Ketkaew Village near Phuket’s Panason City Project took to the streets in protest yesterday. This time they claimed the housing complex, off Chao Fa East Road, was causing flooding in their village and polluting their water supply. Using a large tent, the protesters blocked access to the 78-rai…
-
Phuket jet-ski operators agree to insurance plan
PHUKET CITY: It’s official. Following a deal signed at Phuket Provincial Hall today, Phuket jet-ski operators will now be required to get mandatory insurance for their machines. Phuket Jet-ski Association President Anusorn Sahreh signed the deal with Saiwalee Sakornjit of Ayudhya Insurance Public Company Limited just before noon. The event was witnessed by around 15 jet-ski operators. Phuket Governor Wichai…
-
Phuket man murdered over Bt10,000 debt
PHUKET CITY: Following an argument over a 10,000 baht debt, a man stabbed his friend to death as they were driving together in Phuket City. Nathee Pinyayo, a 30-year-old resident of Phang Nga’s Kuraburi District, confessed to slashing 34-year old Pornsil Makphol’s neck and stabbing him several times in the chest while Mr Pornsil was driving, just after midnight on October…
-
Why did Phuket police officers cross the road?
BECAUSE: Phuket Provincial Police have now moved into their new HQ, just across the road from the 40-year-old former headquarters on Yaowarat Road in Phuket City.Although construction work on the new 21-million-baht police station was mostly completed in 2008, officers finally moved in over the weekend, after landscaping work was eventually finished.The new Phuket Provincial Police HQ will be officially opened with a…
-
Hearing held for two Phuket road megaprojects
PHUKET CITY: If Friday’s public hearing is any indication, there appears to be little grassroots opposition to two major road projects being considered for Phuket.The event at Royal Phuket City Hotel combined two public hearings into one.By coincidence, the two hearings were scheduled to take place at the same time in the same hotel, causing a great deal of confusion…
-
October blood donation drive in Phuket
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society has arranged for its mobile unit to accept blood donations at the following places and times in Phuket in October.October 15 (noon to 7pm): Tesco Lotus Phuket, RassadaOctober 16 (noon – 6pm): HomeWorks Phuket, WichitOctober 29 (10am – 7pm): Tesco Lotus Phuket, RassadaOctober 30 (noon – 6pm): Phuket Airport,…
-
Four murder suspects rounded up in Phuket
PATONG, PHUKET: Kathu Police continue to investigate the June 21 shooting murder of 24-year-old Daruwat “Bank” Burintarakot, a nephew of murdered business tycoon Komkai Kositkun. A major break in the case came last Wednesday afternoon, when Kathu Police led by Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark and Duty Officer Jakkapong Luang-on arrested four suspects. Col Grissak identified the men as: Wuttichai Burintarakot from…
-
Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket gets a facelift
KOH KAEW, PHUKET: Traffic jams on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew will be a familiar sight for up to four months while resurfacing work is carried out at the bypass road junction. Heavy traffic and other factors had caused the road to deteriorate on both sides of the 250-meter stretch now under reconstruction. Starting on the northbound side, all four…
-
Phuket triathlon champs to defend titles in December
LAGUNA, PHUKET: Defending champions Richie Cunningham and Belinda Granger of Australia will return to Phuket in December to defend their Laguna crowns, following maiden victories in 2008.For both Cunningham and Granger, victory last year came as a great relief. Neither had ever managed to top the Laguna podium despite competing in the ‘Race of Legends’ five and six times respectively.This…
-
Phuket Piracy: Who controls the gold?
PHUKET: Thailand is now jumping into the intellectual property protection game in a big way. For decades prey to foreign-controlled bounty hunters who collect commissions by seizing pirate editions of copyrighted works, the nation is now moving to secure local copyrights and patents – and to marginalize foreign violators. Together with its regional partners, Thailand will create an ‘Asean Database…
-
Phuket Poll Results: Legalize prostitution
PHUKET: Almost half of the Phuket Gazette‘s readers believe prostitution should be legalized and properly regulated, according to the newspaper’s latest poll. While a majority of expat respondents (51%) favor legalization, just 21% of the Thai respondents did. This is just one of many differences in opinion revealed by the poll, which provoked an avalanche of feedback from readers. The…
-
Readers’ Poll: Does Phuket need Patong Tunnel?
PHUKET: The new Phuket Gazette Poll asks readers to give their views on proposals for a Patong Tunnel between tambons Kathu and Patong. Does Phuket really need this project? Would the money be better spent on improving the existing road? Click on the Gazette Poll icon at the top right corner of this page to register your vote. You can…
-
Phuket culture center construction stalled
RASSADA, PHUKET: Development of a new cultural center in Phuket to educate visitors about Phuket’s sea gypsy traditions is on hold until more funding can be found to complete the project. Another two million baht is needed to complete the Urak Lawoi Culture Center, which is being built near the Laem Tukkae sea gypsy village on Koh Sireh in Phuket. Two million baht in government funding from…
-
Beatles memorabilia up for auction at Beach Fun Fest
PHUKET: A guitar signed by members of the Beatles is just one of the unique items of entertainment and sporting memorabilia to be auctioned off for charity at next Saturday’s Beach Fun Fest at Surin Beach. Other autographed items on auction at the much-anticipated fundraising event organized by the Patong Rotary Club include a Pele 1960s Brazil shirt; a US…
-
Miss Poland does Phuket
PHUKET: Poland unveiled some of its most prized assets yesterday when 25 Miss Poland finalists stripped down to their bikinis for a photo shoot at James Bond Island off Phuket.The bevy of beauties were quite a sensational spectacle for tourists when they sailed to the island on a Chinese junk-style sailboat and chilled on the beach between photo shoots.Miss Poland…
-
“Now I’m a believer’: Phuket cop-cum-medium
PHUKET: A Phuket City policemen who claims he was possessed by gods over 30 years ago will once again shower himself in boiling oil during the upcoming Vegetarian Festival.Police Senior Sergeant Major Pisit Kunsong, 54, is one of many mah song (literally, “entranced horses”) spirit mediums who plan to be possessed by the spirits of Chinese warrior gods over the…
-
Phuket car bangers busted
PHUKET: When Phuket police eventually arrested four men in connection with a spate of car break ins in Phuket City, they found the suspects in possession of stolen laptops, a camera, mobile phones, a diamond ring, guns, marijuana and tools for breaking into cars.Three of the men are suspected of breaking into more than 30 cars parked along Thalang, Yaowarat and…
-
‘Bypass overpass’ unveiled in Phuket
WICHIT, PHUKET: Two hulking siblings, the Central Festival Phuket and HomeWorks shopping complexes, were finally linked by a long-awaited pedestrian overpass today.Phuket Vice Governor Tri Augkaradacha opened a 20-million-baht footbridge across the bypass road, allowing shoppers to enjoy the pleasures of both megamalls without getting in a car, on a bike – or soaking wet.Both centers are owned by the…
-
Karma catches up with Phuket temple robbers
RAWAI, PHUKET: Karma has caught up with two thieves who yesterday confessed to committing a string of temple donation box robberies in Phuket.Monks at Nai Harn Temple called Phuket police yesterday after detaining a man they caught trying to steal money from a donation box on the temple grounds.Chalong Police led by Jarun Bangprasert arrived at the temple yesterday afternoon to find 36-year-old Phuket native Komon Khajornklin detained by…
-
Public seminar on Phuket’s green issues
PHUKET: Green issues in city planning for Phuket will be addressed by government and public authorities at Phuket’s first free seminar on the subject, to be held at the Phuket Merlin Hotel this Friday.The seminar, titled PA+S FORUM – Issue Green Attention, will be attended by key speakers from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planing, Phuket…
-
Miss Poland contestants touch down in Phuket
PHUKET: Eyebrows and blood pressures were raised in Phuket this evening when 25 Miss Poland contestants touched down at Phuket international Airport.The Polish beauty pageant contestants are in Phuket courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and they’ll be visiting various venues around the island over the next few days, taking part in a series of photo shoots.TAT’s Frankfurt Office director Suwalai Pinpradab accompanied…
-
Phuket drug cases up 161%
PHUKET: Crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police for September show that wet weather has not put a damper on recreational drug use, as narcotics-related cases were up 161%. There were 230 drug cases reported over the period, an increase of 161.4% year-on-year. Police arrested 250 people and confiscated a wide variety of narcotics, including 5,271 ya bah (methamphetamine)…
-
Phuket tunnel options explored
PHUKET CITY: A 40-million-baht feasibility study into the possibility of constructing Phuket’s first road tunnel has come up with three options for planners to consider. According to researchers’ preliminary findings, the proposed tunnel between Kathu to Patong would cost between 1.16 and 2.48 billion baht. Main contractor Epsilon Company Ltd is working with experts from PlanPro Corp Ltd and Kasetsart University to carry out the…
-
Bangla beggar’s raking it in: Phuket police
PATONG, PHUKET: On a night patrol in the early hours of Monday morning, Patong’s top cop showed a crowd of shocked tourists just how much money Phuket’s beggars can make. Kathu Police Superintendent Grissak Songmoonnark stopped a known beggar in front of the Pizza Company restaurant on the famous Soi Bangla entertainment strip. When the contents of the old man’s…
-
Phuket prepares for qwacky ‘Race Day’
PHUKET: A host of ‘wacky races’ will take place during the Phuket Community Foundation’s ‘Race Day’ at Canal Village in Laguna Phuket next month. The aim of Race Day is to raise funds for grant-making at the end of the year and to raise awareness of the PCF and its activities. The day will feature kayak races, dragon boat racing,…
-
Phuket road blockade over Islamic cemetery
THALANG, PHUKET: Around 500 angry villagers blockaded Phuket’s Thepkrasattri Road for two hours yesterday after forestry officials arrested about 30 Muslims for trying to clear protected forest land.Those arrested wanted to use 30 rai of Pa Bang Khanun Reserved Forest to build a new cemetery for Muslims from Tambon Thepkrasattri villages 6, 8 and 9.One of those was the imam…
-
Phuket bungee jumper in near-fatal accident
KATHU, PHUKET: A British tourist was nearly killed in a bungee jumping accident at the Jungle Bungy Jump center in Phuket, it emerged today. Rishi Baveja hit the water below the 165-foot high platform at around 130km/h after the harness slipped from his legs during the jump. Luckily he took the full force of the impact on his chest, escaping head…
-
OPINION: Roy the right word for Phuket music fest
Phuket likes to think of itself as the island that offers something for everyone.But the major events that take place here tell us a lot about the sort of tourists the island is best at attracting.The Blues Festival, the Old Town Festival, the King’s Cup: all perfectly respectable, but much more appealing to the old than the young.While Phuket is…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.