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.
-
AMCHAM Phuket presents trends in sustainable hospitality
PHUKET: The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Greater Phuket Chapter has organized a tourism seminar on Friday (Feb 5) that will address how sustainability helps hotels cut costs and increase overall satisfaction and loyalty from both their associates and guests. The event will be led by Grace Kang of Singapore’s Greenview Hospitality company and will be held at the Keemala…
-
Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iraqis running out of food and medicine in besieged Falluja Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Tens of thousands of trapped Iraqi civilians are running out of food and medicine in the western city of Falluja, an Islamic State stronghold under siege by security forces, according to…
-
First U.S. Zika virus transmission reported, attributed to sex
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community First U.S. Zika virus transmission reported, attributed to sex Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The first known case of Zika virus transmission in the United States was reported in Texas on Tuesday by local health officials, who said it likely was contracted through sex and not…
-
Social media make hay of Trump’s Iowa defeat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Social media make hay of Trump’s Iowa defeat Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: After what seemed like a long silence by his standards, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump returned to Twitter yesterday morning, striking an uncharacteristically low-key tone after his defeat in the Iowa caucuses. “Because…
-
Friend identifies British man killed by Patong bus
PHUKET: A Phuket expat today was able to identify a British man who allegedly jumped in front of a bus in Patong last week. The foreigner, who asked to be named only as Darren, recognized the British national after seeing a picture of him supplied by Patong Police and published by the Phuket Gazette. Following the identification of the man,…
-
Thailand Yacht Show appoints event Ambassador
PHUKET: Rose Maitland-Smith has been appointed as the official Ambassador of the Thailand Yacht Show (TYS), which will take place at Ao Po Grand Marina under the patronage of Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha. Phuket’s newest, largest and most exciting gathering of yachts, boats and luxury brands, brimming with parties and glamour, will open its doors on Thursday, February 11…
-
Human skulls in Krabi mark possible ancient burial site
KRABI: The discovery of human skulls, bones, pottery and cave paintings in Krabi could mark a fishermen’s burial site dating as far back as 700 years ago, experts announced yesterday. “Everything was found in a cave about 56 meters above sea level and about three kilometers from Ao Naam Port,” explained Phuket archaeologist Tawatchai Chanpaisansilp, who visited the site yesterday.…
-
Brit arrested at Phuket airport after “tempting’ discovery
PHUKET: Police charged a British national who found an envelope of mixed currency and pocketed the cash at Phuket International Airport yesterday. Darren Chapman, 49, was arrested while checking in at the Bangkok Airways counter after having taken US$320 and CA$100 cash from the envelope, which had been left at an Air Asia counter. “Mr Chapman confessed that he took…
-
Asian elephant found dead at Oklahoma zoo; second to die in months
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Asian elephant found dead at Oklahoma zoo; second to die in months Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An Asian elephant that was moved from Seattle to an Oklahoma zoo died over the weekend, renewing debate over whether 37-year-old Chai should have been retired to a California…
-
CDC director says WHO declaration ‘calls world to action’ on Zika
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CDC director says WHO declaration ‘calls world to action’ on Zika Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday the World Health Organization’s declaration of Zika as a global health emergency will focus new attention and resources on…
-
Italian police seize Mussolini’s yacht from businessman linked to mafia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Italian police seize Mussolini’s yacht from businessman linked to mafia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Italian police said on Monday that they had seized a yacht that once belonged to Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini from a businessman possibly linked to a huge organised crime network. The…
-
OTOP gets lovely for Valentine-themed festival [video]
PHUKET: Couples planning on tying the knot in Phuket in February can take part in special Valentine-themed marriage ceremonies held at Sarasin Bridge between February 14 and 23. “The 10-day ‘OTOP Lovely Phuket Festival’ will feature many activities to help promote tourism in the province,” said Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada. Tourists, as well as locals, are welcome to register their…
-
Phuket police struggle to identify dead foreigner
PHUKET: Dysfunctional CCTV cameras in the area where a foreigner was killed after allegedly jumping in front of a bus on Wednesday (story here) have left police clueless. “We had hoped to find CCTV footage showing where the man had come from so that we could identify him and track down his relatives or friends. However, we came up empty…
-
Blood donations save German crash victim
PHUKET: A motorcycle crash victim is out of danger after undergoing surgery and receiving seven units of A-negative blood following a plea last week for donations of the rare blood type. German national Bernd Langer, 51, is recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after coming off his motocycle in Rawai on January 24 (story here). Mr Langer underwent emergency surgery at…
-
Navy seizes alleged IUU fishing boats in Phuket
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy seized two fishing vessels for illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing when the ships returned to Phuket after tuna fishing in the Indian Ocean. Mook Anda 018 and Mook Anda 028 arrived at the Phuket Deep Sea Port on Saturday, where Rear Admiral Kittipong Rumakom, deputy commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, was…
-
Austria says it plans to step up deportations of migrants
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Austria says it plans to step up deportations of migrants Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Austria will step up deportations of migrants and is adding Morocco, Algeria and other states to a list of countries it deems safe, enabling it to send people back there more…
-
Suu Kyi allies to form Myanmar ruling party after decades of struggle
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suu Kyi allies to form Myanmar ruling party after decades of struggle Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: After decades of struggle, hundreds of lawmakers from Aung San Suu Kyi’s camp will form Myanmar’s ruling party on Monday, with enough seats in parliament to choose the first…
-
A Decade Ago: Soi dog woes as medical tourism grows
PHUKET: Similar to Phuket attempting to turn back the wheels of time on its beaches – by deeming some of the island’s well-trampled sands to be ‘virgin’ – a decade ago, officials were trying to ensure that Phi Phi Don remained an idyllic paradise island, following the destruction of most of the island’s man-made structures by the tsunami’s waves. “We…
-
China police arrest 21 over $7.6 bln online financial scam
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China police arrest 21 over $7.6 bln online financial scam Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Feb 1 Chinese police have arrested 21 people involved in the operation of peer-to-peer (P2P) lender Ezubao, the official Xinhua news agency said on Monday, over an online scam it said…
-
Ministry of Farang Affairs: Two-tiered pricing
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.…
-
Island View: Downside of micromanaging Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket is basking in the financial waterfall of government funded projects from Bangkok, as exports slump to a five-year low and the entire country becomes increasingly reliant on the tourism industry. However, with it comes the type of micromanagement that reaches even beyond the imagination of Bill Lumbergh. If I want to have an ice-cold beverage, umbrella and sun…
-
DSI vows to back Phuket sea gypsy land claims
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) vowed to renew its efforts in backing the Rawai sea gypsies’ claim of having lived on a disputed piece of beachfront property for more than 100 years. “At the meeting with Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada on February 2, we will provide all the DNA evidence collected from the archaeological dig we conducted on…
-
Ladyboy burglar targeted foreigners’ homes in Phuket
PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested a 28-year-old ladyboy and his or her partner for the burglary of foreigners’ homes in Kamala and Kathu. Boonrit Anchaisiri, 28, and Teerawat Boonampol, 29, were arrested in their rental house in Srisoonthorn with more than 300,000-baht’s worth of stolen goods, said Kamala Police Superintendent Pattanachak Jakkapan. “The two confessed to targeting homes where tourists were…
-
Southbound bypass closed at Samkong underpass
PHUKET: Southbound traffic at the Samkong underpass construction site is being diverted east toward Samkong and west toward Kathu after recent heavy rain wreaked havoc on a section of road alongside the site and cracked one of the underpass walls (story here). “Those who want to go straight on to Central Festival now have to turn left, drive through the…
-
British, French journalists free in Burundi, one day after arrest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community British, French journalists free in Burundi, one day after arrest Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A British and a French journalist arrested during a sweep for rebels in flashpoint districts of the capital were released on Friday, a witness said. Moise Nkurunziza, deputy police spokesman, said…
-
Chinese police break silence on missing Hong Kong bookseller
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese police break silence on missing Hong Kong bookseller Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Chinese police have made their first statement on the fate of one of five missing Hong Kong booksellers, believed by many to have been abducted by mainland agents, acknowledging widespread concerns but…
-
Foreigner among six charged for stealing Phuket national park land
PHUKET: Six people, including a foreigner, were charged by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for falsifying land documents to steal Phuket national park land. “This particular encroachment case is about 92 rai of Sirinath National Park land that was stolen using a flying SorKor 1,” explained Lt Col Prawut Wongseenin, the director of the DSI’s Bureau of Consumer Protection…
-
Business Buzz: Maximize social media impact
PHUKET: When using social media, it is very important to establish exactly what it is that you want to achieve. It is also important to understand that each social media platform works differently and can achieve different things. Overall, there are a many purposes for which social media can be used, but the most common are branding, lead generation, information…
-
Opinion: Ignorance stokes illegal tour guide problem
PHUKET: The recent arrest and threat of deportation and blacklisting of a tour guide from China comes as little surprise given the preponderance of guides from the ‘Sleeping Dragon’ who operate illegally in Phuket. Tour guiding is one of the many occupations restricted for Thai nationals under the ‘Working of Alien Act’, which was promulgated in 2008. Regardless, foreign guides…
-
Fishing boat slaves rescued in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket and Bangkok officials raided a dormitory in Koh Sireh yesterday to rescue 32 illegal Myanmar workers being held captive and forced to work without pay. Officials were alerted to the dormitory after a worker, named only as Nai, escaped from the fishing boat they were forced to work on and swam ashore to call relatives in Myanmar. “Mr…
![OTOP gets lovely for Valentine-themed festival [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_20162117287500_jUxIwoaZcRkVPmzyTxkIyzbiTJfViqiSKfbGUCgw_jpeg.jpeg)
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.