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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Sponsored Moving with family? Here’s how to cut health costs in Thailand
Relocating to Thailand with your family brings exciting new opportunities, but it also comes with the challenge of managing healthcare costs in a new system. Thailand has both public and private healthcare options, each offering different prices and quality of...
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World champion eyes Laguna Phuket Ironman 70.3 title
PHUKET: The recently-crowned 2012 Ironman 70.3 World Champion, Leanda Cave, has signed up for the Laguna Phuket event less than 24 hours after completing her epic World Championship victory in Las Vegas on September 9, and before resuming training for her next title bid at the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 13, it was revealed by the…
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Dealer busted after kratom smuggled into Phuket as ‘fresh vegetables’
PHUKET: Phuket Police acting on a tip-off yesterday arrested a dealer and seized 54kg of kratom leaves from an address in Cherng Talay. Col Jirasak Siemsak received the tip-off at about 5pm and quickly put together an investigation team under the command of Maj Pongnarin Suthin. On arrival at a house on Soi Pasak 4, off the Baan Don-Cherng Talay…
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Wife begs gold-thief husband to turn himself over to Phuket Police
PHUKET: The captured wife of a brazen smash-and-grab gold thief last night begged her husband to turn himself over to the Phuket Police so that she could return to Burma and take care of her children. In the midst of tears, Mrs Musa insisted that she did not know the shampoo bottles she was fleeing to Burma with were stuffed…
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Phuket powers up to fewer scheduled blackouts
PHUKET: Residents and businesses across the island are likely to be subjected to fewer scheduled blackouts in the coming years, the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority (PPEA) has told to the Phuket Gazette. The blackouts, needed so PPEA crews can carry out maintenance on high-voltage power lines, install new lines and move power poles, have regularly seen entire areas of the…
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Phuket Airport officials unveil how they caught their woman
PHUKET: Following the arrest of a woman wanted by authorities in Bangkok for human trafficking charges, Phuket Airport Immigration officers revealed how they caught the suspect before she could fly out of the country. Phuket Airport Immigration officer Lt Col Wannee Songchaisanguan said that Snr Sgt Maj Wanchai Narin was on duty in the departure hall on September 14 when…
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Fears of Phuket underpass traffic jams prompt ‘alternative routes’ plan
PHUKET: The Highways Department yesterday held a public meeting to suggest alternative routes for motorists to alleviate traffic congestion when construction of Phuket’s first underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection, in front of Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, begins next month. The news came at a public meeting chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa at Wichit Municipality Office. Present were…
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Phuket gold thief’s wife tips off police
PHUKET: Phuket Police this morning are combing the Kathu Waterfall area after the wife of smash-and-grab gold thief Mr Koson tipped off police to his probable whereabouts. The Burmese woman, yet to be named by police, was arrested at the Mo Chit Bus Station in Bangkok last night with gold jewelry valued at about 1.8 million baht in her possession,…
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Forensic report into cause of Phuket’s Tiger Disco fire postponed
PHUKET: After all the noise made by officials about the urgency to uncover the truth of the Phuket nightclub fire in August, the release of the investigators’ official report has been postponed while the forensic specialists attend a seminar in Bangkok.Superintendent of the National Office of Forensic Science stated during the investigation of the fire at the Tiger Discotheque on…
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Manhunt for Phuket gold shop thieves begins
PHUKET: Police now have arrest warrants issued for the two men wanted for the robbery of a Phuket gold shop yesterday and have set up two teams of officers to track the men down. Meanwhile, police stations throughout Southern Thailand have been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspects in their respective jurisdictions. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Chonasit…
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Phuket tour companies wary of national park admission fee hike
PHUKET: Many Phuket tour and dive companies are waiting to see how the final confirmation of the significant hike in national park fees will affect their businesses.The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) announced that the entrance cost at many popular national parks in Thailand would see their first jump in a decade starting January 1.“Although I…
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Phuket consuls praise Provincial Hospital
PHUKET: The British and Australian honorary consuls in Phuket have heaped praise on the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) Hospital. Martin Carpenter, British honorary consul, and Larry Cunningham, Australian honorary consul to Phuket, also called for local media organizations to publicize the facility so people can take advantage of the new hospital’s services. At the meeting of Phuket’s honorary consul…
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Irish tabloid suspends editor over topless Kate photos
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Irish newspaper suspends editor over topless Kate photos Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The editor of the Irish newspaper Daily Star was suspended late yesterday over his decision to re-publish topless photographs of Prince William’s wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, while on holiday in France.The tabloid…
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Phuket Business: 200 years of market crises
PHUKET: With the US stock market sitting near its 52-week high, and already having made a 100% move upwards from its low at the peak of the sell-off that occurred during the financial crisis, I have dug a bit deeper into history to get a feel for the frequency of crashes. I have a good grip on the longer bull/bear…
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Phuket Police identify one brazen gold thief
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have identified one member of the brazen gold bandit duo who robbed a shop of about 3 million baht worth of gold jewelry yesterday. Police identified the man only as “Son”, a roadside food vendor. After a dragnet attempt at a fish factory left police empty handed, they raided Son’s home, only to find that he…
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Live Wire: All I want for Xmas is a 3G tab
PHUKET: Welcome to the fourth and final installment of my series about where the computer industry is headed (click here to see related articles). With the Christmas season just around the corner many people are thinking about buying new electronics – computer, tablet, phone, maybe even a TV. This column will help you stay on top of developments between now…
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World News: iPhone 5 shatters launch sales records
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community iPhone 5 pre-orders top record 2 million in first 24 hours Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Apple received more than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 during the first 24 hours of pre-orders, exceeding the initial supply and more than doubling the previous…
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Thai woman arrested in Phuket on prostitution human trafficking charges
PHUKET: Immigration officials arrested a Thai woman believed to be at the center of an international human trafficking ring at Phuket International Airport on Friday as she tried to board a flight to Bahrain.Dujdao “Champagne” Yarana*, 27, was arrested at 7pm by Capt Suppachai Moongaew and immediately taken to Bangkok.After questioning by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) she was charged…
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Phuket Police gold thief dragnet comes up empty
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have given up their attempt to net a pair of brazen gold thieves at a fish factory today. They have now issued “wanted alerts” for the two men to police stations throughout the neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. Included in the alerts are images of the two wanted men, who police believe are Burmese,…
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Phuket Sports: Quiksilver Open finishes on the crest of a wave
PHUKET: Topping a long list of highlights in the four days of non-stop surfing and extreme sports action at the Quiksilver Open Phuket Thailand, Bali’s Mega Semadhi took the ASC/ISC Open Division final yesterday for his first contest win this year, while reigning Men’s Asian Surfing Champion Raditya Rondi (also from Bali, Indonesia) hoisted his second consecutive ASC Championship trophy…
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Police set up cordon to capture brazen Phuket gold shop robbers
PHUKET: Police have surrounded a disused fish processing plant on the east side of Phuket Town this afternoon in the hope of capturing two men who shot a gold shop owner with an air pistol before making off with an estimated 3 million baht in jewelry. Phuket City Police were informed at 1:30pm that the Yong Chuan gold shop in…
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US Embassy prepares for anti-American demonstrations in Thailand
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the recent security warning issued to all American citizens was not linked to any specific threats in Thailand. The warning, issued by the US Embassy in Bangkok, reads: “As a general precaution, the U.S. Embassy advises you to exercise caution and to be aware of your surroundings,…
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PM Yingluck pledges splurge on developing Phuket tourism
PHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday named Patong Beach, Old Phuket Town and Promthep Cape as three Andaman tourist attractions to receive “emergency budget” support.Also on the list to receive special attention were Phi Phi Island and Ao Nang, both in Krabi province, to make them more “tourist friendly” ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) coming into effect…
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“I think we’re all wise enough to understand…
“I think we’re all wise enough to understand that people write things and that what is written is not necessarily what is true. There’s a lot of speculation, there’s a lot of stories that aren’t true.” PHUKET: Lewis Hamilton responds to speculation surrounding his future. The Mclaren driver has been strongly linked in the past week with a move away…
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Phuket tourist safety boost as Patong taxis install GPS units
PHUKET: As a part of the ongoing “Phuket Safety Zone” project, Patong Police have joined with the private sector to install GPS tracking devices to Patong taxis. Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Phochanaphan joined Preechawut Keesin, Pisona Group Managing Director and president of the Patong Taxi Federation, in announcing the news on Saturday. “We along with the Pisona Group and other…
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Phuket Sports: Islanders entertain with hard fought draw
PHUKET: The Islanders moved up one place into eleventh in the 18-team Thai Yamaha One league thanks to a 1-1 home draw last night with southern rivals Pattalung FC. Both sides, facing the threat of falling into the relegation zone, were hungry for points in the tense, high-stakes match that saw a new record for attendance this season set at…
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Police urge motorists to slow down as wet weather warning No 14 issued
PHUKET: Thalang Police are urging motorists to exercise caution while driving in Phuket during the current spate of heavy thundershowers that has plagued the island for the past week. Thalang Police Superintendent Col Witoon Kongsudjai urged drivers to reduce speed on the slippery roads in order to prevent accidents. “Please drive with caution in the rain. Thalang Police received reports…
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Phuket to host first Southern Thailand Museum Festival
PHUKET: For the first time, more than 30 museums from across Southern Thailand will be collaborating to create a single event: the Southern Thai Museum Festival 2012, to be held in Phuket next week. “Visitors will be able to experience the exhibition which will include precious antique objects. We are proud to be able to show these antiques as they…
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Phuket to stage biggest PADI “Diving for Debris’ reef cleanup in world
PHUKET: Go-Eco Phuket, a recently established marine environmental group, has announced that it is now looking to stage the biggest PADI “diving for debris” reef cleanup project on record on September 30. The event has escalated from what was originally expected to be a reef cleanup carried out by a coalition of several PADI dive centers on the island to…
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Phuket News: Inaction over Tiger inferno sparks fire-safety blitz
PHUKET: The lack of follow-up on fire safety standards more than a month after the deadly Tiger Discotheque inferno on August 17 that killed four people, has prompted Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha to launch a campaign to improve fire safety at large public venues across the island. Governor Tri told the Phuket Gazette that he had already called on the…
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“We have listened and learnt’
“We have listened and learned.”Narayana Ramachandran, President of the World Squash Federation, is confident that the sport has adapted to become a modern-day game, fit for the 2020 Olympics.Having failed in previous attempts to push squash into the Olympic program, the sport has changed and eradicated any problems that existed. Narayana Ramachandran said: “We have had extensive discussions with the…
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