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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Egyptair passenger plane hijacked, forced to Cyprus
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egyptair passenger plane hijacked, forced to Cyprus Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An Egyptair domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo was hijacked on Tuesday and landed in Cyprus, Egyptian officials and Cyprus state radio said. The Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation reported that 55 passengers were on board…
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First Phuket Balloon Music Festival ready to rock [video]
PHUKET: Get ready to soar as Phuket holds its first ever Balloon Music Festival from April 14 to 17, with clear skies and more than six popular bands lined up for the event. “There will be more than 20 balloons participating in the festival at Phuket Paradise Park, near the British International School Phuket. We have received positive feedback from…
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Suspected Phuket meth user dies behind bars
PHUKET: A man arrested for the possession of ya bah (methamphetamine) early this morning was pronounced dead about an hour after being put behind bars in Phuket. Yagareeya Hadohloh, 29, was picked up for the possession of one ya bah pill in Patong. He was processed and put in a Patong Police Station cell just after midnight. At about 1:15am,…
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Body on Phuket beach identified as British superyacht builder
PHUKET: Police have identified the body found on a Phuket beach this weekend as the British builder of the 31-meter superyacht Raja Laut. The body of Georges E K Carraz, 66, was found on Surin Beach by two passersby at about 7am on Saturday (story here). Nearby, police found a rental car in the name of Winai Sawatdeesarn. “Mr Winai…
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Divers to cough up extra cash for Phi Phi marine park fee
PHUKET: Officials expect to start collecting an additional 200 baht per diver in April for those plunging below the surface of the Phi Phi marine national park. Park officials currently collect a national park fee of 400 baht per person. However, scuba divers will now have to pay a total of 600 baht, confirmed Sarayuth Tanthien, chief of the Hat…
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Phuket police hunt bank machine vandal
PHUKET: Police are hunting a man who allegedly damaged an Automatic Deposit Machine (ADM) at a Bangkok Bank in Patong early this morning. Police were alerted to the incident after a local found the damaged machine near the Mae Ubon Market on Nanai Road. “According to the witness, he saw a man leaving the area as he drove up to…
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Suicide bomber targeting Christians kills 65, mostly women and children, in Pakistan park
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suicide bomber targeting Christians kills 65, mostly women and children, in Pakistan park Phuket Gazette / Reuters PAKISTAN: Pakistani authorities launched a hunt on Monday for militants behind a suicide bomb that killed at least 65 people in an attack that targeted Christians and was claimed…
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A decade ago: Trash, pies and assassinations
PHUKET: Mark Twain had it right when he wrote, “There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope. We give them a turn and they make new and curious combinations.” Sometimes, especially in Phuket, it doesn’t seem that we even…
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Phuket International Academy Graduates to UWC Network
PHUKET: The Phuket International Academy confirmed last week its new affiliation with the global network of United World Colleges (UWC). “We are delighted to have become part of UWC; a leader in education in 15 different locations around the world. The UWC is a federation of independent international schools that use the same education model. This affiliation will also encourage…
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Opinion: Understanding cultural differences when travelling
PHUKET: As thousands of Chinese descend upon the island each week, it is hard to ignore the xenophobic and often crude comments made about their behavior, spending habits and general demeanor. A recent video showing dozens of Chinese tourists stampeding a Chiang Mai buffet and using their plates to shovel up two to three plates of prawns their way highlighted…
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Lawyers of Koh Tao murder convicts prepare for appeal
PHUKET: The legal team of the Myanmar nationals convicted for the Koh Tao double murder is focusing on the DNA evidence used against the men in their trial ahead of the appeal being filed next month, assisted by leading foreign lawyers and forensic experts. Lawyer Nakorn Chomphuchart told The Nation that he had got advice from many foreign legal experts,…
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Patong Bay safe for swimming, despite algae bloom, say experts
PHUKET: Officials confirmed that Patong Bay water was within safe parameters for recreational use, despite reports of swimmers developing rashes from the brown colored water. “The water turned brown last week due to a plankton bloom. However, there is no health risk,” said Suphasit Boonpeinphol of the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). Plankton blooms are often caused by excessive amounts…
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Beach Volley Festival finals served up at noon tomorrow
PHUKET: The finals for the Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket will take to the sands of Karon Beach tomorrow at about noon. The international amateur beach volley tournament features competitive categories: professional men, professional women, amateur men and four-on-four. “We are really happy and little surprised with the standard of play; it’s a bit higher than expected,” Charlie Solares-Chungyampin, the…
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Rolling Stones tell giant crowd
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rolling Stones tell giant crowd “times are changing” at Cuba debut Phuket Gazette / Reuters HAVANA: The Rolling Stones rocked a massive crowd at a free, outdoor concert in Havana on Friday, capping a week of engagement with the West for the Communist-led country that once…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Feeding rice to your cat
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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Finance: Investing in Oil – The Ultimate Risk
PHUKET: It may be tempting to call a bottom for oil prices and then go bottom fishing for oil stocks or Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Unfortunately, oil is one sector that most investors (especially those who aren’t working in the sector) will want to stay away from now and for the foreseeable future. Thanks to a combination of too much…
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Lone Phuket rider killed in collision with power pole
PHUKET: A helmet-less motorbike rider died after crashing into a utility pole in Phuket early this morning. Jakkrit Rungboon, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene in Kathu. The cause of death was due to serious head injuries, confirmed police. “His motorbike was heavily damaged in the accident,” confirmed Capt Wattanathorn Bamroongthin of the Thung Thong Police. “However, we have…
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Police to run plates of Phuket slow loris tout
PHUKET: Phuket police vowed to check the licence plate number of a motorcycle ridden by a slow loris tout who was caught on camera pushing the protected animal on tourists at Surin Beach last month. “We appreciate you forwarding the evidence to us, especially as these images show the man’s face and his motorcycle’s licence plate number,” Cherng Talay Police…
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Body of foreigner found on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify the body of a foreign man found on Surin Beach this morning. “We received a report at about 7am that someone working out on the beach had come across the body. The dead man was face down in the sand with his arms crossed and pressed against his chest, when we got there” said…
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Confirmed: Minors to dodge overstay blacklisting
PHUKET: Children will not be blacklisted for overstaying their visas, officials confirmed today. Thailand’s implementation of a regulation to blacklist overstayers will not affect those under the age of 18, explained Immigration Commissioner Nathathorn Prousoontorn. The news follows much uncertainty in Phuket after the regulations were announced earlier this month. “The new penalties came into effect on March 20. They…
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Belgian police arrest six in bombing probe, French foil Paris plot
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Belgian police arrest six in bombing probe, French foil Paris plot Phuket Gazette / Reuters BRUSSELS: Belgian police arrested six people in their probe of Tuesday’s Islamic State suicide bombings in Brussels, while authorities in France said they thwarted a militant plot there “that was at…
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Japanese man detained in Turkey for trying to join Islamic State
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Japanese man detained in Turkey for trying to join Islamic State Phuket Gazette / Reuters TURKEY: A Japanese man who had attempted to join the Islamic State militant group has been detained by Turkish security forces near the Syrian border early on Wednesday, security sources said.…
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Sidewalk barriers in Patong raise concerns
PHUKET: Patong officials have put in experimental traffic barriers to protect pedestrians and ease traffic congestion in the popular tourist town, confirmed Patong Mayor Chalermluck Kebsup today. However, the new sidewalk railings on either side of Rat U-Thit 200 Pi Road outside of Tai Pan Discotheque and Rock City Pub have caused some concern. “The fence, all in all, is…
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Surin Beach wastewater to be wiped up with illegal buildings
PHUKET: The black sludge of untreated wastewater pooling on Surin Beach will remain until the illegal buildings on the sands have been destroyed, confirmed Cherng Talay Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran yesterday. “The wastewater is from beachfront shops in the area. Some of the shops have acted responsibly and treated wastewater before releasing it, while others have not,”…
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Police hope peacock tattoo leads to identification of body
PHUKET: Police are attempting to identify a dead man who was found hanging from a tree along the bypass road near the Bang Khu intersection this morning. The man, thought to be 25 to 35 years old, was found by a Koh Kaew local. Officers found no identification on the body. However, the man does have a prominent tattoo of…
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Phuket Regional Blood Center calls for O+ donors to replenish stocks
PHUKET: The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) is calling for blood donations from donors with blood type O-positive to help replenish stocks for use at local hospitals. Supplies of O-positive blood are down to just 20 units (pints) at the center, said PRBC Chief Pornthip Rattajak. The blood bank aims to maintain a daily minimum stock of 200 units of…
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One killed in Phuket drive-by shooting
PHUKET: Police are hunting the gunman in a Phuket drive-by shooting early this morning. Visan Khunmanit, 23, was shot in the chest at about 3:20am. He was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital, and pronounced dead at about 4am. “Witnesses told us that Mr Visan was visiting friends in Wichit. They were talking outside of his friend’s house when the shooting…
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Marine police arrest boat captain with shotgun
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Police arrested a man piloting a boat with a hunting gun and ammunition on board just off Koh Yao yesterday. Officers discovered the firearm – a 12 gauge single-barrel shotgun – and eight shotgun cartridges during a random inspection of the boat. “Warayuth Mayer, 39, claimed that he was hired by Rung Nok Satun-Trang Ltd to protect…
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Second suspect arrested for fatal stabbing of French tourist
PHUKET: Police today arrested a second man in connection with the slaying of a French tourist in Patong yesterday. (story here). “We tracked down Somkid Lhemood, 30, after checking CCTV in the area, which showed that another man was involved in the fight,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police. The first suspect, 33-year-old Somporn Kakkaew, was arrested…
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U.S. frustration simmers over Belgium’s struggle with militant threat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. frustration simmers over Belgium’s struggle with militant threat Phuket Gazette / Reuters WASHINGTON: Shortly after last November’s attacks on Paris by a Brussels-based Islamic State cell, a top U.S. counter-terrorism official traveling in Europe wanted to visit Brussels to learn more about the investigation. When…
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