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.
-
No change in Phi Phi national park fees
PHUKET: The entrance fees to the national park at Phi Phi Island remain unchanged, with foreign adults charged 400 baht per visit, a top park official there has confirmed. “There have been no changes to the national park entry fees at Phi Phi,” said Boonname Chauyradom, assistant park chief of the Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National…
-
Video Report: Thousands crowd launch of Laguna Market
PHUKET: More than 4,000 people turned out for the launch of “Laguna Market on First” at Laguna Grove in Cherng Talay on Sunday. The four-hour market generated an estimated 1.2 million baht, as more than 200 local vendors plied their goods. “I am delighted to see that the market attracted both [people from] the local communities and tourists,” said Ravi…
-
Registration of ivory ‘aimed at killing trade in African tusks’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Registration of ivory ‘aimed at killing trade in African tusks’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A new law requiring people who own locally sourced ivory to register with the government is meant to separate them from people who own ivory from Africa, Nipon Chotibal, director-general…
-
Six suspects arrested, accused of being part of network to overthrow monarchy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Six suspects arrested, accused of being part of network to overthrow monarchy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Six suspects were arrested yesterday in connection with alleged involvement in the Bunpodj network’s plot to overthrow the monarchy. The arrests were carried out by police from the…
-
Japan PM calls to consider military undertaking overseas rescues
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Japan PM calls to consider military undertaking overseas rescues Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET:Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Monday he wanted to debate the possibility of Japan’s military rescuing Japanese citizens abroad, a day after Islamic State militants said they had beheaded a Japanese…
-
No Phuket security boost in wake of Bangkok bomb blasts: Police
PHUKET: There will be no boost in security by police following the two bomb blasts outside the Siam Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok last night, one of Phuket’s top cops confirmed to the Phuket Gazette today. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha earlier today ordered police in the capital to ramp up security following two pipe bombs detonating on a pedestrian…
-
Bill Barnett launches new book: Collective Swag
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette‘s “Island Fever” columnist, Bill Barnett, is back with his third book, Collective Swag, a phantasmagorical collection of rabid essays on everything from the evils of low-cost travel to blunders in modern architecture. Reading his frantic, caffeine-charged chronicle of life on the road throughout the Indian subcontinent and the Asia-Pacific region is a sure cure for elevator…
-
Move to merge human rights agency raises concern
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Move to merge rights agency raises concern The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The decision by the charter drafters to merge the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Ombudsman has sparked concerns over what its means for the human rights situation in Thailand and the…
-
Taiwanese “bank account mule’ arrested in Patong
PHUKET: Police have arrested a Taiwanese man who was found in the illegal possession of bankbooks and ATM cards for 12 Thai bank accounts opened by local residents. Chen Yu-Chung, 34, was arrested on Saturday, after a tip-off from a Phuket tuk-tuk driver, who told police that he was paid 6,000 baht to open a bank account in Patong. “The…
-
Motorcyclist without helmet dies in road collision
PHUKET: Police are trying to identify a man who died in Wichit yesterday after the motorcycle he was riding struck the side of an oncoming car. The man was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident. Wichit Police and Ruam Jai Foundation rescue workers were called to the scene, in Soi Thep Anusorn, at about 12:30pm. The…
-
Patriots beat Seahawks for first Super Bowl win in 10 years
PHUKET: The New England Patriots were crowned Super Bowl champions on Sunday after defeating the Seattle Seahawks 28-24 to capture their first National Football League title in 10 years. The victory put New England alongside five other teams with at least four Super Bowl wins while Tom Brady joined Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and childhood idol Joe Montana as…
-
Djokovic grinds Murray down to win Australian Open
PHUKET: Novak Djokovic ground down Andy Murray 7-6(5) 6-7(4) 6-3 6-0 on Sunday to win a record fifth Australian Open title in the professional era and consign the Scot to further grand slam pain Down Under. The pair waged a fierce baseline duel for the opening two sets, but after taking a 2-0 lead in the third set, Murray crumbled…
-
Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Greste, 2 others still held
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt frees Al Jazeera journalist Greste, 2 others still held Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste was released from a Cairo jail on Sunday and left Egypt after 400 days in prison on charges that included aiding a terrorist group, security officials…
-
Two more unlocked homes robbed in Thalang
PHUKET: Police are searching for a potential group of serial burglars after two Thalang homes were robbed of cash and valuables amounting to more than 100,000 baht last night. “We are concerned that those responsible for these robberies are the same people who robbed another three foreigners’ homes in Thalang earlier this month [story here],” said Lt Suporn Muangkhai of…
-
Tourist slashes own throat at Phuket resort
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist attempted to take her own life when she slit her throat with a kitchen knife at Supalai Resort and Spa Phuket in Thalang this morning. Police are investigating the circumstances following 46-year-old Yan Wenhong’s attempted suicide, after rescue workers rushed her to Thalang Hospital. Ms Yan and four of her friends had checked into the resort…
-
Unidentified body found with knife lodged in head at Phuket pier
PHUKET: A body was found floating at Rassada Pier yesterday with a knife lodged in the skull and a stab wound in the back. Rescue workers recovered the body from the water, in front of the Fish Marketing Organization, at about 1:45pm. Rescue workers and police found a kitchen knife tucked into the waistband of the unidentified man’s pants. A…
-
Singapore officials consider Phuket consulate
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several popular tourist destinations in Thailand being considered as the location for a consulate for the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore. Gabriel Liow, a counsellor from the Singapore Embassy, visited Phuket on Wednesday to wish the island’s officials a happy eew year and discuss issues that concern Singaporean tourists and expats in Phuket. “Mr…
-
New Zealander shot in scuffle with Thai stepfather in Phuket
PHUKET: A New Zealander, born to a Thai mother, was shot late last night in an attempt to wrestle a handgun from his stepfather, who was allegedly drunk at the time. Jamie Smith, 30, was rushed to the new Dibuk Hospital on Chao Fa West Road (story here) after his mother called the police at about 11pm. When police arrived…
-
Illegal tour guide swept up in Phuket crackdown
PHUKET: Another illegal tour guide was swept up at the Karon View Point in a recent crackdown aimed at protecting the job for Thai nationals. Liang Yang, 33, has denied the charges of operating an illegal tourism business, working illegally as a tour guide and working without permission. He told officers that the six Chinese nationals he was with were…
-
Financial outlook for the year ahead
PHUKET: Looking back at 2014, the Standard & Poor’s 500 (S&P 500) posted a solid year. The S&P +11.4%, Dow +7.5% and Russell 2000 +3.5%. The “buy the dip” mentality began to take hold as any small correction saw buyers step in and purchase equities. 2014 SUMMARY• Soaring Treasury bond prices• Collapse in global commodity prices (oil)• MH17 airline crash,…
-
Government puts end to Myanmar concert plan, cites security concerns
PHUKET: The first concert in Phuket dedicated to entertaining Myanmar nationals has been blocked by the local government, which has cited security concerns. The “Myanmar – Thai Cultural Relationship Concert” was to be held in a field behind Bus Terminal 1 on Phang Nga Road, in Phuket Town, tomorrow night. The event was to feature Myanmar celebrities R Zarni, Ni…
-
Phuket’s shining light in the shade business
PHUKET: Local Phuket startup Window Design and Awnings Co Ltd, which has rapidly made a name for itself since its founding in 2009, is now looking to expand beyond the Kingdom’s borders. People may have noticed the white curved fabrics spread out over the walkways at Boat Lagoon, but the majority of the company’s clients are four, five and six-star…
-
Interest in Super Bowl undeflated as big game nears
PHUKET: After almost two full weeks of media hype, controversy over “deflated balls” and an orgy of wagering on Super Bowl XLIX, the New England Patriots have emerged as very slight favorites to win their fourth Lombardi Trophy when they play the defending champs the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale Arizona on Super Bowl Sunday [Stupor Bowl Monday for Phuketeers –…
-
Opinion: Co-operation is key to keeping us safe
Phuriphat Theerakulpisut, 47, originally from Trang province, is chief of the Phuket Marine Office. He graduated from the Merchant Marine Training Center in 1986. Here, he talks about the duties of the Phuket Marine Office, and the changes and problems he has seen and encountered during his time as chief. PHUKET: It could be said that the Phuket Marine Office…
-
Phuket sea gypsy, 59, denied hospital treatment for broken leg
PHUKET: A 59-year-old woman from Phuket’s sea gypsy community in Rawai denied treatment at Vachira Phuket Hospital for a broken leg sparked a mass visit to Governor Nisit Jansomwong by more than 30 angry villagers yesterday. “Pohnao Bangjark broke her left leg while collecting shellfish at Rawai Beach on January 16,” sea gypsy Sanit Sae-Thua told Governor Nisit at Phuket…
-
Opinion: Phuket teens can booze, thanks to local shops
PHUKET: The recent order by Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha confirming that the basic terms of the controversial Alcohol Control Act of 2008 will remain unchanged comes as great news for “mom-and-pop” store operators across the nation, as it ensures that they will maintain their most important competitive advantage over increasingly powerful chain store competitors: the ability to sell alcohol…
-
Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket officially appointed
PHUKET: The Australian embassy in Bangkok yesterday officially confirmed the appointment of Canadian national Michelle Hawryluk, a partner in the Phuket-based law firm Hawryluk Legal Advisors, as the Australian Honorary Consul for Phuket. Ms Hawryluk has jurisdiction in the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga, read a statement from the embassy issued yesterday. An experienced lawyer, Ms Hawryluk has…
-
NLA panel to summon US envoy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NLA panel to summon US envoy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The spat between Thailand and the United States looks set to continue with the National Legislative Assembly’s foreign affairs committee planning to summon the US charge d’affaires to explain the recent criticism by a…
-
Two teens dead in Phuket Town midday shootout
PHUKET: Two teenagers are dead after a rival gang of four second-year university students gunned them down in broad daylight, along with two others, on the streets of Phuket Town today. Sakdarin Kiembuth, 17, a former student at Phuket Technical College, died at the scene. Piaphat Jadsarng, a first-year student at Phuket Technical College, died from his injuries in hospital,…
-
Corrupt Phuket officials paid B700mn for parkland, Isoc told
PHUKET: A top-flight general from Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc) Region 4 yesterday heard first-hand that applicants had paid 700 million baht for land titles to be issued for plots within Phuket’s Sirinath National Park. Maj Gen Ronnarong Koatdamrong, who serves as deputy director-general of Isoc Region 4, heard the account at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall, attended by…
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.