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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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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Abandoned Chinese tourists cry foul in Phuket
CHALONG, PHUKET: A Chinese tour guide is being held in Chalong Police Station after bringing 11 of his countrymen on vacation to Phuket and then abandoning them. The tourists reportedly paid Bo Yang, 31, a total of almost a quarter of a million baht to accompany them from Shanghai on a week-long trip to Bangkok and Phuket. When they awoke…
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Aussie fraudster’s Phuket vacation cut short
KATHU, PHUKET: A young Australian tourist is facing deportation from Thailand after falsely claiming that she had been robbed in order to claim on her insurance, police in Phuket said. Patong Police said the 20-year-old college student told them that two young men on a motorbike had snatched her bag in Patong yesterday. But on questioning, it emerged that the…
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Phuket Music Festival returns
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: The Phuket Music Festival will take place next weekend, June 25-26, the Bangkok Post reminds us. Hosted by the Tourism…
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Phuket to go postal over World Cup sweepstakes
PHUKET: If you have business at the post office, here’s a tip: don’t wait until the last few days before the World Cup Final to get it done because the snail mail centers are likely to become beehives buzzing with activity as millions of Thais descend upon them to send off postcards as part of a 40-million-baht World Cup sweepstakes.…
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Recovery with a spark in Phuket
PHUKET: Freer Richardson, better known to his many Phuket friends as ‘Sparky’, has spent the better part of three months in the government’s Vachira Hospital. He is recovering from surgery that has prevented him from walking. Because he has spent all his available cash on this medical treatment, many of his waking hours are spent wishing for a laptop computer…
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Chiang Mai cops see red
CHIANG MAI: Police responding to reports of a gathering of hundreds of armed red-shirt demonstrators on June 12 were relieved when the group turned out to be South Korean soccer fans cheering on their team. Residents told police that a group of around 300 people, many wearing red, had gathered in Manna Rim Mae Ping restaurant on the banks of…
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Thai police see red in Chiang Mai
CHIANG MAI: Police responding to reports of a gathering of hundreds of armed red-shirt demonstrators on June 12 were relieved when the group turned out to be South Korean soccer fans cheering on their team. Residents told police that a group of around 300 people, many wearing red, had gathered in Manna Rim Mae Ping restaurant on the banks of…
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World Cup update: Day 7
PHUKET: Argentina went on a scoring spree against Korea Republic with Gonzalo Higuain firing the first hat-trick of this Fifa World Cup to take a huge step towards the last 16, beating the Asians 4-1. Meanwhile in Bloemfontein, Dimitrios Salpingidis and Vasileios Torosidis scored to earn Greece a 2-1 comeback victory over a Nigerian team that played most of the…
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British woman, 21, is latest Phuket drowning death
PHUKET: The drowning death of a 21-year-old British woman at Karon Beach over the weekend has left Phuket lifeguards frustrated over the failure of foreign tourists to heed their warnings not to enter the surf when red warning flags are flying. Rebecca Callaghan, from Evesham in Worcestershire, was in Phuket with her boyfriend as part of a holiday that took…
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Work on new Phuket incinerator to start next month
PHUKET: Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana has confirmed that the construction of Phuket’s long-awaited second solid waste incinerator is to begin next month, while a 43-million-baht project to improve the surrounding landfill is now complete. “Construction of the new plant was delayed because the original plans had be to modified for the incinerator to pass the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)…
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English out of World Cup in Phuket
PHUKET: Authorities in Patong are reportedly cracking down on bars illegally showing World Cup football matches with English-language commentary. A source has told the Gazette that officials last night raided a restaurant that allegedly violated international copyright law by airing broadcasts telecast on the Malaysian-based Astro SuperSport satellite TV network. Astro Supersport is included in packages offered by many local…
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Phuket hero pulls motorist from burning Volvo
KOH KAEW, PHUKET: A courageous 62-year-old man saved a driver’s life by pulling him from a burning car following a crash in Koh Kaew before dawn this morning. Armard ‘Mard’ Pattanee rushed to the crumpled Volvo after hearing a loud bang. He cut driver Banjong Laocharoen’s seatbelt and helped him to safety – shortly before the car became completely engulfed…
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British woman survives macaque attack during Phuket holiday
PHUKET: A British woman with a life-long fear of monkeys was seriously injured by several primates while visiting Monkey Beach on Phi Phi Don Island on May 21. Dee Darwell, 56, arrived in Phuket on May 18 and had a couple of “lovely” days before setting off on a one-day trip to Phi Phi Don and surrounding islands with Siam…
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World Cup update: Day 6
PHUKET: Last night’s play saw the first major upset in the FIFA 2010 World Cup, with Spain falling to underdogs Switzerland 1-0. Chile earned three points by defeating Honduras 1-0, putting them at the top of Group H, alongside Switzerland. Host South Africa’s chances of proceeding to the second round were dimmed when they lost 3-0 to Uruguay. Tonight’s matches:…
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Phuket Court dismisses sex case against PIA teacher
Phuket NEWS Hound – A daily digest of news from around the world compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community. World Cup? Get instantaneous scores and news updates right here on the Gazette Online (fed directly from FIFA). PHUKET: ABC News reports that child sexual assault charges against a Tasmanian teacher working in Phuket have been dropped. Andrew Clements,…
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Briton sentenced over stepson’s death in Phuket
PHUKET: A British man sentenced to 18 months in prison for the accidental death of his Thai stepson in 2007 plans to appeal the ruling. The judge ruled that UK national David Murray, 40, used excessive force in trying to discipline his stepson Narid “Curly” Budtharai, who was eight years old when he died of head injuries. The trauma occurred…
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Phuket, Chiang Mai to brainstorm tourism promo strategies
PHUKET: Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) offices in Phuket and Chiang Mai will meet with travel agencies in the northern city to brainstorm ways of strengthening links between the two provinces. Sobtana Aunprasert, Assistant Director of the TAT office in Chiang Mai office, announced the meeting will be held June 18 to 20 at Ratilanna Spa Resort. The riverside gathering…
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Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket to open in November
PHUKET: Plunging occupancy rates throughout Thailand has not affected the Centara Hotels & Resorts’ plan to open their latest Phuket resort in November this year, just in time for the start of the next high season. The 1.9-billion-baht Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket will be the group’s fourth location in Phuket – and its largest. Centara’s Director of Group Marketing…
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Charkrit wins Laguna Phuket Marathon
PHUKET: Records were broken yesterday as Thai athletes dominated the 2010 Laguna Phuket International Marathon, claiming first place in both the men’s and women’s races. Charkrit Boonkong won the men’s event in 2:40:08, just over two minutes off the course record time of 2:37:53 set by defending champion Stephen Paine from Australia in 2008. Compatriot Thanyathorn Samutnoi won the women’s…
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Catcalls for cloudbursts
PHICHIT: After suffering from the worst drought in a decade, some 200 villagers in tambon Don Seua Leuang resurrected an old local tradition in which female cats are paraded around the village and doused with water in the hopes that their screams will induce the rain gods to release their bounty. The ritual took place at 2pm on June 5…
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Phuket Police nab cell phone bandits
PHUKET: Seven Phuket Vocational College students robbed of their mobile phones at knifepoint on Thursday will be reunited with their devices, thanks to the efforts of the Phuket City Police. Officers led by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong yesterday presented the two young men to be charged with the robbery – Surachet ‘Um’ Pisetsin, 19, and his 17-year-old alleged…
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Patong flood woes continue
PHUKET: Public works intended to prevent floods in Patong this monsoon season have not been completed in time to stop deluges on Nanai Road and other parts of the town. In March, Patong Mayor Pian Keesin pledged to put an end to the ‘Nanai River’, a 50-meter stretch of Nanai Road that spent much of last year’s wet season under…
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Phuket murder suspect arrested after 3 years on the run
PHUKET: After three years on the run, a man wanted for a stabbing murder in Phuket Town in 2007 has been arrested by police in Phang Nga. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Tantipong, Deputy Commander Peerayut Karajedee and Phuket City Police Superintendent Wanchai Ekpornpit yesterday afternoon led a press conference to announce the arrest 26-year-old Tossaporn ‘Peh’ Jarunrak. Mr Tossaporn…
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Phuket bars stay open late for World Cup matches
PHUKET: On opening day of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, host South Africa drew 1-1 with Mexico in a thrilling game, while France struggled to 0-0 draw against 10-man Uruguay in an uninspiring match. Bars in Patong have been allowed to stay open later than the normal 2am closing time, and many people lined the bars along Soi Bangla late…
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Phuket tsunami fears groundless: MET
PHUKET: The Meteorological Department (MET) has dismissed as groundless Internet reports that a celestial alignment will cause a tsunami-producing earthquake and solar flares tomorrow. The rumor appears to have started in Thailand following a posting on a Thai-language website. According to the post, a rare alignment of the Earth with Jupiter, Uranus, the Moon and the Sun will create strong…
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18th Annual Phuket Flower Fair
PHUKET: The 18th annual Phuket Ornamental Plants & Flowers Fair will be held from July 9 to July 18 at Saphan Hin. Organized by the Phuket Provincial Agricultural Office, Phuket City Municipality and Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, this year’s fair will feature Phuket Pineapple exhibitions, pineapple peeling and processing competitions, as well as flower decoration contests. Various kinds of flowers,…
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Phuket Senator slams Gov’t tourism recovery plan
PHUKET: Phuket Senator Thanyarat Achariyachai has slammed the government’s tourism-industry recovery measures, saying the tax incentives miss the mark and will do little to help operators outside the capital. Senator Thanyarat, who chairs the Senate Committee on Tourism, said that hotel occupancy rates have plummeted nationwide since the red shirt protests in April and May. She warned that hotels will…
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KBank lends Bt1.2bn for new Novotel project in Phuket
PHUKET: In a vote of confidence in Phuket’s tourism market, Kasikorn Bank (KBank) recently approved a 1.2-billion-baht loan to Bayshore Wing Co Ltd to construct a four-star, 305-room Novotel franchise hotel in Patong. News of the approved loan came last month, during a period of heavy debate over how much Phuket’s tourism-dependent economy would suffer from the dual threats of…
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Phuket Andaman Halal 2010
PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Andaman Halal 2010 fair will showcase the island’s Muslim culture, traditions and foods in Saphan Hin from June 18 to 20. The event has been organized by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) in conjunction with the Phuket Islamic Committee Office, the Halal Science Center of Chulalongkorn University, and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The…
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Bt49m in counterfeit goods destroyed in Phuket
PHUKET: High-ranking members of the Finance Ministry yesterday took part in the ceremonial destruction of seized counterfeit goods allegedly worth almost 49 million baht. The event, which took place at the Phuket Customs House in Phuket Town, was presided over by hammer-wielding Deputy Finance Minister Pradit Pattaraprasit and Customs Department Director-General Somchai Sajjapong. There was also an international flavor to…
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