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 Planning to extend your Thai visa? Why health insurance is more important than ever
If you plan to stay longer in Thailand, having health insurance is now more important than ever. Thai immigration often asks for proof of medical coverage when you apply to extend your visa. This applies to many types of visas,...
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Thai Navy re-floats stranded Phuket King’s Cup boats
PHUKET: More than 20 officers from Kata-Karon Municipality along with volunteers and lifeguards stationed at the Royal Thai Navy Sea Rescue unit heaved together this afternoon to refloat two King’s Cup Regatta boats into the water at Kata Beach. The two boats were left stranded on the sand this morning after strong winds pushed them onshore last night. Supachai Janphet,…
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Russian man run over by Phuket parasailing boat
PHUKET: A 51-year-old Russian man on holiday in Phuket was rushed to hospital today after suffering severe injuries when he was run over by a parasailing speedboat at Kata Beach. The man, Nikolai Nefedov, suffered a broken left leg and cuts on the back of both thighs. Some of the cuts were were down to his bones, said Chaiwat Sittidet,…
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FC Phuket ready to pluck Chanthaburi “Hares’ on Sunday
PHUKET: FC Phuket Head Coach Sompong Wattana has resumed his duty as “chief of the tribe” – just in time for the Southern Sea Kirin’s long-awaited home match against Cash Today Chanthaburi FC, nicknamed “The Hares”, on Sunday. The coach, who goes by the nickname “Rock Rhino”, rejoined the team on Wednesday following a leave of absence he took last…
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Phuket’s Ironman 70.3 brings in the champs
PHUKET: Current Ironman 70.3 World Champion Melissa Rollison will participate in the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championship at Laguna Phuket on Sunday – in addition to a stellar line-up of elite professional triathletes heading to the island. Rollison, of Australia, completed her first Ironman 70.3-distance race in September 2010, and in just 12 months has gone on to claim three 70.3…
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Anti-graft alliance vows to keep close watch
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community “Clean Thailand DIY” campaign The NationThe Anti-Corruption Network (ACN), an alliance of private watchdog groups, yesterday launched the “Clean Thailand DIY” campaign to monitor the government’s spending of Bt800 billion earmarked for post-flood recovery efforts. ACN chairman Pramon Sutivong said the group is inviting people to…
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Phuket misses out on Dance Festival as it moves to Chiang Mai
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dance Festival moves to Chiang Mai due to flooding The Nation Thanks to the flooding, the Dance Center has not only postponed its International Dance Festival but relocated it from Bangkok and shortened it. It’s set for tomorrow. “This is the 11th edition and the first…
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Strong winds leave Phuket King’s Cup triple-champ beached
PHUKET: Strong onshore winds last night left a three-time class champion in the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta stranded on the sand at Kata Beach. Matt Allen’s 44-foot Ichi Ban, on which he won the IRC 1 class at the Phuket King’s Cup last year, was left standing vertically in the sand after the tide ran out this morning. “It looks…
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Yingluck falls ill; Police denies rumors about key burglary suspect
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Yingluck cancels events after falling sick The NationAccording to a source close to the prime minister, Yingluck appeared faint, complained of a headache and vomited during a lunch break at Muang Thong Thani in Nonthaburi. She had earlier inspected a flooded area of Pak Kret district…
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Officials confirm safety plan for Phuket “death bend’
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak today confirmed the slew of safety features to be rolled out at the notorious “100 bodies curve” at Kho En in Thalang, in hopes of reducing the number of fatal accidents at the deadly bend. The move comes after a four-year-old boy and his aunt were killed when a pickup slid out of control…
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Phuket marks World AIDS Day
PHUKET: Phuket has the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in Southern Thailand and the third-highest per-capita rate of infection in the country, Phuket Public Health Office Chief Sak Tanchaikul announced today. Dr Sak delivered the news at a press conference to mark today, December 1, as World AIDS Day. “This year the slogan is ‘Getting to Zero’,” said Dr Sak. He…
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Experts call for consistency with “Brand Phuket’
PHUKET: The Greater Phuket chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) last night held a meeting to discuss the history, evolution and future of “Brand Phuket”. Hosted at the Anantara Resort in Mai Khao, discussions of the island’s brand were fueled by inspirational presentations by marketing communications expert David Johnson and brand guru David Keen. Also in attendance were…
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Phuket Media Watch – Bounty offered in Sophoth theft case
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bounty for fugitive in Sophoth case The Nation A 200,000-baht bounty has been offered for the capture of the alleged ringleader, reportedly on the run in Laos, who took millions of baht during the burglary at Transport Ministry permanent secretary Suphoth Sublom’s house. A senior commander,…
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Phuket Business – Looking forward to 2012
PHUKET: Walking into my local shopping center yesterday I was amazed to see Christmas decorations adorning the shops and general surroundings. A quick check of the date on my watch and I realized that although the trees, baubles and tinsel were a trifle early, it certainly was closer to the holidays than I had imagined! This gave me food for…
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No appeal in Fanelli case: Phuket prosecutor
PHUKET: The Phuket Public Prosecutor’s Office will not file an appeal over sentencing in the case of convicted murderer Ronald Fanelli, the Phuket Gazette has learned. Fanelli, a former US Navy officer, was on November 1 convicted of the June 2010 stabbing murder of Wanphen Pienjai, a hostess at the Sweethearts Bar in Kata. Fanelli was sentenced to 20 years’…
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THAI Phuket flights operating as usual
PHUKET: Thai Airways International (THAI) is still operating its full schedule of regular flights between Bangkok and Phuket – for now. An officer from the ‘Enterprise Communication Department’ of THAI, asking not to be named, told the Phuket Gazette, “I have yet to receive any news about reductions in flights to Phuket.” Her statement was in response to a report…
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Brazil targeted as new tourist source market for Phuket
PHUKET: Brazilians are among the latest target group of tourists to be lured to Phuket and the Andaman region. Speaking recently at a press conference for the Andaman Travel Trade 2011 exhibition, TAT Deputy Governor for International Marketing Juthaporn Rerngronasa highlighted the South American country as an expanding market for incoming tourism. There were 10 operators from Brazil at this…
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Phuket Media Watch – Amnesty urges U.S. to ban life sentences
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Amnesty urges U.S. to ban life without parole sentences for children Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Amnesty International yesterday urged the government of the Unites States to ban the imposition of life-without-parole sentences against young offenders. The London-based rights group also urged the U.S. to review the cases…
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Phuket Special Report: Slavery on the high seas
Workers in Thailand’s fishing industry often find themselves living a violent nightmare with no escape in sight and no help. Meanwhile, human rights experts and local organizations look for ways out.SPECIAL REPORTPHUKET: The next time you sit down to a seafood dinner in Phuket, think of Min, a Karen-Burmese migrant worker from Shan State.Min is one of countless migrant workers…
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Music idol Todd Tongdee wants to see ‘magic mix’ of Thais and foreigners at Phuket World Musiq Fest
PHUKET: One of the lead organizers of the World Musiq Fest to be launched tomorrow evening at Saphin Hin in Phuket Town says he wants to see the concert audiences reflecting the name and character of the festival itself. “It’s that magic mix of Thais and foreigners enjoying things together that generates the atmosphere and buzz to create a truly…
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Phuket’s well water drillers threaten blockade
PHUKET: Local groundwater well-drilling operators have threatened to blockade the Phuket office of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) if the office’s chief, Chaipadung Promsawadi, doesn’t start recognizing power of attorneys as an acceptable form of representation. Before approving permits for new wells to be dug, Mr Chaipadung wants to meet the owners of the companies that have…
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Phuket Reminder: US Embassy consular outreach today
PHUKET: The American Citizen Services section of the United States Embassy in Bangkok is at the Hilton Arcadia Phuket Resort and Spa in Karon this morning. Consular staff will be available to provide following services until noon: • Passport renewal applications • Notarial services • Embassy registration and/or address change for on-line information• Absentee ballot application and voting abroad information…
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Phuket Tourism Update: TAT mounts global push
PHUKET: The Thai Hotels Association (THA) and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will kick off a global campaign in December to woo back tourists to Phuket and other destinations in the aftermath of the flood disaster.The campaign is set to run from December 15 until January 15, 2012, with THA members across the country, mostly three and four star…
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Phuket Media Watch – Herman Cain denies; Bankruptcy for American Airlines
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Woman claims long affair with U.S. presidential hopeful Herman Cain Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Atlanta woman came forward on Monday evening to claim she had a 13-year-long affair with Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain, just weeks after a series of claims regarding sexual harassment. Cain has…
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Phuket officials aim to lift landslide ‘disaster warning’
PHUKET: In a sign that the worst of the 2011 monsoon season may be behind us, Phuket authorities are preparing paperwork to revoke a landslide disaster warning for a section of the bypass road in Rassada. The warning was put in place for a section of the bypass road northbound following torrential rains in early October that caused a landslip.…
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Phuket police warn junk shops over stolen water meters
PHUKET: Police in Phuket’s northern district of Thalang have warned owners of junk shops they will be charged with receiving stolen property if they are found in possession of any stolen water meters. The warning comes after police have arrested people in connection with six separate thefts of steel items in the past month, says Lt Col Weerayut Sittirattanakul. “We…
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IronKids want Thai kids for Phuket race this weekend
PHUKET: Triathlon events on Phuket are growing substantially every year both in numbers and in global reputation. The sport also has a positive impact on the lifestyle of those children and adults who become involved with this athletic pursuit. This year saw the very first IronKids junior triathlon event which was held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club (TSLC) with…
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Phuket Live Wire – You’ve got scam mail
PHUKET: Have you ever received a message like the following and wondered who sent it to you? I have a group of 24 people who will be traveling in your vicinity in December and we would like to book reservations at your establishment. We will pay for services, including tax and tips, in advance. Please advise what you have available…
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Villagers wallop hairy Lizards in Phuket’s cricket league
PHUKET: The third match of Phuket’s Island Furniture League 2011-2012 season saw The Village take on the Liquid Lounge Lizards (LLL) at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG). Both team squads included several new players which have bolstered their sides for this season. LLL, which mainly comprises British International School (BIS) teachers, included a number of players sporting large mustaches in…
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Phuket Media Watch – Passing on Thaksin pardon
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Passing on Thaksin pardon The Nation The government appeared to bow to political pressure last week when it backtracked on a plan to grant former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra a pardon on the occasion of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 84th birthday. The People’s Alliance for Democracy…
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Russia launches satellite as part of GPS rival
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russia launches last Glonass-M navigation satellite of the year Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Russian Space Forces, which is responsible for military space operations, on Monday announced that the year’s last Glonass-M navigation satellite has been launched on a Russian Soyuz rocket. The Glonass-M launch was carried…
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