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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Phi Phi management plan tackles anchors on corals, feeding fish
PHUKET: The first step in saving the marine ecosystem within Phi Phi National Park is to put an end to boats dropping anchor on corals and tour operators allowing clients to feed fish (story here), an expert study announced last week. Damage done by the tourism industry was seen at 12 of the 14 marine areas within Hat Noppharat Thara…
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Phi Phi requests more patrol boats, buoys and staff
PHUKET: An expert adviser from Bangkok submitted a proposal for more boats, buoys and staff to man Phi Phi national park. The proposal was submitted to the Department of National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) this month. “The national park covers more than 200,000 rai. However, they only have four officers and two small boats, which is just unbelievable,”…
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Hopes fade for 100 miners missing after landslide near Myanmar jade mine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hopes fade for 100 miners missing after landslide near Myanmar jade mine Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: * Hopes faded on Monday that any of 100 people still missing would be found alive two days after a landslide near a jade mine in northern Myanmar smashed…
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Security beef-up ordered for Loy Krathong, festive season
BANGKOK: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered security agencies and related ministries to beef up security during the Loy Krathong and New Year festivals. Government spokesman Maj General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said PM Prayut had instructed security agencies and the ministries of Tourism and Sport, Transport and Culture to be extra vigilant. The prime minister has instructed the Department of…
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World champion returns to win Laguna Phuket Triathlon
PHUKET: More than 1,300 athletes representing 44 nationalities crowded Laguna Phuket this weekend to participate in the 22nd Laguna Phuket Triathlon. Germany’s two-time Ironman 70.3 world champion Michael Raelert made an impressive comeback to take the top position on the podium with a time of 2:30:14 (swim 23:55, bike 1:20:06, run 43:44), followed by Switzerland’s Ruedi Wild (2:32:57) and Stuart…
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Phuket locals victorious in battle to save Nai Harn trees
PHUKET: The plan to construct the controversial Nai Harn Movie Museum was dashed at a public meeting last night, confirmed Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. “We of course listened to what the community had to say,” Mr Aroon told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Aroon explained that after the public hearing, it was clear that a new location would need to be…
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Indonesia may offer island to process refugees to Australia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia may offer island to process refugees to Australia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Indonesia is considering offering a small island to process refugees captured en route toAustralia, its security ministry said on Friday, in what would make it the third country this year to offer…
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Push for 24-hour tourist help centers on Phuket beaches
PHUKET: Plans are underfoot to establish 24-hour tourist service centers at more than a dozen popular Phuket beaches, Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul announced on Friday. “We all know that millions of tourists visit our island every year. It is our responsibility to come together and ensure their safety and security while on holiday here,” said V/Gov Prajiad. “We can…
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More than half of Amazon tree species seen at risk of extinction
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More than half of Amazon tree species seen at risk of extinction Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: South America’s vast Amazon region harbors one of the world’s most diverse collection oftree species, but more than half may be at risk for extinction due to ongoing deforestation…
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Business Buzz: Just Google it
PHUKET: All business people tend to have a lot of questions each day about how to do this, what is the best way to do that, where can I find this and so on. More often than not, these questions go unanswered and so the problems remain unresolved and our business is no better off. But what if we could…
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Phuket Dinghy Series wraps up
PHUKET: The Phuket Dinghy Series 2015 wrapped up off the coast of Cape Panwa recently, with Optimist and Laser sailors competing from Phuket and Songkla. A total of 53 young sailors joined the competition in stiff winds and manageable swells. Among the Optimists, male sailors from the Phuket Youth Sailing Club (PYSC) took the three top places, with Nattapong Yongram…
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Another police station riot suspect arrested for unrelated crimes
PHUKET: A second police station riot suspect was arrested for unrelated crimes, confirmed Thalang Police yesterday. Noppon Songkram, 31, was netted in possession of an illegal firearm during a police raid in Srisoonthon yesterday. The raid focused on suspected criminals involved with illegal firearms and drugs. “It wasn’t until we ran his name in our system that we realized he…
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Finance: Growth or value stocks, that is the question
PHUKET: Many investors do not understand the differences between growth stocks and value stocks, with the latter often being synonymous with Warren Buffett, the disciple of Benjamin Graham, who’s classic 1949 book The Intelligent Investor is considered the value stock investing bible. GROWTH STOCKS Growth stocks tend to be high-quality stocks of successful companies whose earnings are expected to continue…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Cooling off beverages
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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Opinion: Time to mobilize Phuket speed traps
PHUKET: Efforts to crack down on speeding and other forms of reckless driving took a turn for the serious recently with the news that the Phuket Provincial Police Office is seeking assistance from the Royal Highway Police to set up radar-equipped ‘mobile units’ to help catch offenders (story here). Phuket has emerged as seventh in the nation for the most…
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Popular British International School access road temporarily closed
PHUKET: Popular British International School access road Soi Koh Kaew 33, behind the Isuzu showroom, will be closed from today until November 30. The road was originally closed in late July, after nearly half of its width had fallen into a parallel drainage ditch. The Koh Kaew Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) was then forced to build a new retaining wall…
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Video Report: Police fail to bust gibbon touts despite video evidence
PHUKET: Officers have yet to arrest a gibbon tout caught on video earlier this week while working on the walking streets of Phi Phi Don. The video, sent to the Phuket Gazette by a reader, clearly shows the culprit’s face and was forwarded to officials on Tuesday evening. As of today, no arrest has been made, confirmed Lt Col Danai…
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Thanyapura Junior Challenge returns
PHUKET: Junior athletes and sports enthusiasts throughout the region will face off against each other and optimize their potential at Thanyapura’s third Junior Challenge Triathlon. Following the success of last year’s event, the 2015 competition will be held on November 28 and will be staged alongside the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest, which attracts thousands of avid triathletes every year. This…
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Phuket beach-wedding ban lifted
PHUKET: The Phuket ban on beach-wedding ceremonies was lifted earlier this week. The ban was put in place earlier this year as the province attempted to prevent private entrepreneurs from staking public beach areas for profit making endeavors. “Even though such events can bring publicity to Phuket, we cannot allow them to take place on our beaches, as that is…
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Video Report: Field of rubbish revealed off Phuket beach
PHUKET: The Karon Municipality is preparing a team of divers to undertake a cleanup operation after a Facebook video revealed an enormous field of rubbish in the waters near Karon Stadium. The video, which quickly went viral, showed heaps of trash, such as plastic bottles, foam boxes and shoes floating in the water. “I have seen the video. This is…
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North Korea proposes talks with South Korea for next week
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korea says proposes talks with South Korea for next week Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: North Korea has proposed talks with South Korea to be held on Nov. 26 at the Truce Village ontheir militarised border, the North’s KCNA news agency reported on Friday. The…
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Wait time for vessels to pass Panama Canal shortens to four days
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Wait time for vessels to pass Panama Canal shortens to four days Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The wait time to pass through the Panama Canal has shortened to four days, down frommore than 10 days last month, the authority that runs the waterway said on…
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Moment of silence observed at Phuket French Consulate
PHUKET: About 40 French nationals, as well as a few Thai citizens and police officers, joined in a moment of silence observed in Phuket for the victims of the November 13 terrorist attacks in Paris. “I acknowledge that it was very short notice, but everyone came together to show their support regardless,” French Honorary Consul Claude de Crissey told the…
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French Ambassador embraces Thailand’s compassion
PHUKET: French Ambassador to Thailand Gilles Garachon spoke briefly at the French Embassy in Bangkok before Thailand held one minute of silence in honor of the victims killed in the attacks on Paris on November 13. Dear compatriots and beloved Thai people: France has again been a victim of a vicious attack. Many of our citizens were killed in the…
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Annual Petanque tournament returns this weekend
PHUKET: Dubai Petanque is back in Phuket to take on three Thailand-based teams in a four-way tournament this weekend. An expansion on earlier versions of the Dubai-Phuket Challenge, this year’s tournament will consist of four clubs – Dubai Petanque; Phuket’s Saphan Hin Club; the French Rawai Petanque Club; and Pattaya’s Khao Rai Club. Each club will play five sets against…
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Airplane makes emergency landing in Bulgaria over bomb threat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Airplane makes emergency landing in Bulgaria over bomb threat Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: An airplane with 161 people aboard made an emergency landing in the Black Sea city of Burgas on today following a bomb threat while en route to Egypt from Poland’s capital of…
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Fishermen ready to get PIST
PHUKET: The Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament (PIST) returns with three days of fun fishing and four nights of parties at the Tamarind Bar and Grill on Chalong Pier road. The opening night event was held on November 18 with fisher-folk from around the world lining up to register for the tournament. Last year the tournament celebrated its tenth anniversary and…
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Squirrel hunter finds hanged Cambodian near Phuket retreat
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a Cambodian national found hanged with his hands bound in a Phuket jungle area yesterday. A 36-year-old Myanmar national discovered the body when he was setting squirrel traps in the wooded area in the vicinity of the Pitak Samanakij Dhamma retreat in Phuket Town. The victim was identified only as Mr Wit, explained…
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Police arrest 13 in kratom bus-delivery bust
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police arrested 13 suspects as they picked up packages containing 41 kilograms of kratom from a bus company office on Tuesday morning. Officers waited at the office of Srisuchart Transport (1989) Co Ltd on bypass road after receiving a tip-off from one of their sources that packages of kratom would be transported from Bangkok on one of…
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Thanyapura athletes win big at World Travel Joy
PHUKET: It was a clean podium sweep for Thanyapura at the World Travel Joy East Coast Challenge in Ranong last weekend where their athletes won HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup in the 151 kilometer race. Phuket’s former Tour de France cyclist Nick Gates triumphed in first place, followed shortly by four-time World Champion Chris McCormack. Clint Kimmins came in…
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