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.
-
Sponsored Outdoor adventures in Thailand for adrenaline seekers
The Thaiger key takeaways Thailand provides a wide range of adventure activities, from whitewater rafting and rock climbing to ziplining, scuba diving, and skydiving, suitable for all skill levels. Macro and marine life exploration, Muay Thai camps, kiteboarding, ATV riding,...
-
Phuket beefs up bus services, driver drug tests for Songkran
PHUKET: More buses and drug and alcohol tests for drivers have been ordered at the Phuket bus terminal in Rassada to ensure that everyone can travel, and travel safely, during the Songkran holidays.The Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) added 20 per cent more buses to accommodate the crowds returning home for the Thai new year and make sure no one…
-
Phuket Opinion: Solving water problems with rain, prisoners, and solar
PHUKET: Many places on this planet, including Phuket, are going through one of the driest spells of the last decade. My home state of Colorado is no exception. Denver, the state’s capital, only two weeks ago declared a stage-two drought, based on a scale on which four is an emergency.With its two prime reservoirs at 59% and 73% capacity (sound…
-
Phuket survives first day of Songkran Seven Days of Danger
PHUKET: The nationwide Seven Days of Danger road-safety campaign for the Songkran holidays came into effect in Phuket at midnight last night.As of 5:30pm today, Phuket had yet to record its first fatality for the period, which is notorious for the number of deaths and injuries on Thailand’s roads as millions of people make the journey home to celebrate Thai…
-
Phuket gold shop killing: Leads point police to two suspects
PHUKET: Testimony from witnesses has helped police narrow their focus to two possible suspects in the gold shop shooting on Monday (story here), Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat told the Phuket Gazette today. However, no match has been found for the killer’s fingerprints. “We are continuing to get information from witnesses,” said Gen Choti, “which has led us to…
-
Phuket’s TSLC will again host International Tennis Federation round
PHUKET: Thanyapura Sports & Leisure Club (TSLC) will once again host a round of the prestigious International Tennis Federation (ITF) pro tennis circuit. The 2013 ITF round, sponsored by Chang (ThaiBev Pcl) and the Sports Association of Thailand (SAT), will consist of two consecutive women’s tournaments, from April 20 to April 27, and then April 27 to May 4. This…
-
Phuket gets first Evolution Cinema Planetarium in Thailand
PHUKET: Island residents and tourists alike earlier this week welcomed the opening of the Evolution Cinema Planetarium, a new ‘edutainment’ attraction in Phuket Town. Located in front of Central Festival Phuket’s main entrance, the new mobile cinema planetarium is the first of its kind in Thailand. “The Evolution Planetarium is the newest generation of visualization systems for entertainment and studying,…
-
Tour of Thailand official slams into power pole during Phuket storm
PHUKET: An official of the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Cup Tour of Thailand 2013 cycling event, whose riders were in Phuket earlier this week (story here), was injured when his pickup truck slid off the road during the storm yesterday afternoon and slammed into a power pole. Surasak Ritphirat, 39, suffered a head wound in the impact and was rushed…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: South Korea on high alert; Uruguay says yes to gay marriage; Louvre closes to pickpockets; Lufthansa danger flight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South Korea, U.S. remain on missile watch as North lauds Kims Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: South Korea and the United States remained on high alert for any North Korean missile launch on Thursday as the hermit kingdom turned its attention to celebrating its ruling Kim dynasty and…
-
Gold shop owner increases reward for killer-thief; police issue warrant
PHUKET: Though the identity of the man who robbed a gold shop and killed a man on Monday night is still unknown, there is now a warrant out for his arrest, and the bounty on his head has been doubled to 400,000 baht. (Story our earlier story here.) Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat has told the media, “We believe…
-
Russian boy, 9, saved from drowning at Phuket beach lagoon
PHUKET: Following a Russian boy about 9 years old almost drowning at Nai Harn lagoon yesterday, the chief lifeguard at the popular Nai Harn Beach (map here) has called for parents to keep a close eye on their children playing in the water over the Songkran holidays this weekend. Nai Harn chief lifeguard Jula Nontree told the Phuket Gazette this…
-
Phuket Business: Budgeting tips and concerns for expats
PHUKET: Becoming and remaining an expat in Phuket, Thailand will require careful budgeting to avoid potential minefields or serious financial problems down the road. With that in mind, here are concerns or tips to keep in mind to help you avoid blowing a hole in your expat budget: Track your living expenses Most personal finance software like newer versions of…
-
Phuket Finance: Buy Priceline and book your visa run
PHUKET: Just the other day I had a client ask me how he can save some money on his next visa run. He wants to explore more of Southeast Asia and has gotten tired of making the usual trip to Cambodia, Laos or Kuala Lumpur. That’s when I told him about Priceline.com. Priceline (PCLN) is the famous “Name Your Price”…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: Iran quake near nuclear town; Texas stabbing spree; FBI probes KPMG
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Quake hits near Bushehr, Iran’s nuclear city, 37 dead Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A powerful earthquake struck close to Iran’s only nuclear power station on Tuesday, killing 37 people and injuring 850 as it destroyed homes and devastated two small villages, Iranian media reported.The 6.3 magnitude quake…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: North Korea warns foreigners to leave South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korea warns foreigners to leave South Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: North Korea intensified threats of an imminent conflict against the United States and the South on Tuesday, warning foreigners to evacuate South Korea to avoid being dragged into a “merciless, sacred, retaliatory war”. The North’s…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: “Iron Lady’ Thatcher mourned, but critics speak out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Iron Lady’ Thatcher mourned, but critics speak out Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain and admirers worldwide are mourning Margaret Thatcher, who has died aged 87, as the “Iron Lady” who rolled back the state and faced down her enemies during 11 years as Britain’s first…
-
Phuket bikes burned again by teen gangsters
PHUKET: Patong Police are looking for a gang of teenagers who were seen setting alight four motorbikes in the beach resort town early this morning. Firefighters were called to Soi Klong Bang Wad, near Wat Patong (map here), at 4:30am after local residents saw the motorbikes, parked opposite the Aood Watch and Optic store, go up in flames. “Firefighters from…
-
Police offer B200k reward for gold shop robber
PHUKET: Police are offering a reward of 200,000 baht for information leading to the arrest of the man who robbed the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store at gunpoint yesterday evening, shooting dead a customer at the store in the process. Apichet Choo-kliang, 32, was shot in the chest trying to stop the gold heist (story here). Mr Apichet was…
-
City keep slim hope of retaining title alive with win at Old Trafford
Special Aguero goal helps City sink United Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Sergio Aguero tore through the Manchester United defence to score a dazzling winner as Manchester City beat the Premier League leaders 2-1 yesterday evening to remind them they are still champions for a few more weeks. Second-placed City’s second successive league win at Old Trafford, following last term’s…
-
Phuket sings: Big bird contest around the corner
PHUKET: One of the biggest events Phuket will see this year – if you are the owner of a singing bird, that is – will take place in Thalang tomorrow. As many as 720 singing red-whiskered Bulbuls, Nok Pa Rod Jook in Thai, are expected to take part, coming from all over Thailand to do so. The winner of this…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: Putin laughs off topless protest; Body in Paris plane; UN whistleblower in spotlight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Putin laughs off topless protest, defends NGO moves Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Russian President Vladimir Putin laughed off a protest against him by topless women in Germany on Monday, joking that he liked what he had seen while sharply rebuffing German criticism of his human…
-
Man shot dead in B2.3mn Phuket gold heist
PHUKET: A man was shot dead while trying to stop a hold-up at the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store at Tesco Lotus on the bypass road (map here) early this evening. The robber made off with gold jewelry with a reported value of more than 2.32 million baht, The shop’s CCTV security cameras show the robber parked his motorbike…
-
Breaking News: Margaret Thatcher dies, aged 87
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Britain’s “Iron Lady” Margaret Thatcher dies Reuters /Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron Lady” who dominated British politics for two decades, died today following a stroke, a spokesman for her family said. She was 87. Britain’s only woman prime minister, the tough, outspoken Thatcher led…
-
Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand
PHUKET: The women’s section of the “Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Cup Tour of Thailand” started today on Phuket. The event features 15 international teams (including T-Thailand and T-All Star from Thailand). The first stage of the women’s race was completed earlier today on Phuket and the race schedule for tomorrow’s Phang Nga leg is as follows:9am: The race starts from…
-
Phuket Business: Job fair expected to fill 30% of vacancies
PHUKET: Of the 6,000 job vacancies offered through the “e-jobs@Phuket 2013” job fair held recently at Phuket Rajbhat University, only 118 positions were immediately filled, the Phuket Gazette has learned. Phuket Provincial Employment Office chief Yawapa Pibulpol said that a total of 1,578 job applications were submitted. Of these, she said 548 were submitted at the fair itself, while the…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: Prof Nutt mad at magic mushroom testing stall
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community First magic mushroom depression trial hits stumbling block Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The world’s first clinical trial designed to explore using a hallucinogen from magic mushrooms to treat people with depression has stalled because of British and European rules on the use of illegal drugs in…
-
Fire scare at Phuket student dormitory
PHUKET: Smoke pouring from a second-floor window at a girls’ student dormitory late yesterday afternoon prompted no fewer than three fire trucks to rush to the scene to extinguish the blaze. Phuket City Police received a report of the fire, at the Phuket Rajabhat University dormitory on Rassada-anusorn Road (map here), at 5pm. Firefighters arrived promptly and took about 20…
-
Phuket luminaries attend revered Abbot’s cremation
PHUKET: The Governor of Phuket, Maitri Inthusut, all three Phuket Vice Governors and both of Phuket’s members of parliament were present at the cremation ceremony yesterday of the former abbot of Wat Chalong, Phra Ajarn Udomwetchakit Uttamuyano. Also in attendance were local leaders and the general public, bringing the total number to about 2,000. The Abbot – Phra Ajarn Lim…
-
Thai Football: Phuket FC sink Thai Navy in added time
PHUKET: Surakul Stadium erupted in celebration after Phuket FC’s “super sub” Chana Sonwiset scored in added time to secure his side three points in a league match against the Royal Navy football club in Phuket Town last night. The match was evenly poised at 0-0 going into the final minutes of added time, until Chana – whose name literally means…
-
Phuket shelter in fight against HIV stigma
Daoroong ‘Joojee’ Rodsamnam, 49, from Bangkok, has been project manager for the Life Home Project Foundation, a shelter for HIV-positive mothers and their children, for seven years. Here, she talks about HIV in Phuket, the goals and challenges of the Foundation and what motivated her to work there. PHUKET: Phuket is always in the top-five provinces in Thailand in terms…
-
Phuket Gazette Queer News: Woman delivers egg-straordinary baby
PHUKET: A woman in Nakhon Sri Thammarat province claims to have given birth to an egg. Sopharat Phantharak, 36, from Village 5 in Mokhlan Subdistrict, has placed the miraculous object on a pedestal lined with white cloth and is inviting local villagers to come and pay their respects to it. Mrs Sopharat, who is already a mother of four, claims…
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.