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. The Thaiger delivers the latest national news that matters.
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Phuket Opinion: Change is natural for Chinese traditions
PHUKET: Teeravut Sritularak, 65, was born and raised in Phuket. He is the president of the Jui Tui Shrine and on the management team of Pud Jor and Kiew Tian Shrines. Here he talks about changes in the way Chinese New Year is celebrated in Phuket. Change is natural, the important thing is understanding the traditions’ true meanings and celebrating…
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Image of Chinese Goddess of Mercy moved for Old Town Phuket Festival
PHUKET: An image of the revered Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Guan Yin, and a jade stamp from China made their annual journey from Pud Jor Shrine to Queen Sirikit Park today as the Old Town Festival commences (see story). The white jade stamp is a replica of a 1,000-year-old stamp in a shrine in Suining, China, and was presented to…
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Teachers, students plant rare species of palm in Phuket National Park
PHUKET: Phuket teachers and students helped plant 100 of the rare White Back Palm trees near Ton Sai Waterfall yesterday in honor of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led the tree planting ceremony, which included officers from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Teachers and students from Muang Thalang School and Weerasatree Anusorn School joined…
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Three beached dolphins treated and released in Phang Nga
PHUKET: The three Spotted dolphins that beached themselves on February 7 in Khao Lak have not returned to land after being treated and released back into the sea, Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “I think they are safe since they have not come back to us,” said Dr Patcharaporn.…
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Six busted with 1.5 million in drugs in Phang Nga, north of Phuket
PHUKET: Police busted a drug ring yesterday, netting drugs with a street value of about 1.5 million baht when they arrested six drug dealers with ya bah (methamphetamine), ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and cough syrup in Phang Nga, north of Phuket. Acting on a tip-off, police went to the home of Chaiyuth Prasanphan, 35, and his brother Somchai Prasanphan, 40,…
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Motorbike with sidecar backslides down hill and flips, killing one
PHUKET: A motorbike with a sidecar carrying six Burmese workers slid down a hill and flipped over in the Blue Canyon Country Club in northern Phuket yesterday, killing one and seriously injuring two. Police received the report of the accident at 6:50 pm and rushed to the scene with Kusoldharm foundation rescue workers. “One of the passengers, Mr Muang, told…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Calls to recognize gay marriage made
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Same-sex couples call for marriage rights Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Valentine’s Day yesterday saw lovebirds register their unions at district offices, especially those with “lucky” names such as Bangkok’s Bang Rak (“Village of Love”). Same-sex couples who showed up only to be turned down, as such…
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Myanmar Navy coming to Phuket in historic diplomatic visit
PHUKET: Two warships from the Myanmar Navy are due to arrive in Phuket on February 20 in the navy’s historic first-diplomatic visit to a foreign country. The Myanmar Navy, which currently operates more than 122 vessels, will arrive in Phuket to mark 65 years of diplomatic relations with Thailand, and offers the chance for joint military discussions, Lieutenant Commander Chaloemsak…
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Brake failure on fleeing bus causes second accident
PHUKET: A tour bus fleeing the scene of an accident suffered brake failure and crashed into a utility pole on Patong Hill yesterday, causing a three-hour traffic jam. Patong Police received the accident report at 4pm and arrived at the scene to find that the bus driver had fled. “A bus with a Pegas Touristik company logo heading from Phuket…
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Government stages lottery draw in Phuket to fight rumors of rigging
PHUKET: To dispel rumors of the national lottery being rigged, the Government Lottery Office (GLO) will be staging one of its lucky draw mobile events in Phuket at the Metropole Hotel in Phuket Town (map here) on March 1. “The rumor was started by a scam letter which guaranteed that the numbers people chose would be drawn, for a fee,”…
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DSI Chief launches investigation into Russian-owned businesses in Phuket
PHUKET: Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) launched their own inquiry yesterday into Cherng Talay locals’ complaints that foreigners were stealing their jobs. The visit comes in the immediate wake of the Phuket Employment Office’s crackdown on illegal foreign businesses currently underway (story here). Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3,…
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Phuket Gazette Sports: Paralympic Pistorius shoots girlfriend dead – South Africa media
Paralympic star Pistorius shoots girlfriend – South Africa media Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: South African paralympic star Oscar Pistorius is being questioned by South African police for shooting dead his girlfriend at his home in Pretoria, domestic media said today. Johannesburg’s Talk Radio 702 said Pistorius was understood to have shot his girlfriend in the head and arm, although…
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Rose vendors absorb inflation for ‘day of love’
PHUKET: Flower vendors across Phuket are relishing increased orders and sales for the ‘day for lovers’, even despite rising prices. Pran Supasri, a flower shop owner near Vachira Hospital says, “Rose prices have not increased significantly when compared to last year’s price.” He added that even though the price of roses has increased slightly ahead of Valentine’s Day, flower vendors…
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Travel-weary Phuket United downed by Lampang in away match
PHUKET: Goals in each half secured a 2-0 victory for Lampang United last night against a travel-weary Phuket United in Lampang city, just south of Chiang Mai. Lampang’s Natee Ji-pon scored half way through the first half, while Naritcha Saengthong solidified his side’s victory with a goal late in the second half. As a result, Phuket dropped down to 10th…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Mega-projects underscoring China’s growing economic clout – Insight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Insight – Cambodia’s $11-billion mystery Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The remote district of Rovieng was once a battleground between Cambodian government troops and Pol Pot’s genocidal Khmer Rouge. Unexploded bombs still lurk in its fields and forests. So does something more desirable – iron ore – and…
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Russian motorcyclist hit by runaway wheel dies in ICU
PHUKET: The Russian motorcyclist who was hit by a runaway wheel on Thepkrasattri Road on February 6 has died (story here). Alexey Balabko, 26, had been in the ICU at Bangkok Phuket Hospital since February 7. “He was taken off life support on February 12 because he was not responding to stimuli,” a hospital representative told the Phuket Gazette. Mr…
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Murder trial starts for Dokset
PHUKET: Stein Havard Dokset, the retired car dealer from Norway who confessed to accidentally killing his girlfriend and keeping her decomposing body in a trash bin in his house, was in court on Tuesday as his murder trial began (story here).Mr Dokset, 51, could face the death penalty under section 288 of Thai law, which stipulates 15 to 20 years…
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Thailand News: Impact of the clash in the deep South
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Raids aim for psychological impact Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Separatist attempts to overrun military bases in the deep South, like the one that occurred yesterday morning in Narathiwat’s Bacho district, are rare. Most attacks involve roadside bombings, ambushes on patrolling troops or point-blank shootings…
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Phuket Gazette World Sports: Real Madrid vs Man United
Ronaldo in showcase as United come to town Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo faces former club Manchester United for the first time in a mouth-watering Champions League last-16 first leg at the Bernabeu tonight dripping in history and intrigue. The world’s most expensive player has won over the Bernabeu faithful with some breathtaking performances and…
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Army repels major insurgent attack in South; Marines credit villagers for help
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai insurgents attack southern army base, 16 dead including Maloso Jantarawadee, leader of the Runda Kumpalan Kecil insurgent group Reuters / Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: A pre-dawn raid on a Thai military base ended with 16 Muslim insurgents killed today in the deadliest violence in…
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Phuket takes precautionary measures after terrorist threats to US consulate in Chiang Mai
PHUKET: Phuket’s top cop has increased security measures across the island in the wake of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung’s warning of possible Al-Qaeda and Salafist terrorists attacks on the United States consulate in Chiang Mai this month (story here). “Although the information gathered pointed to terrorist plans to target the United States consulate in Chiang Mai, we will not…
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Educational jellyfish signs erected on Phuket’s popular beaches
PHUKET: A collaborative effort between the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) and the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office has seen educational signs about jellyfish springing up on beaches across Phuket. “The signs are set up on popular beaches, not because there are many jellyfish in those areas, but because they have so many visitors,” Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Director…
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Phuket Gazette World Sports: Celtic “hell”; Too much English; IOC moves surprises wrestling and Pakistan
Conte amazed to leave Celtic “hell” with handsome win Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Juventus coach Antonio Conte has suffered much in recent months but coming away from the “hell” of a noisy and fervent Celtic Park with a 3-0 win in their Champions League last 16 first leg felt like an enormous relief. The Italian champions, who again lead…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Tortured girl smiles; Curfews possible; Kissing Stevie G
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tortured slave girl learns to smile again Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Sympathy and support is pouring in for a Karen girl who was allegedly kidnapped, enslaved, tortured and scarred over half of her body by a couple in Kamphaeng Phet. Her alleged attackers, Natee…
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Phuket Business: Not in front of the children
PHUKET: While working from home might seem like a practical option for workers in Thailand wanting to cut commutes and spend more time on their personal lives, the reality is somewhat different. According to a survey conducted by Regus, the world’s largest provider of flexible workplaces, six in ten respondents who work from home in Thailand revealed that they’re regularly…
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Phuket migrant with hangover misses first day of work, drowns in abandoned tin mine
PHUKET: A man from Mukdahan province who had just found work in Phuket drowned in an abandoned tin mine in Chalong yesterday. Police received a report around noon that Kamdee Kammoon, 35, had gone missing after entering the water-filled old tin mine on Soi Na Yai in Chalong. “When we arrived we saw his jeans by the side of the…
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Phuket Business: Inflation up for Chinese NY
PHUKET: The head of the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Phuket Office said that the 300 baht daily minimum wage has contributed to market inflation ahead of the Chinese New Year festivities. DIT-Phuket Chief Supacha Bunthalit told the Phuket Gazette that increased wages directly increase base costs for farmers, suppliers and vendors. “Of course it [the minimum wage rise] is…
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Phuket Gazette World News: North Korea tests nuclear bomb; Iran could be next
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korea confirms third atomic test Phuket Gazette / The Nation / DPA PHUKET: North Korea said Tuesday it had carried out its third atomic test, the official Korean Central News Agency reported. Earlier UN’s Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization said North Korea was suspected to have…
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Phuket Pharmacy fined for illegally selling prescription drugs
PHUKET: A pharmacy in Chalong faced a lot of brass yesterday as Phuket Vice Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak, Damrongtham Center (Ombudsman’s Office) chief Prapan Kanprasang, Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol and Phuket Public Health officers followed up on allegations that the store was illegally selling prescription drugs without a pharmacist on duty. “A local resident told our staff that the pharmacy was…
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Phuket prisoners don berets for scout training
PHUKET: A group of 60 male and female prisoners at Phuket Provincial Prison donned their green berets and picked up their red sticks (mai ngam) for the opening ceremony of a scout training course yesterday. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut chaired the opening ceremony of the first guide course running from February 11 to February 14. “It is part of the…
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