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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Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Phuket Gazette World News: Budget cuts to slash U.S. Army to smallest since pre-World War Two
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Budget cuts to slash U.S. Army to smallest since before World War Two Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The Pentagon said on Monday it would shrink the U.S. Army to pre-World War Two levels, eliminate the popular A-10 aircraft and reduce military benefits in order to meet…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Pakistani village gives girls pioneering sex education class
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pakistani village gives girls pioneering sex education class Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: In neat rows, the Pakistani girls in white headscarves listened carefully as the teacher described the changes in their bodies. When the teacher asked what they should do if a stranger touched them, the class…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Violent deaths shake Bangkok to core
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Death, injury toll jumps after attacks Phuket Gazette/ The NationPHUKET: The number of casualties from political violence over the past three months has surged to 21 dead and 762 people injured nationwide since November 30.Of this number, 718 were injured in Bangkok, two in Rayong, eight in…
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Tourists shocked as Phuket beach water turns rancid again in Karon, this time black
PHUKET: Locals, tourists and officials were shocked yesterday as water at one of Phuket’s most famous beaches turned rancid and black. The stinking water flowed from Nong Han Canal across Karon Beach and into the ocean at a rate that transformed the color of the sea, Village Chief Winai Chidchiew told the Phuket Gazette. “I went to see it myself…
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Phuket student wins national spelling competition
PHUKET: Darasamuth Phuket School student AJ Grosvenor won first place at the national spelling competition in Bangkok on February 19. The 10-year-old Por 4 student studies under Andy Dawson in the English Program at the school in Phuket Town.Grosvenor won first place in the Phuket round, then first place again in the southern provinces round and completed his hat trick…
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Fire erupts on Toh Sae Hill, destroys two rai of Phuket jungle
PHUKET: Flames engulfed the dense jungle on Toh Sae Hill on Friday night after a dry tree caught on fire, most likely from a discarded cigarette, said a Phuket firefighter.Phuket City Municipality Firefighter Chief Pairat Sulin was notified of the fire by residents and led his brigade to the scene near the Khao Toh Sae Viewpoint at about 11pm.“When we…
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Phuket maid pulled from bus to Bangkok with over B100,000 in stolen loot
PHUKET: A maid who had been working for two months at the home of a Phuket official made off with more than 100,000 baht in cash and valuables on Saturday, but was quickly apprehended.When Boonum Earjittrakul, a Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) council member, discovered that a gold bracelet valued at 104,250 baht and 10,000 baht in cash were missing…
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DMCR chief calls on Phuket residents, tourists to protect marine sanctuaries
PHUKET: An illegal fishing net found in a popular dive spot last week prompted officials to call on Phuket residents and tourists to help preserve ocean conservation areas by keeping an eye out for illegal fishing activities. “Last week a group of divers saved a lot of reef fish trapped in an enormous fishing net at Shark Point and provided…
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Police solicit help to catch ATM-scammer gangs operating on Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Police asked for help on Friday to bring scam artists to justice, noting that there are at least three gangs on the island targeting ATM customers. The conference followed the arrest of two French nationals for attempting to bribe police officers after being caught in an alleged ATM scam (story here). “People should be aware of possible scams…
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Phuket pounce on Pattaya
PHUKET: Yesterday was the first fixture of the Yamaha League One season and fans saw a spirited bout between Phuket FC and Pattaya United FC, who were relegated from the Thai Premier League this year, resulting in a 1-0 final score that secured victory for the Ronins. As the sun went to sleep, the crowd woke up, with about 4,000…
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Ukrainian expat falls to death from Phuket condo balcony
PHUKET: A 27-year-old Ukrainian man died early yesterday morning after attempting to climb from a fifth-floor balcony of a Phuket Town condo to his home on the fourth floor.Phuket City Police were notified of the incident by the building’s security guard at 1:10am and rushed to the scene with Kusoldharm Rescue workers. “We found the body of Oler Volkov on…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine sets European course after ouster of Yanukovich
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine sets European course after ouster of Yanukovich Phuket Gazette/ ReutersPHUKET: Ukraine’s interim leadership pledged to put the country back on course for European integration now that Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich has been ousted from the presidency, while the United States warned Russia against sending in its forces.As…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Yingluck leaves Bangkok as bombs, gunfire punctuate unrest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai PM leaves Bangkok as bombs, gunfire punctuate unrest Phuket Gazette/ ReutersPHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the target of anti-government protesters who have blocked parts of Bangkok for weeks, has left the city and is staying 150 km away, her office said on Monday, without specifying the…
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Hazardous Phuket moorings removed from Chalong Bay
PHUKET: Eight unmarked concrete moorings near the Chalong Pier fairway that are believed to have sunk two boats within the last year were removed last Friday. “I think it is best to have the blocks near the fairway removed to prevent further accidents,” said Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, maintaining that no blocks exist within the approach channel itself.…
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German woman takes fatal fall down stairs in Phuket
PHUKET: A 72-year-old German woman died yesterday after falling down a flight of steep stairs at a rented house near Nai Thon Beach. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the incident at 7:30pm and rushed to the scene with rescue workers. At the house on Sakoo-Nai Thon Road, police found the body of Margret Hiller lying at the bottom…
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Finn struck by car while crossing Phuket Road
PHUKET: A 25-year-old Finnish man was struck and injured by a car as he was crossing the road in Kamala early this morning. Robin Straka had crossed the Kalim-Kamala Road to use the ATM at a Tesco Lotus. On his return, he suddenly stopped walking, and seemed to be thinking about something, witnesses told police. “That was when he was…
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Phuket cops’ early morning raid nets 11 thieves, drug users
PHUKET: Police netted nearly a dozen snatch-theft and drug suspects during an early morning raid in Phuket Town yesterday. CCTV images of suspects stealing bags from two foreigners on Thalang Road in Phuket Town on Tuesday allowed officers to identify the suspects’ den on Srisena Road. The police raid on the house led to five teenagers being charged for ‘theft…
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Phuket Opinion: Navigating the ‘expat hump’
PHUKET: I openly admit that I had no idea what I was walking into when I decided to move to Phuket last August. Not only had I never been to Thailand, but I had never even left my vacuum-sealed bubble of a home country: America. The gravity of my move became immediately apparent as I left the airport. The sights…
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Phuket Opinion: Forging a place for women on the force
Chollada Chokdeesrijun, 23, graduated from the Royal Police Cadet Academy last year and started working at the Chalong Police Station on November 1. Originally from Bangkok, she and her family moved to Phang Nga when she was 13 years old. Here Lt Chollada talks about why it is important to have women on the police force, and the challenges she…
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Phuket Opinion: ‘Bangkok-centric’ travel slows Phuket progress
PHUKET: There are many different indices used to assess how developed a country is. Fortunately for Thailand, the state of the domestic aviation industry is not among them, because if it were, the country would not fare well in the ratings. In many countries, regional carriers operating small turboprop commuter planes on scheduled routes in lean markets are an important…
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Patong Tunnel compensation for evicted Phuket villagers jumps to B2.56bn
PHUKET: The funds for compensating Phuket landowners who would be displaced by the construction of the Patong Tunnel have more than doubled, jumping from 1 billion baht to 2.56bn baht. The Chief Inspector-General of the Ministry of Transport, Somchai Chanrod, made the announcement in Phuket earlier this week. It was not clarified whether the government had expanded the number of…
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Phuket Business: Hooters restaurant to open in Patong
PHUKET: Hooters of America, LLC, the well-known hospitality franchise that employs attractive young waitresses to help lure customers, recently announced a development agreement with an international franchisee to open three Hooters locations in Thailand over the next three years. Destination Resorts Co Ltd will introduce the iconic brand and dining destination to the country, with the first Hooters location scheduled…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: CMPO seeks clarification; Social classes discovered in ancient Issan communities; WTO notified of alleged rice dumping
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CMPO seeks understanding over inability to control rallies Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The government’s Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) called for understanding from the public yesterday about its inability to enforce the law and control anti-government rallies following Civil Court’s ruling on Wednesday.CMPO member…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: Nepal will enforce tighter controls of climbers on Mount Everest to ensure the world’s highest peak is safe, officials said on Friday, after a fight last April between three Europeans and a large group of…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: President Barack Obama held low-key talks with the Dalai Lama on Friday, prompting the Chinese government to ask why the White House ignored Beijing’s warnings that the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader would damage…
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![[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAyMjMgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested two French nationals for bribing an officer of the law yesterday, while a third man is still on the run. Karin Radoun, 28, was also charged with ATM fraud and being in the country illegally. He and Karim Akrour, 36, denied all the charges when presented to the press this morning. Police are still hunting for…
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Frenchwoman in fatal crash identified as Phuket yacht staff trainer
PHUKET: The foreigner killed in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road before dawn yesterday has been identified as French national Julie Humbert, 31. Her identity was confirmed by an employee of Thalang Hospital, where her body was taken after the crash (story here). “A co-worker contacted the hospital this morning after she heard the story. She identified Ms Humbert’s body…
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Local Phuket fishing competition out to catch it all
PHUKET: The annual “Yamu Night Fishing Game” kicks off tomorrow morning.The annual competition, aimed at promoting local fishing traditions in the area, is put on by Paklok Subdistrict Municipality (OrBorTor).“Only those fishing from longtail boats with local fishing equipment are allowed to participate. However, both Thais and foreigners are welcome to get involved,” said Paklok Public Relation staffer Samart Sensai.“If…
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Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire
PHUKET: A black-plate taxi carrying two foreigners to Phuket International Airport burst into flames on Thepkrasattri road at about 2pm today.It took villagers about 15 minutes and seven fire extinguishers to put out the fire, explained a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. No one was injured.“By the time we got there, the fire was already under control. At the scene were…
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Krabi resort owner vows legal action over demolition
PHUKET: The owner of the Poda Island Resort is threatening to sue the Department of National Parks (DNP) for dismantling his facilities. Chuan Pukaoluan, who has operated the resort for about 20 years, says that he had bought the plots of land the resort was built on legitimately. However, the courts determined that the structures were encroaching on a national…
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