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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 motorbike taxi driver found dead in canal

    Phuket motorbike taxi driver found dead in canal

    PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of man whose body was found in a canal in central Phuket late yesterday afternoon with a deep cut under his chin. Thalang Police led by Duty Officer Kitthiphum Thinthalang arrived at the scene, a canal behind the Thalang Victory Memorial Field (map here), at 6:15pm. Local residents identified the man as 53-year-old local…

  • Two in Lamborghini survive after slamming into power poles in Chon Buri

    Two in Lamborghini survive after slamming into power poles in Chon Buri

    PHOTOS: Issara Parinyothai A father and son, driving in a Lamborghini sports car, have survived after colliding with power poles in Chon Buri, north of Pattaya. Emergency responders were notified of the incident yesterday on Sukhumwit Road in Chon Buri city area, south of Bangkok. At the scene found the damaged ‘Aventador’ Lamborghini sport car valued 34 million baht in…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Middle East news round-up

    Phuket Gazette World News: Middle East news round-up

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egyptian draft law said to dash hopes of free civil society Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A law drafted by the Egyptian presidency for regulating non-governmental organisations dashes hopes for a free civil society after the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, Human Rights Watch said yesterday.…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Obec bows over schools; Chalerm to head BRN peace talks; Hot rods a mystery; Bomb blast ‘from the heart’

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Obec bows over schools; Chalerm to head BRN peace talks; Hot rods a mystery; Bomb blast ‘from the heart’

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pupils at small schools to use facilities at other sites: OBEC The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Office of Basic Education Commission (Obec) bowed to public pressure yesterday, with Obec secretary-general Chinnapat Bhumirat announcing no small schools would be closed this academic year. Instead, pupils will be…

  • Five arrested over attack on Kedah royal family bodyguard

    Five arrested over attack on Kedah royal family bodyguard

    PHUKET: Police today arrested five men for the attack on a Kedah royal family bodyguard at a high-end resort in Patong just after midnight on Tuesday. Four of the men, including three Malaysians, were arrested while trying to exit Thailand at the busy Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla province. The first arrest was made at a rented house in Sikao District…

  • No blockade: Phuket taxis called to the rescue [Video Report] | Thaiger

    No blockade: Phuket taxis called to the rescue [Video Report]

    PHUKET: Following the confusion at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port this morning (story here), it has come to light that the hundreds of taxis, tour vans and tuk-tuks at the gate to Phuket’s key port facility were called to the rescue of the thousands of US Navy servicemen and women looking to enjoy shore leave on the island. The armada of…

  • Phuket murder trail leads to Hungary

    Phuket murder trail leads to Hungary

    PHUKET: Royal Thai Police investigating the murder of 39-year-old Hungarian businessman Laszlo Csapai may travel to Hungary to question a key witness, the Phuket Gazette has confirmed. The witness, currently jailed in Hungary, claims he saw prime suspect Moshe David murder Mr Csapai and bury the body, Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander Kiattipong Khaosum-ang explained. Following the witness’ testimony, Thai…

  • US Navy sailors caught in Phuket taxi blockade

    US Navy sailors caught in Phuket taxi blockade

    UPDATE: This story has since been updated through the stories ‘No blockade: Phuket taxis called to the rescue [Video Report]’ (click here) and ‘US Navy transport contractor reaches agreement with Phuket taxis’ (click here). PHUKET: Taxi drivers have set up a blockade at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port, where the USS Nimitz and the USS Princeton are anchored. According to reports,…

  • Phuket FC swoops down on Krabi Andaman Eagles

    Phuket FC swoops down on Krabi Andaman Eagles

    PHUKET: The Islanders advanced to 4th place of the 18-team Yamaha League One (YL1) after downing Krabi FC in a Phang Nga Bay derby match last night in Phuket Town. Despite Krabi dominating the attack early on, the two Southern sides went into the locker rooms at half time scoreless. The deadlock was broken eight minutes into the second half,…

  • Phuket hosts full-scale tsunami drill

    Phuket hosts full-scale tsunami drill

    PHUKET: A total of about 300 emergency-response officers from Phuket and Phang Nga joined forces to stage a full-scale tsunami evacuation and sea rescue drill off the northern tip of Phuket yesterday.The drill started with the sounding of the tsunami warning alarm, prompting the officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in Phuket and Phang Nga to…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Luxury cars gone in 60 seconds

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Luxury cars gone in 60 seconds

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Luxury cars worth Bt100 million destroyed in semi-trailer fire Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: A semi-trailer transporting six luxury cars caught fire on the Mitraparp Highway in Nakhon Ratchasima early yesterday morning.The fire destroyed one BMW, two Lamborghinis and a Mercedes Benz, causing damage of about Bt100…

  • Swedish Muay Thai fighter found dead on Koh Lanta | Thaiger

    Swedish Muay Thai fighter found dead on Koh Lanta

    PHUKET: The body of a Swedish Muay Thai fighter was found yesterday at the popular tourist island Koh Lanta, across the bay from Phuket.Police and rescue workers arrived at a rental room at the Otto Bar after receiving a report of a dead foreigner. Police named the man as “Kasper Pobias Byreborg”, 29.“We believe he had been dead for about…

  • Damaged Phuket tourist ferry to be recovered

    Damaged Phuket tourist ferry to be recovered

    PHUKET: Efforts are underway to recover the ferry Puean Foong II, which started taking on water in heavy seas yesterday afternoon with more than 100 tourists on board (story here). The boat was returning from Phi Phi Island to Phuket when strong waves punctured the hull, explained Samphan Aiyara, managing director of Friendship Sea Tour Co Ltd, which owns the…

  • Phuket Finance: Golden rules for investing | Thaiger

    Phuket Finance: Golden rules for investing

    PHUKET: Being a successful investor over the long-term is not going to be easy, but if you have been a bad investor in the past, who has lost money investing, chances are it is because you didn’t follow these simple, yet essential rules.Educate yourself about investing Walk into any bookstore and you will likely see several shelves of books covering…

  • Australian ‘Couple on the Run’ to tackle Laguna Marathon

    Australian ‘Couple on the Run’ to tackle Laguna Marathon

    PHUKET: Australian ‘Couple on the Run’ Andrew and Sue O’Brien will take on the Laguna Phuket International Marathon on June 9 in the latest step of their worldwide running mission to promote shared exercise as a means of achieving personal goals.Melbourne based Sue and Andrew became known as the Couple on the Run in 2008 when they ran eight marathons…

  • Phuket FC look to swoop down on Krabi Andaman Eagles tonight

    Phuket FC look to swoop down on Krabi Andaman Eagles tonight

    PHUKET: Despite a tough away draw last Saturday in Trat, Phuket FC are in high spirits ahead of tonight’s Yamaha League One (YL1) Phang Nga Bay derby match with Southern rivals, Krabi FC. The all-Southern match-up, both sides 13th of the 34-fixture YL1 2013 season, will be played at Phuket’s Surakul Stadium with a 6:30pm kickoff (click here for map).…

  • Phuket motorbike thief blames island’s lack of public transport

    Phuket motorbike thief blames island’s lack of public transport

    PHUKET: A 24-year-old local handyman says Phuket’s lack of public transport is the reason he stole a motorbike to go visit a friend. Phuket City Police arrested Koson Hongthong yesterday morning at the old weekend market on Phang Nga Road in Phuket Town (map here). Mr Koson was found in possession of a Yamaha Fino that was reported stolen by…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: F-15 crashes – pilot safe; Obama to discuss security concerns; US workers injured in strip club crossfire

    Phuket Gazette World News: F-15 crashes – pilot safe; Obama to discuss security concerns; US workers injured in strip club crossfire

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. Air Force fighter jet crashes off Japan, pilot survives Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A U.S. Air Force fighter jet crashed in the Pacific Ocean off the Japanese island of Okinawa yesterday morning, but the pilot was safely recovered after ejecting from the aircraft,…

  • Phuket on alert for German fugitive

    Phuket on alert for German fugitive

    PHUKET: Police across Phuket are on alert for a German fugitive who managed to escape Australian police officers guarding him as they waited for a connecting flight at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.Carlo Konstantin Kohl, a 25-year-old burglary suspect, escaped from the airport’s “day room” – a waiting room for transit passengers who do not need to go through immigration formalities –…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Security boost in wake of bomb blast; Peace talks behind surge in South violence; Rural doctors’ pay fight escalates

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Security boost in wake of bomb blast; Peace talks behind surge in South violence; Rural doctors’ pay fight escalates

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police track components of bomb used in Bangkok The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Police investigating Sunday night’s bomb blast in Bangkok’s Soi Ramkhamhaeng 43/1 suspect the bomb components were purchased at a local store two to three days before the explosion.The motive for the bombing, which injured…

  • Navy shore-leave to inject 1 million dollars into economy

    Navy shore-leave to inject 1 million dollars into economy

    PHUKET: The island’s economy – especially at the party town of Patong – will be getting an early low-season boost thanks to this week’s visit by the American Navy supercarrier, USS Nimitz along with its armed missile-cruiser escort, the USS Princeton, which both moored off Phuket early this morning. Topping off a week-long journey through the South China Sea, and…

  • Phuket Police post YouTube video of gold shop suspect, unmasked

    Phuket Police post YouTube video of gold shop suspect, unmasked

    PHUKET: Police have posted a YouTube video showing the man they believe committed the gold shop murder-burglary in Phuket on April 8 in the hope that members of the public can identify him. The CCTV footage shows a man with a slight limp smoking as he walks back and forth in front of the C.P. Gold Master & Jewelry store…

  • Phuket Immigration: Deporting, blacklisting foreigners for drug charges since 1979

    Phuket Immigration: Deporting, blacklisting foreigners for drug charges since 1979

    PHUKET: Following the recent spate of foreigners being charged with minor drug offenses, the chief of Phuket Immigration today confirmed that all foreigners arrested for drug use, or any drug-related offense, are transferred to Bangkok and deported – following the Immigration Act BE 2522.“The law is not new. It has been in use since 1979. Any foreigners found guilty in…

  • Phuket Business: Cashing in on Russian relations – Part II

    Phuket Business: Cashing in on Russian relations – Part II

    PHUKET: Mr Phisak Nivataphand, the president of the Thai-Russian Chamber of Commerce and advisor for the Russian Studies Center of Chulalongkorn University, was in Phuket recently to give a speech as part of a seminar aimed at promoting Thai-Russian business relations . Organized by Thai-Russian media firm, Expert Media Co Ltd, the seminar was held at the Royal Phuket Marina.…

  • Phuket tourist safety, security tops Chinese ambassador’s agenda

    Phuket tourist safety, security tops Chinese ambassador’s agenda

    PHUKET: The Chinese Ambassador to Thailand has placed tourists’ safety and security at the top of his agenda for his visit to Phuket tomorrow, the Phuket Gazette has learned.Ambassador Guan Mu will meet with Phuket Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa to discuss a range of issues affecting tourists and expats.“The Chinese Ambassador and his team are going to discuss Chinese tourists’…

  • Longtail boats resume island tours after Krabi storm

    Longtail boats resume island tours after Krabi storm

    PHUKET: Krabi longtail boat operators have resumed tourist services to outlying islands following storm seas capsizing much of the local fleet on Saturday. The move to resume tours to the islands in Thailand’s iconic boats comes despite warnings by the Thai Meteorological Department for small boats to stay on shore. The decision follows damage to 77 longtail boats on Saturday,…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Gangs suspected in Bangkok blast; Red shirts, white masks; Tusks trimmed after fatal elephant attack; All silent on Bangkok F1 noise

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Gangs suspected in Bangkok blast; Red shirts, white masks; Tusks trimmed after fatal elephant attack; All silent on Bangkok F1 noise

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police suspect gang rivalry behind Ramkhamhaeng blast The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police suspect that conflict between gangs involved in extortion from roadside vendors was behind the small explosion on Ramkhamhaeng Road, near Ramkhamhaeng University, on Sunday night. Police and National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Syria fighting intensifies; UK, France clear to send arms; US McCain meets rebels; Turkey forgers busted; Ireland defends Apple tax

    Phuket Gazette World News: Syria fighting intensifies; UK, France clear to send arms; US McCain meets rebels; Turkey forgers busted; Ireland defends Apple tax

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria fighting rages, more chemical attacks reported Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Heavy fighting raged around the strategic Syrian border town of Qusair and the capital Damascus on Monday and further reports surfaced of chemical weapons attacks by President Bashar al-Assad’s forces on rebel areas.The Syrian military pounded…

  • Phuket lifeguards linger on beaches another month, contract pending

    Phuket lifeguards linger on beaches another month, contract pending

    PHUKET: Lifeguards are staying on Phuket’s key tourist beaches for another month, as the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) wades through the Phuket Lifeguard Club’s contract again this year, beginning yet another saga (story here). To ensure the safety of tourists and residents at the approach of monsoon weather – often the cause of dangerous swimming conditions – the PPAO…

  • Phuket Brake Failure: 10-wheeler flies off Patong Hill

    Phuket Brake Failure: 10-wheeler flies off Patong Hill

    PHUKET: The brakes on a 10-wheeled truck failed as it descended into Patong this morning, sending the heavy vehicle careening off the road and into a roadside ditch.No injuries were reported from the accident, Lt Col Nikorn Chuthong of the Patong Police said.Truck driver Somneuk Cherngthorn, 41, was delivering a small load of merchandise from Phuket Town at about 9:30am…