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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Sponsored How one hospital visit in Thailand could cost more than your whole trip
Thailand is a favourite spot for travellers who want to enjoy more while spending less. From cheap street food to low-cost hotels and fun attractions, it’s easy to stretch your budget here. But there’s one thing many people don’t think...
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World News: Talks to break US “fiscal cliff” resumed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both sides hint at renewed talks on U.S. “fiscal cliff” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With little to show after a month of posturing, the White House and Republicans in Congress dropped hints yesterday that they had resumed low-level private talks on breaking the stalemate over…
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International Boxing: Bout has all the makings of a classic
Marquez and Pacquiao both aim for vindication Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Tomorrow’s non-title welterweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez has all the makings of a classic as the two fighters prepare to meet for a fourth and, almost certainly, final time in the ring. Their previous three encounters were gripping, all-action affairs between Filipino Pacquiao, probably…
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Phuket Sports: New Brazilian unveiled by Phuket United
PHUKET: Phuket United unveiled their new Brazilian signing, Jardel de Andrade Apolonio, a defensive player from the Liga Futsal League of Brazil, this week. The 29-year old player will wear the number 29 shirt. In an interview with the Phuket Gazette Jardel describes his thoughts on the eve of his first match with the Andaman Pearl: “I like Phuket and…
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Phuket tsunami film ‘The Impossible’ drawing crowds, but no criticism
PHUKET: Although initially thought by some as insensitive, The Impossible, which recounts a Spanish family’s survival and struggle to be reunited in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami, is drawing crowds, but no criticism, in Phuket. The blockbuster film starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor was shot at a variety of locations in Phuket, with many extras being chosen…
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Police add Thai suspect to Phuket murder manhunt
PHUKET: Moshe David, prime suspect for the murder of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz in Phuket, was presented to the press today after his arrest in Bangkok yesterday. During a press conference in Surat Thani, home to the popular tourist island Koh Samui, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanit announced that officers were now searching for a Thai man…
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Nepal’s former crown prince shipped to Bangkok: Phuket Police
PHUKET: Nepal’s former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev was transferred to Bangkok on December 4 to face charges at Thonglor Police Station, the Phuket Gazette was told. A senior officer involved in the case, who asked not to be named, told the Gazette that Mr Shah was transferred to Bangkok at 10pm on Tuesday. “He was sent to…
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Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge Phuket Gazette / Nation Breaking News PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with conspiracy to murder related to the death of a civilian during the red-shirt protests in…
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World News: 77-year-old rescued in aftermath of Typhoon Bopha; 332 dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Philippines finds elderly survivor after typhoon kills 332 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rescue workers found a 77-year-old man alive today who had survived on coconuts for two days after a powerful typhoon ravaged the south of the Philippines killing 332 people, with hundreds missing. A…
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Letter from the Phuket Governor: Safety first, with urban growth a close second
Maitri Inthusut arrived on the island to take up the position of Governor of Phuket on October 8. With a master’s degree in political science from Thammasat University, he joined the National Security Council, rising to the position of NSC Secretary-General, before taking up the position of Chief Secretary for the Secretariat of the Cabinet. He has also served as…
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Phuket Finance: Bonding with your portfolio
PHUKET: People usually think of bonds as safe investments, although I have written before about the dangers that are not so obvious to investors. The reason they can be dangerous in a low interest rate environment, such as we are in now, is because as interest rates rise, the market value of a bond or portfolio of bonds drops, and…
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Kata Reef roped off for swimmer, diver safety
PHUKET: A local contingent of marine safety officials and conservationists have installed a “reef line” around the North Kata Reef to protect swimmers, scuba divers and snorkelers from boat traffic and to prevent damage to the reef. Staff from the Marine Safety Center and volunteers from the environmental conservation organization, Go Eco Phuket, joined forces with local government agencies to…
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Laguna Phuket issues statement over baby elephants
PHUKET: The management at Laguna Resorts & Hotels, which operates the five-hotel resort complex on Phuket’s west coast, have issued a statement about the baby elephant “Joey”, which was seized in raids in Phuket in February. Ziya Birkan, Deputy Managing Director at Laguna Resorts & Hotels, wrote in the statement: “We’re very pleased the authorities have resolved the question of…
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Alleged killer of Hungarian businessman caught in Bangkok
PHUKET: Police arrested Israeli-Hungarian dual national Moshe David at a shopping mall in Bangkok today for the killing of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found hidden with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Phuket on November 29. “We are now searching for another suspect in the case,” Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Father of the Nation
PHUKET: Today, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, turns 85 years old.Looking back in time, the circumstances surrounding HM King Bhumibol’s 1946 ascension to the throne couldn’t have been more remarkable. Born the second son to Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, the brother of King Prachadhipok (Rama VII), neither the King nor his elder brother…
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Phuket honors HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday
PHUKET: A host of special ceremonies are being held across Phuket today to honor and celebrate HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday, as well as Father’s Day. The ceremonies kicked off at 6:30am with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut and a host of other public dignitaries leading the offering of alms to 86 monks as part of a blessing ceremony to…
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Nationwide manhunt for alleged killer of Hungarian businessman
PHUKET: A nationwide manhunt was launched for the alleged executioner of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found hidden with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Patong Hill on November 29. “We have contacted every local police station on the island, and immigration offices nationwide, with information about the arrest warrant for dual Israeli-Hungarian national Moshe David,” said…
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Phuket Business: HotelTravel – here to stay
PHUKET: After 13 years building his company from the ground up, Phuket expat Blair Speers set a local business benchmark last month when he sold HotelTravel.com (HT) to the Indian based travel and e-commerce group that operates MakeMyTrip.com. Shortly after the US$25 million (760mn baht) acquisition was finalized, executives from the MakeMyTrip Ltd Group (MMT) met with employees at the…
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Phuket residents urged to support Christmas blood drive
PHUKET: As the Christmas and New Year festive season draws closer, Phuket’s residents are being asked to donate blood to ensure an adequate supply is available for hospitals to deal with emergencies. The Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) mobile donation clinic will be out and about during December to collect blood donations from the public. “We need all blood types,…
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Phuket Business: Chapel bells boost dress sales
PHUKET: The business of love continues on an upward trend, with Phuket’s Modern Wedding Studio reporting a spike in monthly sales volume by as much as 75% over the last three years. “Business shot through the roof after we were featured on a game show called ‘SME Tee Tak‘ a few years ago.” Mr Narin explained that the nationally televised…
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Krabi police seize 9 cars, M16 as meth ring crumbles
PHUKET: Police believe they have broken a major local drug network with the arrests of 13 suspects and the seizure of more than 6 million baht in drugs in Krabi province, across Phang Nga Bay from Phuket.During the raids, police also seized more than 5mn baht in assets, including nine cars and five firearms, Krabi Provincial Police Commander Nantadech Yoinuan…
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World News: Syrian jets bomb opposition forces near Damascus
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syrian forces pound Damascus suburbs Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syrian forces pounded rebel-held suburbs around Damascus with fighter jets and rockets yesterday, opposition activists said, killing and wounding dozens in an offensive to push rebels away from the airport and stop them closing in on the capital.The…
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International Cricket: Ponting given honor guard for final innings
PHUKET: Ricky Ponting’s test career came to a close with an anticlimactic innings of eight runs to leave Australia, chasing an improbable 632 for victory, struggling at 110 for three at lunch on the fourth day of the third test against South Africa today. The loss of David Warner for 29 and Shane Watson for 25 brought the former Australia…
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Aldhouse denies Phuket murder charge
PHUKET: British national Lee Aldhouse, charged with the murder of former US Marine Dashawn Longfellow in Phuket in 2010, has confessed to police to stabbing Mr Longfellow, but has denied any intention to kill him. Mr Aldhouse was extradited from the United Kingdom on Friday to stand trial in Phuket. He arrived at Phuket Airport on Saturday and was taken…
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Flames engulf Phuket dive shop
PHUKET: A newly constructed scuba diving shop and bar near the Kamala beachfront went up in flames early Sunday morning, causing an estimated one million baht in damage. It took the Kamala Fire Department about 20 minutes to dowse the flames that had engulfed Sunset Scuba and Snorkeling Center, but by that point the entire building had been gutted, Kamala…
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Alleged killer of Hungarian businessman named by Phuket police
PHUKET: Police obtained an arrest warrant today for the alleged executioner of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found with wrists tied in an isolated rubber plantation on Patong Hill in Kathu. The arrest warrant was issued for Moshe David, 38, a businessman based in Koh Samui, Thung Thong Police Superintendent Kraithong Chanthongbai said. “At this stage, police have…
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McCormack wins Ironman 70.3 Laguna Phuket
PHUKET: Chris ‘Macca’ McCormack made up for his poor showing at last weekend’s Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) by winning this morning’s Laguna IronMan 70.3 in a time of four hours and four minutes. He fended off the challenge of LPT winner Reudi Wild to mark his debut with a win. In the women’s event, Melissa Hauschildt won her second title,…
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Aldhouse back in Phuket
PHUKET: Accused murderer Lee Aldhouse arrived back in Phuket tonight at 8:11pm, on Flight 221 from Bangkok.Dressed in a black t-shirt and carrying his personal belongings in a large, clear plastic sack, the shaven-headed Aldhouse looked defiant and focused.He was accompanied by a large contingent of police officers, including members of the Tourist Police and Special Operations Unit. Aldhouse was…
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Go Eco Phuket brings students, community together for Kata cleanup
PHUKET: Go Eco Phuket, known on the island for staging the world’s biggest reef cleanup earlier this year, are gathering again with fellow community members, Kata Municipality workers, Hilton staff and an estimated 500 students from local schools for a Kata-Karon Beach and reef cleanup. Participants in the event will target both the beaches and the associated reefs that are…
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Phuket Opinion: Motoring Misery
PHUKET: As work on the 600-million-baht underpass at the Central Festival Phuket intersection gets underway, mounting concern among commuters now turns to seeking ways to cope with what promises to be a whole new level of motoring misery.Government agencies, including traffic police, have freely admitted that work on the project, scheduled for completion in mid-October 2014, is expected to cause…
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No Immigration fees, fines E-payment option in Phuket
PHUKET: The system of E-payments for Immigration fees and fines will not be launched in Phuket for the time being, Phuket Immigration chief Napat Nusen told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.The new system, which allows visitors to pay with a credit or debit card at the Immigration office, will only be launched in the Bangkok area, a Bangkok Immigration Bureau officer…
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