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 Answers to the most common questions about international health insurance
If you’ve been thinking of staying in Thailand long-term, you’ve probably already asked the big question, “Do I actually need international health insurance?” It’s a question that often comes up among expats, digital nomads, retirees, and even frequent travellers. Sure,...
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Banker warns of boom in fake cards in Phuket
PHUKET: A senior banker has warned that there has been a dramatic rise in the number of counterfeit credit cards and ATM cards in Phuket and other tourism centers, such as Chiang Mai and Haad Yai. Prayootd Tansrisuwarn, Senior Vice President of Kasikorn Bank’s Retail and SME E-Business Department, told the Gazette that gangs of con artists are using “skimmer”…
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Phuket to lead Thailand in e-government
PHUKET: An Internet website offering one-stop service from 15 private-sector and government bodies will be launched in Phuket in September, making the province the first in Thailand to offer such a service. The initiative, known as “One Click Finish All: One Stop Services”, is being designed by the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA).When operational the website will give access to…
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Phuket-Koh Yao ferry service launching soon
KOH YAO: Sea Canoe Thailand Co is to launch a new ferry service between Phuket, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai next month, with two round-trip crossings a day, beginning August 13.The company has invested 6.5 million baht in the project, to be served by a 200-seat ferryboat, the Pachcharat One. The ferry will leave Mah Noh pier on…
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Phuket Tourist Association elects new leader
PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) has elected Maitree Narukatpichai as its new president, replacing Pattanapong Aekwanich, and has at the same time announced its policy agenda for 2006-2008.K. Maitree, Owners’ Representative of the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa, was elected, along with a new 18-member committee, at a meeting at the Phuket Merlin Hotel. The PTA elects a…
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Kathu voters elect new OrBorJor member
KATHU: Charnsak Phummak has won the Phuket Provincial Council by-election held in the Kathu area of District 2 on July 22. K. Charnsak now becomes a member of the council until the end of its four-year term in March, 2008.The by-election was held to replace former council member Boonma Eabsub, who resigned on June 1. Of 7,371 eligible voters in…
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Kamala tsunami memorial unveiled
KAMALA, PHUKET: Caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop this morning officially unveiled the tsunami memorial in Kamala.Kamala was one of the two towns in Phuket worst hit by the December 26, 2004, tsunami, the other being Patong.The memorial, which forms the centerpiece of a new park in the town, is a 10-meter-high metal sculpture called Jitt Jakawan (Heart of the…
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PGTV News Friday 21st July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the proposed Tsunami Memorial in Khao Lak which has received official approval, a look at how mob tactics may have worked to prevent further road accidents in Khor En, and we look at how english is being taught to officials to help them in their daily tasks. In addition to these…
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F1 boat racing for Phuket in 2008
PHUKET: The Formula 1 boat racing that was due to come to Phuket in March 2005 but was canceled following the tsunami, will come in 2008 instead, the Gazette learned today. Bangkok-based organizers Paragon Events announced that the Phuket race will take place from March 14 to 16, 2008, in the Deep Sea Port at Ao Makham. “The F1 UIM…
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Road deaths dip in June
PHUKET: Sixteen people died in traffic accidents in Phuket in June, according to official figures obtained from Vachira Phuket, Thalang and Patong government hospitals. This was slightly less than the monthly average of 18 deaths for the year to date.Of the 16 dead, 15 died in motorcycle accidents. The remaining death came in an accident involving a bicycle. During the…
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PGTV News Thursday 20th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features an update on the proposed Chalong-Patong highway, a look at how mobile phone numbers will be increased to ten digits, music from a famous Tibetan monk and musician and a story about how changing a flower’s name made it popular. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show…
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Gov calls meeting for dive industry regulation
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura will convene a public hearing to discuss impending changes aimed at regulating the island’s dive industry, some members of which have come under suspicion of evading taxes and employing foreign nationals without work permits.Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat told the Gazette on July 18 that the Governor has accepted the general concept of…
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PGTV News Wednesday 19th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features the latest information on the earthquake and tsunami in Java, a report on a large drugs bust in Phuket, advise on getting a dog and a trip to the Saphan Hin Flower fair. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about hydroponics and gardening…
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Mobile phone numbers to change
PHUKET: Mobile phone users will be giving their thumbs a serious workout between September 1 and November 30 as the country switches from nine-digit mobile numbers to 10-digit ones.The change, which will not apply to land lines, will be brought about by adding the number 8 after the initial zero. For example, a mobile number beginning with 01 will be…
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Gov backs Chalong-Patong highway
PHUKET CITY: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura has thrown his weight behind a proposal to build a 206-million-baht six-lane highway linking Patong with Chalong.At a meeting held today at the Royal Phuket City Hotel, Governor Udomsak explained that the highway would be 4.5 kilometers long and would follow the route of the current two-lane road leading to Wat Luang Phu Supha in…
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Police arrest school-run mum, seize 6,000 ya bah pills
PHUKET CITY: Police yesterday stopped a 25-year-old woman after she dropped her daughter off at Kajornkietsuksa School on Pattana Rd, and searched her car. In it they discovered 3,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills. She was also found to have 63,000 baht in her possession.Pol Col Phuwadol Vudduccanok, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, yesterday named the woman as Aroonporn…
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More direct flights to Phuket
PHUKET: The island’s tourism industry received a shot in the arm this week with the announcement by one of Denmark’s largest travel agencies that it will add two additional direct charter flights to Phuket weekly, starting in November, because current flights are already fully booked. Krabi received good news as well, with Singapore-based low-cost carrier Tiger Airways announcing that it…
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Jungceylon underway again
PATONG: After a lull of five months, construction of the huge Jungceylon mall project in Patong is once more underway, with the mall’s new owners saying that much of it will be open for business in November or December.Suchad Chiaranussati, Managing Director of Recap, which in February bought 95% of Phuket Square, which in turn owns Jungceylon, said that the…
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PGTV News Friday 14th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds features a story about four new libraries being built in Phuket, a look at two fairs and the Hotel exhibition and a tasty visit to one of the island’s Thai cooking schools. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a local transexual. PGTV,…
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Raiders heading for Phuket
PHUKET: The island may still be waiting for the F1 boat races to come but, in the meantime, waterborne entertainment of a different kind will be heading for Phuket in December, in the form of the Rubson Raid Turquoise 2006. The Rubson Raid, now in its sixth year, was devised by Belgian Philippe Martin as an event for large, fast,…
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Aussie plans to launch second helitour firm
PHUKET: Australian Harry Kerylidis this morning met with Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura to solicit his support to launch Phuket Heli-Tours, which would become the island’s second helicopter tour company.Mr Kerylidis explained that the idea originated from Capt Bob Pagett who, he said, has been operating helicopter tours in Queensland, Australia, “flying stars around” for the past seven years, and now…
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Phuket to get four new libraries soon
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is close to completing what it calls “E-Libraries” at four locations on the island, with the goal of providing wider access to reading materials and information technology to all island residents.The libraries will, naturally, have books, with staff keeping track of those out on loan through a computer network linking all four…
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PGTV News Wednesday 12th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening finds out why an angry mob blocked Thepkrasatri Rd. We also look at the World Cup final in the Green Man and visit the Kathu Waterfall. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a young “Luk Kreung”. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily…
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PGTV News Tuesday 11th July 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News this evening features a story about the airport limousine concession, news about rising gold and sugar prices, and a look at “pretty” girls. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with property consultant Bill Barnett. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on the Phuket…
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Moviemakers seek extras
PHUKET CITY: Thai Occidental Productions is calling for extras for its production Man Eaters, a series of five 90-minute, made-for-television movies to filmed on location in Krabi. Interested people of all nationalities, races and ages are encouraged to attend either of the two audition sessions being held by the production company on Sunday. In Phuket, auditions will be held from…
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Angry mob blocks main road after crash death
MAI KHAO (Krungthep Turakij): A mob of around 200 villagers from Baan Kho En blocked Thepkrasattri Rd near the entrance to Yacht Haven on Saturday in protest after a local woman was knocked off her motorbike and killed on a tight bend in the road.Following the accident, at around 1 pm, a crowd came from the village and erected tents…
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Build it and they will come
PHITSANULOKE: Found in all civilized parts of the world, the short-time hotel reaches its apotheosis in Bangkok, where places that have parking spaces with curtains have hosted innumerable trysts while successfully keeping their clients out of the view of prying eyes and potential blackmailers. Unfortunately, short-time hotels are not evenly distributed around Thailand and, where they can be found, they…
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Tipple, piddle, topple
At first police thought it might be a case of suicide when local real estate magnate Siri, 52, was found dead in the early hours of the morning on the ground below the balcony of his home. After searching the man’s apartment and finding no signs of a struggle or break-in, police were coming to the conclusion that poor Siri,…
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Dates set for provincial by-elections
PHUKET CITY: By-elections are to be held to fill two positions in the Phuket Provincial Council after one member resigned and another died. The first by-election will be held on July 22 in the Kathu area in District 2. The 17 polling stations will be open from 8 am to 3 pm. The member for this constituency, Boonma Eabsub, resigned…
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Limo drivers make concessions to keep concession
THALANG: The Phuket Limousine and Business Services Cooperative (PBC) has won the concession to continue serving Phuket International Airport.In return, however, the PBC has been forced to agree to improve its level of service and has had to drop its long-standing opposition to service desks inside the arrivals terminal for the rival meter-taxis and Airport Bus service.The conditions were laid…
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FantaSea to add “attractions’
KAMALA (The Nation): Phuket FantaSea theme park will add three new attractions this year: the Similan Entertainment Center, the Songbird Luminarie and the Tiger Adventure Safari.Phuket FantaSea CEO Kittikorn “Pin” Kewkacha said the Similan Entertainment Center, to be located in the park’s Festival Village, will open July 14. The center will showcase the ocean world and feature games, novelty shops,…
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