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 protesters to bolster ranks of anti-government rally in Bangkok

    Phuket protesters to bolster ranks of anti-government rally in Bangkok

    PHUKET: A group of Phuket anti-government protesters called the “Phuket Mass Power Group” will join the Pitak Siam anti-government rally at the Royal Plaza in Bangkok on Saturday. “We are not happy with the government’s work,” Apharat Chartchutikumjorn, Pitak Siam coordinator for Phuket, told the Phuket Gazette. “Pitak Siam leader Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit will lead thousands of us in a…

  • Police identify Russian tourist killed in Phuket car crash

    Police identify Russian tourist killed in Phuket car crash

    PHUKET: Police have identified the foreign man who died in a high-speed car crash early Saturday morning on a Phuket west-coast road as Andrei Pavlov, a 31-year-old Russian national. (Click here to see Phuket Breaking News report.) Patong Police inspector Pratuang Polmana confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that Mr Pavlov was a tourist living in rented accommodation in Kamala. “He…

  • Phuket Sports: Bowling for a good cause

    Phuket Sports: Bowling for a good cause

    PHUKET: The Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) hosted the Chris Hart Memorial T20 fund match on November 18 at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) last Sunday. The event was a huge success and the PCG would like to thank everyone that played, as well as all the supporters who turned out to pay their respects to Chris. In addition to giving…

  • Phuket FC get new head coach ahead of next season

    Phuket FC get new head coach ahead of next season

    PHUKET: The Islanders, Phuket FC have secured a new Head Coach, with an official announcement expected to be made this Saturday. Paniphon “Tu” Kerdyaem, a former coaching staff member of Thai Premier League team, Army United will fill the vacancy left by Anurak “June” Srikerd, who coached the struggling team in the final six matches of last season, and helped…

  • Thailand Futsal League – Phuket United down Samut Prakarn on the road

    Thailand Futsal League – Phuket United down Samut Prakarn on the road

    PHUKET: The island’s pro futsal team, Phuket United, were victorious in their second match of the Thailand Futsal Premier League 2012-2013 season, winning 3-0 on the road last night against Samut Prakarn United. Goals were scored by both of the club’s foreign players – Brazilian duo, Rogerio Moreira and Jackson Santos – as well as Thai player, Nattaphong Buachary. After…

  • Krabi Police clamp down on noisy motorbikes

    Krabi Police clamp down on noisy motorbikes

    PHUKET: Krabi Police destroyed more than 600 illegal motorbike exhaust pipes seized during police checks across the bay from Phuket in September. At a ceremony on Tuesday to mark the culmination of a campaign entitled “Youths join together: ride motorbikes without modified exhaust pipes”, Krabi Governor Prasit Osathanon and Krabi Police Commander Nantadech Yoinuan witnessed the crushing of the impounded…

  • Phuket councillor road death prompts by-election

    Phuket councillor road death prompts by-election

    PHUKET: The death of incumbent councillor Samart Piman in a Phuket road accident in September led to San Changlek being elected councillor to Rawai Municipality after a close by-election on Sunday. According to the preliminary vote count, Mr San received 895 votes, just 32 votes more than those cast for Sommai Yukunakorn, his only rival for the Ward 1 seat…

  • World News: Fragile truce takes hold; Bus bombing in Tel Aviv

    World News: Fragile truce takes hold; Bus bombing in Tel Aviv

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Hamas-Israel ceasefire takes hold but mistrust runs deep Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A ceasefire between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas rulers finally took hold today after eight days of conflict, although deep mistrust on both sides cast doubt on how long the Egyptian-sponsored deal can last.…

  • Champions League football: English riches not enough on European stage

    Champions League football: English riches not enough on European stage

    PHUKET: Real Madrid and AC Milan led a procession of six teams into the Champions League last 16 last night while big-spending Manchester City failed again on the European stage to further dent English soccer’s standing. Milan qualified with a 3-1 win at Anderlecht, their goals including a spectacular overhead kick by Philippe Mexes which was a near carbon copy…

  • Phuket biologists believe stranded dolphin now safely out to sea

    Phuket biologists believe stranded dolphin now safely out to sea

    PHUKET: Officers at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) who released a stranded Spinner dolphin back into the sea on Saturday are confident that it is now safe. “Our officers monitored the release area after letting the dolphin go on Saturday. We haven’t seen it return to the beach,” Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, who heads the PMBC’s Endangered Species Unit, told…

  • World News: Sesame Street’s Kevin Clash resigns over sex allegations

    World News: Sesame Street’s Kevin Clash resigns over sex allegations

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Voice actor of Elmo resigns amid underage sex allegations Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who has been on “Sesame Street” for more than 28 years and created the high-pitched voice of Muppet character Elmo, resigned yesterday after new allegations were made public that…

  • Phuket Business: Pepsi gets new Andaman arm

    Phuket Business: Pepsi gets new Andaman arm

    PHUKET: Super Cheap Co Ltd has taken over distribution of Pepsi beverage products in Phuket and two other key Andaman coastal provinces, a spokesperson from the local retail giant has confirmed.The development follows the expiration on November 1 of a long-running contract between the Thai subsidiary of Pepsi-Cola (PepsiCo) and local beverage firm Serm Suk.Prior to the split, Bangkok-based Serm…

  • Phuket Sports: IronTwins talk about competing

    Phuket Sports: IronTwins talk about competing

    PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette continues its build up to this year’s Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club IronKids on December 1. This week, Dutch twins Chloe and Maxime Schrijnemaekers, 10, are the featured IronKids.Chloe’s views on IronKidsPhuket Gazette: Why do you compete in IronKids?I really like the sport and love doing three sports combined into one event. Also, it gives me…

  • One Phuket swimmer drowns, one sent to hospital

    One Phuket swimmer drowns, one sent to hospital

    PHUKET: Two swimming* incidents on Koh Racha, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket, have left a Chinese woman dead and an Indian woman in hospital. (Click here to see Phuket Breaking News report.) Yuan Dingrong, 56, who was spending a week in Patong with nine of her family members, drowned after getting into difficulties while swimming* off Ao La (La…

  • World News: India hangs last Mumbai militant in first capital sentence since 2004

    World News: India hangs last Mumbai militant in first capital sentence since 2004

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community In great secrecy, India executes last surviving Mumbai attacker Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: India executed Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor of a militant squad that killed 166 people in a rampage through the financial capital Mumbai in 2008, hanging him today just days before the fourth…

  • Phuket mass fish deaths put flood-prevention project on hold

    Phuket mass fish deaths put flood-prevention project on hold

    PHUKET: Dredging of a popular fishing pond in Suan Luang (Rama IX Park)* in Phuket Town is on hold after hundreds of fish were found dead along the banks of the pond this morning. Local residents believe the fish died from oxygen depletion in the water brought on by dredging. The dredging is part of a 25-million-baht flood-prevention project. Residents…

  • Phuket Airport authorities approve all ‘new’ taxis

    Phuket Airport authorities approve all ‘new’ taxis

    PHUKET: Despite an Airports of Thailand (AOT) senior executive just last month announcing a freeze in the number taxi vehicles serving Phuket Airport, local officials yesterday approved every request made by local taxi operators to boost their airport fleets. Under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by all main parties involved (see below), the Phuket Mai Khao Company and the…

  • World News: Extramarital sex not unusual says wife of U.S. General on trial for adultery

    World News: Extramarital sex not unusual says wife of U.S. General on trial for adultery

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityPHUKET (Reuters): The wife of a U.S. Army general facing adultery and sex charges said on Monday that military marriages have suffered from the extended U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan, and described infidelity as an emotional war wound that gets overlooked.In an interview with Reuters, Rebecca Sinclair…

  • Brit Aldhouse to be extradited to Phuket

    Brit Aldhouse to be extradited to Phuket

    PHUKET: British national Lee Aldhouse, wanted on murder charges in Phuket, has lost his High Court appeal and will be extradited to Phuket. The news of the UK High Court dismissing Mr Aldhouse’s appeal follows High Court judges agreeing to postpone the extradition hearing so that Mr Aldhouse’s lawyers would have more time to prepare their case. Mr Aldhouse successfully…

  • Phuket Police suspect ‘pre-existing condition’ caused Russian tourist drowning

    Phuket Police suspect ‘pre-existing condition’ caused Russian tourist drowning

    PHUKET: Phuket Police suspect that an underlying medical condition led to the drowning of a 69-year-old Russian tourist off Patong Beach yesterday morning.Patong Police Capt Teerasak Boonsaeng was informed at 10:30am that a body had been recovered by a jet-ski rider from the water off just north of Loma Park.Police Superintendant Chiraphat Pochanaphan along with Kusoldtham Rescue Foundation workers attended…

  • PAD rallies in Phuket to “reclaim Thai petrol’ | Thaiger

    PAD rallies in Phuket to “reclaim Thai petrol’

    PHUKET: Key leaders of the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) staged a rally in Phuket Town yesterday to inspire support for their “reclaim PTT” campaign.The campaign opposes the privatization of the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) Public Company Limited, which currently operates as a state enterprise listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).The leaders of the PAD, better known…

  • Phuket police nab bag snatchers in Patong

    Phuket police nab bag snatchers in Patong

    PHUKET: Police quickly arrested three young men today, all of whom have reportedly confessed to no fewer than eight bag-snatches in Phuket’s premier tourism town of Patong.The arrests followed a bag snatching on the Patong beach road, at 12:36am.Quick police action saw officers move in and arrest the three suspects – Sarayuth “Ice” Aisuwan, Bunharn “Diao” Banpeung and one man…

  • World Sports: Manchester City top EPL; European football review

    World Sports: Manchester City top EPL; European football review

    PHUKET: Manchester City topped the Premier League for the first time this season after thrashing Aston Villa while Barcelona stayed three points clear in La Liga as Lionel Messi scored twice in a win over Real Zaragoza.Bayern Munich extended their Bundesliga lead to eight points with a 1-1 draw at Nuremberg while leaders Juventus stayed four clear of Inter Milan…

  • Russian man drowns off Phuket Beach

    Russian man drowns off Phuket Beach

    PHUKET BREAKING NEWS: Phuket police have reported that a 69-year-old Russian tourist drowned off Patong Beach this morning. The body of the man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin, was found near the northern end of the beach at about 10:30am. Police believe the man died an hour before his body was found. “The man arrived in…

  • World News: Obama begins historic Myanmar visit

    World News: Obama begins historic Myanmar visit

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Praise and pressure as Obama begins historic Myanmar visit Reuters / Phuket GazetteYANGON: Barack Obama became the first serving U.S. president to visit Myanmar today, trying during a whirlwind six-hour trip to strike a balance between praising the government’s progress in shaking off military rule and pressing…

  • Chaianan wins re-election as Kathu Mayor in Phuket polls

    Chaianan wins re-election as Kathu Mayor in Phuket polls

    PHUKET: Chaianan Sutthikul was re-elected to his second consecutive term as Kathu Mayor in the Kathu mayoral election and Kathu Municipal council election held in central Phuket yesterday.In the preliminary vote count, Mr Chaianan scored 5,437 votes to defeat his only rival for the Kathu top seat: two-time former Kathu Mayor Prasert Khaokijpaisarn. Mr Prasert was elected to his first…

  • Police seek arrest warrant for Phuket “hit-and-run’ bus driver

    Police seek arrest warrant for Phuket “hit-and-run’ bus driver

    PHUKET: Police have now requested that the Phuket Provincial Court issue an arrest warrant for the bus driver who fled the scene on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang last Wednesday after the tour bus he was driving struck a motorbike and killed two women. Thalang Police Sub Lt Chatree Chuwichian, the investigating officer in the case, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette…

  • World News: Pressure for ceasefire mounting in Israel-Gaza conflict

    World News: Pressure for ceasefire mounting in Israel-Gaza conflict

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community More diplomacy to try to halt Israel-Gaza fighting Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Hostilities between Islamist militants and Israel entered a sixth day as diplomatic efforts were set to intensify to try to stop rocket fire from the Gaza Strip and Israeli air strikes on Gaza.International pressure for…

  • FIFA Futsal World Cup: Epic Brazil vs Spain final tonight

    FIFA Futsal World Cup: Epic Brazil vs Spain final tonight

    PHUKET: The stage is set for another epic FIFA Futsal World Cup final between the world’s top two national teams – Spain and Brazil – with the seventh edition of the prestigious tournament to conclude tonight in Bangkok. Meanwhile, the first match of this evening’s Europe vs South America double-header will see Futsal World Cup newcomers Colombia challenge Italy for…

  • World Sports: United and Chelsea slip up as City hit five

    World Sports: United and Chelsea slip up as City hit five

    PHUKET: Manchester United were humbled 1-0 by Norwich City and Chelsea upset at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday as Premier League champions Manchester City took advantage of their rivals’ mistakes with a 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa.United, who suffered their third league defeat of the season in the late kickoff at Carrow Road, succumbed to a 60th-minute header from their…