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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Thailand news summary – July 24
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community President to look into the 92 Thais Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Myanmar president Thein Sein yesterday promised to look into the issue concerning the detention of 92 Thais recently for land encroachment.A Government House source said Thein Sein told Yingluck that he was willing to look…
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Phuket World News: Syria says no to chemicals; Death messages in Oz; Sally’s last ride
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria says it will not use chemical or biological weapons to crush uprising Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The Syrian government said yesterday it will not use chemical or biological weapons to crush a 16-month-old uprising against President Bashar al-Assad, the first time it has acknowledged possession…
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Aussie expat found hanged in Phuket
PHUKET: An Australian expat took his life by hanging in a luxury home under construction in Phuket, it was discovered this morning. Thalang Police were notified of the apparent suicide at 10:30am by the wife of the victim, 38-year-old Australian Daniel Cruwys. When police and Kusoldharm Foundation workers arrived at the scene, an upscale home in Pa Khlok, they found…
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Patong residents voice support for “Special Admin Zone’
PHUKET: The push to designate Phuket’s top tourism town of Patong as a “Special Administrative Zone” received much positive support at a public meeting on Friday. The meeting, held to gather feedback from local residents, was headed by Pridi Chotechuang, Deputy Secretary General of the Political Development Council and fellow PDC member Jinda Boonjun. The PDC is an independent “think…
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Phuket needs “facelift’ before ASEAN Community 2015
PHUKET: Officials took another look at necessary island developments during a Phuket Tourism Association (PTA) seminar Friday, as Phuket prepares to enter the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) 2015. “This is the third seminar that [the PTA] has held on this topic, because we understand the importance of ‘creative tourism’ and the necessity of applying it to Phuket in preparation for…
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Ukraine dance troupe wows Phuket
PHUKET: Fans of traditional eastern European dance will have a chance to catch the world-renowned Vohon Ukrainian Dance Ensemble at the Simon Star Cabaret in Phuket this afternoon. The 50-strong troupe is on the island courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, who helped organize the event in order to raise funds for the Thai Red Cross Society, Phuket Chapter.…
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Exciting sailing caps finale to Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: The best was saved for last as the final day of the 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek saw 10-12 knots of breeze gusting to 15, and some spectacular competition around the southern islands of Phuket, which brought to an end an exciting and successful week. Two races – a windward/leeward and an islands course – for all except…
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News headlines for Thailand Today
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EV71 case ‘no cause for panic’ Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Department of Disease Control chief Dr Pornthep Siriwanarangsan yesterday advised the public not to panic over the discovery that a toddler had died at a Bangkok hospital from an Enterovirus 71 (EV71) infection.Pornthep said the Nopparat…
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Phuket Gazette: Obama visits shooting victims; Calls for gun law reform
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama visits families of Colorado shooting victims Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: President Barack Obama travelled to Colorado on Saturday to meet with families of the victims who were shot by the gunman at the Denver-area movie theater on Friday. The massacre occurred when the…
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Early winners and tight racing on Day 3 of Raceweek
PHUKET: Blue skies and a steady eight knots of wind greeted sailors yesterday on Day 3 of the 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek. PRO Simon James announced a scenic island course for all classes – Course 39 for all except the Classics who were set Course 23. After two days of windward/leewards for many classes, this was a chance…
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Phuket Gazette: Gunman kills 12 at Batman premiere
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gunman kills 12, injures 58 at Colorado movie theater Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A gunman outfitted in complete ballistic gear entered a movie theater in Colorado yesterday and opened fire during the premiere showing of the new Batman movie, killing 12 people and injuring…
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Ex-cop found dead in Phuket Town hotel
PHUKET: A former police officer from Ranong was found dead in his Phuket Town hotel room on July 18. Police say there were no signs of a struggle and believe the officer died of natural causes while on holiday.The late Lt Col Chokchai Charucharee had recently retired from service at Suk Samran Police Station in Ranong, where he was a…
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Rak Phuket group files lese majeste petition against Thai-born Kiwi
PHUKET: The Rak Phuket Club rallied against improper gestures made by a Thai expat in Bangkok last week by filing a letter of complaint to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung Thursday morning. Rak Phuket Club President Boonsupa Tantai, along with several other club members, presented the protest letter to Phuket MP Raywat Areerob. The club…
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Big changes as Phuket FC prep for Songkhla
PHUKET: Star Brazilian goalkeeper Alonso Da Silva will leave Phuket FC in a surprise transfer move marking the height of a mid-season team overhaul. Though Da Silva was not available for questioning at the time of this report, a reliable source has confirmed to the Gazette that rumors about the transfer circulating on the team’s Facebook fan page on Thursday…
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Thai boats to the fore on Day 2 of Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: Six knots, then eight knots. Grey skies, then blue. That was the weather prediction for day 2 of the 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek and as the boats left the anchorage, the winds were light but building. Two windward/leewards for IRC Racing, Firefly and Racing Multihull classes, and longer island courses for IRC Cruising and Classic classes was…
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Foreign couple in Phuket pass fake UK banknotes at Kata currency booth
PHUKET: The owner of a currency exchange booth in Kata fell victim to a pair of unidentified foreigners that systematically passed off a series of counterfeit British £20 banknotes. Kanyarat Tiewsakul, 48, who owns the exchange booth, and the massage parlor and spa next door, said that twelve counterfeit £20 notes were exchanged by the couple between July 17 and…
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Phuket weekend weather outlook
PHUKET: Blue skies over Phuket late this afternoon raise hopes for a fine weekend of sailing at the The 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek this weekend. The 24-hour forecast from 5pm issued by the Thai Meteorological Department center at Phuket Airport reports a “moderate” southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea and the Southern Thailand West Coast. The forecast…
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PTA reward Phuket Police Bt100,000 for arrest of Aussie tourist killer
PHUKET: The Phuket Tourist Association (PTA) earlier this week awarded 100,000 baht to provincial and regional police for bringing the killers of Australian travel agent Michelle Smith to justice. The handover was made at a small ceremony at the PTA office on the bypass road in Rassada on Tuesday. PTA Vice President Bhuritt Maswongsa stressed that although the stabbing was…
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Phuket Gazette: The trade in sex and bodies
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community The trade in sex and bodies Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A National Geographic Channel documentary tonight sheds light on the trafficking of Central Asian women to Thailand for sex work. The programme, “Inside: 21st Century Sex Slaves”, looks at the case of Uzbek women…
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Canadian, 81, injured in Phuket car crash
PHUKET: An 81-year-old Canadian man who sustained head injuries in a two-vehicle collision on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket yesterday evening is now calling for speed limits to be posted in built up areas. Thalang Police at 6pm were notified of an accident at the notorious u-turn in front of the Provincial Electric Authority substation in Baan Lipon, Srisoonthorn subdistrict. Arriving…
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11 arrests in Phuket loan shark hunt
PHUKET: Two suspected loan shark operations in Phuket were shut down by Crime Suppression Division (CSD) Police yesterday morning, putting eleven suspects behind bars. “CSD police searched the two houses today because we received reports from locals of loan shark operations running rampant. We also recently heard that a man who vouched for a loan was attacked by a group…
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Phuket Gazette: SS Gairsoppa has silver lining
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 48 tons of silver recovered from WWII merchant ship Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Odyssey Marine Exploration on Wednesday announced it has recovered approximately 48 tons of silver bullion from a British cargo ship that sank off the Irish coast during World War II. The…
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Phuket Raceweek gets off to a lively start
PHUKET: The 2012 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek got off to a lively start last night with the opening party attracting over 500 guests.With thirty-four boats registered, competing over seven classes and divisions, day one looked looked set for some good competition as predicted winds of 10-12 knots gusting to 15, arrived on cue.Race Officer Simon James announced Windward/Leewards (Course…
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27 youths test positive for meth at Phuket drug checkpoint
PHUKET: Police and district officials rounded up 27 suspected drug users on Tuesday night at a random checkpoint set up on Soi Nakok in Chalong subdistrict, Phuket. Soi Nakok, adjacent to the TOT compound on Chao Fa West Road, is home to the housing estate where drugged-up burglar Kittikhun Wonghajak strangled 17-year-old Sunisa “Nong Som” Saiyoy on July 10. Suwat…
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New crab trap regulations not causing a snag in Phuket
PHUKET: Compliance with a new crab trap regulation established in late June was highlighted as one of the hot topics for the Traditional Fishing Preservation Group meeting held yesterday in response to their letter of complaint filed with the Phuket Provincial Office. In their complaint, the group highlighted two major issues facing the smaller local fishing operations: compliance with the…
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Phuket lifeguards save 333 swimmers after return to beaches
PHUKET: Officially back on the beaches May 28, after another contract signing saga, Phuket lifeguards saved 333 people in the following 31 days, according to an announcement made by Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Paiboon Upatising yesterday. “Despite the work of the lifeguards, four people have drowned this year. They drowned because they either ignored the red warning flags…
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Woman faces lese majeste charge pending mental examination
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Woman to face royal insult charge pending mental examination Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung today confirmed police would charge a woman accused of insulting the monarchy if she was found to be sane in a mental status examination. “I confirm police…
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Blade runner – I will run quick
PHUKET: The London Olympics are just over a week away and one man knows he is lucky to be going. South African Oscar Pistorius, known as Blade Runner, had both his legs amputated below the knee when he was a baby and runs with the aid of carbon fiber lower legs. Pistorius will compete in the individual 400 meters and…
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Phuket Gazette: US fighting the flab
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community US drug regulators approve weight-loss pill Qsymia Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday approved Vivus Inc.’s weight-loss pill Qsymia, the second new diet pill to be approved in the United States in the last month. Qsymia was…
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Phuket Gazette: National tourism update
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM demands action to ease congestion at Suvarnabhumi Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday ordered agencies to expedite measures to alleviate the congestion at Suvarnabhumi Airport. After inspecting the problem-plagued Bangkok airport, PM Yingluck said a committee would be formed to…
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