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 to double direct flights from St Petersburg
PHUKET: Phuket will double its weekly flights to and from St Petersburg, Russia due to a sharp increase in the number of Russian tourists on the island, a government spokesperson confirmed. “We will add 14 weekly flights between St Petersburg and Phuket to the already existing flights,” said Deputy Government Spokesman Maj Gen Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. During Tuesday’s Thailand-Russia aviation conference…
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Mystery still surrounds Nong DJ’s disappearance
PHUKET: Mystery still surrounds the disappearance of three-year-old Nong DJ, who went missing while playing outside his home in Wichit. He was found six days later, scared, weak and alone in a forest about three kilometers from the spot he had last been seen (Video report here). Nong DJ is still recovering in hospital from his ordeal but there have…
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Village headman gunned down in front of home
KRABI: Krabi Police are hunting for a gang of men that gunned down an influential village headman (Phu Yai Baan) in Krabi on Tuesday. Chanwit Jantharak, 50, was shot about 10 times while attempting to leave his home in Mueang Krabi district about 5:30pm, said Krabi Provincial Police Commander Nunthadej Yoinual. “Mr Chanwit’s wife told us that at least three…
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Opinion: Sailing into the future
Omsin Chivapreuk, 64, is the nation’s Deputy Transport Minister. He graduated with a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Kasetsart University and studied Advanced Management at Harvard University. Here he talks about his expectations for the Thailand Yacht Show and how Phuket will benefit from the prestigious event. PHUKET: The Thailand Yacht Show is the first time that the Thai…
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Lucky Strike! Cigarette vendor wins B6mn in lottery
PHUKET: It was a ‘lucky strike’ this week for a cigarette vendor in Patong when she won a 6-million-baht prize in the national lottery. Puangpetch Boonpetch, 40, yesterday arrived at Patong Police Station with her partner to file a police record about her winning lottery ticket number 356364. She is set to fly to Bangkok to claim the money today.…
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Schools react to alleged Phuket kidnapping
PHUKET: At least two Phuket schools have boosted security following an alleged kidnapping attempt at Plookpanya School Phuket. The scare started after a mother from the school posted a message on her Facebook page alleging that a man exited a van, approached her 14-year-old son and attempted to cover his nose and mouth with a cloth. She explained that her…
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Decorated former German Honorary Consul for Phuket Dirk Naumann passes away
PHUKET: Former German Honorary Consul for Phuket Dirk Naumann passed away on Monday, his family has announced. Mr Naumann was well known and respected in Phuket and in his homeland for his 12 years of dedicated service on the island. He retired from his post in July 2014. Upon his retirement, Mr Naumann was awarded the Order of Merit from…
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Health chief: Phuket on top of dengue danger
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) is on top of the island’s surge in dengue fever cases, despite figures being almost triple those of last year, confirmed officials. From January 1 to February 6 of this year, 70 cases of dengue fever have been reported in the province, compared to 22 reported cases for the same period last…
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Phuket Governor demands investigation into security memo leak
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada has demanded an investigation into the leaking of an internal memo that sparked concerns of an island-wide security boost, amid rumors that a group of trouble makers were planning unrest in the province. Governor Chamroen was forced to allay panic among Phuketians after news spread on social media that he had written to local security…
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Speedboat crew member slashed by propeller
PHUKET: A speedboat crew member was rushed to hospital after having his back slashed open by a boat propeller at Koh Lao Lading in Krabi this morning. “According to witnesses, 33-year-old Kreetha Sarawaree was helping to make room for another boat to park at the pier when he lost his balance and fell into the spinning propeller,” explained Maj Suphat…
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Marine park officials launch safety campaign at Koh Hong
PHUKET: Park officials marked dangerous swimming and snorkelling areas inside Than Bok Khorani National Park following two Russian divers being maimed by a speedboat in Phi Phi earlier this month and a number of tourists dying in marine national parks. “The entrance to the lagoon at Koh Hong is very dangerous; there is a lot of boat traffic, as well…
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Afternoon collision in Phuket kills two
PHUKET: Two people were killed and another injured in a three-vehicle collision on Thepkrasattri Road yesterday afternoon. Lampoon Saeton, 56, was pronounced dead on arrival at Thalang Hospital, while Wasuwan Sae-Lu, 62, was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital, where he later died from his injuries, confirmed Capt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. “The other victim, Charit Saeton, 30, is…
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Lamar shut out as Swift, Sheeran, Mars win top Grammy awards
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lamar shut out as Swift, Sheeran, Mars win top Grammy awards Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Rapper Kendrick Lamar led the Grammy winners on Monday with five wins but was shut out of the night’s top categories as Taylor Swift nabbed album of the year in…
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in Syria kill 50 as schools, hospitals hit; Turkey accuses Russia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community in Syria kill 50 as schools, hospitals hit; Turkey accuses Russia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Turkey on Monday accused Russia of an “obvious war crime” after missile attacks in northern Syria killed scores of people, and warned Kurdish militia fighters there they would face the…
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Four U.S. journalists detained in Bahrain
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four U.S. journalists detained in Bahrain Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A U.S. journalist and three members of her camera crew were detained in Bahrain on Sunday, Reporters Without Borders said on Monday, urging Bahrain to release the four American citizens “rapidly and without harm.” In…
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Solar tower in desert promotes Israel’s renewable energy drive
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Solar tower in desert promotes Israel’s renewable energy drive Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: In a vast expanse of open desert in southern Israel a 787-foot tower (240 metres) is taking shape that its builders hope will help make solar energy much more cost effective. The…
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Phuket underpass checkpoint scoops up dozens of motorists
PHUKET: More than 40 motorists were fined in a span of two hours at a checkpoint at the northbound exit of the Darasamuth Underpass next to Central Festival Phuket yesterday. “This is part of the push by the Phuket governor and the Phuket Provincial Police commander to better enforce traffic laws on the island as a way to reduce the…
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Phuket fishmonger slices Russian tourist’s ear
PHUKET: A fishmonger is on the run after slashing a Russian tourist’s ear in a fight over a 400-baht fish at a fresh market in Patong on Saturday. The pair came to blows when the Russian paid for a fish worth 400 baht with a thousand-baht note and then accused the fishmonger of not handing over his change, explained Lt…
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Chinese cash pours into popular tourist provinces
PHUKET: A spate of Chinese investment has flooded into the real-estate and tourism sectors in Chiang Mai and Phuket, two of the most popular destinations for Chinese travellers. While the investment has contributed to the growth of both sectors, local operators have been advised to improve their products and services to compete with the Chinese or they will risk losing…
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Nok Air strike leaves 1500 passengers in turmoil
PHUKET: One Phuket flight was cancelled after a strike was initiated by Nok Air pilots protesting against new policies – in compliance with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) safety standards – that deemed them unqualified to fly. In total, nine flights were cancelled or delayed, said a statement issued by Nok Air yesterday. The statement went on to assure…
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First technical flight arrives at Phuket Airport’s new terminal
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport rolled out the red carpet at Terminal 2 yesterday to welcome passengers arriving on the first ‘technical flight’ to disembark at the new terminal. Airports of Thailand President Nitinai Sirismatthakarn along with Phuket Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan personally welcomed the passengers and other airport staff. A violinist serenaded the passengers for the Valentine’s Day-themed event, which…
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Two more suspected IUU fishing boats seized south of Phuket
PHUKET: Two Thai fishing vessels arrived at Phuket Deep Sea Port yesterday, after being seized under suspicion of illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU) fishing and escorted back by the Royal Thai Navy. “The two boats were captured at about 9pm on Saturday night, about 96 nautical miles south of Phuket. Both had failed to report at Phuket’s Port in-Port out Control…
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Sky lantern sets Phuket hillside ablaze
PHUKET: A sky lantern released on Valentine’s Day left the hillside between Ya Nui and Nai Harn Beach in flames. “The lantern was released from Promthep viewpoint. However, a shift in the wind caused it to crash back into the hill,” explained Jessica Lee, who witnessed the event from a sailboat anchored off Nai Harn. It took firefighters more than…
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Phuket tourist dies after resort swimming pool incident
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist was pronounced dead at Phuket International Hospital after she was recovered unconscious from a Phuket resort swimming pool yesterday morning. Police asked the Phuket Gazette not to reveal the identity of the 61-year-old woman, who was quickly pulled out of the water by hotel staff and given CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation], explained Lt Charus Lempand of the…
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German charged for Polish pedestrian’s death in Phuket
PHUKET: A German man is out on bail after being charged for fatally colliding with a Polish pedestrian in Chalong. Miroslav Slanina, 73, ran into Malgorzata Regina Szczygiel, 44, while she was crossing the road in front of Soi Thao Daeng on Wiset Road about 8pm* on Saturday night. “Mr Slanina was taken to Chalong Police Station and charged with…
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As Indonesia hunts down Islamic State, homegrown jihadis regroup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community As Indonesia hunts down Islamic State, homegrown jihadis regroup Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: As Indonesian counter-terrorism forces hunt down supporters of Islamic State following last month’s gun and suicide bomb attack in Jakarta, a quiet resurgence is unfolding of a homegrown radical network with a…
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Putin, Obama agree on cooperation to implement Syria agreement
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Putin, Obama agree on cooperation to implement Syria agreement Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Barack Obama agreed to intensify diplomatic and other cooperation to implement an agreement on Syria struck at talks in Munich, the Kremlin said on Sunday.…
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New Zealand’s Christchurch rocked by 5.7 magnitude quake, cliffs collapse into sea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New Zealand’s Christchurch rocked by 5.7 magnitude quake, cliffs collapse into sea Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A strong 5.7 magnitude earthquake struck near Christchurch in New Zealand on yesterday, causing cliffs to collapse into the sea but no major damage to the city, which was…
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Bigger budget needed to boost Phuket image
PHUKET: The central government needs to reassess how it determines Phuket’s budget due to the vast number of tourists for which the island’s infrastructure needs to cater, said Phuket Honorary Consul for Nepal Pranee Sakulpipatana at a seminar on the island’s image on Friday. “The central government calculates the budget for the island based on its registered residential population of…
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German found dead in Rawai rental room
PHUKET: Chalong Police are investigating the death of a German national found dead in his rented room in Phuket on Friday. The body of Sven Rzezaczka, 47, was discovered at 11am, after a reported drinking session with friends the night before. “Mr Rzezaczka’s body was found lying face down on the bed with his knees on the floor. There was…
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