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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Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The beatings were accompanied by threats: If his family didn’t produce the money, Myanmar refugee Abdul Sabur would be sold into slavery on a fishing boat, his captors shouted, lashing him with bamboo sticks.It had been…
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DSI called in to tackle taxis and raid foreign businesses
PHUKET: A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) task force will arrive in Phuket next week to carry out raids and arrest illegal taxi drivers and foreign business operators found breaking the law. The officers, expected to arrive on Thursday for a two-day campaign, will target taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport and businesses suspected of using Thai nominees. The news…
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Phuket Gazette World News: NATO troop deaths reach 100; Kidnapped Dutch couple plead in video; Freed Guantanamo inmate killed in drone attack; ‘Gaddafi land’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Insurgents kill NATO soldier in Afghanistan, raising year’s toll to 100 Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A coalition service member was killed yesterday when insurgents opened fire at foreign troops in eastern Afghanistan, the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. It raises the…
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Sumatra quake gives Phuket ‘a little shake’, nothing to fear
PHUKET: The earthquake off the northern tip of Sumatra this morning was felt in Phuket, but was no cause for alarm, the head of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phuket office (DDPM-Phuket), San Janthawong, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. No tsunami alert has been issued for Phuket or any other province along the Andaman Coast. “The earthquake…
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Phuket Gazette World News: NK war weapons ship caught in Panama; England gay marriage on its way; No Islamists in Egypt Cabinet; Glee star Monteith died of overdose; Bulgaria bishop flippers out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korean ship caught carrying weapons through Panama Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Panamanian authorities might take up to a week to search a North Korean cargo ship that was seized last Wednesday on suspicion that the vessel was hiding missile equipment in a shipment of brown sugar…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice contamination fears grow; Floating parade marks Buddhist Lent; Sadao named in Deep South ceasefire; Ramkhamhaeng bombers in court
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt urged to inspect rice for contamination The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A consumer watchdog is calling on the government to inspect packaged rice after random tests found several samples to be tainted with high levels of methyl bromide, which is used to kill rice-eating…
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Phuket motorbike arson re-ignites, three bikes torched in Patong
PHUKET: Police suspect arson in the latest Phuket motorbike blaze in which one motorbike was destroyed and two others damaged in Patong early this morning. Officers were called to a five-storey apartment block in Soi Nanai 8, about 500 meters south of the Jungceylon shopping mall (map here), at 7:10 am. “We arrived to find three motorbikes on fire. Some…
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Phuket beach rescue saves Japanese surfer from strong surf
PHUKET: A Japanese surfer rescued this afternoon from the strong surf at Kata Noi Beach, on Phuket’s west coast, is conscious and recovering, the Phuket Gazette was told.Lifeguards saw the man, believed to be in his early 50s, out surfing the large waves at the popular tourist beach.“We are are not sure what happened, but the next time the lifeguards…
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Phuket braces for more strong wind, heavy thundershowers
PHUKET: The erratic stormy weather across Phuket today, with heavy showers and gusts of wind reaching up to 35km/hr, is no cause for alarm, says the local weather office.However, islanders should prepare to hold onto their hats as the wind is expected to breach Force 6 on the Beaufort scale by Thursday.“So far no weather warning has been issued for…
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Free seminar in Phuket to focus on overseas investments for expats
PHUKET: A free investment seminar focusing on portfolio management for expats living off the interest produced through their ventures will be held on July 25 at Loch Palm Golf Club.The seminar is being organized by one of the longest standing financial consultancies in Thailand, Montepelier (Thailand) Ltd. Leading the seminar for Montepelier Wealth Management will be Ron Keyte, who has…
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Chonburi draw in first match of world futsal club tourney
PHUKET: Sixteen of the world’s finest futsal clubs, including Thailand’s 5-a-side champions, have gathered in the heart of the Middle East since July 10 to contest the Kuwait Mini World Futsal Club Tournament. Playing in their opening match last Saturday, the winners of the 2012-2013 Thailand Futsal Premier League, Chonburi Blue Wave drew in their first of three scheduled group…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Oregon father and son accused of repeatedly raping young girls
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Oregon father and son accused of raping young girls Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A father and son have been arrested over allegations they repeatedly raped at least two young girls at their home in the US state of Oregon, but investigators believe there may…
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Drunk driver walks away from motorbike crash with parked 18-wheeler
PHUKET: A man charged for drunk driving survived slamming into the door of a parked 18-wheeler in Phuket before dawn today. Rescue workers called to the scene at 3am this morning found Nattapol Kansol, 44, with a bloodied face and injured eye next to his motorbike about 500 meters south of Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road (map here). Witnesses…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Spain’s PM won’t resign; Rohingya relief – Myanmar disbands Border Patrol force; Asiana to sue over names gaffe; Cartel kingpin caught; Hundreds netted in child sextortion ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Spain’s Rajoy rules out stepping down in blackmail scandal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday rejected calls to resign over a ruling party financing scandal and said he would not allow the matter to hold back his reform plans.The political pressure mounted…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: BoT Gov slams Govt policies; Thaksin b’day party near Bangkok; Lottery surge; PM placates Isarn; Nenkham’s B300mn
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community BoT Gov slams Govt policies as unsustainable The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul has slammed government policies as geared towards short-term consumption, saying they have shortcomings and cannot sustain economic competitiveness in the long term.In a speech to Asean ambassadors and high-ranking…
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Phuket Pythons: “Magic’ baby snake appears in locked locker
PHUKET: A soybean milk vendor was given a fright today after a baby python pulled a Houdini and appeared in a her locked locker. Phuket Kusoldham Rescue Foundation workers, responding to the frightened woman’s emergency call, were able to wrangle the one-meter python from its new resting place. “The shop owner closed her shop normally last night, and there was…
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Phuket police net motorbike thieves
PHUKET: Police arrested three Phuket teenagers yesterday for stealing multiple motorbikes and selling the parts for pocket money. The teenagers were caught in possession of nine stolen bikes in good condition and one that had been dismantled, said Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Prawit Engchuan. The teenagers’ activities came to police attention on July 2 when a Mattayom 2 student…
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Bullets, but no guns: Phuket man charged for illegal possession
PHUKET: Police caught a Phuket man illegally in possession of over 50 rounds of ammunition for multiple types of handguns, but were unable to uncover any weapons during their raid yesterday morning. Phuket City Police secured a search warrant for the house of Suwat Saramas, 30, after receiving a tip-off that he was in illegal possession of firearms. “After we…
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Phuket man mutilates self in jealous rage
PHUKET: A 19-year-old man charged for assisting in the attack on Vorasit “Pla wan” Issara last year (story here) was found bleeding heavily in his Phuket Town room early yesterday morning after he reportedly stabbed himself in the leg in a fit of jealous rage. Police arrived at the scene, an apartment off Phun Phol Road, at about 3:50am to…
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VIDEO REPORT: Go Eco Phuket scrambles to remove fishing net at top dive site
PHUKET: Local marine conservation group Go Eco Phuket on Friday launched two dive boats in an emergency procedure to remove a fishing net at one of Phuket’s top dive destinations, Shark Point. At a Go Eco Phuket meeting last week, in preparation for the group’s annual massive reef and beach cleanup (story here), local dive company Sea Bees revealed video…
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Stalemate edges Phuket FC into fifth
PHUKET: The Islanders moved into fifth place of the 18-team Yamaha League One thanks to a goalless draw with second placed team, PTT Rayong on Saturday evening at Surakul Stadium, Phuket Town. Actual play only lasted 40 minutes, as this was the conclusion to the game abandoned on June 9 due to rainstorms over Phuket forced the match officials to…
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Two more suspects sought in Phuket attack on Malaysian royal bodyguard
PHUKET: The five people accused of attacking a Malaysian royal family bodyguard in Patong in May continue to be held in Phuket as police pursue two additional suspects. “The court has issued arrest warrants for two Malaysian suspects,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewvatee. “We have sent the warrants to Malaysian police, who are searching for them,” he…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Cat meat trade discovered
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand continues to slaughter cats for meat trade Coconuts Bangkok / Phuket Gazette The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that law enforcement officials have apprehended a “transnational” cat smuggler on the border between Thailand and Laos. The miscreant was caught transporting 90 cats into Laos,…
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Special Report: Rice smugglers hitch ride on Thai pledge-price profiteering
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rice smugglers hitching ride on pledge-price profiteering Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Hidden in 18-wheeler trucks, carts and pickup vans, hundreds of thousands of tonnes of rice are being smuggled from Cambodia and Myanmar into Thailand, although the country holds enough stocks to meet half the world’s annual…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Farmer credit fails; DSI ups Nenkham hunt; Cabinet to tackle violent oil palm land grab
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Credit cards fail to win over farmers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Launched two years ago, the farmers’ credit-card scheme has proved to be anything but a success. As of June, only about Bt10 billion of credit was outstanding in the first phase from the…
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Phuket Opinion: Keeping Chinese tourists safe by certifying more guides
Chaifu Saelee, 43, is a Chiang Mai native with a diploma in tourism from Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok. He worked as an interpreter for two years before joining Phuket Huang Tai Tour as a guide. He is now a guide with Phuket Super Holiday Travel. Here, he talks about how to increase safety for Chinese tourists in Phuket by helping…
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Phuket Opinion: Thanks giving for 4th of July celebrations at Phuket Airpark
PHUKET: We would like to extend a most heartfelt thanks to every one of the many volunteer groups who worked together so well to make last weekend’s inaugural Phuket Airshow and Family Picnic such a successful charity event. The splendid festivities, timed to celebrate the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence 237 years ago, had so much going…
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Phuket Opinion: It doesn’t hurt to give
PHUKET: On this lovely island renowned for its wonderful spas, the place I’ve felt most pampered is not one. It’s the sleek and modern Phuket Regional Blood Center (PRBC) next to the employment office, staffed by professionals delivering five-star service to those of us who give about 45 minutes of our time and about 10 per cent of our blood.…
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Phuket Poll: Chalong underpass: six routes diverge in chaos and I choose”¦ eh, um, err….
PHUKET: Underpasses are the new mega-project craze on Phuket as officials scramble to find long-term solutions to the island’s mounting traffic congestion. Work is already well underway for Phuket’s first underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, which was started on November 23 last year (story here). The newest addition to several underpass…
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DSI denounces con artists’ use of department name to squeeze criminals for “protection money’
PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation denied providing “protection services” for illegal businesses in a notification released yesterday, which claimed that con artists in Phuket were using the department’s name to squeeze people for protection money. “We received reports that there are people using the DSI’s name to collect money from business owners who are involved in the illegal employment…
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