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 FC draw with Songkhla, 0-0
PHUKET: Despite some good scoring chances and strong crowd support, Phuket FC were only able to take a single point away from last night’s encounter with Songklha FC, which ended in a 0-0 draw. Going into the match mired in the five-team relegation zone, Phuket FC went on the attack early with some good scoring chances. Former FC Phuket goalkeeper…
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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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Phuket Opinion: A caveat for Toh Seh Hill, and a hint for politicians
PHUKET: A project by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) to develop Toh Seh Hill as a recreational site is well-intentioned, and the Gazette hopes that the current OrBorJor – as well as the administrations that follow it – are prepared to commit sufficient resources to ensure that the hill’s natural charm is not despoiled by garbage, traffic snarls, gang…
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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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Phuket Surfing: Stoked on a bit of star power
PHUKET: The monsoon season is back and you know what that means – the Quiksilver Thailand Surf Competition will soon return to Phuket. This year features an all new, star-studded lineup.More than 300 surfers from all over the world are expected to participate in the event, which will be held from September 12-15 at Patong Beach. The competition is organized…
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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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Urban encroachment: Owner of Phuket project ordered to halt construction
PHUKET: The owner of a building project in Patong was ordered to halt work on Wednesday, when an inspection by Phuket provincial officials found the structure broke multiple regulations. Having received a complaint about the work through the Damrongtham Center at Phuket Provincial Hall, Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak led an inspection team to the site on Soi Phra Baramee 7,…
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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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Phuket Sports: Round-up for July 20
PHUKET: Defending Olympic gold medalist, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn from the games claiming he is not in the right condition to compete. Nadal’s withdrawal opens the way for a Federer vs Djokovic final. Track cycling: Jason Kenny will ride the individual sprint for Team GB in place of defending Olympic champion, Sir Chris Hoy. Basketball: The star studded US basketball…
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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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Mobile Siam museum heading for Phuket
PHUKET: Saphan Hin in Phuket Town is known to attract all manner of interesting vehicles, but next week will mark a first for the park when it will host the “Muse Mobile”, a mobile museum project created by The National Discovery Museum Institute (NDMI). The event runs from July 26 to October 31 near the Chinese Shrine at Saphan Hin…
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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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Bangkok again top destination city in Asia
PHUKET: Good news for the Phuket tourism industry comes from a recently-released report by MasterCard that has Bangkok nestled into third place on the credit card giant’s list of major cities with the most tourist arrivals. The MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index report by economist Yuwa Hedrick-Wong projected 2012 tourist arrivals in the Thai capital at 12.2 million, behind only…
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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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Phuket Gazette: Thai sports news
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai Premier League can follow in EPL’s footsteps: Everton chief Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: The Thai Premier League could one day become as successful as the English Premier League (EPL), but the country has to be patient, Everton’s chief executive officer Robert Elstone said…
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Pickup crashes into Phuket beer garden, 8 injured
PHUKET: Eight people were injured and numerous vehicles damaged when an out-of-control pickup truck full of Burmese workers slammed full force into a restaurant on Monday night. At about 10pm, Phuket City Police were informed of an accident at the River Beer Garden on Pracha Uthit 1 Road, which runs parallel to the bypass road in Rassada subdistrict. Police led…
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Phuket vendor wins Bt4m in Thai National Lottery
PHUKET: A kind-hearted Phuket vendor won a 4 million baht grand prize in the Thai National Lottery draw on Monday. The winner, 35-year-old Kaewtaa Khan-asa, reported the win to Chalong Police yesterday, asking that her possession of winning ticket number, “904050”, be recorded in the daily log as evidence. Mrs Kaewtaa, listed as a resident of Ban Doong District in…
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