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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Irish tabloid suspends editor over topless Kate photos
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Irish newspaper suspends editor over topless Kate photos Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The editor of the Irish newspaper Daily Star was suspended late yesterday over his decision to re-publish topless photographs of Prince William’s wife Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, while on holiday in France.The tabloid…
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Phuket Business: Pickup sales champ
PHUKET: Reinforced with continuous, cutting-edge improvements to its steering and suspension systems, the Toyota Hilux Vigo Champ looks to retain its stronghold on the domestic pickup market. The Phuket Gazette had the opportunity to join an exclusive tour of Toyota Motor Thailand’s (TMT) Ban Pho production plant recently, gaining a first-hand look at the prized truck’s production and assembly line.…
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Phuket Business: 200 years of market crises
PHUKET: With the US stock market sitting near its 52-week high, and already having made a 100% move upwards from its low at the peak of the sell-off that occurred during the financial crisis, I have dug a bit deeper into history to get a feel for the frequency of crashes. I have a good grip on the longer bull/bear…
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Phuket Police identify one brazen gold thief
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have identified one member of the brazen gold bandit duo who robbed a shop of about 3 million baht worth of gold jewelry yesterday. Police identified the man only as “Son”, a roadside food vendor. After a dragnet attempt at a fish factory left police empty handed, they raided Son’s home, only to find that he…
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World News: iPhone 5 shatters launch sales records
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community iPhone 5 pre-orders top record 2 million in first 24 hours Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Apple received more than two million orders for its new iPhone 5 during the first 24 hours of pre-orders, exceeding the initial supply and more than doubling the previous…
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Phuket honorary consuls grill local transport chief over new taxi fares
PHUKET: In their first “regular” quarterly meeting with Phuket government officers since February, Phuket Honorary Consuls today delivered a barrage of questions over the new standard taxi fares “agreed to” on September 12. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, recently returned from a cultural tourism roadshow in Nepal, asked for input from honorary consuls about the new standard fares. Phuket Land Transportation…
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Thai woman arrested in Phuket on prostitution human trafficking charges
PHUKET: Immigration officials arrested a Thai woman believed to be at the center of an international human trafficking ring at Phuket International Airport on Friday as she tried to board a flight to Bahrain.Dujdao “Champagne” Yarana*, 27, was arrested at 7pm by Capt Suppachai Moongaew and immediately taken to Bangkok.After questioning by the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) she was charged…
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Phuket Police gold thief dragnet comes up empty
PHUKET: Phuket City Police have given up their attempt to net a pair of brazen gold thieves at a fish factory today. They have now issued “wanted alerts” for the two men to police stations throughout the neighboring provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi. Included in the alerts are images of the two wanted men, who police believe are Burmese,…
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Police set up cordon to capture brazen Phuket gold shop robbers
PHUKET: Police have surrounded a disused fish processing plant on the east side of Phuket Town this afternoon in the hope of capturing two men who shot a gold shop owner with an air pistol before making off with an estimated 3 million baht in jewelry. Phuket City Police were informed at 1:30pm that the Yong Chuan gold shop in…
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Phuket Business: Smile – you’re on THAI
PHUKET: Last week Prasert Tanhansa, manager of the THAI Airlines (TA) district sales office in Phuket, announced new Phuket routes to be serviced, starting next month, by the national carrier’s new airline, THAI Smile (TS). Here, the Phuket Gazette’s Chaiyot Yongcharoenchai speaks exclusively with Mr Prasert about market positioning, strategies and more. PHUKET GAZETTE: TS has been called by some…
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US Embassy prepares for anti-American demonstrations in Thailand
PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the recent security warning issued to all American citizens was not linked to any specific threats in Thailand. The warning, issued by the US Embassy in Bangkok, reads: “As a general precaution, the U.S. Embassy advises you to exercise caution and to be aware of your surroundings,…
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PM Yingluck pledges splurge on developing Phuket tourism
PHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday named Patong Beach, Old Phuket Town and Promthep Cape as three Andaman tourist attractions to receive “emergency budget” support.Also on the list to receive special attention were Phi Phi Island and Ao Nang, both in Krabi province, to make them more “tourist friendly” ahead of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) coming into effect…
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Phuket tourist safety boost as Patong taxis install GPS units
PHUKET: As a part of the ongoing “Phuket Safety Zone” project, Patong Police have joined with the private sector to install GPS tracking devices to Patong taxis. Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Phochanaphan joined Preechawut Keesin, Pisona Group Managing Director and president of the Patong Taxi Federation, in announcing the news on Saturday. “We along with the Pisona Group and other…
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Prime Phuket land sold to mystery buyer for B1.64bn
PHUKET: An unknown buyer has acquired 455 rai of land on Phuket’s west coast from the Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company for 1.64 billion baht, reports Phuket Gazette Property columnist Bill Barnett. Bangkok Mass Transit System Public Company’s largest shareholder, BTS, had planned to develop the site north of Kamala Beach under the entity Kamala Beach Resort Company before…
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Phuket Sports: Islanders entertain with hard fought draw
PHUKET: The Islanders moved up one place into eleventh in the 18-team Thai Yamaha One league thanks to a 1-1 home draw last night with southern rivals Pattalung FC. Both sides, facing the threat of falling into the relegation zone, were hungry for points in the tense, high-stakes match that saw a new record for attendance this season set at…
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Police urge motorists to slow down as wet weather warning No 14 issued
PHUKET: Thalang Police are urging motorists to exercise caution while driving in Phuket during the current spate of heavy thundershowers that has plagued the island for the past week. Thalang Police Superintendent Col Witoon Kongsudjai urged drivers to reduce speed on the slippery roads in order to prevent accidents. “Please drive with caution in the rain. Thalang Police received reports…
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Phuket to stage biggest PADI “Diving for Debris’ reef cleanup in world
PHUKET: Go-Eco Phuket, a recently established marine environmental group, has announced that it is now looking to stage the biggest PADI “diving for debris” reef cleanup project on record on September 30. The event has escalated from what was originally expected to be a reef cleanup carried out by a coalition of several PADI dive centers on the island to…
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Phuket Opinion: Through the revolving door
PHUKET: After eight months serving as Phuket’s top-ranking police officer, Chonasit Wattanvrangkul will be transferred out of the province to continue his career elsewhere. At the same, at the end of this month, Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha will retire. While Col Chonasit’s replacement will be Narathiwat Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, a replacement for Governor Tri has yet…
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Phuket News: Inaction over Tiger inferno sparks fire-safety blitz
PHUKET: The lack of follow-up on fire safety standards more than a month after the deadly Tiger Discotheque inferno on August 17 that killed four people, has prompted Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha to launch a campaign to improve fire safety at large public venues across the island. Governor Tri told the Phuket Gazette that he had already called on the…
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“We have listened and learnt’
“We have listened and learned.”Narayana Ramachandran, President of the World Squash Federation, is confident that the sport has adapted to become a modern-day game, fit for the 2020 Olympics.Having failed in previous attempts to push squash into the Olympic program, the sport has changed and eradicated any problems that existed. Narayana Ramachandran said: “We have had extensive discussions with the…
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Weird World News: Small time heroes make headlines
PHUKET: This week’s Weird World News Roundup is an epic run-down of all the small “heroes” that recently found their way into the world’s headlines: Volleyball Visionary, Sir Smoke Not and Peter Magic. Volleyball strike to head saves ‘victim’s’ life A 60-year-old man in Hawaii was watching his grandson play indoor volleyball when the ball struck him in the head…
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Phuket Sports: Islanders look to gulp bird nest soup
PHUKET: Following their 3-0 away loss to Airforce United last week, Phuket FC are facing the threat of relegation ahead of tonight’s high-stakes regional rivalry match against the Pattalung FC “Swiftlets”. With 30 points after 26 matches, the Islanders are 12th in the 18-team Yamaha 1 league. Their opponents, Pattalung, in 13th place, trail the Islanders by only one point…
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Phuket Immigration launch search for fugitive Filipino Reyes brothers
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration officers are scouring the island for fugitive Filipino brothers Mario Joel Tolentino Reyes and Mario Tolentino Reyes Jr, despite not yet receiving any formal request to apprehend the pair. The news comes as Phuket Immigration Superintendent Panuwat Ruamrak told the Phuket Gazette this afternoon, “Even though we have yet to receive any formal requests, we are searching…
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“He spoke well, looks fit and he wants to have one more hurrah.”
“He spoke well, looks fit and he wants to have one more hurrah.” General Secretary of BBBoCPHUKET: “No-one should be encouraging him to return and I just hope it doesn’t wind up being a big disappointment for him.” Hatton’s former promoter Frank Warren. Former light-welter weight and welter weight champion Ricky Hatton moved a step closer to making his return…
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Phuket Business: PIMEX 2013 International Boat Show dates announced
PHUKET: THE 10th edition of the Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) will be held at the Royal Phuket Marina from March 21-24 next year, the event’s organizers have announced. As one of the region’s largest and most significant marine, boating and yachting exhibitions, the four-day event will showcase leading marine and lifestyle businesses, products and services with a large in-water…
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Phuket beach club manager killed, three Thais injured in head-on crash
UPDATE: Since this story was posted online, the Gazette has learned that car accident victim Christian Roth was the Operations Manager at the Xana Beach Club, operated by Angsana Laguna Phuket and Attica. Kampanat Mataramanee, Associate Relations Manager of Angsana Laguna Phuket, confirmed that the Mexican Embassy in Bangkok has been notified of the incident and that Mr Roth’s family…
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Phuket taxis agree to standard fares
PHUKET: More than 50 representatives from taxi organizations across Phuket have agreed to a schedule of standard fares to be charged island-wide. The benchmark agreement, which is expected to resolve many of the issues – and violent conflicts – related to fares charged, was forged at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Wednesday. The schedule of standard fares will…
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Bogus Phuket tour guides, gem rip-offs in firing line
PHUKET: Phuket jewelry shops that overcharge tourists and tour companies that hire illegal guides are to be targeted by the latest campaign by provincial authorities to preserve a “billion baht” business, officials were told this week.“I want tour companies to follow the law. Their main tour guides must be Thai. If they do not, they will be in trouble,” Phuket…
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Sea turtle with fish net wounds saved on Phuket beach
PHUKET: Yet another female sea turtle was rescued on Phuket’s shores yesterday, after suffering lacerations to its flipper from fishing nets. The turtle, found on Patong Beach, is the 25th female Olive Ridely sea turtle found injured on the coastline of Phuket and Phang Nga within the past two months, confirmed Dr Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, who heads the Phuket Marine Biological…
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Damrong to ramp up Phuket national park probe
PHUKET: The Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Conservation, Damrong Phidet, has warned that come September 25 he will order 400 officers to start a full-scale investigation into land encroachment along the boundaries of Phuket’s Sirinath Marine National Park. In Phuket yesterday, Mr Damrong flamed some officials for their slow progress in the investigation of 12 resorts…
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