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 villagers protest land claim via dubious title deed
PHUKET: In the latest land dispute in Phuket, more than 100 residents of the Soi Kingkaew Community in Rassada have protested to the governor over alleged attempts by a private investor to get a Chanote land title deed for a 300-rai plot in the area. Led by 41-year-old Thongchai Kaewthong, the residents of Rassada Village 3 went to see Phuket…
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Officials warn of “fake monks’ targeting Phuket tourists
PHUKET: The ‘monk police’ of Phuket are warning everyone on the island of con men who are impersonating Buddhist monks and tricking locals and tourists into giving them money. Chatpawit Jinapong, Director of the Phuket branch of the National Office of Buddhism, which operates directly under the Prime Minister’s Office, spoke with the Phuket Gazette about these fraudulent “monks”. “High…
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Phuket dive crew rescues seven from blazing catamaran
PHUKET: Quick action by the crews of a Phuket dive-boat and another vessel saved the lives of seven foreigners when their chartered catamaran caught fire and sunk in the waters off Koh Rok last night. The crew of the Sailing Yacht (SY) Diva Andaman were interrupted during their beach barbecue on Koh Rok, an island about 30 kilometers southwest of…
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Weird World News: Eye on Eastern Europe and Hitler’s lair for rent, the Bulgarian renegade referee and wacky scuba divers in Estonia
PHUKET: Eastern Europe caught the attention of Weird World News this week, with a fine display of odd-ball antics served up by Poland, Bulgaria and Estonia. Hitler’s Wolf’s Lair up for rent HITLER’S massive fortified base, The Wolfe’s Lair, has gone on the rental market in Poland. The site, where the Nazi leader spent most of World War II and…
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Phuket Events: New vehicle for tickets in Phuket
PHUKET: With more and more events gracing Phuket every year, and with the vast majority of them sponsored by the Phuket Gazette, the newspaper’s events promotion team thought it time to do something special for event organizers and attendees alike. Phuket Tickets is now in “business” and doing all it can to help promote the next two ‘tickets required’ events…
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Nong Pin’s mom asks Phuket Governor for help
PHUKET: The desperate mother of Samudchaya “Nong Pin” Yanpunya yesterday met with the Phuket governor to seek high-tech help in tracking down her missing 12-year-old, who vanished without a trace over six weeks Nong Pin’s mom Samruay Saenthaweesuk asked Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday for help from the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology in tracing the origin of her…
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Phuket poll: How to steer kids clear of “corruption mindset’?
PHUKET: On the occasion of National Children’s Day celebrated in Phuket and throughout Thailand last weekend, a survey by Suan Dusit Rajabhat University revealed that teachers play a “crucial” role in the development of an “anti-corruption mentality” in children. In the latest Phuket Gazette online poll, we ask readers who plays the most important role in instilling an “anti-corruption” mentality…
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Terror warning does not apply to Phuket: US Embassy
PHUKET: Tourism operators yesterday threatened to march on the US Embassy if the United States refused to withdraw its terrorism warning for Bangkok within two days. However, local tourism operators can rest easy, as the embassy has reiterated that the warning does not apply to Phuket. “Those concerned operators will join forces to submit their demand to US Ambassador Kristie…
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Phuket “fully booked’ for Korean, Chinese New Years
PHUKET: Local tourism representatives are expecting hotel occupancy rates of 90 to 100% across Phuket during the upcoming festive period. Most tourist arrivals to Phuket at the end of January will come by direct flights from China and Korea, said Somboon Jirayus, Presdient of Phuket Tourist Association. “In addition to Seoul, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, there are currently about…
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Phuket Media Watch: Palestine thanks Thailand; News office attacked; Western ships
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Thailand recognizes Palestine as independent state’ Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas thanked the government of Thailand after it apparently decided to recognize Palestine as an independent state. Thai officials were unavailable for comment. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said his office received…
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Red Shirt leader hails Phuket’s ‘Ae Inside’ as ‘brave, fearless’
PHUKET: Friends, family and colleagues paid their final respects to slain reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn during an emotional cremation ceremony at Wat Kosit in Phuket Town this afternoon. Mr Wisut, an investigative reporter and head of the “red shirt” political movement in Phuket, was ambushed and shot dead by two assailants near his Rassada home last Thursday. Mr Wisut’s…
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“Get the gunmen off our streets’: Phuket Governor
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has told Phuket’s top police officers that he wants a concerted effort by police to arrest the gunmen in recent murder cases in order to restore people’s faith in public safety on the island. The order came at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Police Station yesterday, in the wake of two assassinations on the streets…
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Italian man “stabbed by mistake’ in Phuket
PHUKET: The Italian man who was stabbed at Nai Harn Beach on Monday night has told the Phuket Gazette that he was probably “stabbed by mistake”. Giovanni, 33, who asked for his family name not to be published, is recovering at Bangkok Hospital Phuket, in Phuket Town, where he was released from the hospital’s intensive-care unit (ICU) yesterday. He was…
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Phuket Media Watch: European round-up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN: Global economy to stumble in 2012 as unemployment and EU’s economic crisis continues Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: With Europe’s sovereign debt crisis continuing to unfold, countries around the world are expected to experience an economic slowdown during the year ahead, according to a United…
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Phuket Media Watch: Thailand regional round-up – Suu Kyi; Tony Blair; Khmer Rouge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Opposition leader Suu Kyi registers to run in Myanmar by-election Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday registered to run for a parliamentary seat in Myanmar’s upcoming by-election, a Burmese news organization in exile reported. The Nobel Peace Prize winner…
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Phuket Media Watch: Head found near Hollywood Sign; White House shooting; Canadian spy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Severed head, other body parts found near Hollywood sign Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Detectives in Los Angeles were looking for clues this morning after a human head and several other body parts were found below the Hollywood sign, police said. The first body part was…
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Phuket Media Watch: Balls up at Indonesian Railways
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indonesia cracks down on ‘train surfing’ with concrete balls Phuket Gazette / News WIresPHUKET: Railway staff in Indonesia have begun hanging concrete balls above railway lines in an effort to stop commuters from riding the roofs of trains, the Jakarta Globe reported today. The grapefruit-sized concrete…
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Wiki blackout hits Phuket at high noon
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette would like to inform its readers that English Wikipedia will be shutting down at noon today (Phuket time) to protest proposed legislation in the United States. The proposed Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) in the US House of Representatives and PROTECT IP Act (PIPA) in the US senate “if passed, would seriously damage the free and…
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Phuket ‘Ae Inside’ murder: Thai media reports police closing in on killers
PHUKET: Phuket Police appear to be closing in on the person who ordered the killing of Phuket investigative reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, according to reports in the Thai-language media. Following yesterday’s re-enactment of the crime with the confessed driver of the gunman, police say they have gathered enough evidence to apply for arrest warrants for alleged gunman Sanya Klinchum,…
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New 50-baht banknote in Phuket by this weekend
PHUKET: Phuket residents will have to wait until tomorrow or Friday before they can get their hands on the new 50-baht banknotes released nationwide today. The new-look 50-baht notes, announced by Bank of Thailand Governor Dr Prasarn Trairatvorakul last week, will not be available in Phuket until tomorrow at the earliest, banks on the island have told the Phuket Gazette.…
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Phuket Simon Cabaret stars spread their wings
PHUKET: The Simon Star Cabaret show, Phuket’s third ladyboy extravaganza, opens on Thursday with a special discount available for Thai nationals only, through February. Executives of Simon Cabaret held a press conference at The Metropole hotel in Phuket Town today to announce the opening, which is the culmination of a 130-million-baht investment. The venue is located on the grounds of…
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Fire contained in densely populated area of Phuket Town
PHUKET: Three homes in a public housing community in Phuket Town were damaged last night in a fire that took firefighters about one hour to extinguish. The fire broke out at about 9pm in a home on Soi 9 of the Saphan Ruam 2 Community, on the east side of Phuket Town near the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) Hospital.…
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Phuket top sailing destination in Asia: Survey
PHUKET: Phuket was voted as top in Thailand, while Thailand as a nation was voted the favorite sailing venue and best regatta location in Asia, according to a survey of international sailors from around the world conducted at the 2011 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. The survey was undertaken by the Top of the Gulf Regatta in co-operation with the Phuket…
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Phuket prepares for Chinese New Year
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is preparing an extravagant celebration to ring in the Year of the Dragon with the arrival of the Chinese New Year next week. The celebration is slated to kick off at Sanam Chai (the filed opposite Phuket Provincial Hall) at 4pm on January 23. “Acrobats from Puyang, China will be performing as well…
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Phuket Video Report: Suspect denies any role in murder of journalist
PHUKET: The man who Phuket Police have arrested for conspiracy to commit murder in the case of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn, today publicly denied any involvement in the killing. Noppadol “Pae” Praisri, 43, this afternoon told the press gathered at Phuket City Police Station that he used to come down to Phuket to sell fruit, but that that was years…
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Phuket Business: Outlook 2012 – bulls to the fore?
PHUKET: Personally, I am very glad 2011 is over; it was a horrible year across the board for almost all investment strategies. I do think 2012 will be a better year, although I am not predicting that things are going to get better overnight. Unfortunately there are two opposing forces at play which allows for a lot of uncertainty in…
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Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?
PHUKET: Continuing my series of articles answering questions that I hear most often… the next question is one I expect to hear a thousand times in the next few months. It’s a little complicated, but you’re going to get confused anyway, so let me try to simplify things as best I can. “Woody, I hear that Thailand is finally going…
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Phuket Business: Customs: trade thrives in 2011
PHUKET: Trade flourished during 2011 in Phuket, with the island’s surplus of exports over imports more than 10.4 billion baht, according to statistics recently released by the Phuket Customs House. The total value of imports to the island during the 2011 Thai Government fiscal year (October 2010 to September 2011) was 2.12bn baht compared to 12.5bn baht in exports during…
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Phuket Business: Solar system pilots
PHUKET: An innovative new solar power system will be making its world premier in the coming months, with Phuket to serve as a pilot market, and possibly a manufacturing base. The Powerrrup – that’s right, 3 rs – is an ingenious yet simple ground-breaking, renewable energy system developed specifically with the island’s “green conscious” market in mind. Its inventor, Ivan…
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Phuket Police arrest alleged gunman in “Ae Inside’ murder
PHUKET: The first suspect wanted in connection with the shooting murder of Phuket reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn last Thursday has been arrested and is set to appear at a police press conference today. An arrest warrant for the suspect, 43-year-old Petchburi native Noppadon “Pae” Praisri, was approved by Phuket Provincial Court on Saturday. The exact time and details of…
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