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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BREAKING NEWS: Phuket murder suspect Lee Aldhouse in court
PHUKET: Phuket “kickbox murder” suspect Lee Aldhouse appeared in Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Tuesday for an extradition hearing following a request from the Thai authorities, the UK Home Office has confirmed. He will remain in custody in the UK until at least March 1, when he will return to the same court for extradition proceedings, Sam Eversden of…
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Coconut shortage hurting Phuket retailers
PHUKET: Phuket grocers are struggling to keep coconut products on their shelves amid a nationwide shortage due to drought and an insect infestation in the heart of Thailand’s coconut country. Supermarket giants Tesco Lotus and Big C both told the Phuket Gazette that their orders for coconut milk – a main ingredient in many Thai foods, especially desserts – are…
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Phuket “heinous” crimes up, murders down in 2010
PHUKET: There were 40 premeditated murders reported in Phuket in 2010, down from 45 in 2009, according to crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police. The figures compare reported crime in five categories, along with arrest rates, over the two years. The first category, heinous crimes, saw a 36% increase overall, with 72 cases in 2009 increasing to 98…
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Mystery body might be from Phi Phi: Phuket police
PHUKET: Police believe the body of the man found by a dive tour yesterday afternoon may have been blown across the bay from the popular tourist islands of Phi Phi or even Lanta. Chalong Police Duty Officer Tianchai Duangsuwan told the Phuket Gazette that the condition of the body indicated it had been in the water for several days. “We…
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Dead body discovered by Phuket dive boat tourists
PHUKET: A body was found floating in the sea by passengers on a Phuket dive boat this afternoon. The gruesome discovery was made in the waters between Koh Racha Yai and Chalong pier. Chalong Police told the Phuket Gazette that Marine Police have retrieved the body, which arrived at Chalong Pier about an hour ago. The boat, a Dive Chalong…
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Phuket Rotary continues fire relief efforts
PHUKET: The Rotary Club of Patong Beach is continuing its drive to provide relief to about 120 people who lost their homes in the Patong fire last week. “The club has approved a 50,000-baht emergency fund and collected 6,300 baht from our own membership to help the people who lost their homes,” said Stan Bailey. “This money is being used…
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Rohingya refugees arrested on arrival in Phuket
PHUKET: A boatload of 70 Rohingya refugees landed at Rawai Beach at the southern end of Phuket early this morning, only to be rounded up and taken to Chalong Police Station. Duty Officer Boonlert Onklang of Chalong Police said he arrived at the beach with fellow officers at about 5:30am. Within 90 minutes, police had arrested 35 of the refugees,…
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FC Phuket Division 1 fixtures released
PHUKET: FC Phuket will start their 2011 Division 1 campaign with an away game against Suphanburi on February 12. The match will mark the beginning of the 17-game season, during which Phuket’s ‘Southern Sea Kirin’ (FC Phuket’s official name) will play every other team in the division only once. Playing their first season under Surachai Jirasirichote, FC Phuket will be…
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Phuket in eye of national park corruption storm
PHUKET: Seven marine national parks for which Phuket is a major gateway for tourists will be investigated for alleged corruption in the collection of admission fees. A team officers to investigate the alleged corruption was selected on Saturday. Sunant Arunnopparat, director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said an impartial official from the department would be…
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No fatalities as Phuket tour bus overturns
PHUKET: A tour bus carrying 17 Chinese tourists overturned last night after the driver allegedly lost control at the Tesco-Lotus “crossroads”, colliding with two other vehicles, and injuring seven people. Phuket City Police Duty Officer Teerawat Amnartcharoenying said the accident occurred around 8:30pm. At the scene, police found the overturned bus. Nearby was a sedan with a smashed front end…
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Phuket water woes in the spotlight
PHUKET: In response to a constant stream of complaints about water supply, Phuket Vice Governor Somkiat Sangkaosuttirak held a meeting last week to call for more long-term coordination among water authorities on the island. V/Gov Somkiat said that his office has received many complaints from Phuket residents about water supply problems and that many of them want the local tambon…
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Phuket Drug Wars: Westin Siray Bay joins the fight
PHUKET: The Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa has become the latest hotel to sign up for the Phuket City Police Department’s controversial “White Hotel” anti-drugs project, which includes mandatory drug tests for employees. Westin hotel manager Sean Raine last week signed the White Hotel memorandum of understanding (MoU), pledging to adopt the so-called “Triple No!” strategy in dealing with…
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Phuket teen gunned down in Thalang
PHUKET: Thalang Police are investigating the shooting murder of a 13-year-old boy gunned down on a motorbike early this morning. Thalang Police duty officer Krissana Juntanit received a report of a shooting just after midnight. Capt Krissana, fellow police and rescue workers arrived at the scene, behind the Chinese shrine in the Ban Don area of Thepkrasattri subdistrict. Local residents…
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Phuket tuk-tuks protest Patong one-way
PHUKET: More than 100 Phuket tuk-tuk drivers staged a protested at Kathu Police Station yesterday afternoon, calling for changes to be made to the new one-way system in Patong. To hear their grievances, Kathu Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Kittipong Klaikaew jammed 45 of them into a meeting room at the station. Mardlee “Bang Lee” Sawangpon, 56, spoke on behalf of…
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Phuket police raid nets bumper haul of IT goods
PHUKET: Has your home-office been ransacked lately? Do you want your PC or laptop back? Then pop on down to Phuket City Police Station where more than 60 stolen consumer goods are waiting to be reclaimed. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pekad Thatipong is even offering amnesty to people who return stolen goods they bought from two suspects arrested yesterday. Police…
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Government warns Phuket hotels on tax evasion
THE Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) is threatening to take legal action against one-third of all hotel operators in Phuket for failing to pay the controversial hotel room tax. The organization hopes an awareness-raising campaign – backed by the threat of legal measures – can help it raise hotel room tax revenues from last year’s 60 million baht to 70mn…
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FC Phuket hold Thai premier champs to a draw
PHUKET: The undisputed champions of Thai club football, Muang Thong United, were held to a 1-1 draw by FC Phuket last night at Surakul Stadium. A buoyant home crowd watched Surachai Jirasirichote’s side produce an impressive display to deny the two time Thai Premier League champs the win. The encounter was the second meeting between the teams this week, with…
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Phuket tourist refuge shelter on its way
PHUKET: Construction of a shelter for foreign tourists who run into difficulties in Phuket will begin within the next few weeks, the Phuket Tourist Police chief has confirmed. Superintendent Ekachai Pramanakul, who heads the Tourist Police office for Phuket and Phang Nga, said the refuge will be located behind the Tourist Police headquarters on Yaowarat Road in Phuket Town. To…
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Phuket tuk-tuk fares in the firing line
PHUKET: A provincial committee set up to find a solution to the old problem of tuk-tuk drivers overcharging tourists in Phuket will start by setting a maximum 200 baht charge for any tuk-tuk journey within Patong. The committee, chaired by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, met at Phuket Provincial Hall earlier today. Also in attendance were committee members Vice Governor Weerawat…
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Phuket goes high-tech for Chalong Temple Fair fireworks
PHUKET: This year’s Chalong Temple Fair will feature the most impressive fireworks display ever seen in Phuket or anywhere else in the South of Thailand, organizers say. This year’s fair runs for seven days, the first day coinciding with the arrival of Chinese New Year on February 3.Samran Chindaphol, chairman of the organizing committee, said the fireworks display will take…
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Phuket Gov signs MoU to boost MICE industry
PHUKET: The Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) and Phuket Provincial Government today signed an agreement to develop an action plan to promote the island’s meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha and Anusak Inthraphuvasak, Chairman of the Board of the TCEB, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) this afternoon at the Westin Siray Bay Resort…
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FC Phuket put up brave fight against Muang Thong United
PHUKET: FC Phuket gave a creditable account of themselves last night in a narrow 3-2 loss to Thai Premier League champions Muang Thong United at Surakul Stadium. The one-goal defeat against the best team in the country can be deemed an encouraging result for new Phuket boss Surachai Jirasirichote, particularly as most of his squad have only trained together for…
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Phuket bar owners continue protests
PHUKET: About 500 bar owners and staff from Phuket Town and other popular tourist areas in Muang District gathered at Provincial Hall yesterday to protest the recent crackdown on closing times. The effort, hot on the heels of a 200-strong protest on Friday, was staged to support protest leader Suratin Lian-udom in his filing of a formal request for night…
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Phuket lures top performers for Chinese New Year
PHUKET: Phuket will ring in the Chinese New Year with top entertainment from mainland China. To mark the arrival of the lunar new year on February 3, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization and the Phuket Provincial Office will stage seven hours of entertainment at Sanaam Chai field, opposite Phuket Provincial Hall, starting at 4pm. Highlights include the gravity-defying stunts of…
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Phuket braces for Gay Pride extravaganza
PHUKET: Gay tourists are expected to arrive in Patong in great numbers next month for the 10th Phuket Gay Pride Celebration, an annual event organized by the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. Activities kick off on the night of February 23, when there will be a pre-opening White Party on Soi Paradise, center of the town’s gay…
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Phuket or bust? Tourist Police to help visitors in trouble
PHUKET: The Tourist Police are teaming up with soft drink bottler Haad Thip to build a refuge shelter for foreign tourists who fall on hard times during their stay in Phuket. With millions of tourists visiting Phuket each year, inevitably some run into problems. These include financial difficulties, having no place to stay, and physical or mental health issues, said…
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Phuket tourism rebounds from 2010 political strife
PHUKET: Inbound passenger traffic at Phuket Airport during 2010 smashed all previous records with 3.5 million arrivals. The figure is a 22% increase on the previous year with new markets such as Russia and China emerging as the major drivers of growth, says leading Phuket-based consultancy C9 Hotelworks. In its latest market research report, the 2010 Phuket Hotel Market Update,…
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New FC Phuket signings impress in Camara benefit tournament
PHUKET: FC Phuket’s preparations for the 2011 season received a boost over the weekend, when they proved too strong for their provincial neighbors in the ‘Andaman Four-way Fight’ mini-tournament at Surakul Stadium. Victories over Krabi FC and Phang Nga FC handed Phuket local bragging rights and set them up for what promises to be a fiercely contested home friendly against…
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Deputy PM Suthep “rides on’ in Phuket
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban in Phuket yesterday praised the island-wide helmet crackdown on motorbike drivers and passengers. “The project is historic. Phuket is the first province to run such a campaign and I hope this regulation continues to be enforced for people’s safety,” Mr Suthep said. The deputy PM promised to launch similar campaigns elsewhere in Thailand. A…
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