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.
-
Sponsored 5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)
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...
-
Paiboon promises a perfect Phuket
WICHIT: Paiboon Upatising and his team of Khon Baan Rao councilors yesterday held a press conference to thank their supporters and outline their policies at K. Paiboon’s office at the Morning Star Villa housing estate, one of the many projects he has developed under the Phuket Villa name.K. Paiboon was voted president of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) on…
-
Human trafficking laws to be redrafted
BANGKOK (TNA): Following the deaths of 54 illegal Burmese job seekers who suffocated while being transported to Phuket in the sealed container of a truck on April 9, Thailand is set to issue redrafted laws prohibiting human trafficking on June 6.Senior officials announced the decision yesterday after a meeting between six government agencies and NGOs.Currently, Thailand has a modest law…
-
The “Coral Reef Squadron’ arrives
MAI KHAO: Amidst great fanfare, a convoy of 15 flatbed trucks loaded with the remains of 10 decommissioned military aircraft arrived at the Tah Chat Chai checkpoint at 2 pm on Sunday after a three-day overland journey that began in Lopburi.The convoy departed from Koke Krathiem Air Force Base in Lopburi with the partly disassembled aircraft on Friday.The arrival of…
-
Three bodies found in swamp
MAI KHAO: Police believe the bodies of three men recovered from Pru-Je-San swamp at Baan Dan yesterday afternoon are those of Burmese workers.The police were alerted to the gruesome find by villagers living nearby.Tah Chat Chai Deputy Superintendent Lt Col Payongsak Petchrod told the Gazette that officers arrived at the scene about 1:40 pm with rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Foundation, who…
-
Suspect suffers heart attack during police questioning
PHUKET CITY: A man arrested for possession and sale of ya bah (methamphetamine) pills is back in jail after being rushed for emergency medical treatment after a seizure suffered while in detention at Phuket City Police Station on Saturday night.Pol Capt Thammasan Boonthong identified the suspect as 28-year-old Phuket native Boontham “James” Nuandaeng.Following a tip-off by police informants that the…
-
Paiboon trounces Anchalee in OrBorJor poll
PHUKET CITY: The preliminary count of votes cast in yesterday’s island-wide polling for the presidency of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) saw former Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising defeat incumbent Anchalee Vanich Tephabutra by more than 20,000 votes.An unconfirmed tally released by the Phuket Election Committee shows K. Paiboon with 59,995 votes (60.6%), compared with K. Anchalee’s total of 39,085…
-
Calcutta outclass Etihad in Sixes final
KARON: The Calcutta Cricket & Football Club (CCFC) produced a Sixes masterclass at Karon Stadium yesterday, sweeping aside all opposition in their quest for the Cup on the final day of the Phuket International Cricket Sixes.First in the Calcutta firing line were the Liquid Lounge Lizards from Phuket, with each team vying for a place in the semi-finals.Needing a win…
-
Alien worker crackdown continues
PHUKET CITY: More than 50 Burmese are in the process of being deported after being caught working illegally by Phuket Immigration Police in two raids over the past two days.Phuket Immigration Police led by Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd held a press conference at Phuket Immigration headquarters yesterday afternoon to announce the arrest of 43 Burmese workers who were arrested after a…
-
“I robbed to pay for my baby,’ says gold shop suspect
PHUKET CITY: Following information provided by Phuket police, Maha Sarakham police early Wednesday evening arrested Taweesak Bualad, 21, for the robbery of the Kasem Suwan gold shop in Samkong, Phuket City. Lt Col Wijak Tarom of Phuket City Police told the Gazette that the robbery was recorded on the shop’s CCTV system, clearly showing Taweesak brandishing a handgun and demanding…
-
Songkran road toll in Phuket tallies 4 dead, 64 injured
PHUKET CITY: The nationwide Seven Days of Danger road safety campaign ended yesterday, with the final tally in Phuket at four dead and 64 people suffering injuries requiring admittance to hospital. The road toll in Phuket, released today by the Phuket branch of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, reported 64 road accidents for the period. Police at nine…
-
Annual fishing ban to protect tuna stocks
PHUKET: In a bid to protect declining tuna stocks in Phang Nga Bay, the Department of Fisheries has threatened to fine and confiscate the fishing equipment of any boatmen found bottom trawling or fishing in protected areas with nets smaller than allowed by regulations.From April 15 to June 15, all “otter trawlers” (those that trawl the sea floor) and trawlers…
-
Booze ban set for this weekend
PHUKET: Nighttime actives will be drier than usual tomorrow in preparation for the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) elections on Sunday. The Phuket Election Committee has announced that, in accordance with election law, a booze ban will be in effect throughout the province, prohibiting sales and distribution of alcohol, including in bars and clubs, from 6 pm Saturday to midnight…
-
Vice-Governor opens Wat Chalong toilets
CHALONG: Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha this morning chaired the opening ceremony of Wat Chalong’s new three-million-baht public restrooms, which are being hailed as “the first international-standard public toilets” in Thailand by the Office of Tourism Development. The restrooms, built with the help of industrial manufacturing firm SCG (Thailand) Co Ltd, are to commemorate 100 years since the passing away of revered…
-
Dim chef serves self to police
CHERNG TALAY: Cherng Talay District Police on April 10 enjoyed making one of their easiest arrests on record, nabbing a thief who foolishly transferred funds from his victim’s bank account directly into his own.Officers led by Maj Thongchai Matitham arrested 24-year-old Songkhla native Areeyang Talae at 5.30 pm for the theft of an ATM card reported lost by Swede Henrik…
-
Danish tourist dies of suspected pain killer overdose
KATHU: A Danish tourist was found dead in his bed yesterday afternoon at the Delight Village bungalow resort, near the Prince of Songkla University in Tung Tong. Tung Tong District Police Inspector Lt Col Kittipong Klai Kaew identified the deceased as 37-year-old Kenneth Schou Rodnes. Police suspect Mr Rodnes died around 8 pm on Tuesday from an accidental overdose of…
-
Daniel Jackson dies of heart attack
RAWAI: Long-time Nai Harn resident Daniel Leroy Jackson died of a heart attack early Tuesday morning at Phuket International Hospital. He was 62. Friends and neighbors James and Pat Domville informed the Gazette of Mr Jackson’s passing this morning.Originally from Baltimore in the US state of Maryland, Mr Jackson was a Vietnam War veteran who worked as chief public transport safety…
-
107 illegal Burmese rounded up in crackdown
PHUKET CITY: Following a crackdown ordered by new Phuket Immigration Police Superintendent Pol Col Chanatpol Yongbunjerd on April 10, more than 100 illegal aliens found working in the province were arrested and deported before the start of the Songkran holidays. News of the arrests was distributed to the media during a special “meet the press” karaoke event hosted by Phuket…
-
Appeal made for missing Brit
PHUKET: The Immigration Police Tourist Assistance program is asking for anyone with information about Daniel Christian Hall, who was last seen at the Full Moon Party on Koh Pha-ngan on February 24, to contact them. According to a report filed with police, no-one has heard from Daniel since then and he abandoned all his belongings except for his passport in…
-
Crime statistics: prostitutes drop, gamblers rise
PHUKET: Arrests made for prostitution in Phuket decreased in March from the previous month, while the number of arrests for gambling shot up by 127 cases, according to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.During March, there were 304 arrests for gambling, 139 arrests for prostitution and 110 arrests for drug-related offenses, 58 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine)…
-
Songkran road toll in Phuket: 2 dead, 40 injured
PHUKET: Phuket recorded its first two road accident fatalities of the 2008 Songkran Festival, as two male teenagers riding motorbikes were killed in separate accidents in Kathu on Sunday. The first victim was identified by the Phuket branch of the National Road Safety Monitoring Center as 15-year-old Chakkrit Titprong. K. Chakkrit was rushed to Vachira Phuket Hospital following a collision…
-
Aussie lifeguards lend a hand
KAMALA: Ahead of the rainy season arriving next month, when the rough surf along the west coast of Phuket becomes dangerous for all but very experienced swimmers, Phuket lifeguards are being trained in surf life-saving techniques at Kamala Beach today and tomorrow.Conducting the training are experienced members of the Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) in New South Wales,…
-
Patong restaurateur stabbed
PATONG: The owner of a restaurant off Sawasdirak Rd, near the Patong beachfront, is in stable condition after being stabbed early on Thursday morning.He was allegedly stabbed by a drunk teenager who was dining in his restaurant.Capt Jongserm Preecha of Kathu Police Station told the Gazette that he received a call from Patong Hospital at 3 am reporting that a…
-
Phuket Bike Week underway
PHUKET: Phuket Bike Week 2008 was kick started last night with an exhibition of gleaming custom choppers and other iron steeds, both old and new, showing their muscle in seven zones at Jungceylon shopping center.Yamaha, Suzuki and BMW have taken some of the stands to show off their latest superbikes, tourbikes and even jet skis until 11 pm tonight.Organizers expect…
-
Owner of Burmese “death truck’ in custody
RANONG: The owner of the truck in which 54 Burmese, including an eight-year-old girl, died on Wednesday from suffocation while being smuggled from Ranong to Phuket presented himself today to police for questioning, Col Kraithong Chanthongbai, Superintendent of Suksamran District Police, told the Gazette.The truck owner, who has been named as Damrong Phussadee, of Rungruengsup Limited Partnership, is now in police custody, Col Kraithong confirmed.However,…
-
Saphan Hin incinerator given top-level support
PHUKET CITY: A Prime Minister’s Office inspector who is in Phuket to review mega-projects for which the governor has requested funding said that top priority should be given to having a second burner installed at the incineration plant at Saphan Hin.Changthong Opassiriwit arrived in Phuket on Tuesday and spent the day visiting the proposed project sites, including a 150-rai site…
-
Finn dies of suspected heart failure
KARON: Police are waiting for medical analysis of the body of a Finnish tourist who died Wednesday morning at the Hilton Phuket Acadia Resort and Spa before moving ahead with any further investigation.Capt Theerawuth Thepluan of Chalong Police Station identified the deceased as 46-year-old Onerva Kastehelmi Jaktholm. She was found dead of apparent heart failure in her room on the…
-
Governor receives Songkran blessing
PHUKET CITY: Phuket’s top-ranking civil servants this morning took part in a ceremony offering Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit an early Thai New Year’s greeting in the traditional way – by pouring lustral water over his hands.Some 100 top provincial officials attended the event at the Governor’s Mansion on Narisorn Rd. Among them were Vice-Governors Worapoj Ratthasima, Tri Augkaradacha, Smith Palawatvichai,…
-
54 Burmese dead in trafficking horror
RANONG: Fifty-four Burmese, 17 men and 37 women, suffocated to death while being transported in the sealed container of a seafood delivery truck yesterday en route from Ranong to Phuket.Col Kraithong Chanthongbai of Suksamran District Police today told the Gazette that police received a call from local people saying that a 10-wheeled truck had been left by the side of Petchkasem Rd…
-
Fowl play suspected in local election
ANG THONG: Police Region 1 are leaving no stone unturned in their attempt to bring to justice a vicious gang of youths who abducted 1,500 waterfowl from a local politician, in what police believe could be a politically motivated ducknapping. At about 3 am on March 28, six young men, some on motorcycles, some in a six-wheeled truck, pulled up…
-
Burglar busted during cat nap
NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: In most professions, apart from those involving heavy machinery or driving perhaps, falling asleep on the job will earn you a strict telling off, a warning letter or in the worst case, the sack. In the burglary trade, however, sleeping on the job can have somewhat more serious consequences as one young army deserter in Phraphrom District…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.