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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21-gun salute for Their Majesties; Fresh spate of Deep South violence; Thailand not safe from economic crisis
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 21-gun salute for Their Majesties The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy welcomed Their Majesties the King and Queen to Hua Hin in Prachuap Khiri Khan province with a 21-gun salute yesterday.The salute, each round five seconds apart, was fired from HTMS Pin Klao just about a…
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Snowden leaves airport; ‘Rum’ kills 11; US kidnapper Castro sentenced; China Human Rights situation deteriorating, says US
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russian airport limbo ends for Snowden, new life begins Reuters/Phuket GazettePHUKET: After nearly six weeks in hiding at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport, Edward Snowden walked calmly out of the transit area, ducked into a car and was driven away unnoticed.It was an anti-climactic end to one chapter of…
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Officials shoot fierce croc escaped from farm north of Phuket
PHUKET: Officials put down a fierce two-and-a-half meter long crocodile after it and another croc escaped from a crocodile farm in Phang Nga today.Villagers reported the escape to Chief of Phang Nga Provincial Fisheries Office Somkiat Sookchanchai.“We rushed to the farm owned by Panet Saelim, 48, and were able to quickly find the pair of crocs in the irrigation ditch…
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Sunken vessel threat to Phuket marine traffic
PHUKET: Marine Officers have marked the cargo boat that recently sank, Unity, with a buoy and light to prevent any damage being done to other ships travelling between mainland Krabi and Phi Phi (story here). “We have also put out public announcements over the radio to inform boat owners about the danger posed by the sunken boat,” Krabi Marine Office…
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VIDEO REPORT: With father slain, American son returns to Krabi
PHUKET: Adam Carter, the 27-year-old American who was stabbed by Thai musicians in a bar fight that resulted in the death of his father (story here), has been discharged from hospital in Phuket. Mr Carter is now recovering at a “safe location” under the care of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) staff, Krabi Provincial Police Deputy Commander Boontawee Toraksa told…
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Only way is up for Phuket FC
PHUKET: After a two-week hiatus, Phuket FC’s skillful Japanese defender Yusuke Sato has fully recovered from a minor calf injury, confirming that he is ready to return to action, starting with two important, upcoming home fixtures. The 6th placed Islanders will host the 15th placed Thai Tobacco Monopoly Football Club tonight (click here for map), which will be followed by…
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Top brass from Bangkok visits Phuket over bombing
PHUKET: National Police Office adviser Ratchata Yensuang arrived in Phuket last night to get a grasp on the non-fatal bombing in Phuket Provincial Hall’s carpark yesterday (story here). “The bomb appeared to be quite amateurish. We have already delegated key investigative roles to specific officers – to ensure we catch the culprit as soon as we can,” Gen Ratchata said.…
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Phuket out of TAT promotional campaign for 2014
PHUKET: Phuket is one of several main tourism destinations in the country that will not be promoted under the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) international marketing campaign for next year. Instead, the focus will be on less-developed tourism areas, Director of the Phuket-TAT office Chanchai Doungjit revealed yesterday. “We will not be promoting tourism centers that are already well-established. Instead,…
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World’s largest floating library booked for Phuket
PHUKET: Logos Hope, the world’s largest floating library, is Phuket bound for the first time, Project Coordinator Eunji Lee told the Phuket Gazette. The 132-meter-ship, roughly half the size of the Titanic, will be at Phuket’s Deep Sea Port from August 14 to 22. “We will open the ship up for visitors from August 15 to 18, and from August…
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Phuket marine specialists helping out with Koh Samet oil spill
PHUKET: Five Phuket marine specialists headed to Koh Samet yesterday to help clean up the approximately 50,000 liters of crude oil that leaked into the Gulf of Thailand from a PTT Global Chemical pipeline last Saturday (story here). “Our five marine specialists will be working with their counterparts from Rayong, Chumpon, and other provinces,” Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) director…
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Asian demand for tablets and laptops insatiable
PHUKET: Southeast Asia’s internet infrastructure has improved by leaps and bounds, spurring the increasingly connected society to seek gratification for instant connectivity via portable devices such as tablets and laptops. In the last 12 months, demand for both devices grew to hit combined sales of nearly 14.2 million units across six of the region’s key markets – Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand,…
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Cloud computing: Forecast sunny – Phuket Business
PHUKET: Lately, I have been hearing many stories of expats and tourists in Phuket whose laptops have been stolen. Having your laptop stolen is a terrible experience. You not only feel violated, but your life was basically on that computer. Picking up the pieces can be hard, but today it can be made easier with cloud computing. Cloud computing is…
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Phuket presents a successful inaugural Junior Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: A fleet of 14 Optimists and five Toppers took part recently in the newest event on Phuket’s sailing calendar, the inaugural Junior Phuket Raceweek. Held off Panwa Beach Resort Phuket, youngsters from seven to fifteen years old completed four races in idyllic Phuket conditions under the watchful eye of Principal Race Officer Royal Thai Navy Rear Admiral Prasart Sribhadung,…
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Breaking News: Explosion at Phuket Provincial Hall, bomb suspected
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has confirmed reports of an explosion at the Phuket Provincial Hall complex in Phuket Town just after 2pm today.Police officers at the scene found the remains of a clock and batteries among the debris from an explosion that emanated from a green plastic trash can in the car park in front of the Phuket Provincial Administrative…
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Phuket Video Report: 10 rescued from sea after waves swamp Phi Phi cargo boat
PHUKET: Ten men were rescued after spending two hours holding onto floating debris between the Krabi coast and Phi Phi Island, off Phuket, late yesterday afternoon.The cargo boat Unity, carrying food, construction materials and other supplies bound for Phi Phi, was struck by large waves reaching up to four-meters high after passing Koh Por Da, the boat’s captain, Thaweep Choonoon…
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“Bombs’ detonated at Phuket Airport drill
PHUKET: A simulated terrorist bomb drill held at Phuket International Airport yesterday went off without a hitch, organizers said.In the exercise, members of the Phuket Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit and Airports of Thailand (AoT) staff short-circuited one bomb with a high-pressure water device, responded to a “fire” when a second was detonated, and cared for “injured” participants.When the first…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Oil spill mop up continues; Bangkok under ISA ahead of rallies; North braces for more floods
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Oil spill probe to be finished in 7 days The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Energy Ministry promises to complete its investigation into the cause of the disastrous offshore oil spill within seven days and to ensure full compensation by PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC).“The situation is under…
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Thai musicians arrested for murder of American tourist
PHUKET: Three Thai musicians have been arrested for the murder of 51-year-old American tourist Bobby Ray Carter Jr and the assault of his 27-year-old son in Krabi early this morning.According to one of the suspects, Ratikorn Romin, 27, from Phang Nga, a fight broke out between the three musicians and the Americans, who had joined them on-stage last night at…
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Phuket security guard chose wrong bag when he turned to crime
PHUKET: A Phuket security guard who turned to crime may have regretted his decision after the bag he stole turned out to contain nothing more than cosmetics, and CCTV images led police to his rented room the same day.Rungnapa Bunnamee left her cosmetics bag in the basket of her motorbike when she stopped to shop at a 7-Eleven on Phuket…
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Phuket crane loses balance, operator flees scene of destruction
PHUKET: A crane manipulating a heavy section of concrete pipe toppled over in Phuket this afternoon, demolishing the second floor of two shops, and though no one was injured, the driver fled the scene.“As the crane was lifting a section of pipe, land subsided under the crane arm, causing the operator to lose control,” said Sumpawat Wannasangkam of the Department…
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‘Nobody helped us,’ South African family attacked by six men claim
PHUKET: The South African family attacked near Soi Bangla (map here) after midnight on Tuesday morning said they “called for help, but nobody helped”. The family of four – mother, father and two children in their 20s – were “hanging out near the beach road” when they were suddenly attacked, the father later told rescue workers. Six men appeared “out…
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VIDEO REPORT: Phuket king cobra attempts to swallow baby python for breakfast
PHUKET: A huge king cobra about five meters long was captured while attempting to swallow a baby python on Tuesday morning in a fruit plantation off Patak Road near Karon. “Mr Yo, a Burmese man who lives in a labor camp in the fruit plantation, saw the king cobra first,” said Wisit Chuanchit, a villager who witnessed the snake-on-snake incident.The…
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Phuket pushes for new road to Freedom
PHUKET: Top Phuket officials, including Governor Maitri Inthusut, yesterday attended the first public hearing for the proposed new road from Sirirat Road, near Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort, to Tri Trang Beach, on the southern headland of Patong Bay. About 100 people turned out to join the meeting, held at the Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa in Patong. “Actually there…
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Phuket Airport to undergo full-scale “explosive’ emergency drill
PHUKET: A full-scale emergency-response drill will take place at Phuket International Airport today – Wednesday, July 31 – as part of the Phuket International Airport Emergency Plan 2013.“The exercise will begin at 10am and last for one hour, at the parking lot, right in front of Phuket Airport Terminal 2,” said Airports of Thailand’s Acting Phuket Director Somsiri Kuengsopha.“The drill…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Manning verdict – not guilty of aiding enemy; Pentagon warns against zero option; Iraeli-Palestinian peace deal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Private Manning acquitted of aiding enemy in WikiLeaks case Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A military judge yesterday found U.S. soldier Bradley Manning not guilty of aiding the enemy – the most serious charge among many he faced for handing over documents to WikiLeaks.But Col. Denise Lind, in…
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Greed jeopardizing tourists’ safety, says Racha group
PHUKET: Reckless speedboat captains and tour guides chasing day-trip commissions have been named as the leading culprits jeopardizing tourists’ safety at Koh Racha, a popular day-trip island south of Phuket.Sarit Jandee, president of the Racha Conservation Club, blamed tour guides for encouraging day-trippers to swim and rent water-sports equipment on the west side of the island, which at this time…
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Urgent call for more A- blood for injured Briton in Phuket
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital has appealed for more blood donations of A-negative blood in order to continue treatment for British national Marc Harrington, 66 years old. Mr Harrington was admitted to the hospital for a head injury sustained in a motorbike accident on June 22 (story here). “The doctors fear that Mr Harrington will go into shock if we are…
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Phuket officials seize machinery, halt construction at protected mangroves site
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Office will be called on to answer how three Nor Sor 3 land-use documents came to be issued for “plots” within a protected mangroves site on the outskirts of Phuket Town. Officials from the Royal Forest Department (RFD) yesterday raided a seven-rai site in the Klong Koh Pee area, near Saphan Hin in Phuket Town. Land…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Oil spill update; Pension issues; Thaksin clip was foreigners; Emergency decree before amnesty bill
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Black day for Samet The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET:Authorities yesterday feared the entire tourist island of Koh Samet in Rayong would be affected by Saturday’s oil spill.The island’s Ao Phrao (Phrao Bay) is being closed for three days to permit a cleanup of spilled crude oil that…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Pope more open-minded; Swiss train crash; Berlusconi’s day; China eases tension; Syrian govt retakes Homs
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pope says gays must not be judged or marginalised Retuers / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Pope Francis, in some of the most conciliatory words from any pontiff on gays, said they should not be judged or marginalised and should be integrated into society, but he reaffirmed Church teaching that…
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