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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French expat, 26, found hanged in Phuket
PHUKET: The body of a 26-year-old French expat was found hanging in a rented Rawai house on Tuesday.Chalong Police and Ruamjai Foundation rescue workers were notified of the death at about 4:30pm, after the owner of the house had entered the building to investigate a stench that was disturbing neighbors.“Officers on duty found the body of the foreigner sitting inside,…
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Governor proposes solution for Rassada water pollution
PHUKET: After inspecting the site in Rassada where highly polluted wastewater is pumped directly into the Bang Yai Canal in Phuket Town (story here), Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has drawn up a plan to solve the problem. Before drawing up his plan, Gov Maitri broadened his scope of appraisal and inspected drainage ditches behind the Radio of Thailand official residences…
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Phuket hits high on buffalo agenda
PHUKET: After previous editions in Cairo, Delhi, Manila, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires, the World Buffalo Congress will this year make its way to Thailand, where Phuket will host the triennial event at the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort and Spa in Karon from May, 6 to 8. More than 500 participants from 35 countries are scheduled to attend the event,…
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Immigration chief highlights Rohingya plight in Thailand
PHUKET: Immigration Bureau Commissioner Pharnu Kerdlarpphon, in Phuket for a closed-door meeting of high-ranking officials, has expressed his concern for the growing number of Rohingya refugees being detained in Thailand.Lt Gen Pharnu’s visit to Phuket on Tuesday was to head a meeting tabled to discuss the bureau’s “working policy” at which Phuket’s own immigration superintendent did not attend.Following the meeting,…
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Serial Phuket resort thief nabbed
PHUKET: A joint investigation by police from Karon, Kathu and Phuket City has resulted in the arrest of a Bangkok couple who stand accused of robbing guest rooms at nine high-end hotels and resorts in Phuket.Ritthimeth Singhaumpai, 33, and Sasithorn Seekam, 22, were arrested on Wednesday after they entered the Jungceylon car park in a black-on-black Mercedes-Benz E200 sports sedan.The…
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After five months, missing American Brett Bean calls home
PHUKET: Brett Bean, the American expat whose disappearance last November gained extensive press coverage, has contacted his family after 155 days of unnerving silence, the Phuket Gazette has confirmed. “It was a very brief call,” his mother, Lynne Bean, said. “We still do not know where he is, but it was very good to hear his voice,” she added. “At…
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40 elephants suspected illegal as raids strike tourism trekking companies
PHUKET: Officers from the regional Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division raided seven tour companies in Phang Nga this week following reports that the companies were in possession of illegal elephants. Col Watcharin Phusit, who headed the elephant raids in Phuket last year, also led the raids north of Phuket. “We investigated the ATV Tour Company, Pang Kaew elephant…
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Phuket Wake Park latest victim of illegal Russian raids
PHUKET: Following the arrest of 35 Russians found allegedly working illegally in Patong nightclubs last week (story here), three more Russians have been arrested at the tourist-popular Phuket Wake Park in Kathu. Cherdsak Wisutthikul, from the Department of Employment in Bangkok, led a team of 20 officers to raid the wakeboard park at about 5:30pm on Thursday. Following a chaotic…
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Burmese girl, 6, first dengue fatality on Phuket this year
PHUKET: In the wake of a six-year-old Burmese girl dying from dengue fever after arriving on the island in April, the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is urging everyone to bolster efforts to remove possible breeding grounds for mosquitoes potentially carrying the disease. The young girl was in Phuket for less than two weeks before she was admitted to Vachira…
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Phuket visa run destination Kuala Lumpur stops issuing 12-month non-imm B visas
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Embassy of Kuala Lumpur, a popular visa run destination for Phuket expats, has confirmed that it is no longer issuing 12-month non-immigrant B visas. Embassy official Orawan Heemmamhad confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the embassy in the Malaysian capital stopped issuing 12-month business visas late last year. “It is the Kuala Lumpur embassy policy not…
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Tourist Police arrest illegal Thai tour guides
PHUKET: Seven Thais working illegally as tour guides catering to Chinese tourists in Phuket were arrested in the wake of a mass protest on Monday demanding the government take action against illegal guides. The protest on Monday focused on Chinese nationals “stealing” the jobs of Thai tour guides, though those protesting also asked Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak to raise…
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Phuket’s Top Cop calls for more CCTV cameras to fight crime
PHUKET: Phuket’s top brass highlighted the importance of CCTV in police investigations and the need for more cameras on the island at a meeting to discuss unsolved high-profile crimes with the Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8 this week.“The Phuket Provincial Police only have about 300 CCTV on the island, which is not enough to cover everywhere,” said Phuket…
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Phuket Police suspect American died of drug overdose
PHUKET: A 29-year-old American woman found dead in her bed shortly after checking into a Phuket rental room is suspected of having suffered from a drug overdose, said Chalong Police.The woman was identified from her passport as Faetra Petillo, and family members have been notified of her death.At the scene Ruamjai Foundation rescue workers, who were contacted by Chalong Police…
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Phuket to spend B60mn on flood defense
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising has pledged to spend 60 million baht on flood-defense projects across the island.The news comes as the annual monsoon winds from the northeast swing around to start bringing rain from the southwest.“We will support all projects from every local administration,” said Mr Paiboon.“The budget is ready to be allocated to finalized…
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Phuket gal to compete in Miss Tiffany final tonight
PHUKET: Chayutara “Ying” Meechaiprasert will be Phuket’s sole hope in the final round of the Miss Tiffany Universe 2013 beauty contest, which is to be televised live across the country tonight.Ms Chayutara, a showgirl at the Aphrodite Cabaret on Phuket’s bypass road, will be sporting number 19 in the world-renowned ladyboy beauty pageant, the winner of which will go on…
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