News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
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Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management
Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...
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World War II bomb found at Bangkok MRT project site
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World War II bomb found at Bangkok MRT project site The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A vintage aerial bomb discovered yesterday at a site near Bang Sue train station marked for construction of a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) train station was secured by the Air…
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Government officials return to work
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Government officials return to work The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Government officials returned to work yesterday as Government House and the Interior Ministry opened for the first time since anti-government protests kicked off – eventually leading to the coup. Pol General Adul Saengsingkaew, the deputy…
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Thai tanker and crew home safe after hijack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai tanker and crew back in Chon Buri after hijack and theft of oil off Kalimantan The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Pirates have released a Thai tanker that was bound for Indonesia after stealing its oil, in the latest attack in Southeast Asian waters, the…
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At least 12 Vietnam students killed in Thai van crash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 12 Vietnam students killed in crash The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Twelve Vietnamese students and a Thai van driver died after their chartered vehicle collided head-on with an 18-wheel truck in Chaiyaphum’s Kaeng Khro district yesterday morning. The van burst into flames after…
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Legal tour guides furious over police arrests, demand illegal guides be targeted
PHUKET: About 100 angry tour guides protested at Chalong Police Station today after 23 legal members of a local Chinese tour guide association were brought in for questioning this morning. Three members of the association had been attempting to collect evidence of illegal guides operating in the popular tourist destination when they were taken into police custody. “We do not…
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Cocaine blues: Phuket tourist busted with over 20g of “paradise white’
PHUKET: A Phuket sting operation netted two tourists in possession of more than 21 grams of cocaine last night. “An undercover officer met with the 46-year-old suspect, Nigerian tourist Colins Ifeanyi Ugwoeruchkwu, to buy drugs in Patong,” said Tourist Police Division 5 Superintendent Jirapop Phuridet. “When Mr Ugwoeruchkwu arrived on Soi Nanai 2, off Nanai Road, we searched him.” Officers…
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“I thought I saw MH370 on fire,’ says Phuket yachtie
PHUKET: A British sailor crossing the Indian Ocean en route to Phuket in March has stepped forward to file a report that she may have seen the missing Malaysian Airlines Flight MH370. Katherine Tee, 41, was sailing from Cochin, India to Phuket with her husband Marc Horn, 50, when she saw what looked like a plane on fire crossing the…
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Dazed and confused: Swedish tourist loses hotel, saved by police volunteers
PHUKET: A confused Swedish tourist located his guesthouse after two days of being lost in Patong thanks to the combined effort of the Tourist Police Volunteers and Region 8 Police Volunteers. Karl “Tommy” Berglund, 67, left his hotel shortly after checking in on Thursday night to go for a walk, taking just a little cash and leaving his room key…
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2022 Wold Cup vote must be re-run if corruption proved, says Goldsmith
PHUKET: The vote for the hosting of the 2022 World Cup must be re-run if corruption allegations surrounding Qatar’s winning campaign are proved to be accurate, Lord Goldsmith, a member of FIFA’s Independent Governance Committee, said on Monday. A British newspaper on Sunday claimed it had evidence that around $5 million (3 million pounds) was paid to officials in return…
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Lion Air roars into Southern Thailand
PHUKET: Regional low-cost carrier Lion Air has launched services to several new destinations in Thailand, with its Thai subsidiary Thai Lion Air, aiming to establish Hat Yai Airport (HDY) as a second hub in Thailand. Executive Managing Director of Thai Lion Air, Andi Burhan, said that the carrier’s decision to use a 72-seat ATR 72-600 prop plane, the first ATR…
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Phuket Governor prevents anti-curfew rally, whispers curfew repeal coming
PHUKET: Governor Maitri Inthusut has vowed to visit Soi Bangla in Patong tonight to personally receive a formal request by nightlife venue operators pleading for the curfew to be lifted. Governor Maitri announced the news after a closed-door meeting with Patong Entertainment Business Association President Weerawit Krueasombut this afternoon. The meeting lasted just a handful of minutes. Mr Weerawit had…
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Breaking News: Furious tour guides protest at Chalong Police Station over arrest
PHUKET: About 100 angry Phuket tour guides descended on Chalong Police Station today to protest the arrest of a legal tour guide. “Police arrested a legal tour guide. Why aren’t they looking for the illegal guides? Why are they targeting us?” asked protest leader Jaifu Sae-lee. An investigation into officers at the Chalong Police Station concluded earlier this year. Shortly…
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Phuket’s top cop to stay – for now
PHUKET: Despite rumors that the island’s top-ranking police officer, Maj Gen Ong-art Phiwruangnont, had been ordered to leave his position as Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Gen Ong-art has confirmed that he has been ordered to stay. “I will remain here until I receive orders stating otherwise,” Gen Ong-art told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “It all depends on my superiors…
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Patong nightlife operators to risk assembly ban to plea for curfew to be lifted
PHUKET: About 100 Patong business operators and their staff plan to gather at Phuket Provincial Hall tomorrow to submit a formal request asking for the curfew to be lifted. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut have been informed of the plan, Patong Entertainment Business Association Weerawit Krueasombut told the Phuket Gazette this morning.…
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Only seconds in it on final day of Samui Regatta
PHUKET: The sun and wind greeted sailors with equal measure on the morning of the last day of the Samui Regatta last Saturday, May 31. With the best pressure to the north, Principal Race Officer (PRO) Ross Chisholm headed out to lay a start line with two races planned for all – first a trapezoid course followed by a fast…
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France arrests suspect in Brussels Jewish museum shooting
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community France arrests suspect in Brussels Jewish museum shooting Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: French police have arrested a man suspected of being involved in the shooting deaths last weekend of three people at Brussels’ Jewish Museum, official sources in Belgium and France said on Sunday. The…
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Thailand News: No retreat from democracy; Reporter freed; Soldiers play cat-and-mouse with protesters
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘No retreat from democracy’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand is not retreating from democracy and seeks understanding from its economic and strategic partners while the country undergoes political reforms, a top Thai official said yesterday. Sihasak Phuangketkeow, Thailand’s permanent secretary for foreign affairs, was…
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Airlines resume Bali flights as ash cloud dissipates
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australian airlines resume flights as ash cloud dissipates Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Australian airlines forced to cancel flights due to a volcanic ash cloud from Indonesia’s Sangeang Api volcano resumed flying on Sunday as the plume cleared. With the threat to Australian airspace now abating,…
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Did you win a private Phuket airplane ride?
PHUKET: Two lucky people out of the more than 500 who took part in the Phuket Gazette’s 2014 Reader Survey have won a free ride over the island in the company’s new airplane. Each person who completed the survey was issued a lucky number. The winning numbers, drawn late yesterday, are 8584 and 7546. Maintaining our promise of anonymity in…
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Navy experts disarm Japanese WWII torpedo in Krabi
PHUKET: The WWII Japanese torpedo brought to Krabi’s shores by fisherman on Tuesday was removed from the beach by experts and disarmed on a nearby island yesterday . “Officers from the Thai Navy Ordinance confirmed that the torpedo was from World War II, and that it was capable of destroying everything within a 1 kilometer radius,” Koh Sriboya Kamnan Samran…
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Gen Prayuth says reconciliation, reform to take about a year – elections to wait
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gen Prayuth says reconciliation, reform to take about a year Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) leader Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha said yesterday that a process of reconciliation between political factions and reforms would take about one year, and only after…
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Driving courses to be offered in English, Russian and Burmese for Phuket foreigners
PHUKET: Several educational institutions on the island will soon offer training courses in English, as well as Russian and Burmese, for foreigners wanting to get a driver’s licence. The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with five educational institutions on the island – Rajabhat University, Thalang Technical College, Phuket Technical College, Phuket Polytechnic College and…
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Kick the habit with Vachira Phuket Hospital’s “No Tobacco Day’ event
PHUKET: Vachira Phuket Hospital is holding a “No Tobacco Day” event today to provide advice and strategies for island smokers who want to kick the habit. “The event takes place from 8:30am to 4:30pm. Staff will offer advice to those who want to quit smoking,” Vachira Phuket Hospital Director Jessada Chungpaibulpatana told the Phuket Gazette. “Staff from our International Department…
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Federer, Djokovic struggle as Sharapova blazes through in Paris
PHUKET: Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic were both put to the test to reach the fourth round of the French Open on Friday while Maria Sharapova continued to blaze through a thinning women’s draw. Polish third seed Agnieszka Radwanska was knocked out 6-4 6-4 by Croatian Ajla Tomljanovic, becoming the latest victim of a new generation of talent sweeping through…
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Pirate-goods sellers protest being “exploited’ through alleged government extortion
PHUKET: A barrage of complaints were voiced by pirate-goods sellers during a protest against allegedly being forced to pay “too much” extortion money to a variety of government officers based in Bangkok. “They come for money every day, but it’s always a different officer,” said one of the protesters, who declined to be named. “They ask for 3,000 baht or…
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NCPO to keep Phuket radio stations off air, concerned about rogue DJs
PHUKET: Despite not being under investigation by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), radio stations in Phuket have been ordered to remain off air due to concerns that rogue DJs could cause disharmony, the Phuket Gazette was told. “The private radio stations are to remain off air because we don’t want to chance someone talking on air about…
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Phuket developer concedes B600mn school land grab was a “misunderstanding’
PHUKET: The Phuket developer who earlier this week staked a claim to a huge tract of land belonging to Kathu Wittaya School yesterday admitted that he had “made a mistake”. Named publicly only as “Ko Kim”, the landowner said he would have the Land Office move the boundary markers for his land – which is next to the school –…
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Breaking News: Phuket pirated goods vendors protest paying off officials
PHUKET: Sellers from about 40 pirated goods shops in Phuket took to the streets today in protest of allegedly being forced to pay “too much” money to a variety of government offices in Bangkok. Protesters are currently on the streets holding signs saying, “Closed because we cannot afford paying extortion money”. — Kritsada Mueanhawong
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Phuket rental operator takes stand against undesirable tourists
Arnut Lowlarng, 39, is a native of Patong and the new President of the Patong Bike and Car Rent Association. He has a vocational certificate in construction from Phuket Technical College and has been renting vehicles in Patong for more than 22 years. Here, he talks about what kind of tourists he’d like to see in Phuket and the issues…
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Phuket’s low season saviors: Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners
PHUKET: The sacred oxen have spoken – the rainy season is upon us – and it will be a year of abundant water and food. The year will also be abundant in Russians, Chinese and Middle Easterners – the financial saviors of Phuket’s low season. Down here on the island, far from the rice-reliant agriculture industry, the Royal Ploughing Ceremony…
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