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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Sponsored Is tap water in Thailand safe to consume?
Wondering if you can drink the tap water in Thailand? From brushing your teeth to filling up a bottle, it’s helpful to understand a few basics. Tap water safety in Thailand varies by location, and while some people use it...
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Suthep provides clips of ‘men in black’ in 2010
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suthep provides clips of ‘men in black’ in 2010 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Former deputy prime minister Suthep Thaugsuban yesterday gave the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) video clips and pictures of the “men in black” while testifying in the case in which he is…
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Phuket career car robber flunks again
PHUKET: Police have arrested a man who has confessed to breaking into and stealing items from five cars in Phuket Town on Friday and Saturday night. Pongphol Boondetpiti, 25, was arrested at a house in Rassada yesterday. “Officers searched his house and found several items reported stolen from the robbed cars,” Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Somsak Thongklieng said this…
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Top official in heat-stroke coma after hot spring plunge
PHUKET: A senior official at the Attorney-General’s Office in Bangkok is on 24-hour watch in the intensive-care unit (ICU) at Vachira Phuket Hospital, in Phuket Town, after jumping into a hot spring in Krabi last week. Somkiat Phatkhun, the deputy director of the Training and Development Institute at the Office of the Attorney General in Bangkok, is fighting for his…
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EU issues yellow card on Thailand over illegal fishing
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU issues yellow card on Thailand over illegal fishing The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The European Commission on Tuesday put Thailand on formal notice for not taking sufficient measures in the international fight against illegal fishing (IUU). Thailand has six months to implement a corrective…
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Fears raised over new wells fouling Phuket groundwater
PHUKET: The Governor’s Office is taking quick action to prevent a slew of new wells excavated in the Kata-Karon area from threatening the local groundwater supply. Phuket Vice Governor Suthee Thongyam led a meeting yesterday at Provincial Hall, where he heard complaints from residents throughout the entire Kata-Karon area. “Local residents use water from shallow wells for their daily necessities,…
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Video Report: Indonesian caught smuggling 5.2kg of cocaine into Phuket
PHUKET: An Indonesian man was arrested at Phuket International Airport yesterday in possession of 5.2 kilograms of cocaine, which he was transporting from Columbia to Khao Lak. Jemani Ikhsan, 63, had departed Bogota, Columbia, on April 18 and connected in Panama City, Panama; Sao Paulo, Brazil; Qatar; and Singapore before landing in Phuket at about 7:20pm yesterday. The cocaine, valued…
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Phuket health officials to crack open alcohol promotion laws, case by case
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has confirmed that it will not take action against restaurant and bar owners for showing images promoting alcohol – unless a specific complaint is made against the venue. The news follows a report of a restaurant owner in Bangkok being sentenced to pay 460,000 baht for breaking the Alcohol Control Act of 2014.…
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New panel to set salary scale for state officials
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New panel to set salary scale for state officials The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Cabinet yesterday resolved to set up a committee that will be in charge of creating an appropriate salary structure for all state officials, Deputy Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said.…
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DSI provides info for probe into UFUN
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DSI provides info for probe into UFUN The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) passed information about the case against UFUN Thailand’s alleged pyramid scheme to police yesterday for further investigation, as three more people – one a military officer –…
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Man denies role in Samui car bomb
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Man denies role in Samui car bomb The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Phattalung man who resembled a suspect in a police sketch wanted over the Central Festival bomb attack on Koh Samui two weeks ago met yesterday with police. Nukul Yongnoo, the manager of…
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Anti-fracking protesters rally at US Embassy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Anti-fracking protesters rally at US Embassy The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: About 20 members of the ‘Stop Fracking Thailand Network’ rallied outside the US Embassy in Bangkok yesterday to protest against chemical fracking in this country. Two network representatives, Rangsit University professor Dr Smith Tungkasmit…
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Two arrested after migrant boat capsize horror
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two arrested after migrant boat capsize horror Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The European Union proposed doubling the size of its Mediterranean search and rescue operations on Monday, as the first bodies were brought ashore of as many as 900 people feared killed in the deadliest…
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Minister battles devastating illegal fishing practices
PHUKET: New fishing regulations are to hit Phuket as Thailand looks to close legal loop holes and enforcement issues being abused by illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishers. Experts estimate that the global value of economic losses from IUU fishing range between $US10 billion and $US23.5bn annually, reported US-based National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 2011. “IUU fishing poses…
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Man slashed in break-and-enter, claims fleeing teen gang attack
PHUKET: Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding a man who was found bleeding profusely in a stranger’s home in central Phuket early this morning. Officers arrived at the home, in the Permsak Villa estate in Baan Manik, Thalang, at about 2:30am. “When we arrived, we found Channarong Unong, 25, on the ground bleeding in front of the house,” said Lt…
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Teacher among two more suspects arrested over Samui car bomb
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Teacher among two more suspects arrested over Samui car bomb The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A teacher is among the two new suspects arrested for allegedly playing a role in the Central Festival Samui bomb blast. An informed source revealed yesterday that the 33-year-old teacher,…
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UFUN woman surrenders to police over alleged B20bn scam
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UFUN woman surrenders to police over alleged B20bn scam The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Another Thai woman accused of being involved in the allegedly fraudulent UFUN Thailand scheme surrendered to assistant national police chief Suwira Songmetta and the Consumer Protection Police Division yesterday. Hansa Thara-bundit…
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Mother, sister join Navy search for missing American tourist
PHUKET: The mother and sister of missing American tourist Joshua Devine today joined a search by air for their lost loved one, who disappeared from a dive boat off Phuket on April 11 (story here). Mr Devine’s mother, Marie Gallant Major, and his sister Jennifer Bakowski boarded a Royal Thai Navy helicopter after being briefed on the search efforts at…
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Phuket Poll: Thai police lose battle in gaining trust
PHUKET: A staggering 80% of all respondents to a Phuket Gazette poll have stated that they do not trust the Thai Police – either in part or at all. The message was sent loud and clear through the poll, which garnered more than 12,000 votes (click here). Thai nationals led the charge, with 49% saying that they did not trust…
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Phuket Police bust major dealer, seize more than B7m of drugs
PHUKET: A major Phuket drug dealer was arrested with more than 7 million baht of drugs in Phuket Town on Friday night after police were tipped off by one of her sellers. Thammarat ‘Ken’ Matte provided police with the nickname and clues to the location of his supplier after he was arrested with 400mg of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) earlier…
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Phuket teen gun-maker shoots self in leg
PHUKET: An 18-year-old man accidentally shot himself in the leg while assembling a homemade gun at his house in Mai Khao on Saturday evening. Anuphong Phuangjan was taken to Thalang Hospital for treatment after police were notified of the incident by his neighbors. “He was assembling a handgun made from parts of a BB gun when he accidentally shot himself…
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Ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith hit with assets freeze
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-DSI chief Tarit Pengdith hit with assets freeze The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday announced that it had temporarily frozen nearly 60 million baht in assets of former Department of Special Investigation director-general Tarit Pengdith and a former academic attached to…
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Taxi driver confesses to running down cop, shooting couple dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Cabbie who ran over cop, shot dead couple ‘confesses’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Bangkok taxi driver, who ran over a traffic policeman, stole his gun and shot dead a middle-aged couple in Nonthaburi’s Bang Yai district on Friday, surrendered to police yesterday reportedly…
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Monk disrobed for theft of heads from four corpses
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Monk disrobed for theft of heads from four corpses The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Buddhist monk in Udon Thani province was disrobed in order to face criminal charges, along with two layman accomplices, for allegedly stealing and chopping off the heads of four corpses.…
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Energy officials target Phuket’s power hungry
PHUKET: The Ministry of Energy will launch a campaign that aims to reduce Phuket’s power consumption by 10 per cent within six months. The campaign will target hotels, shopping malls and condo projects – and government offices, explained Pramoul Chanpong, an inspector with the Ministry of Energy. “Phuket is one of the top three power users in all of Southern…
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Alcohol ban pondered for Phuket passenger boats
PHUKET: Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut is considering banning alcohol on all passenger boats operating out of Phuket. The potential ban will be raised at a meeting with tour boat operators on Thursday. The move follows Joshua Michael Devine, 36, a civilian IT operative working at a United States military base in Kuwait, disappearing from on a Similans-bound liveaboard…
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Deputy PM calls for Phuket light rail to serve the beaches
PHUKET: Deputy Prime Minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula yesterday told the governors of five Andaman provinces that he would like to see the Phuket light-rail project serve popular beaches on the island. “In my opinion, having the light rail expanded to serve the beaches would be a good idea,” Deputy PM MR Pridiyathorn said. “A lot of people visit the beaches,…
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Opinion: Casting a line to catch human traffickers
Lt Col Panya Chaichana, 53, is chief of the Phuket Marine Police. Originally from Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province, Col Panya has been working for the Marine Police force for 34 years. He started out working for the Phuket Marine Office in 1981 before moving to Satun and Narathiwat provinces. He returned to Phuket in 1997. Here, he talks about…
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Phuket security boost for royal visit
PHUKET: Security will be ramped up across the island during a royal visit by HRH Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana to Phuket next week. Princess Chulabhorn will arrive at Tessaban 2 Baan Kathu School at 1:40pm on April 26 as one of the final stops during her tour of Princess Mother’s Medical Volunteer Foundation centers in Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket, from…
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Govt claims social advances since taking over
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt claims social advances since taking over The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Government has made several achievements on the social front over the past six months, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha and his Cabinet members claimed yesterday. The current administration started working on September…
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Teenagers planned Australian terror attack for ANZAC centenary
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Teenagers planned Australian terror attack for ANZAC centenary Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Teenagers inspired by the hardline Islamic State planned a major terrorism attack in the Australian city of Melbourne to mark the centenary next week of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli during World War…
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