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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Sponsored The 5 most common travel emergencies in Thailand and how to be prepared
Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...
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Facebook begins Europe-wide campaign against extremist posts
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook begins Europe-wide campaign against extremist posts Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Facebook Inc (FB.O) began a Europe-wide campaign on Monday to thwart extremist posts on social media, after German politicians in particular raised concerns about a rise in xenophobic comments linked to an influx of…
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EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU team visits Thailand to assess fishing industry cleanup Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A European Union delegation that is visiting Thailand to weigh its progress in battling illegal and unregulated fishing will not make a decision this week on whether to ban Thai seafood products,…
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Phuket man takes bullet in the groin
PHUKET: A Phuket man on a motorbike was hit twice during a drive-by shooting on Thepkrasattri Road in Phuket late last night. Rawi Suksamran, 34, suffered a bullet wound to his groin area and lower back, confirmed a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker who arrived at the scene in Srisoonthorn. “According to witnesses, Mr Rawi was heading straight through the Thalang…
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Dirty dozen picked up in mass Phuket raid
PHUKET: A large task force swept up twelve suspects wanted for a series of crimes ranging from illegal drugs and firearms, to their role in the Thalang Police Station riot (story here). “The joint mission on Sunday saw 120 officers from local police forces, Thalang District and the Royal Thai Navy make 12 arrests with 12 search warrants,” said Phuket…
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Many young people fear losing their jobs to robots, survey finds
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Many young people fear losing their jobs to robots, survey finds Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Four out of ten young people believe machines will be able to do their jobs within a decade, an international survey published on Monday has found. Nearly half of young…
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Jakarta attack highlights jostle to lead Islamic State in SE Asia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Jakarta attack highlights jostle to lead Islamic State in SE Asia Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Last week’s attack on Jakarta showed for the first time that Islamic State violence has arrived in Indonesia, but security experts believe the radical group’s footprint is still light here…
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Robots, new working ways to cost 5 million jobs by 2020, study says
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Robots, new working ways to cost 5 mln jobs by 2020, Davos study says Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Disruptive labor market changes, including the rise of robots and artificial intelligence, will result in a net loss of 5.1 million jobs over the next five years…
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Tennis World hit by match-fixing reports, authorities back integrity unit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tennis-World tennis hit by match-fixing reports, authorities back integrity unit Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: World tennis was rocked on Monday by allegations that the game’s authorities have failed to deal with widespread match-fixing, just as the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the…
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A Decade Ago: Invaders of the nude variety
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette‘s page one story a decade ago was about water supplies being enough to keep Phuket’s thirst quenched for the high season. However, the juicy part of the January 14-20 issue was the ‘Inside Story’: Are nudists itching to invade Thailand? The Tourism Authority of Thailand had called on Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura to see if the…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Asleep in two seconds
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Myanmar national crushed by cement truck in Phuket
PHUKET: A Myanmar national was killed after he fell off his motorbike and under the wheel of a cement truck in Thalang yesterday evening. Named on his identification card as ‘Mr Tengsor’, the 39-year-old man was crushed by the truck after he allegedly over took it and collided with another motorbike, said Lt Suporn Muangkhai of the Thalang Police. “The…
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Opinion: Solving tuk-tuk woes
Supap Pramkaew, 49, is head of the Karon tuk-tuk consortium. He has been a tuk-tuk driver in Phuket for 20 years and has lived on the island for more than 30 years. He is originally from Nakhon Sri Thammarat. Here he talks about the current issues that tuk-tuk drivers face and how the government could help alleviate some of those…
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Austrian woman in Phuket ICU after falling unconscious
PHUKET: An Austrian woman remains in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after she fell unconscious while swimming at Patong Beach yesterday. Annemarie Gusenbauer, 63, was rushed to Patong Hospital and later transferred to the better equipped Bangkok Hospital Phuket, after her friends pulled her from the water. “We immediately called for an ambulance and administered CPR…
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Island View: Law of retaliation
PHUKET: An eye for an eye, or the law of retaliation, is the mentality that seems to be taking over Phuket these days. There have been several recent incidents where tempers flared and punches (or worse) were pulled at the slightest provocation. However, the recent video of a Krabi van driver attacking a foreigner on a motorbike, after the foreigner…
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Phuket beach covered with umbrellas, chairs
PHUKET: Though all umbrellas and beach chairs on Phuket’s Laem Sing Beach are banned, photographs taken today from above the beach show beach furniture obscuring much of the sand. Phuket Vice Governor Chokdee Amornwat, who is in charge of the island’s beach management, vowed to take action against the violation of provincial rules next week. “Laem Sing is not listed…
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Many Phuket tourism venues illegal, says government
PHUKET: Almost 50 per cent of private tourist attractions on Phuket have been operating illegally, confirmed Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. The in-depth investigation into animal shows and other tourism hot spots, including ATV adventures, shooting ranges and go-kart tracks, was initiated following a tourist being bitten on the nose by a snake show python after she kissed the serpent…
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High waves hamper search for Marines missing in Hawaii helicopter crash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community High waves hamper search for Marines missing in Hawaii helicopter crash Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: High waves expected for the next several days will hamper the search for 12 Marines missing at sea after two helicopters collided near the island of Oahu in Hawaii, U.S.…
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Malaysia arrests suspected IS militant with weapons in Kuala Lumpur
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia arrests suspected IS militant with weapons in Kuala Lumpur Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Malaysian police said on Saturday they had arrested a suspected militant with weapons anddocuments related to the Islamic State group at a train station in the capital Kuala Lumpur. Inspector-General of…
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Phuket flyovers given second chance to take off
PHUKET: The plans for flyovers at two key locations that were shot down by locals last year, will be tabled again in an effort to solve traffic troubles on Phuket. The flyovers were planned for the u-turn at the first set of traffic lights just north of Thalang Town and the Baan Koh Kaew Tha Ruea u-turn in front of…
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Armed meth dealer busted in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested an armed drug dealer in Phuket on Thursday. Saichon Taengkliang, 37, was caught with about 235 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and 331 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine), as well as a firearm and ammunition, confirmed Lt Col Prawit Engchuan of the Phuket Provincial Police. “We received a tip-off that Mr Saichon was dealing meth to…
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American dies in fall from 17th floor of Phuket hotel
PHUKET: A 40-year-old American man fell to his death from the 17th floor of a Patong hotel early this morning. “When we arrived at the scene, we found the body of the man was laying in the parking lot of the Royal Paradise Hotel and Spa,” said Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat. The man, whose name is being withheld…
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Opinion: Safety needed by land, sea and air
PHUKET: This year’s high season for tourism has brought with it a surge in needless mishaps, injuries and deaths as tourists flock to our shores in pursuit of holiday happiness. Many of the victims, without a doubt, presume that sufficient measures are in place to ensure their safety. Rules and regulations do exist, but as our news pages chronicle –…
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Finance: Are we in for a rough ride this year?
PHUKET: The past few years have been difficult, or mixed at best, for many investors in the stock market, with 2015 largely ending in another flat line performance – leading to predictions for more of the same in 2016. However, most predictions about 2015 from the start of last year were bullish and turned out to be off the mark,…
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British expat found dead at Kamala home
PHUKET: A British expat was found dead in front of his home in Kamala this morning. A neighbor discovered Thomas Robert Putnam, 52, hanging by his neck from a beam in his front yard. “We received a call from Mr Putnam’s landlord, Jarin Sattaman, whose father found him hanging in front of the house,” confirmed Lt Navin Petchjan of the…
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Police hunt driver in fatal hit-and-run
PHUKET: Police are hunting the driver of a vehicle that struck and killed a woman in Paklok this morning. Obrom Daengprapai, 68, was dropping her 5-year-old granddaughter off at school when her motorbike was hit by a car while changing lanes, confirmed Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police. “Witnesses told us that Ms Obrom attempted to change from the…
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MOTS to complete ongoing projects this year
PHUKET: Officials aim to boost tourism this year by focusing on several projects that have been previously laid out. Santi Pawai, director of the Phuket Office of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), revealed his plan to the public on Monday, noting that it is necessary to build up the island’s standards to ensure tourist quality and safety. “Our…
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Open house to be held by Phuket Homeschooling Network
PHUKET: The Phuket Homeschool Network will be staging an all day open house at Rajabhat Univeristy’s Arts and Cultural Center on January 24 to present the achievements of the homeschooling network throughout the island. The event aims to present an alternative education system to the public and display the achievements of homeschooled children, explained Pakawan Chaimaneekorn, representative of Phuket Homeschool…
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Thailand offers condolences after Jakarta bombings
PHUKET: Thailand has expressed regret and sadness over yesterday’s bombings in Jakarta that resulted in the loss of several lives and left many injured. Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha said in a statement that he was deeply saddened to learn of the blasts and shootings in the Indonesian capital (story here). “On behalf of the Royal Thai Government and the…
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Police continue to pursue riot suspects
PHUKET: Officials announced this week that they have apprehended 17 suspects wanted in connection with October’s Thalang Police Station riot that saw more than 6 million baht worth of damage to the station and nearby vehicles (story here). Region 8 Police Commander Tesa Siriwato confirmed that most suspects were arrested on unrelated drug charges and will be dealt with through…
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Helmet-less drivers to have bikes seized
PHUKET: In an effort to improve Phuket’s road safety, officials will soon be launching a new campaign that will see the motorbikes of helmet-less drivers seized on the spot. Offenders will be released and their motorbikes returned only after being escorted to the police station to view road-accident videos, to purchase a 99-baht helmet, and to pay the maximum fine,…
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