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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Video Report: Police get fright as 20kg python turns himself in
PHUKET: A 20-kilogram python gave police officers a fright at the Phuket City Police Station canteen on Wednesday morning. “This time we got a call from a police officer, not a local resident as usual, to catch a python at the police station,” said Sakun Naepnean, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. “The officer told us that he was going to…
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One dead, one injured after Chalong Pier shooting
PHUKET: A shooting in the parking lot of Chalong Pier left one man dead and another in critical condition last night. Illyas Malee, 28, was pronounced dead from a bullet wound to his neck on arrival at Vachira Phuket Hospital, while Humdee Jeklek, 18, was treated for wounds to his shoulder and leg. “At the scene, we found a blood…
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Island to get 200 new police officers
PHUKET: The never-ending call for additional police officers for Phuket will be answered when a slew of new graduates join the island’s police force this November. “We will have 200 more officers added to our roster following their graduation from the Provincial Police Training Center, Region 8, in Surat Thani,” confirmed Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Peerayuth Karajedee yesterday. The…
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Gibbon tout aping about on Monkey Beach
PHUKET: Gibbon and iguana touts were spotted showcasing their animals on Monkey Beach in Phi Phi National Park again on Wednesday. Police and national park officers were alerted to the presence of the touts at the popular day-trip destination last month when the Phuket Gazette forwarded photographs submitted by a reader . “We will immediately look into what’s happening on…
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Business Buzz: Your business needs social media
PHUKET: These days you hear that every business should have a social media presence, but why is this the case? This week, we explore the main reasons why social media is so important and, if done correctly, what benefits it brings to your business. BRANDING & EXPOSURE To launch a company, create a brand name and even just to be…
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Phuket beach rules still at sea
PHUKET: Contrary to earlier reports, no final decision has yet been made by Governor Nisit Jansomwong on how to manage Phuket’s controversial beach chair situation. At a meeting on Thursday, Pun Thongchumnum, head of the research team from Prince of Songkhla University’s Phuket Campus, informed the governor of the results of the team’s investigation. The team suggested the government continue…
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Apple lines up Sept. 9 event, seen unveiling new iPhones
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Apple lines up Sept 9 event to unveil new iPhones Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Apple Inc has invited journalists to a Sept 9 event where the company is expected to unveil new iPhones and potentially a new version of its Apple TV set-top box. The…
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Scorned woman throws acid on friend
PHUKET: A Myanmar woman remains in hospital today with serious acid burns to 90 per cent of her body, including her eyes and ears, after she was attacked by a friend on Wednesday. Ka Ta, 24, was attacked by fellow Myanmar national Ta Zin Moe, 24. “Witnesses told us that Ms Ta Zin Moe had been waiting outside Ms Ka…
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Video Report: Rescue worker dances with king cobra
PHUKET: A two-meter-long cobra was successfully wrangled after hiding from rescue workers at the back of a rental room in Chalong yesterday evening. Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers received the call from a woman who had seen the reptile while getting water from her well at Baan Na Bon. “When we arrived, we couldn’t find the cobra, but after searching around…
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Czech man killed after night out in Patong
PHUKET: A Czech man was killed after crashing his motorbike into a utility pole on his way home from Patong early this morning. Jaroslav Krupka, 44, was on his way to Phuket Villa in Kathu when he lost control on a curve, hitting and splitting a tree, before crashing into a power pole near Kathu Temple, confirmed Lt Sawanna Iadtrong…
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Chinese tourist runs over Phuket traffic cop
PHUKET: A Chinese tourist drove his rented motorbike into the back of a traffic police officer in Karon yesterday evening. Sen Sgt Maj Chaichana Phatikabot was only minorly injured in the incident. “There were four of them on two motorbikes. They had already been stopped and fined for driving without a licence at our checkpoint,” said Sgt Maj Chaichana. “After…
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Wanna-be gunmaker busted in Patong
PHUKET: Gun raids in Patong turned up a wanna-be gunmaker in the Kok Moo community on Tuesday. “We found Mr Sommart Wandee, 44, in possession of two illegal homemade guns and three partially constructed guns,” said Lt Col Sutthichai Thianpho of the Patong Police. “Mr Sommart told us that he had bought the two guns from a Myanmar national, and…
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Opinion: Cyclocops roam
PHUKET: THE recent launch of two-wheeled ‘Beach Police’ patrols at every police district on the island is a small, yet potentially positive pedal forward for a provincial police force that has developed a dubious reputation for ensuring tourist safety along our world-famous shorelines. But it’s sad that the initiative, ordered by Police Region 8, had to come in direct response…
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Fisherman mutilates co-worker’s genitalia
PHUKET: A man confessed to killing a fellow fisherman by stabbing him in the groin at Phuket’s main fishing port yesterday afternoon. “Witnesses told us that they saw a man dragging the body of Mu Sor and leaving it at Rassada Pier,” said Lt Col Chana Sutthimat of the Phuket City Police. Eventually, police were able to track down the…
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Phuket haze not Indonesia’s fault, says expert
PHUKET: The Indonesian fire haze that has settled over Kula Lumpar is not associated with the thick haze that Phuket residents woke up to this morning, confirmed a top official at the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD). “This is ‘wet haze’, which is normal,” said Suntad Panbanpaew, director of the Phuket TMD weather center. “This weather condition often occurs with high…
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Krabi land grab leader shot dead
PHUKET: The leader of a group trying to grab a large unregistered palm oil plantation in Krabi’s Khao Phanom District was shot dead Tuesday, police said this week. Thammayut Sungrod, 57, was shot at a palm oil plantation in Na Khao subdistrict. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Khao Phanom Hospital, said Khao Phanom Superintendent Somdet Sukkarn. “There is…
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Public invited to join search and rescue drill, exhibition
PHUKET: The general public is invited to watch as rescue boats and aircraft are deployed for a two-day Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) drill and exhibition at the Ao Makham deep sea port starting tomorrow. “The drill will run from 9am to 4pm both days,” confirmed Vice Admiral Sayan Prasongsamrej, Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command. “There…
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Locals discover dolphin stranded in mangroves
PHUKET: Endangered species specialists are fighting to save the life of a spotted dolphin discovered stranded in the mangrove forests bordering Phuket Town yesterday. “When we arrived, villagers were helping the dolphin by holding the exhausted animal in the water, as it was unable to swim,” said Patcharaporn Kaewmong, a veterinarian at the Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC). The locals…
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Bangla bars investigated for encroachment
PHUKET: Almost 30 businesses along Phuket’s primary party street Soi Bangla are being investigated for illegal encroachment, confirmed Kathu District Chief Sayan Chanachaiwong yesterday. The 28 businesses, occupying 33 units, are allegedly on one rai of land that belongs to the municipality, explained Mr Sayan. “We will be investigating exactly how the businesses located near the beachfront road, on the…
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Widow ghosts “force’ men to cross-dress for protection
PHUKET: The sudden string of deaths of ten fit and healthy men in Nakohn Phanom province has locals pulling out all the ritualistic, spiritualistic and superstitious plugs to avoid widow ghosts, pee mae mai. Red shirts hanging in front of homes to ward off the ghosts are a common sight in the Don Nang Hong sub-district, with some male teenagers…
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National Guardsman to be honored over French train attack
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community National Guardsman who helped thwart attack on French train to get medal Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A National Guardsman, one of three Americans who disarmed a gun-toting suspected Islamist militant on a high-speed train in France, will be awarded the U.S. Army’s highest non-combat medal,…
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Unfinished condo case to reach prosecutor soon
PHUKET: Police will hand the case against the developers of the unfinished condominium project Ace 1 over to the Public Prosecutor by September 9. Despite the case being submitted, pre-build purchasers will be able to continue to file complaints and submit evidence to police, confirmed Lt Col Anukul Nuket of the Patong Police yesterday. “We are still in the process…
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Powering up Coconut Island for locals, businesses
PHUKET: Much-needed mainland power is now flowing to Naka Yai and Coconut Island, off the coast of Phuket. “We have invested in the project, not because we expect to make a profit, but because we can improve the quality of life for the locals and improve their economic situation,” said Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Governor Sermsakul Klaikaew, who chaired the…
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North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North, South Korea reach agreement to ease tensions Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: North and South Korea reached agreement early on Tuesday to end a standoff involving anexchange of artillery fire that had pushed the divided peninsula into a state of heightened military tension. Under the…
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All hands on deck for Phuket flood prevention
PHUKET: Governor Nisit Jansomwong has ordered all relevant local authorities to tackle the chronic flooding issues on Phuket. “The recent bout of floods have highlighted how serious the problem with drainage systems are in certain areas of the island, especially villages and other low-lying places,” Governor Nisit said. “We have a team, led by Vice Governor Pallop Singhasenee, developing solutions…
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A Decade Ago: Fears of sex on the beach in Phuket
PHUKET: Facebook profile pictures turned into rainbows following the nationwide legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States two months ago. The US Supreme Court ruled in the Obergefell versus Hodges case that state-level bans on same-sex marriage were unconstitutional. However, a decade ago in Phuket – now well-known for the flamboyant Pride Week – the Asian lesbian, gay, bisexual,…
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Two arrested in Phuket for pyramid scheme
PHUKET: A Phuket couple surrendered to Chalong Police yesterday for their alleged involvement in the international 10-billion-baht UFUN pyramid scheme. Damrongsak Pitisuk, 38, and his 37-year-old wife Pornthicha Pitisuk had both received ‘Achievement Awards’ at the ‘The Black Night Party by URICH’ in December last year. The party was held in order to applaud those who manged to recruit investors…
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Bangkok Bank warns of viral fraud
PHUKET: Bangkok Bank has issued a warning about malicious software designed to make bank transactions from the accounts of customers who have registered for their online banking service, ‘Bualuang iBanking’. Bangkok Bank’s warning explained that false messages have been sent to iBanking customers via SMS, MMS and emails purporting to be from the bank. The messages ask the receiver to…
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Pothole suspected in Phuket bikers death
PHUKET: Police suspect a large pothole caused the death of a man driving a Honda 150cc CBR motorcycle on a curvy road in Mai Khao last night. Pattanapong Nainet, 20, was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, said Lt Thanom Thongpan of the Tah Chat Chai Police. “There was no identification cards on his person, only 42,360…
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Video Report: Bodyslam rocks for Phuket charity
PHUKET: Five thousand fans crowded the sold-out ‘Bodyslam’ concert at Laguna Grove on Saturday evening. The charity concert featured local band ‘Boynavio Group’, as well as a performance from the local youth group ‘Umbrella’ as opening acts for Thailand’s famous rock band, ‘Bodyslam’. Bodyslam vocalist Mr Toon, who is a frequent visitor to Phuket, enjoys spending time at various sporting…
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