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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Indonesia haze prompts Phuket boat warning
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office has issued a warning to all boat captains to beware of the decreased visibility caused by the Indonesian haze, which has blanketed the region. “Vision is limited to about one nautical mile. Therefore, all vessels must proceed with caution,” said Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, who signed the warning into effect yesterday. This morning,…
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Malaysia PM urges Indonesia to tackle fires, as haze moves to Thai sky
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia PM urges Indonesia to tackle fires, haze drifts to Thai sky Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has called on Indonesia to take action against peoplesetting fires that have caused choking smoke to drift across the region, with the sky over…
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Star Philippine boxer Pacquiao declares he’ll fight for Senate seat
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Star Philippine boxer Pacquiao declares he’ll fight for Senate seat Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Philippine boxing world champion and congressman Manny Pacquiao has announced he will take up a new challenge by running for a Senate seat in national elections next year. Pacquiao, whose popularity…
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Sea Gypsy Cultural Center to be turned into “4D’ museum
PHUKET: A budget of 20 million baht has been injected into the stumbling, soon-to-be animatronic Sea Gypsy Cultural Center, which saw costs of the facility balloon from 2mn baht to 5.4mn baht before it started to deteriorate into a derelict shell of a building that has become a shelter for the homeless. Located in a small, nondescript soi at Laem…
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![Officials issue health warning for Indonesian haze [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_201510610125898_LEXeckTdDriTlWgsIgHOIjDYDmxPozDIzJPToogd_jpeg.jpeg)
Officials issue health warning for Indonesian haze [video]
PHUKET: Phuket officials issued a health warning today, after air pollution on the island maintained levels above the public safety standard for the last 24 hours. The haze situation grew so bad yesterday afternoon, that Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos handed out free face masks for his staff, local teachers and students. Video: PGTV “The average air pollution level for the…
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![There’s money in trash [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_201510517160984_lCMwKNQcoVZOlryHPlbUBjVbkorXxoiBovNFmOMF_jpeg.jpeg)
There’s money in trash [video]
PHUKET: The island’s monsoon-season seas continue to plaster popular beaches with rubbish, while the growing urban environment produces an average of 729 tonnes of trash a day. Though deemed unsightly by expats, locals and tourists, the mass of junk does provide a living for numerous individuals, families and communities. “About one ton of trash is swept onto two of Phuket’s…
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Wildlife sanctuary chief defends staff’s double pricing discrimination against Phuket man
PHUKET: A wildlife sanctuary chief this morning defended his staff’s double-pricing discrimination against a Phuket man at Krabi’s Emerald Pool on Saturday. “There were three tourists, two men and a woman. The two Thais were asked for 20 baht each for the fee and the other man was asked to pay 200 baht,” said Wutthipong Chusangrat, the chief of Khao…
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Video Report: Mayor gives teachers, students masks for haze
PHUKET: Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos handed out face masks to municipality employees, teachers and children following the massive drop in air quality this afternoon (story here). “Though no warning has been issued given the average air quality over the last 24 hours, I decided it was best to ensure the safety of the children and city employees in my jurisdiction,”…
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After five years of negotiations, Pacific trade talks near deal
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community After five years of negotiations, Pacific trade talks near deal Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A dozen Pacific nations closed in on a sweeping free trade pact on Sunday in Atlanta after abreakthrough over how long a monopoly pharmaceutical companies should be given on new biotech…
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World Bank trims 2015, 2016 East Asia forecasts, cites China, US rate risks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Bank trims 2015, 2016 East Asia forecasts, cites China, US rate risks Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The World Bank cut its 2015 and 2016 growth forecasts for developing East Asia and Pacific, and said the outlook was clouded by the risk of a sharp…
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Police hunt Phuket arsonist
PHUKET: Police are hunting an arsonist who set a motorbike ablaze in Thalang last night. “The 47-year-old owner of the bike, Natee Manabut, and his wife woke up last night to find the Honda Wave 100 parked in front of their house engulfed in flames,” Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop of the Thalang Police said. “They called for help and splashed water…
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Beach business sues Phuket official
PHUKET: An evicted beach business owner has filed a law suit against Cherng Talay Local Administration Organization (OrBorTor) President Ma-ann Samran for dereliction of duty (Section 157). Kanokpon ‘Tony’ Somrak, owner of Tony Restaurant, which was saved from demolition after the Ministry of Interior stepped in at the last minute, brought legal action against Mr Ma-ann last month (story here).…
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A Decade Ago: Reining back mediums as poo spreads
PHUKET: The lead story on page one a decade ago, in what has become a familiar cry, was the Governor urging spirit mediums – the people who endure swords, needles and an assortment other objects thrust through their cheeks while possessed by the gods – to practice restraint. Five years later, it was the Assistant Director at the Tourism Authority…
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DDPM Phuket issues weather warning
PHUKET: Officials have issued a heavy rain, flood, strong wind and landslide warning for Phuket. The warning will remain in place until Wednesday. “We issued a warning to all local governments on the island today. They have been asked to beware of weather conditions from the effects of tropical cyclone Mujigae, which could possibly lead to flash floods, landslides and…
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Budget deadlock broken in time for Vegetarian Festival
PHUKET: A collective sigh was let out yesterday by those in charge of the Vegetarian Festival, as well as local hospital employees, teachers and many more who were waiting for the deadlock over the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) 2016 budget to be broken. “A solution had to be finalized. The OrBorJor is one of the central government bodies of…
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Sound advice on retiring rich and young
PHUKET: This last weekend I had the pleasure of attending a seminar from one of my business partners whom most Thai readers would be familiar with. They may not know, however, the extent of the business success that Paul Pattrapon has had outside of the limelight of being a Thai superstar. On top of singing, modeling, acting in soaps, hosting…
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Opinion: Moral conflict over tea money
PHUKET: There are always stories of people who allegedly slip the immigration police money in their passport to cross the border into Thailand, whether it’s because they don’t have proper documentation or are perhaps nervous about the police giving them a hard time. Recently a friend of mine went on a visa run to secure her non-B visa. She had…
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Phuket celebrates ‘Golden Week’ to promote Chinese tourism
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport launched the island’s ‘Golden Week’ campaign yesterday to celebrate the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. To get the seven-day party started off right, Phuket’s new governor, Chamroen Tipayapongtada (story here) and Airport Director Monrudee Gettuphan welcomed to the island 260 mainland Chinese visitors arriving on direct flights from Guiyang and Shenzhen. The lucky…
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New police commander eager to suppress crime
PHUKET: The new Region 8 police commander arrived on the island yesterday and has vowed to tackle crime as well as support the region’s tourism. “What I aim to concentrate on is crime suppression, violent criminals, drugs and human trafficking. At the same time, I will support tourism, as we know there are so many tourist attractions on the island,”…
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Business Buzz: Success just clicks away
PHUKET: Following on from previous topics, if we know our sales funnel and can break it down into a process map, then we can analyze each step of the sales system, see where we have good and bad results, and increase our profitability by improving each area. Even a small tweak, improving only one or two per cent at each…
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Finance: Dodge a crash with right investment
PHUKET: For those of you who have been reading my columns for some time now, you probably know that I am not the biggest fan of the stock market at the moment. You may think I am an idiot because I have spent years waiting patiently for the next crash while the markets continue to march on to new highs.…
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Rescue workers struggle to bag mammoth python
PHUKET: It took rescue workers more than 20 minutes to remove a feasting five-meter-long python from a Phuket Town hen house last night. “It was quite a big snake, probably 40 kilograms, and had already eaten one chicken by the time we arrived,” said Natakorn Komutphon, a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. The homeowner on Soi Roongrawee, near Vachira Phuket Hospital,…
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Police bust escaped Cambodian fishermen for pirated sunglasses
PHUKET: Three escaped Cambodian fishermen were arrested on Kata Beach for peddling fake name brand sunglasses to tourists yesterday. “We received a letter from the Damrongtham Center [ombudsman’s office] that tourists had been conned into buying pirated sunglasses by migrant workers on Kata Beach,” said Muang District Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Samran Yukunthorn. “The three said that they used to…
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Video Report: Aussie to circumnavigate Phuket by standup paddle board
PHUKET: Damien Rider, who was dubbed ‘Men’s Health Man of 2015’ after completing an 800km unassisted paddle boarding adventure in the shark infested waters of the Gold Coast, will depart Nai Harn Beach at 7am on October 5 as he attempts to circumnavigate Phuket on a standup paddle board (SUP). His four-day, solo SUP journey is designed to raise awareness…
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Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon ready to kick off
PHUKET: Those taking part in the new Muang Thai Phuket-Patong Marathon 2015 will be running through the streets of Patong on October 18. “This is part of a four-province series of marathons,” said Kritthaput Khumboonraung of the corporate social responsibility team at Muang Thai Insurance, which is organizing the event. “We have already held one event in Bangkok and one…
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Plan accordingly with Vegetarian Festival’s schedule of events
PHUKET: The Vegetarian Festival will kick off in less than two weeks across the island, with yellow and red flags being raised to mark the popular annual event. This year the festival will take place during October 13-21 with the special addition of a parade in honor of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday on October 14. The annual festival…
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Underpass construction digs in with delays
PHUKET: The need to remove more than 100 utility poles in preparation for building the Chalong Underpass ‘may’ delay the start of construction until next year. “It is hard work to remove that many poles on both sides of the road, while ensuring as few people are affected as possible. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Region 2 office, located in…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Flexible morals
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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Officials nab illegal Korean tour guide at work
PHUKET: A South Korean national was arrested in Chalong today for working as an illegal tour guide for Narae Travel Co Ltd. Phuket Immigration Police, together with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS) Phuket Office officials, apprehended Byoung Wook Lim, 43, while he was guiding a group at Chalong Pier. “We seized a list of tour programs, customer names…
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Triathlon training tips
PHUKET: We are now approaching the final weeks before the Laguna Phuket Triathlon and these next 8 weeks are vital to help you prepare for the race ahead, but it’s also a perfect time to challenge yourself. Here are some top tips compiled by Thanyapura’s Head Triathlon Coach Sergio Borges. HEAT AND HUMIDITY If you’re coming from overseas, I believe…
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