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 This Christmas, give the gift of health: essential options for expats in Thailand
The holiday season is here, bringing warmth, joy, and a chance to reflect on the year gone by. As an expat in Thailand, this Christmas is a great time to invest in something that truly matters: health. Whether for you...
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Phuket land titles eating away at national park to be revoked, says Navy Commander
PHUKET: The ownership of 89 plots of land in Sirinath National Park is in the process of being revoked, confirmed the head of the Royal Thai Navy yesterday. The plots encompass a land area of 1,200 rai, said Capt Petcharat Teanjan, speaking on behalf of Royal Thai Navy Commander Narong Pipathanasai. The land is all held under SorKor 1 “claim…
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Phuket Pearl Group to promote and sell its products in overseas markets
PHUKET: Phuket Pearl Group, a large Thai cultured-pearl producer, plans to promote its “Amorn Pearl” trademark internationally. President Amorn Intorncharoen said last week that the company realizes that to become the leading pearl trader and integrated farm operator in the region – in the face of the seamless trade promised by the fast approaching AEC integration – trademarks and brand…
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Java on fire to win Phuket Multihull Solutions Regatta
PHUKET: Mick Coleman and his crew on Java blazed around the course off the east coast of Phuket over the weekend to win the Racing Multihull Class in the Phuket Multihull Solutions Regatta. Java mastered wind blasts of up to 30 knots to score four firsts and two second-place finishes, amassing a total of just six points to lift the…
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EC defends its proposals to overhaul political system
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EC defends its proposals to overhaul political system The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Election Commission (EC) yesterday denied that its reform plan put to the National Council for Peace and Order last week came at the expense of politicians, saying its intentions were above-board…
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Thousands flee Gaza after Israeli warning
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thousands of Gaza civilians flee after Israeli warning Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thousands fled their homes in a Gaza town on Sunday after Israel warned them to leave ahead of threatened attacks on rocket-launching sites, on the sixth day of an offensive that Palestinian officials…
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Taekwondo star: ‘My coach hit me’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Taekwondo star: ‘My coach hit me’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Taekwondo Association of Thailand will launch an investigation into national coach Chai Young Seok after his charge – Asian Championship bronze medallist Rungrawee Kurasa – alleged he physically assaulted her. The 23-year-old taekwondo…
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Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Germany’s strength in depth delivers ultimate prize Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Germany’s impressive strength in depth proved the decisive factor in their 1-0 extra-time World Cup final victory over Argentina on Sunday as Lionel Messi failed to deliver the golden touch for the South Americans.…
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DNP chief locked and loaded: targets high-ranking officials over Phuket land snatching
PHUKET: More than 1,000 rai of Phuket land illegally owned by former ministers, deputies and provincial governors will be returned to the public, said Samak Donnapee, director of the Bureau of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP). “The 92 plots being taken back are in Sakoo and Cherng Talay,” confirmed Sirinath National Park Chief Kitiphat Tharapiban to the Phuket…
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Speedboat rescues Phuket captain found floating at sea in life jacket
PHUKET: A boat captain bobbing at sea in a life jacket was rescued by a speedboat 20 minutes after his boat sank near Koh Yao Yai yesterday afternoon. Apichart Lawthong, 51, was the only person on board when the boat, which was carrying construction supplies, foundered in rough seas. “I left Phuket at about 11am, headed to Phi Phi,” Mr…
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Phuket Opinion: It’s up to all of us to save the foolish from Phuket’s rips
PHUKET: A friend and I who were surfing in Kata last year came across two young Phuket natives who had gotten into trouble when they were pulled into deep water. We put them on our boards and swam them in to shore, only to watch one of them fade away in front of our eyes. The sight of the 20-year-old’s…
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Phuket Opinion: Taxing alcohol – a taxing issue
Sean Gabb is Director of the Libertarian Alliance in London and has written on subjects as diverse as gay marriage, handicapped parking and second-hand smoke. From 1991 to 1992, he served as Economic and Political Adviser to the Prime Minister of Slovakia. He is the author of 20 books, including novels and poetry. His new novel, The Break, has been…
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Ban monkey business
PHUKET: The recent introduction of two gibbons rescued in Phuket into the wilds of Northern Thailand is a landmark achievement for the Wild Animal Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF) and the many affiliated groups and volunteers who played roles in making it happen. We join the rest of the island in thanking them all and wishing them the best of…
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Police suspect kickstand played role in fatal Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A helmet-less Myanmar national was killed after losing control of his motorbike on a curve while driving with his kickstand down in Phuket yesterday. When police arrived at the scene on Phra Phuket Kaew Road, they found 27-year-old Phyo Maung Maung’s motorbike, with the kickstand down, on the median and Mr Phyo’s body in a lane of oncoming traffic.…
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Gaza toll passes 100; Israel to counter rockets ‘with all power’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gaza toll passes 100; Israel to counter rockets ‘with all power’ Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Ori Lewis PHUKET: An airstrike outside a family home early Saturday pushed the Palestinian death toll past 100 in four days of cross-border fighting as Israel…
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Military silent on ‘cash for clearance’ at Phuket Airport
PHUKET: Navy officers have fallen silent over their investigation into immigration officials at Phuket International Airport who allegedly solicit cash payments from tourists to clear immigration queues. On Wednesday, one of the top-ranking officers who led a Monday raid of the airport declined to reveal to the Phuket Gazette whether or not his officers were continuing their investigation into the…
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Second man charged in train rape-murder
PHUKET: Police have charged a second State Railway of Thailand employee over his alleged involvement in the rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl on an overnight train to Bangkok. After the interrogation of a 19-year-old train worker by Prachuap Khiri Khan police chief Maj Gen Thanes Sunthornsuk, an informed source reported that the teenager confessed that he was drinking…
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Police warn local officers over taxi mafia revival
PHUKET: The leading police officer who spearheaded the recent purge of Phuket’s illegal taxi mafia has vowed to investigate any local police officers who allow illegal taxi drivers to return to their regular roosts. Maj Gen Paween Pongisirin of Region 8 Police said that he considered any further action against illegal taxi operators a matter to be dealt with by…
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Big snake caught choking the chicken in Phuket
PHUKET: A Phuket resident woke with a start in the middle of the night Tuesday after a python started dining in his chicken coop. “I heard my chickens panicking, so I went to the henhouse to see what was wrong,” Thanarat Manlin told the Phuket Gazette. “I was so shocked when I peeked inside and saw a big python killing…
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Kathu Culture Street Festival kicks off today
PHUKET: The Kathu Culture Street Festival, showcasing the unique blend of cultural heritage of the area, starts today with a parade at 4:00pm. The parade will begin at Kathu Municipality and end at the Kathu Public Health Center, followed by an opening ceremony at 6pm. “The goal of the festival is to encourage locals and tourists to learn more about…
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Unemployed Phuket tour bus staffers plead for help
PHUKET: Local tour operator staff made redundant by companies using their own buses, drivers and guides to provide tours of Phuket appealed yesterday to the Governor’s Office for help in alleviating their plight. Kanlaya Rakvaree, the lead representative of the group, explained that many local jobs had been lost to companies that no longer hire Phuket tour companies to conduct…
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Twin Sharks turns turtle, to rejoin regatta racing tomorrow
PHUKET: Hot favorite Twin Sharks, which capsized during practice in strong winds off Phuket yesterday, is expected to begin its campaign in the Firefly Sport 850 class in the Multihull Solutions Regatta tomorrow. The racing catamaran turned turtle in Chalong Bay yesterday afternoon amid strong winds gusting up to 25 knots (story here). Skipper and owner John Newnham and his…
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Pressure on Phuket Governor over Surin Beach ‘failure’
PHUKET: Three Cherng Talay residents who last week filed a petition and a police complaint against Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut over the clearing of Surin Beach returned to Cherng Talay Police Station on Wednesday. The complaint alleged that Governor Maitri had failed to perform his duties as the Governor of Phuket by not clearing all structures from Surin Beach (story…
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Gaza dead reach 78 as Israelis hint at invasion
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gaza dead reach 78 as Israelis hint at invasion Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 78 Palestinians, most of them civilians, have been killed in Israel’s Gaza offensive, Palestinian officials said on Thursday as militants in the enclave kept up rocket attacks on Tel Aviv,…
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Argentina and Germany start final preparations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Argentina and Germany start final preparations Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Argentina and Germany were both back at work on Thursday, secretly hatching their plans for Sunday’s World Cup final at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro. While their contrasting styles promise a classic battle between…
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Rio’s Christ to light up Twitter’s World Cup campaign
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World sport selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rio’s iconic Christ statue will be lit up on the eve of Sunday’s World Cup final in the colours of each of the finalists’ flags with Twitter users to determine which is displayed the longest. Starting on Wednesday, Twitter Inc users around the world can participate by…
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ICC win the first match of the Outrigger T20 League
PHUKET: In the first outrigger 20/20 cricket league match of the season, Island Cricket Club (ICC) played Village Cricket Team in the morning match on the 6th July 2014. Village captain Martin Platts won the toss and elected to Bat. Village opening batsman Divan Mydeen (1) was caught behind early on from the bowling of Arun Virdikar, who struck again…
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Phuket catamaran flips in regatta warm-up
PHUKET: All crew are safe after a Phuket boat flipped in practice this afternoon ahead of the Multihull Solutions Regatta, which starts tomorrow. Twin Sharks, one of the fastest Firefly catamarans in the fleet, flipped in strong winds gusting up to 25 knots on Chalong Bay. The boat owner, John Newnham, and his three crewmen are safely back on shore…
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Phuket to observe two-day alcohol ban starting at midnight
PHUKET: The sale of alcohol will be prohibited in Phuket tomorrow and Saturday as part of a nationwide ban to honor the Buddhist holiday of Asarnha Bucha and the start of Buddhist Lent. “Alcohol sales are prohibited from midnight tonight until midnight Saturday,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Sakchai Limcharoen told the Phuket Gazette this morning. The Saturday alcohol ban…
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State rail chief rejects calls for resignation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community SRT governor rejects calls for resignation The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: State Railway of Thailand (SRT) Governor Prapat Chongsanguan yesterday vowed to stay on as SRT chief, saying his resignation would be deemed an escape from the problems surrounding the railways. “I am begging for…
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Victim of rape on train in 2001 speaks up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Victim of rape on train in 2001 speaks up The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Thai woman lost her bright career, her optimism and her ability to continue living in Thailand after a State Railway of Thailand (SRT) employee raped her on a train 13…
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