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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Pickup truck crash at gas station leaves one dead, one injured.
PHUKET: Excessive speed is believed to have been the cause of a dramatic single-vehicle crash near a gas station on the Airport Road on Friday. A four-door pick-up truck was seen to lose control and crash into a ditch, ending upside down. The passenger, Thawatchai Sermrat, 31, was thrown clear and died at the scene, while the driver, Leng Jampathong,…
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Four police linked to online gambling gang surrender
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Four police linked to online gambling gang surrender The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Four commissioned policemen yesterday turned themselves in to face charges related to claims they took bribes from an online gambling organisation. A gambling network allegedly run by Abubakar bin Sulaiman is said…
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Thais dominate Phuket ancient muaythai boxing event
PHUKET: Thais dominated the Kard Chuek Original boxing event at Saphan Hin on December 25, winning eight of the 10 fights against their international rivals – no less than seven of them by knockout. Only one fight was decided on points, with Petcheak Lookporkhun defeating Saliman Sing-Patong of Algeria in the opening bout. To get the event underway at 4pm,…
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Phuket ready for Pencak Silat World Championship
PHUKET: At least 600 fighters from 36 countries are confirmed to attend the 16th Pencak Silat World Championship, to be held at Saphan Hin in Phuket Town from January 7-17. The attendance is extremely healthy said Panu Uthairat, president of Pencak Silat Association of Thailand (PSAT), told the Phuket Gazette. “We have invited athletes from 47 countries in total,” he…
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Singapore scrambles air force in search for missing AirAsia plane
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Singapore scrambles air force in search for missing AirAsia plane Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Singapore said on Sunday it has activated its air force and navy to help in the search and rescue operation for the AirAsia jet that went missing on a flight from…
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AirAsia flight to Singapore ‘disappears’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia flight to Singapore ‘disappears’ Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An AirAsia flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday, Indonesian media said, citing a Transport Ministry official. Transport Ministry official Hadi Mustofa said the aircraft, flight…
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The Iermakov affair: Where the Thai police and the Army make strange bedfellows
PHUKET: The arrest of five soldiers by police for the abduction of Ukrainian businessman Igor Iermakov last week demonstrates the need for better cooperation between the Royal Thai Police and the military in international crime cases while the nation remains under martial law (story here). Cases involving international fugitives who opt for Phuket as a safe haven are certainly nothing…
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French, Iranian tourists arrested for B1mn Phuket hotel robberies
PHUKET: Two tourists have been charged for robbing guest safe boxes at three Phuket hotels and making off with more than a million baht in mixed currencies. Receptionists at the Baan Luktan Resort said that the men gave them spiked drinks that made them fall asleep, so that the pair could break into the safe boxes. Iranian Shahram Ghorbaniafshar, 48,…
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Ten Years On: Wave of media responsibility post-tsunami
PHUKET: In an age where first reports of natural disasters come in through tweets and Facebook status updates it’s hard to imagine the vacuum of information after the Dec 26, 2004, tsunami. First reports by the local English-language news agency the Phuket Gazette in Phuket, which quickly become the location of choice for international media coverage of the devastation, led…
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Phuket students learn to save lives
PHUKET: Several emergency-response experts were called in to train about 100 students in essential life-saving skills at a special training event this week. The emergency-response event was held at the Phuket ICT Skill Development and Learning Center in Saphan Hin on Wednesday, with the aim of instructing students on how to respond to different emergency scenarios. “As part of our…
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Phuket light-rail system to cost B23bn
PHUKET: The long-awaited light-rail project, expected by many to help alleviate Phuket’s ever-worsening traffic congestion, is expected to cost 23 billion baht, it was revealed this week. Kanok Khemnak, an expert in assessing the environmental impact of mass-transportation systems, delivered the news at a meeting of officials at Boat Lagoon Marina, in Koh Kaew, on Tuesday. “The plans and design…
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Laguna bowl over Village in senior cricket league
PHUKET: The third round of Phuket Cricket Group’s senior league saw Laguna CC pitted against Village CC at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) in Thalang last Sunday. Laguna, who were coming off the back of a good win against Thalang in the season opener, were looking to maintain their good form. Meanwhile, the Village were looking to open their account…
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Small service at Phuket’s Tsunami Memorial Wall honors victims
PHUKET: About 50 people gathered at the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao this morning to honor those who died in the disaster 10 years ago. The traditional service began at 8:30am with Buddhist monks conducting a mass prayer, followed by a Muslim service and then a Christian service. After the religious ceremonies, attendees observed one minute of silence to…
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NDWC tsunami-warning app still not in English
PHUKET: Budget issues have prevented the English-language version of the tsunami warning application for smartphones from being released, two years after the announced release date, the Phuket Gazette has been told. “We have yet to make any further progress in developing the application,” National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) Specialist Yaiying Sirithanapivat said. The application was up and running for Apple…
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Video Report: Machete-wielding man attempts to publicly slay traffic cop in Krabi
PHUKET: A Krabi man attempted to slay a traffic police officer with a machete in front of hundreds of tourists after he was issued a warning for parking in a no-parking zone in the beach town of Ao Nang on Monday. Sgt Apichart Narksa-nga and Sgt Jirameth Laosirikul of the Krabi City Police had noticed a pick-up truck parked in…
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Video Report: Laguna post-tsunami Community Learning Center still going strong
PHUKET: Laguna Phuket’s Community Learning Center, established as part of the recovery efforts from the 2004 tsunami, recently re-opened after major refurbishment to mark 10 years since the disaster. The opening ceremony of the newly revamped center was held on Monday, attended by approximately 100 participants comprising government officials, Laguna Phuket management, Cherng Talay villagers, and members of the press.…
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Police corruption net widens with 9 more arrests
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police widen corruption net with 9 more arrests The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Arrest warrants have been issued for nine policemen accused of demanding and receiving bribes from an alleged Indian operator of an international online football betting network. Police said their activities also involved…
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PM Prayut gives officials three months to show results
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM Prayut gives officials three months to show results The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-ocha said he would give civil servants three months to deliver work results as per government policy and those found to be slacking would be “dealt with”.…
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Phuket tsunami memorial ceremonies begin tomorrow
PHUKET: The world’s eyes will be on the Andaman coast tomorrow, as Thailand and the region honor the victims of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, which devastated the region’s coastline on December 26, 2004. Services will be held at the Tsunami Memorial Wall in Mai Khao, on Patong Beach, and in Khao Lak in remembrance of the more than 5,000 people…
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Kiwi charged for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: A New Zealand man was charged yesterday for dealing drugs in Phuket after being found in possession of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and cocaine. Taylor Grainge, 41, was nabbed by Patong Police during a holiday crackdown on crime, explained Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Khunnadet Nanongkhai. “We put a sting operation in motion after learning that Mr Grainge was selling…
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Bus driver in Phuket crash tests positive for drugs
PHUKET: A Chinese tour bus driver tested positive for drug use after crashing on Kata Hill in Phuket on Tuesday afternoon (story here). Six of the tourists on the Xin Tour Phuket bus, as well as a local resident in one of the five vehicles tangled up in the accident, were slightly injured. They were taken to Phuket International Hospital…
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Mystery surrounds deaths of Phuket cave divers at Khao Sok National Park
PHUKET: Two experienced Phuket cave divers died after a diving accident on technical rebreathers near the entrance of Tiger Cave in the Chio Lan Reservoir, Surat Thani, on Monday. Dmitry Dokuchave, 46, died at the scene, while fellow Russian national Alexander Solomatin was pronounced dead at Surat Thani Hospital. “Both bodies were transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital, with the preliminary…
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Merry Christmas Phuket!
PHUKET: It’s that time of the year again – when the hoteliers disappear from any social function that isn’t work related, the retirees hide in their homes for fear of high-season traffic and the rest of us locals buckle down for the long haul. Oh, yes, the holiday high-season is here. There will be no reindeer (though plenty of red…
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Former police officer jailed for offering bribe to Constitutional Court judge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Former police officer jailed for 3 years for offering 30 million baht bribe to Constitutional Court judge The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Criminal Court today jailed former Tambon Phokaew police chief Col Charnchai Netiratthakarn for three years for offering a bribe of 30 million…
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Depressed Phuket lawyer spared leap from rooftop
PHUKET: Rescue workers recovered a highly-stressed lawyer from a rooftop in Phuket Town yesterday by grabbing him and pulling him into a cherry picker. “The man was under a lot of pressure about work,” said Lt Wetchasak Juladung of the Phuket City Police. The lawyer climbed onto a third-floor terrace of the building where his friend lives in Soi Suthat…
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In plot reversal, Sony releases ‘The Interview’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community In plot reversal, Sony sends ‘The Interview’ to 200 theaters Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Sony Pictures will allow “The Interview” to play in more than 200 U.S. theaters as of Christmas Day, reversing its decision to pull the film, after coming under criticism from President…
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World’s toughest Ironman shares his training tips with Phuket
PHUKET: A great triathlete has to be fast. But there’s much more to the sport than speed. Persistence, perseverance and resistance are also essential qualities. Andreas Raelert, a German triathlon champion has it all, and as the Ironman World Record holder, he is fast – very fast. Raelert came to Phuket two weeks ago to train at Thanyapura Phuket. Less…
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Two arrested over B1.6bn university embezzlement
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two arrested over B1.6bn university embezzlement The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Following the arrest yesterday of two suspects for allegedly embezzling some 1.6 billion baht from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Lat Krabang (KMITL), the institute said a committee had been working over the past…
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Breaking News: Bus crash on Kata hill
PHUKET: Police and rescue workers are at the scene of a devastating bus crash in Phuket on Kata hill today. Five vehicles have been damaged in the crash near Baan Kata School. Officers have yet to confirm how many, if any, were killed or injured in the accident. “Right, now we are helping manage the accident scene and the traffic,”…
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Phuket Navy airlifts official hurt in speedboat fall
PHUKET: An official is under observation at Bangkok Hospital Phuket after a Navy medivac helicopter returned him from the Surin Islands yesterday. Amnuay Komonthee, a skills development officer from Phang Nga, suffered spinal injuries in a fall while riding in a speedboat that was en route to a sea gypsy village in the islands. A local team of Navy medical…
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