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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Officials scramble to dismantle human trafficking network north of Phuket
PHUKET: Officials north of Phuket are attempting to unravel a human trafficking network after the arrest of a Thai “caretaker”. “It is clear that locals are part of this network. We will dismantle it,” vowed acting Phang Nga Governor Prayoon Rattanasenee today. Songphol Klaimee, 20, also known as “Boss K”, confessed to police that he had been assigned the task…
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Phuket chasing sisters in China
PHUKET: Phuket is chasing the chance to add to its sister-city collection by strengthening ties with Xiamen, a major city on the southeastern coast of China. “Having a sister city inside China, such as Xiamen, could be of great benefit for Phuket,” Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong said yesterday during his meeting with Chinese Vice-Consul General and Director of the Phuket…
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Phuket’s much-needed Chinese consulate to open by month’s end
PHUKET: The long search for a home for the Chinese consulate in Phuket has come to an end, it was announced yesterday. The new consular office will be open by the end of the month, said Wang Huijian, who will be stationed there as the vice-consul general and director . It will be in the Royal Place project, the same…
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Krabi shrimpers claim buyer cheated them of B30mn
PHUKET: A group of shrimp business operators east of Phuket have filed a complaint against their buyer, claiming they have been cheated out of a collective 30 million baht. The 13 operators turned up at the Krabi Damrongtham Center (ombudsman’s office) to file the complaint against shrimp trading company Sor-Mana yesterday morning. “We haven’t received any payment since the deal…
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More human trafficking victims netted north of Phuket
PHUKET: A group of 72 human trafficking victims destined for Malaysia were caught in a raid in Phang Nga, north of Phuket, today. Four of the 72 men, who Thai officials are identifying as Rohingya, were taken to Takuapa Hospital to be treated for extreme exhaustion and minor scratches to their feet and bodies, Takuapa District Chief Manit Pianthong said.…
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An Enchanted Evening’ for Phuket and for the Home & Life Orphanage
PHUKET: Just months ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the devastating tsunami that left hundreds of orphans in its wake, the the Home & Life orphanage is raising funds for capital improvements. ‘An Enchanted Evening’, to take place at the five-star Centara Grand Beach Resort on November 1, will be an unforgettable experience of art, entertainment, fine wine and gourmet…
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Phuket officials call meeting to halt island’s growing elephant population
PHUKET: Provincial officials will meet with relevant authorities tomorrow to discuss ways to curb the large number of legal and illegal elephants that continue to arrive on Phuket. “Officials, led by the Phuket Livestock Office, will come together to look at ways to manage the island’s burgeoning elephant population, which has already surpassed the maximum number allowed,” Vice Governor Somkiet…
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The second Phuket Classic bodybuilding competition comes to a close
PHUKET: Shoppers at Central Festival were surprised to find more than 150 oiled-up bodybuilders strutting their stuff for the “Phuket Classic” bodybuilding and modeling competition yesterday. In its second year, the competition was organized by Wilaiporn Wannaklang, president of the Phuket Bodybuilding Club and reigning Women’s World Champion. Ms Wilaiporn took a moment during Saturday’s hectic weigh-in at the Dara…
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Phuket property rental platform aspires to clear muddied waters
PHUKET: Being an entrepreneur can be daunting at times. It often entails subjecting oneself – and one’s bank account – to an unknown level of risk and necessitates taking a blind step into the unknown. There are usually no guarantees and failure is a common, yet unwelcome, outcome. “Five months ago we said ‘we are going to come out to…
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Protesters lash out at coal plant project east of Phuket – again
PHUKET: Hundreds of residents stood together against Krabi’s coal-fired power plant at public hearing for the project yesterday. The protestors claimed that the meetings were setups and locals were not being heard. The hearing, led by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and guarded by a brigade of armed soliders and police officers, was held at Nua Khlong Community…
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Booze blamed for Phuket drowning
PHUKET: Lifeguards are blaming heavy drinking for the drowning of an 18-year-old on Phuket’s Kata Beach yesterday morning. “There were about six men and one woman drinking on the beach after work. At about 9:20am three of them were swimming in a closed-off section of the beach. They were dragged out by the waves,” Kata-Karon chief lifeguard Uten Singsom told…
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Phuket python caught gobbling up gamecock
PHUKET: A 20-kilogram python was caught eating a prized rooster inside a chicken coop in central Phuket yesterday. Frightened Thalang residents called Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers to the scene just after midnight when they found the large python with the half-consumed bird. “I heard the roosters making very unusual noises. I was afraid to go out alone, so I grabbed…
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Mayor gives reward for return of cash-stuffed wallet in Phuket
PHUKET: A 10,000-baht reward was handed over to an honest Tesco Lotus employee after she returned a cash-stuffed wallet to a Phuket mayor who had left it behind. “I was helping a Burmese person translate the language on the ATM outside the Cafe Amazon at the PTT gas station in Chalong when I noticed the wallet,” explained Sorada Toiparn, 47.…
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Scores of human trafficking victims rounded up north of Phuket
PHUKET: More than 80 human trafficking victims fleeing Bangladesh were arrested north of Phuket in Phang Nga early this morning, a human rights foundation worker confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. “All of them came from Bangladesh, where they found it too difficult to survive in the refugee camp, so they decided to come to Malaysia,” said Htoo Chit, executive director…
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Traffic expert says underpasses not enough for Phuket
Dr Agachai Sumalee, 36, is a scientist at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology and an associate professor at Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has a PhD in Operations Research from Leeds University in England. On September 17, Dr Agachai won the ASPIRE prize for creating an intelligent transportation system that reduces highway congestion in Bangkok. Here, he reveals his concerns…
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Letter from the Governor: Maitri Inthusut says so long to Phuket
PHUKET: I will leave this island with no regrets about anything I have done as the governor of Phuket. I have done my best, and am confident that I have brought many people together. I am proud to have been part of so many beneficial projects and events over the past two years. Phuket is a small, but big city.…
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F1: Prayers, politics, practices and plans
PHUKET: Well, apart from Rosberg’s DNF, Singapore went according to form, and Japan of course was affected by a typhoon. This weekend, F1 finally arrives in Russia for its first time at the pristine Sochi Autodrom. It’s hard to bet against a Mercedes 1st and 2nd here, with Red Bull’s cars not far behind and a good showing from Williams…
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Phuket police arrest nine for drive-by revenge shooting
PHUKET: Police have arrested nine suspects, eight of whom are minors, for a drive-by revenge shooting that left two men injured in Phuket on October 3. Watthana Suebsak, 18, was shot in the face and seriously injured, while Prasert Chanthip, 35, was also shot and wounded when a group of masked suspects rode by on motorbikes and opened fire (story…
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Phuket Immigration denies allegations foreigners must pay for services
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration has denied claims it is charging fees for its services, after a Phuket Gazette reader alleged he had to pay 500 baht in the Patong office for an address verification. “I just bought a new motorcycle, so I had to do the address confirmation again yesterday [on October 8],” the reader wrote in the comment section for…
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PWA announces yet another Phuket Town water shutoff
PHUKET: The Phuket Water Authority (PWA) has announced that water supply in Phuket Town will be shut off in some areas from 9pm this Saturday to 5am on Sunday – for the second time in one week. Under the PWA’s plan to improve Phuket Town’s water-treatment system, supply will be cut off along several roads in the area*. Supply was…
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Hundreds gather at home of fallen former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin [video]
PHUKET: Hundreds of people gathered at the Keesin family home in Patong yesterday afternoon in memory of former Mayor Pian Keesin, who was found dead in one of his other homes, north of Phuket Town, on Tuesday morning (story here). The Keesin family has declined to publicly reveal the cause of death. Among the guests present was current Patong Mayor…
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Phuket Town to feature floating market next year
PHUKET: Phuket Town will soon be the home to the island’s first floating market, the opening of which is slated for early next year. The floating market will be set up on part of the Bang Yai canal – the longest canal in Phuket – which begins in Saphan Hin and winds throughout the city. “We believe this project will…
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Opinion: Hooters or bust? Tourists should be handled more delicately
PHUKET: The foreign family with their two young children being subjected to a military-clad scare during a raid on the illegal taxi they hired is unfortunate (story here), but efforts by police to rid the island of “black plate” taxis still deserve full public support. Like many other tourism-tarnishing incidents, this one involved tourists travelling on the “mafia mile” between…
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Phuket marine officials investigate mysterious fish deaths
PHUKET: Marine officials are searching for an explanation as to why dozens of fish have been dying recently near Koh Racha Yai island off the southern coast of Phuket. “A parrot fish was swimming in slow circles close to death… at Ao Konkare [Bay 1] [on Wednesday]. What would cause its eyes to bulge out like that?” local diver and…
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Phuket Gazette sponsors Asian Beach Games
PHUKET: The Phuket Gazette has joined forces with the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) to ensure that the world takes notice every day as Asia’s top athletes battle it out from November 14 to 23 at the 4th Asian Beach Games. With Governor Nisit Jansomwong encouraging the local community to get involved, both to show that Phuket can still glisten…
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Phuket praised for progress in prepping for upcoming Asian Beach Games
PHUKET: The Minister of Tourism and Sports has praised Phuket’s leaders for the progress made in prepping the island for the upcoming 4th Asian Beach Games. “Phuket has made great progress, but we must remember that besides competing, athletes will also be experiencing Phuket for themselves. We must take this opportunity to impress them,” said Tourism and Sports Minister Kobkarn…
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Managing your retirement
PHUKET: When planning for retirement, once a plan is in place, the next step is actually to manage it. While it’s not a full-time job, there are certain things that need to be regularly taken care of in order to ensure one’s retirement runs smoothly. First, the age-old question of whether to rent or buy needs to be addressed. Many…
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Asean Business and Investment Summit to be held in Yangon
PHUKET: The Asean Business Advisory Council (ABAC) has announced that this year’s Asean Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) will be held in Yangon, beginning November 11. The three-day conference, now in its 11th year, will see representatives from both the private and public sectors addressing ways Asean can better leverage its cultural bonds, history and infrastructure growth to promote the…
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Fast arrest of thief should boost tourists’ confidence, say Phuket police
PHUKET: Police are hoping that the speedy arrest of a knife-wielding thief who targeted a Bahrain couple on Monday will raise tourists’ confidence in their safety. Patong Police arrested Ismael Pomalee, 30, from Pattani, less than 24 hours after the robbery. “We received a call at about 9:30pm on Monday saying that the couple had been held at knife point…
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Bigger, better and with a new name – BISP Soccer 7s coming to Phuket for the 13th time
PHUKET: There were just 35 teams competing in the first edition of the BISP International Football tournament in 2001. Thirteen years later there are 127 teams from eight countries coming to compete in the tournament, this year renamed the BISP Soccer 7s. “There will be over 1,300 competitors, with all the coaches it makes for 1,550 people taking part in…
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