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 under fire for allegedly issuing illegal Phuket land documents
PHUKET: More than a dozen officials suspected of illegally issuing land titles in Phuket are now under investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), confirmed an NACC official on Saturday. “Sirinath National Park officers filed complaints with the Thalang Police. We then received a list of 16 officials that work for various government departments,” explained Prasart Pongsivapai of the NACC’s…
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Casillas wants improvement from ‘horrible’ Real Madrid
PHUKET: Real Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas has called for a big improvement after the European champions suffered a surprise early-season setback at Real Sociedad in La Liga on Sunday. Real were missing injured top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo for their second La Liga outing of the campaign but quickly went 2-0 ahead at the Anoeta in San Sebastian before…
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AMCHAM to host forum discussion about “New Phuket’
PHUKET: The impact of recent changes throughout Phuket following the coup in May will be the focus of the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Thailand forum on September 12. The forum, to be hosted by brand-development company Quo Global’s founder and CEO David Keen, will examine how Thais, expats and foreign tourists are expected to perceive the recent transformation of…
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Former Patong mayor surrenders to Navy for Phuket taxi mafia charges
PHUKET: Former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin surrendered to officers at the Royal Thai Navy base at Phuket’s Cape Panwa this morning. Mr Pian, and six other members of his operating company Pisona Group, including his son Pattawee Keesin, presented themselves at the base and were taken into custody. Under military escort, all seven suspects were handed over to Phuket City…
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Phuket taxi mafia fugitive Prab Keesin surrenders in Bangkok
PHUKET: Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, son of former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin, surrendered to police in Bangkok this morning. Mr Prab and his father are both facing charges for their alleged involvement in Phuket’s taxi mafia, and were the main targets in a high-profile raid last week (story here). Specifically, they are facing charges of extortion and criminal activities carried out…
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Japan porn stars raise thousands of dollars from ‘Boob Aid’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Japan porn stars raise thousands of dollars from ‘Boob Aid’ The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A group of Japanese porn actresses raised tens of thousands of dollars at the weekend by having their breasts squeezed by fans at a “Boob Aid” charity event for Aids…
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PM Prayuth targets jet-ski outlaws
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PM Prayuth targets jet-ski outlaws The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: While Thailand is attracting tourists because of its beautiful beaches and wide variety of water sports, the country’s jet-ski rental businesses have become notorious after it emerged some operators were extorting money from tourists. Prime…
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Alleged Bangkok protest gunman dies in custody
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Alleged Bangkok protest gunman dies in custody The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A man accused of the murder of a protest leader during a rally against the Yingluck Shinawatra government early this year succumbed to illness while being held in detention last week, the Corrections…
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Murray looks to continue success against French
PHUKET: No one loves beating up on French players quite like Andy Murray. Until losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Toronto last month, Murray had won 18 straight matches against French players. His career record against the French is 67-13 and between losing to Tsonga in the first round of the Australian Open in 2008 and to Richard Gasquet in the…
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British activist braces for controversial defamation trial
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community British activist braces for controversial defamation trial The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A British activist will go on trial tomorrow in Bangkok for defamation, facing a possible jail term after his investigation into alleged labour abuses in the food industry. Andy Hall faces civil and…
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Drug clan caught in nationwide raids
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Drug clan caught in nationwide raids The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Joint Army and police raids at scores of locations in nine provinces yesterday uncovered about Bt100 million in suspected ill-gotten assets owned by an influential drug-dealing family. Security sources said the simultaneous raids would…
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Severe flooding in North after heavy downpours
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Severe flooding in North after heavy downpours The Nation/ Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Many areas in several provinces have flooded after days of heavy rain, especially in Chiang Mai’s Muang district where high flood waters inundated residential areas overnight. The Kard Kom community in Muang district has…
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Phuket soap shop fire causes B600k in damages
PHUKET: A fire erupted this morning in a Phuket soap and spa goods shop, causing about 600,000* baht in damages. Two firetrucks from Patong Municipality were called to the scene behind Jungceylon shopping center on Phang-Mueang Sai Kor Road at about 7:10am. “It took firefighters about 30 minutes to control the flames. No one was injured in the blaze,” Lt…
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Asia Games, then the World Cup, says Thailand’s national football coach in Phuket
PHUKET: The head coach of Thailand’s national football team hasn’t taken World Cup aspirations off the table, but right now, it’s time to focus on the Asian Games, he told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “Everybody in Thailand wants to see a Thai team in the World Cup. We are committed to making this happen, but in order to do so,…
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Police suspect suicide in death of Welsh backpacker on Phi Phi
PHUKET: A Welshman who was found dead on August 24 in his Phi Phi hotel room is thought to have committed suicide, Krabi City Police revealed to the Phuket Gazette today. Jack Davies, 21, from Llanelli, Wales, was found hanging from an electrical chord in his hotel bathroom, police said. “After investigating the scene, it appeared that he had used…
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Bag-snatching Phuket teens arrested for robbing tourists
PHUKET: Two Phuket teenagers were arrested yesterday for snatching a bag from two Chinese tourists. Natthapong “Mad” Intan ,19, and his 17-year-old accomplice were both arrested at their rented accommodation in Rassada. “A complaint was lodged at Thalang Police Station on Thursday morning by Chinese nationals 27-year-old Li Xue Juan, and 30-year-old Sun Ce,” said Maj Kittiphum Tinthalang of the…
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Phuket’s modern day overlords
PHUKET: The region should applaud the bravery of the young rape victim from Myanmar in standing up for her rights and convincing her family to press charges against her attackers, even after her father initially agreed to accept a cash settlement to simply move on and “forget” the matter (story here). The girl’s recounting of events is a particularly disturbing…
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Nearly 17,000 migrant workers registered in Phuket, deadline pushed back
PHUKET: With nearly 17,000 migrant laborers already added to the system since late July, the deadline for registration has been pushed back from August 21 to October 31, a Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO) officer told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. There are an estimated 15,000 more workers to be registered at the one-stop center in the Phuket Provincial Community Hall,…
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Party on, Phuket! No change in booze promotion enforcement, says health office
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) has no plans to ramp up enforcement of existing laws regulating the promotion of alcohol, despite reports stating otherwise, the Phuket Gazette was told today. “The law stands as it is,” said PPHO Non-communicable Diseases division Director Prapa Nakara, who directly heads the enforcement of alcohol-related regulations on the island. “I have no…
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Be on the lookout for dubious investments
PHUKET: Many readers responded to the recent article “Retirement is all about safety first” (story here). Many could relate to the common pitfalls that expats have discovered in Thailand. While investing in a bar or restaurant is typically a losing proposition, at least the foreigner would still have a place to eat and drink. Where things take a really ugly…
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Bayern reach agreement with Madrid over Alonso move
PHUKET: European champions Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Bayern Munich over the transfer of former World Cup winner Xabi Alonso, the La Liga giants announced on Friday. “Real Madrid CF and Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for the transfer of Xabi Alonso,” the club said on its website. “The player will speak to the media today (Friday)…
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Refreshed Murray beats Bachinger in straight sets
PHUKET: Eighth seed Andy Murray, who overcame cramping in his first-round victory, roared past unseeded German Matthias Bachinger in straight sets on Thursday to reach the third round of the US Open. Murray, the 2012 US champion and 2013 Wimbledon winner, looked fresh and strong in cool, breezy conditions as he rolled to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory at Arthur…
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Phuket Poll: Should we allow a dolphin park in Phuket?
PHUKET: Pressure is building for authorities in Bangkok to make an ethical choice on whether or not Phuket should have a dolphinarium as a tourist attraction. The issue splashed across headlines around the region after global conservation society Sea Shepherd alleged that at least one of the dolphins acquired for the nearly complete Nemo dophinarium in Chalong was sourced from…
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Little hope for lasting change in Phuket
PHUKET: The word on the street is optimistic. The Army’s strong-armed, yet almost unanimously welcomed push to scrape the dirt from Thailand’s image is off to a resounding start. Their campaign to bring happiness back to the people has Thai people nodding in satisfaction and the no-nonsense effort to stamp out corruption has foreigners giving the thumbs-up. For the time…
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Livestock officials implore Phuket police to investigate baby elephant owner
PHUKET: Officers from the Phuket Livestock Office have implored police to investigate the case of a baby elephant who is being kept on a short chain in the parking lot outside a house on Chao Fa West Road. The call follows an investigation on August 24 into the legality of a 2-year-old elephant, Tiptawee (story here). Pichitra Tanode, who is…
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Video Report: Phuket dolphin park’s Taiji killing connection
PHUKET: Phuket stands to suffer widespread damage to its global reputation as a tourism destination if it allows the establishment of a dolphinarium in Chalong, said renown dolphin trainer turned animal rights activist Ric O’Barry, well-known for his role in the Academy-award winning documentary The Cove. “Most of the [captured] dolphins today are coming from the cove in Taiji, Japan.…
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Bangkok Hospital Group seeks to stitch up Phuket market with B3.6bn PIH buyout
PHUKET: Bangkok Dusit Medical Services PLC (BDMS), commonly referred to as the Bangkok Hospital Group, announced on Tuesday its intent to purchase Phuket International Hospital (PIH) for 3.61 billion baht. According to a document submitted by BDMS to the President of the Stock Exchange of Thailand, the sale is expected to be finalized by the end of the year, once…
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Prab Keesin, wanted on taxi mafia charges, to surrender to Phuket police on Monday
PHUKET: Preechavude “Prab” Keesin, wanted by the police on mafia-related charges, has announced that he will turn himself over to the authorities on Monday. The news, revealed via a post on his Facebook page (click here), follows a massive police and military sweep of Patong yesterday for suspects accused of being involved in a taxi mafia (story here). Former Patong…
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Criminal Court declines to hear murder case against Abhisit and Suthep
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Criminal Court declines to hear murder case against Abhisit and Suthep The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Criminal Court yesterday rejected the murder lawsuit against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his former deputy Suthep Thaugsuban on the grounds that it did not have jurisdiction…
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Islamic State executes scores of Syrian soldiers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Islamic State executes scores of Syrian soldiers Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Islamic State fighters executed scores of Syrian soldiers captures when the militants seized an airbase in the province of Raqqa at the weekend, according to a video posted on You Tube on Thursday. The…
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