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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DMCR chief calls on Phuket residents, tourists to protect marine sanctuaries
PHUKET: An illegal fishing net found in a popular dive spot last week prompted officials to call on Phuket residents and tourists to help preserve ocean conservation areas by keeping an eye out for illegal fishing activities. “Last week a group of divers saved a lot of reef fish trapped in an enormous fishing net at Shark Point and provided…
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Speedboat sinks in high-speed collision across the bay from Phuket
PHUKET: All 37 tourists made it to shore yesterday after two speedboats collided at sea about 1km from Krabi.Krabi City Police were informed of the incident at 3:30pm and immediately contacted the Krabi Marine Office to scramble a rescue team.Six were injured when the Chainartnumchork 8, owned by Barracudas Tour, and the The Pimmasa 5, owned by Centara Grand Beach…
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Police solicit help to catch ATM-scammer gangs operating on Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Police asked for help on Friday to bring scam artists to justice, noting that there are at least three gangs on the island targeting ATM customers. The conference followed the arrest of two French nationals for attempting to bribe police officers after being caught in an alleged ATM scam (story here). “People should be aware of possible scams…
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Phuket pounce on Pattaya
PHUKET: Yesterday was the first fixture of the Yamaha League One season and fans saw a spirited bout between Phuket FC and Pattaya United FC, who were relegated from the Thai Premier League this year, resulting in a 1-0 final score that secured victory for the Ronins. As the sun went to sleep, the crowd woke up, with about 4,000…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine sets European course after ouster of Yanukovich
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine sets European course after ouster of Yanukovich Phuket Gazette/ ReutersPHUKET: Ukraine’s interim leadership pledged to put the country back on course for European integration now that Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich has been ousted from the presidency, while the United States warned Russia against sending in its forces.As…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: UN calls for an end to violence, offers to mediate
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN calls for end to violence, offers to mediate Phuket Gazette/ The Nation PHUKET: UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon is ready to assist in any way he can to end the political violence in Thailand.He called for an immediate end to escalating political violence and urged authorities…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Yingluck leaves Bangkok as bombs, gunfire punctuate unrest
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai PM leaves Bangkok as bombs, gunfire punctuate unrest Phuket Gazette/ ReutersPHUKET: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the target of anti-government protesters who have blocked parts of Bangkok for weeks, has left the city and is staying 150 km away, her office said on Monday, without specifying the…
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Hazardous Phuket moorings removed from Chalong Bay
PHUKET: Eight unmarked concrete moorings near the Chalong Pier fairway that are believed to have sunk two boats within the last year were removed last Friday. “I think it is best to have the blocks near the fairway removed to prevent further accidents,” said Phuket Marine Office Chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut, maintaining that no blocks exist within the approach channel itself.…
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Finn struck by car while crossing Phuket Road
PHUKET: A 25-year-old Finnish man was struck and injured by a car as he was crossing the road in Kamala early this morning. Robin Straka had crossed the Kalim-Kamala Road to use the ATM at a Tesco Lotus. On his return, he suddenly stopped walking, and seemed to be thinking about something, witnesses told police. “That was when he was…
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Phuket drug crackdown apprehends 62
PHUKET: Phuket police officers apprehended 62 people on drug charges yesterday as part of an anti-drug sweep in Phuket Town and Rassada ordered by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut. In total,180 officers took part in the late afternoon maneuver, which involved searching two houses and administering urine tests at four checkpoints. Five teenagers – two girls and three boys – aged…
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Phuket cops’ early morning raid nets 11 thieves, drug users
PHUKET: Police netted nearly a dozen snatch-theft and drug suspects during an early morning raid in Phuket Town yesterday. CCTV images of suspects stealing bags from two foreigners on Thalang Road in Phuket Town on Tuesday allowed officers to identify the suspects’ den on Srisena Road. The police raid on the house led to five teenagers being charged for ‘theft…
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Phuket Opinion: Navigating the ‘expat hump’
PHUKET: I openly admit that I had no idea what I was walking into when I decided to move to Phuket last August. Not only had I never been to Thailand, but I had never even left my vacuum-sealed bubble of a home country: America. The gravity of my move became immediately apparent as I left the airport. The sights…
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Phuket Opinion: ‘Bangkok-centric’ travel slows Phuket progress
PHUKET: There are many different indices used to assess how developed a country is. Fortunately for Thailand, the state of the domestic aviation industry is not among them, because if it were, the country would not fare well in the ratings. In many countries, regional carriers operating small turboprop commuter planes on scheduled routes in lean markets are an important…
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Illegal wedding photographers busted in Phuket
PHUKET: Two photographers, a makeup artist and an owner of a Phuket photography studio were caught working without work permits yesterday after their rude behavior was flagged by local residents. Phuket Old Town residents filed a complaint to police against Love Island Wedding Studio Co Ltd, which had been using their homes as backdrops for pre-wedding photos without asking permission.…
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Patong Tunnel compensation for evicted Phuket villagers jumps to B2.56bn
PHUKET: The funds for compensating Phuket landowners who would be displaced by the construction of the Patong Tunnel have more than doubled, jumping from 1 billion baht to 2.56bn baht. The Chief Inspector-General of the Ministry of Transport, Somchai Chanrod, made the announcement in Phuket earlier this week. It was not clarified whether the government had expanded the number of…
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Phuket Business: Hooters restaurant to open in Patong
PHUKET: Hooters of America, LLC, the well-known hospitality franchise that employs attractive young waitresses to help lure customers, recently announced a development agreement with an international franchisee to open three Hooters locations in Thailand over the next three years. Destination Resorts Co Ltd will introduce the iconic brand and dining destination to the country, with the first Hooters location scheduled…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nepal tightens controls of climbers after Everest brawl Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: Nepal will enforce tighter controls of climbers on Mount Everest to ensure the world’s highest peak is safe, officials said on Friday, after a fight last April between three Europeans and a large group of…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Syria submits new 100-day plan for removal of chemical weapons
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria submits new 100-day plan for removal of chemical weapons Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: Syria has submitted a new 100-day plan for the removal of its chemical weapons after failing to meet a February 5 deadline, but the international mission overseeing the operation believes it can be…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama meets with Dalai Lama, upsetting China Phuket Gazette / ReutersPHUKET: President Barack Obama held low-key talks with the Dalai Lama on Friday, prompting the Chinese government to ask why the White House ignored Beijing’s warnings that the meeting with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader would damage…
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![[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAyMjMgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested two French nationals for bribing an officer of the law yesterday, while a third man is still on the run. Karin Radoun, 28, was also charged with ATM fraud and being in the country illegally. He and Karim Akrour, 36, denied all the charges when presented to the press this morning. Police are still hunting for…
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Local Phuket fishing competition out to catch it all
PHUKET: The annual “Yamu Night Fishing Game” kicks off tomorrow morning.The annual competition, aimed at promoting local fishing traditions in the area, is put on by Paklok Subdistrict Municipality (OrBorTor).“Only those fishing from longtail boats with local fishing equipment are allowed to participate. However, both Thais and foreigners are welcome to get involved,” said Paklok Public Relation staffer Samart Sensai.“If…
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Wind at yachties’ backs in Phuket as boom swings against boat-stay law
PHUKET: The law reducing the time limit of boat stays in Thailand to two months is on hold starting today, and the old law will be applied in the interim, Phuket Customs Chief Nanthita Sririkub confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. As of today, yachts entering Thailand will be permitted to stay for up to six months. “I received official notification…
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Airport-bound foreigners safe after illegal taxi catches fire
PHUKET: A black-plate taxi carrying two foreigners to Phuket International Airport burst into flames on Thepkrasattri road at about 2pm today.It took villagers about 15 minutes and seven fire extinguishers to put out the fire, explained a Kusoldharm Foundation rescue worker. No one was injured.“By the time we got there, the fire was already under control. At the scene were…
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Krabi resort owner vows legal action over demolition
PHUKET: The owner of the Poda Island Resort is threatening to sue the Department of National Parks (DNP) for dismantling his facilities. Chuan Pukaoluan, who has operated the resort for about 20 years, says that he had bought the plots of land the resort was built on legitimately. However, the courts determined that the structures were encroaching on a national…
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TAT, AirAsia join campaign to drive travel to three regions
PHUKET: The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is cooperating with AirAsia on a campaign to promote travel to the North, Northeast and South of Thailand. The “All Out Fun! Discover Thailand with AirAsia” campaign seeks to enliven travel in those three regions with low fares starting from 555 baht one-way, inclusive of airport tax and fees. Tickets may be booked…
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Phuket EC not enrolling MP candidates by mail, yet
PHUKET: Despite an announcement by the Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday that they would accept additional candidate registrations for the April MP election by mail, Phuket election officials have received no official instructions to enroll new candidates. Anti-government protesters in Phuket blocked MP candidates from registering last December. Only one person, Jirayos Songyos of the Pheu Thai party, was able…
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Local tourism industry unfazed by Bangkok turmoil
PHUKET: Wanprapha Suksomboon, acting director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office, recently said that the political turmoil in Bangkok has had minimal negative effects on local tourism.There have been only “a few” booking cancellations, she said, citing the fact that Phuket can be accessed by direct international flights that don’t need to connect in the Thai capital. Since…
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AirAsia flight makes emergency landing in Phuket after Mecca pilgrim suffers heart failure
PHUKET: An AirAsia plane made an emergency landing at Phuket International Airport after a Malaysian man returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca suffered heart failure while in Thai airspace. The crew of flight D7 171 from Jeddah to Kuala Lumpur attempted to resuscitate Ridzwan Bin Jamaludin, 64, while still in the air, explained Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Amnuay Kriwuttianant. “The…
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Widow of slain Phuket protester returns from Bangkok before fresh wave of violence
PHUKET: It has been a month since Phuket taxi driver Prakong Choochan died at the age of 46 from injuries sustained from an explosive device thrown at protesters in Bangkok. His widow, Tippayao Choochan, vowed to continue supporting the “Bangkok Shutdown” protests after his death, and was in the capital last week to join the rally (story here). However, she…
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Unidentified foreign woman killed in Phuket crash
PHUKET: An unidentified foreign woman died in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road early this morning.Police were called to the scene, on the southbound side of the road opposite the entrance to Bang Kanun Forest, at 5am.“We found a car flipped over in the middle of the road and the body of a foreign woman inside. We searched the car,…
![[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/phuketnews_201422118217359_klEPqHsQiSYtOJcSMCkxiSsjSGQWuqWBatCGUsaD_jpeg.jpg)
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