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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Phuket Gazette World News: Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chinese families clash with police, slam Malaysia over lost plane Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Dozens of angry relatives of passengers on a lost Malaysian jetliner clashed with police in Beijing on Tuesday, accusing the Southeast Asian country of “delays and deception” a day after it…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Bus ravine plunge leaves dozens dead; Grenades rock Bangkok; NSC chief gets his job back
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bus plunges into ravine in Tak, killing 29, injuring 23 The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A double-decker bus plunged into a ravine in Tak province on Monday night, killing 29 passengers* and injuring 23 others. Most of them were elderly people. As of press time,…
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New bypass road opens for Phuket travellers
PHUKET: The new road that will allow drivers travelling between Patong and Chalong to bypass the Darasamuth Intersection in front of Central Festival officially opened to the public yesterday morning. The new route, officially dubbed the Muang-Naka Road by Governor Maitri Inthusut, is just one part of an overall project to improve traffic flow throughout the island (story here). The…
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Phuket kidnapping suspect wanted by Russian Police
PHUKET: Police heading the investigation into the alleged kidnapping of Iana Strizheus and Alexey Slabinskiy have confirmed that one of the two main suspects is a Russian fugitive. “We are aware that Ukrainian Oleksandr Boychuk, 44, is wanted by the Russian Police,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewvatee told the Phuket Gazette. “We know only that he was wanted…
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Chalong Police chief denies Phuket dive industry shakedowns
PHUKET: Chalong Police Superintendent Krittapas Dazintharasorn has publicly denied that any of his officers are – or have been – involved in arresting and extorting money from foreign dive instructors in Phuket. Col Krittapas’ denial of corruption among his officers follows more than 20 dive instructors being rounded up at Chalong Pier (map here) and taken to Chalong Police Station…
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Phuket Gov warns against showing ‘too much’ skin during Songkran
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut issued a warning yesterday about showing too much skin during the Thai New Year Songkran Festival next month. “Tourists need to be aware of how they dress and of their surroundings when participating in the Songkran Festival. Please do not just wear a bikini, as it might make you a target for sexual harassment,” said…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rohingya trafficking cargo ships seized off Ranong
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rohingya trafficking cargo ships seized off Ranong The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Coast guards in Ranong seized three fishing boats for illegal modifications believed to have been done to smuggle Rohingya refugees from Myanmar and Bangladesh through Thailand. Lt Thaweeporn Khanathong, who is with the…
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Sister of Russian missing in Phuket offers B500,000 reward
PHUKET: The sister of missing Russian Alexey Slabinskiy has offered half a million baht for information leading to the arrest of the two men believed to be involved in his disappearance. An additional 100,000 baht is offered to whoever finds her brother. WANTED: Olexsande Boychuk. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong Mr Slabinskiy disappeared with his girlfriend, Iana Strizheus, on March 7 (story…
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A moving meditation
PHUKET: Making a guest appearance at the Aikido of Phuket dojo across from Bangkok Hospital, Aikido Grand Master Nobuo Maekawa exceeded my per-conceived expectations of the quintessential Japanese martial artist. Small in stature but huge in confidence, aging but incredibly able and agile, lighthearted yet deeply philosophical and reflective. “It is a moving meditation. Blend, like cafe au lait. If…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama seeks allied, China support as Ukraine exits Crimea Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama sought support from European allies and China on Monday to isolate Russia over its seizure of Crimea, and Ukraine told its remaining troops to leave the region after…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: At least 32 dead as bus plunges into ravine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community At least 32 dead as bus plunges into ravine The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: At least 32 passengers died and many others were injured when their chartered bus plunged into a ravine in Tak’s Muang district last night. Police were alerted at about 7.30pm that…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Suthep rallies as DSI mulls next move; Abhisit faces 2010 charges; Trawler crew eyed for murder
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DSI mulls more action against PDRC The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) will combine its investigation into People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) moves to stop voters from casting their ballot on February 2 with allegations of insurrection, for which PDRC…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malaysia says jet crashed in sea; bad weather halts search Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Bad weather and rough seas on Tuesday forced the suspension of the search for any wreckage of a missing Malaysian jetliner that officials are now sure crashed in the remote Indian…
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Phuket black water problem to be taken on by Bangkok officials
PHUKET: In an effort to combat the black water debacle in Karon, officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to temporarily relinquish control of wastewater management in the area to the Wastewater Management Authority of Thailand (WMA). “Municipality officers signed the MoU on March 13. It allows the WMA to take charge,” Director of Regional Environmental Office 15 Pornsri Suthanaruk…
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Three Phuket candidates registered to battle it out for Patong mayor
PHUKET: Three candidates have registered to fight for the position of mayor in Phuket’s premier resort town of Patong in the upcoming April 26 election. “Kittisan Kuru of the Patong Gao Na (Patong Progress) Party and former town council member was the last candidate to register today at 8:30am,” Patong Municipality Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Poonsak Naksena told the Phuket…
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Myanmar Embassy Official visits Phuket over allegations of workers’ rights violations
PHUKET: The Labour Attache to the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok landed in Phuket on Friday to dig into allegations by Myanmar construction workers of labor law violations. “I came down to Phuket to follow up on a complaint on March 5 against Nantawan Co, Ltd, which employs about 200 workers from Myanmar,” said Kyaw Kyaw Lwin, Mr Lwin had just…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt sentences 529 Muslim Brotherhood members to death Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death on charges including murder on Monday, a defence lawyer said, in a sharp escalation of a crackdown on the movement.…
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Northern Phuket at full flush as water supply restored
PHUKET: Water supply throughout huge residential areas of northern Phuket returned today after waterworks crews completed repairs to a main that burst in Baan Bang Jo, Cherng Talay, on Saturday (story here). “The burst main left residents in Cherng Talay, Koh Keaw, Rassada, Koh Sireh, Srisoonthorn and Baan Porn, Srisuchart and the Rock Garden housing development without mains supply over…
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Phuket officers investigate fire in driverless car
PHUKET: A car erupted in flames outside an abandoned Phuket house early yesterday morning with its owner nowhere in sight. Nutchanat Thongpan, a neighbor living near the abandoned house, notified police of the blaze at about 1:30am in Neramit Village 3 in Baan Lipon, Capt Narong Muangdoung of the Thalang Police told the Phuket Gazette. “I returned from work that…
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Phuket Police warn of slick roads after new graduate dies in motorcycle accident
PHUKET: Police issued a warning about driving on rain-slicked roads after a new graduate of Phuket Rajabhat University was killed in an accident on Saturday night. “People need to drive very carefully when it rains, because the roads are slippery. Motorcyclists must wear a helmet. If you’re involved in an accident, it could save your life,” said Capt Narong Muangdoung…
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Phuket dive companies move to end alleged police corruption
PHUKET: A new consortium of dive operators staged a meeting on Saturday calling for Phuket dive companies to sign up as members in order to present a unified front in combating alleged corruption by the Chalong Police. The meeting, held by the recently formed Association of Thailand for Underwater Sports (ATUS), drew an estimated 50 representatives from dive companies across…
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Phuket Governor calls for better voter turnout after dismal advance polling
PHUKET: The dismal turnout at the Phuket polls yesterday for the advance voting in the national Senate election prompted the Phuket Governor to call on the public to turn out in force at the main polls next weekend. Although about 90 per cent of voters registered in Phuket who said they would advance vote did so, only about 2.19 per…
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No news is good news
PHUKET: It’s an all too common rant, and I’m certainly guilty of it from time to time, that the media just force feeds us negative content. Most of the time, what we read in the news is bad news. Maybe the rant is true, as it is editors who make the choices that determine content. However, those choices reflect what…
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Helping youngsters to get back on the right track
Chatree Taveesup, 47, is a Krabi native who graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ramkhamhaeng University in 1989. He worked at Juvenile Observation and Protection Centers in Songkhla, Phang Nga and Yala before becoming Director of the Juvenile Center in Phuket in 2012. Here, he talks about the problem of juvenile crime in Phuket and suggests ways to deal…
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Phone of Russian missing in Phuket used days after girlfriend found
PHUKET: The telephone of missing Russian Alexey Slabinskiy was used on Thursday, four days after his girlfriend was found injured in a Phuket hotel room. Police were able to trace Mr Slabinskiy’s telephone to Chalong, and raced to find him, but came up empty-handed, said Region 8 Police Deputy Commander Wissanu Muangpraesri,. Gen Wissanu was in Phuket yesterday to follow…
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Karon voted 18th best beach in Asia, despite wastewater problems
PHUKET: Despite all the recent reports of waste water, including human waste, flowing across it, Karon Beach was recently named as one of the 25 best beaches in Asia by TripAdvisor. Three other Phuket beaches were among the top 25 in the 2014 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards: Nai Harn, Kata Noi and Freedom. Nai Harn was in fifth place, Kata…
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Outdated laws need overhaul
PHUKET: The recent minor fining of five men who confessed to the illegal felling of protected forest reserves on the island highlights the need for an overhaul of the antiquated Forest Act BE 2484 (1941), the terms of which are sadly out of date in this day and age of substantial monoculture, dwindling biodiversity and ever-increasing human overpopulation. Loud but…
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30 green sea turtles to taste freedom in Phuket today
PHUKET: Sea turtles will be making their way across the sands of Phuket today in an event sponsored for the first time by the Nai Yang Beach Resort. Thirty green sea turtles will be released starting at 3pm this afternoon during the “Keep Calm & Love Turtle” festivities, staged in conjunction with the Royal Thai Navy’s Third Area Command, Honda…
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Migrant laborer dies after tumble from Phuket pick-up truck
PHUKET: A Myanmar national fell off the back of a pick-up truck and died on the road in Mai Khao in front of his wife and son yesterday afternoon. Saw Aung, 42, and four other Myanmar nationals, including his wife and son, were being taken to Takua Pa, Phang Nga to buy supplies when a tyre burst at the front…
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Phuket student slays ex-girlfriend’s new love in knife attack
PHUKET: Police are on the lookout for a 22-year-old Phuket student wanted for the fatal stabbing of his ex-girlfriend’s new partner in a frenzied knife attack in Rassada early Thursday morning. Officers were called to an apartment block in Soi Yongkeng Muna-Utit, off Thepkrasattri Road, near Phuket Rajabhat University, at 6:30am. “There was a trail of blood leading from the…
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