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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What’s not covered by health insurance in Thailand?
Health insurance in Thailand has important limits that everyone should know. Many policies do not cover pre-existing conditions, motorcycle accidents, extreme sports, or specific treatments. These gaps can lead to unexpected costs during emergencies. Coverage for outpatient care and hospital...
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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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German woman takes fatal fall down stairs in Phuket
PHUKET: A 72-year-old German woman died yesterday after falling down a flight of steep stairs at a rented house near Nai Thon Beach. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the incident at 7:30pm and rushed to the scene with rescue workers. At the house on Sakoo-Nai Thon Road, police found the body of Margret Hiller lying at the bottom…
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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 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: Forging a place for women on the force
Chollada Chokdeesrijun, 23, graduated from the Royal Police Cadet Academy last year and started working at the Chalong Police Station on November 1. Originally from Bangkok, she and her family moved to Phang Nga when she was 13 years old. Here Lt Chollada talks about why it is important to have women on the police force, and the challenges she…
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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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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 Thailand News: CMPO seeks clarification; Social classes discovered in ancient Issan communities; WTO notified of alleged rice dumping
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CMPO seeks understanding over inability to control rallies Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The government’s Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO) called for understanding from the public yesterday about its inability to enforce the law and control anti-government rallies following Civil Court’s ruling on Wednesday.CMPO member…
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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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![[Video Report] Alleged French ATM scammers caught bribing Phuket police | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/phuketnews_201422118217359_klEPqHsQiSYtOJcSMCkxiSsjSGQWuqWBatCGUsaD_jpeg.jpg)
[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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Frenchwoman in fatal crash identified as Phuket yacht staff trainer
PHUKET: The foreigner killed in a car accident on Thepkrasattri Road before dawn yesterday has been identified as French national Julie Humbert, 31. Her identity was confirmed by an employee of Thalang Hospital, where her body was taken after the crash (story here). “A co-worker contacted the hospital this morning after she heard the story. She identified Ms Humbert’s body…
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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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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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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Farmers return home; More Southern violence; Russian wanted for extortion caught in Chon Buri
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Farmers from northern provinces return home Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: About 10,000 farmers who travelled from the lower northern provinces to Bangkok resolved on Friday to return home rather than head to Suvarnabhumi Airport for a rally.The farmers decided to return home after their leader, former…
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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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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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Phuket canal reeking again, noodle factory blamed
PHUKET: For the second time in a year, Samkong residents have filed a formal complaint over a sickening stench emanating from the Bang Yai Canal. In April last year, the source was allegedly raw sewage dumped into the canal further upstream, in Rassada. This time, residents blamed an upstream noodle factory. During an inspection on Tuesday, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut…
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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,…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Both sides suffer from violent clashes; New plan to pay rice farmers; MP registration by mail; Foreign investors continue retreat from stock market
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community On both sides, victims share the bitter pain of street clashes Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A junior policeman has become a hero for kicking away a grenade in his bid to protect colleagues during a Bangkok clash – but his wife thinks his fame…
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The Terminal: asylum seekers’ limbo at Phuket Airport to end soon
PHUKET: The six stateless asylum seekers who have been housed under guard at Phuket International Airport for over a month may soon be leaving the island.Malaysia has agreed to accept the four Syrians in the group, and the two Lebanese men will be sent to Bangkok, said Prapansak Prasansuk, Chief of Immigration at the airport.How the men, said to be…
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Italian busted for drug dealing in Phuket
PHUKET: An Italian man was busted for selling ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) to undercover cops in a sting operation in Patong Monday evening.Fabio Milan Bocca, 35, was arrested at a rental house on Pisitkoranee Road in possession of 8.52 grams of ya ice, 6.79g of marijuana and a single ya bah (methamphetamine) pill. “Our superintendent asked us to stomp out…
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Chalong steals Phuket’s booze ban spotlight this weekend
PHUKET: Parts of Chalong will be effected by a booze ban this weekend for local elections.“Alcohol sales will be banned in District 2 of Chalong from 6pm on February 21 until midnight on Saturday due to local elections,” Phuket Election Commission Director Kittipong Thiengkunakrit told the Phuket Gazette.The ban will cover five Chao Fa West villages, Chalong Municipality Election Commission…
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Thailand Breaking News: Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Erawan Centre says three killed, 59 injured in clash Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan Emergency Medical Centre reported at 3pm today that two civilians and a policeman had been killed. Additionally, 58 others were injured in the clash between police and protesters…
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DSI chief says one policeman killed in Bangkok clash
PHUKET: One police officer was killed and 17 others injured during violent clashes during an operation to re-take traffic space from protest sites on Rajdamnoen Road.Department of Special Investigation (DSI) chief Tarit Pendith announced that a policeman was shot in the head.He said the officers were injured by M79 grenades and bullets although they were using peaceful measures in the…
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