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: Congo’s poachers threatened with U.N. sanctions
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Congo’s poachers threatened with U.N. sanctions Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.N. Security Council warned on Thursday that it would sanction individuals and entities supporting militants in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through illegal wildlife trafficking.The council’s unanimously adopted resolution on Congo extended the arms embargo…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Suicide bombers storm Iraq ministry building, 24 killed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suicide bombers storm Iraq ministry building, 24 killed Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Six suicide bombers burst into an Iraqi ministry building, took hostages and killed at least 24 people including themselves on Thursday before security forces regained control, security officials said.The brazen attack on the building belonging…
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Phuket Finance: Sri Lanka could be the next frontier for investors
PHUKET: When most Westerners think of Sri Lanka, the island nation off the coast of South India that was once known as Ceylon, they probably think of tea (as the country has long been a major tea exporter), science fiction author Arthur C Clarke (who spent most of his adult life living there) or the now defeated Tamil Tiger guerillas…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Tourism takes B50bn hit from protests
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Bt50 bn loss expected in Q1 revenue from tourism The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Thailand’s tourism sector has lost income so far in the new year because of he political turmoil plaguing Bangkok, experts said.Small hotels and restaurants near protest sites have started to cut down their…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Violence stakes rise as red shirts ordered to protect poll; Chiang Mai named coup retreat capital; Govt fails to secure loans to pay rice farmers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Violence feared as red shirts ordered to protect poll The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The likelihood of a volatile confrontation during this Sunday’s snap election has increased after a red-shirt leader yesterday urged government supporters to help ensure the voting would not be interrupted.Thida Tavonseth, chairperson of…
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Aussie bar owner takes deadly tumble down Phuket stairs
PHUKET: A 47-year-old Australian expat fell down a flight of stairs to his death yesterday after a night spent at his bar in Phuket. Adin Medzic had allegedly been drinking at his bar in the OTOP Market in Patong since 7pm Wednesday. He and his Thai partner, Fon Somwong, left together after the bar closed, Maj Weerapong Raktito of the…
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No salvage for sunken Similan dive boat
PHUKET: Liveaboard dive boat MV The Flying Carpet will remain on the sea floor, 75 meters below the Andaman Sea surface, after sinking yesterday between Koh Bon and Koh Tachai, north of Phuket. “There will be no salvage possibility,” said the manager of Aladdin Dive Safari, the company that owned the boat. When asked about insurance, the manager, who asked…
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Phuket’s “Nine Heroes’ land at Victory Field
PHUKET: The long-awaited nine bronze statues of important figures in Phuket’s history arrived on the island yesterday and were officially installed at Thalang Victory Memorial Field this morning. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a blessing ceremony at Saphan Hin yesterday evening to welcome the Nine Heroes. “These historical figures will serve to remind all Phuket people of their brave ancestors…
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Video Report: German couple lost in Phuket jungle, found safe
PHUKET: A German couple lost in a huge protected forest in central Phuket last night was returned to safety early this morning.Jurgen Strempel, 51, and his wife Ludecke, 49, called the Tourist Police hotline 1155 at about 8pm, said Lt Adul Boonrat of the Thalang Police.“They said they were on top of a hill between Ton Sai Waterfall and Bang…
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Missing Chinese couple found alive after kayak swamped by waves
PHUKET: A Chinese couple whose rented kayak was swamped by large waves off Ao Nang, Krabi, late yesterday afternoon have been found safe. Tourists Li Qi Ying, a 40-year-old businessman and his 28-year-old wife, Li Bei, were paddling with a friend when a large wave swamped the couple’s kayak, dumping the pair into the sea. “We were paddling out to…
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Phuket taxi driver returns more than 3,000 euros to Frenchman
PHUKET: A Phuket taxi driver yesterday returned a bag containing nearly 150,000 baht’s worth of euros and other valuables to a Frenchman who left it in his taxi. The 57-year-old tourist, Andre Cellier, arrived on January 22 and took a taxi to Patong. When he discovered he had forgotten his bag – which contained his passport and a mobile phone,…
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Phuket Property: Building materials index “unrealistic’
PHUKET: Provincial authorities seek a revision to the central price index for construction materials, pointing to outdated and inaccurate value estimations for building supplies imported to the island. Meanwhile, the Revenue Department reported collecting 9.6 billion baht in tax revenue in Phuket in 2013, exceeding their target by 5%.The economic issues headlined the agenda at the latest Phuket meeting of…
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Phuket Gazette World News: High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community High stakes in Paris race to be first Madame Mayor Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Wanted: Chief executive to run city of two million, seat of government, top global tourist destination and fashion capital. Relevant experience appreciated. Men need not apply.Paris elects a new mayor this spring who…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Malta agrees to curtail plans to sell EU citizenship Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Anyone wishing to buy an EU passport from Malta must first live in the island nation for a year, the European Commission and Malta agreed on Wednesday, curtailing its contentious plan to sell EU…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. readies financial sanctions against Ukraine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. readies financial sanctions against Ukraine Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Obama administration is preparing financial sanctions that could be imposed on Ukrainian officials and protest leaders if violence escalates in the political crisis gripping Ukraine, congressional aides said on Wednesday.Congressional aides, who asked not to be…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Election standoff begins; Police deployed; Reds rile rice farmers
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suthep threatens election day shutdown The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Suthep Thaugsuban, leader of the ongoing anti-government protest, yesterday threatened to bring Bangkok to a “complete shutdown” on election day, while half of the 400,000-strong national police force is expected to be deployed to maintain law and…
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Phuket Hero: Two years at the top
PHUKET: A team of young dancers from the Ban Bangneaw Municipal School in Phuket Town won the national finals of the “To Be Number One” Teen Dancersize Competition held in the events arena at The Mall Bangkapi in Bangkok on January 26 and 27. Competing in the Junior Division for students aged 6 to 9, the HERO team wowed the…
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Phuket Old Town Festival to begin next week
PHUKET: The annual three-day Phuket Old Town Festival will kick off on February 7 with a parade to celebrate the unique culture of Phuket’s residents. Events will be held along Thalang Road, Soi Rommanee and Krabi Road – the heart of the Phuket Old Town area, explained Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana. “The main purpose of this festival is to…
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Phuket Police vow to protect voters, despite manpower shortage
PHUKET: Despite a shortage of officers, the Phuket Provincial Police have vowed to protect voters from any violence on election day with a special task force. The group of 41 officers will be made up of five fast-response inspectors, 18 undercover officers and 18 officers on standby. “Officers manning the polling stations have been instructed not to interfere with peaceful…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine PM resigns amid unrest, parliament revokes anti-protest laws Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov resigned on Tuesday while deputies loyal to President Viktor Yanukovich, acting to calm violent street protests, back-tracked and overturned anti-protest laws they rammed through parliament 12 days ago.The first…
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Mission to replace detached tsunami warning buoy departs from Phuket
PHUKET: A 10-day mission departed from Phuket late yesterday to replace a tsunami warning buoy in the Indian Ocean. The original buoy was severed from its anchorage months ago (story here). National Disaster Warning Center (NDWC) Chief Somsak Khaosuwan chaired the mission launch, which is to be carried out by experts on board the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center research…
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B12mn canal extension project to begin in March
PHUKET: A 12-million-baht project to dredge the Koh Kaew Canal and deepen the existing approach channel from Phang Nga Bay will begin in March.The six-month project was approved at a public hearing led by Governor Maitri Inthusut at the Royal Phuket Marina last Thursday.“Our officers found that the canal is not deep enough for big boats or yachts and could…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Police rescue hundreds of Rohingya in raid on suspected traffickers’ camp
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai police rescue hundreds of Rohingya in raid on suspected traffickers’ camp Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Thai police have rescued hundreds of Rohingya Muslims from a remote camp in a raid prompted by a Reuters investigation into human trafficking, police officials said on Monday.Police detained 531 men,…
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Phuket Gazette World News: US, UK spy agencies schemed data raids from Angry Birds, smartphone apps
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S., British spy agencies exploit ‘leaky’ apps for intel: report Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.S. and British intelligence agencies have plotted ways to gather data from Angry Birds and other smartphone apps that leak users’ personal information onto global networks, the New York Times reported on Monday.It…
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Phuket Gazette World News: World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2bn in aid
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Bank warns Myanmar on corruption as it unveils $2 billion in aid Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The World Bank on Monday warned Myanmar against corruption as it unveiled a $2 billion aid package designed to provide better health care and improve supplies of electricity.Despite the country’s…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Protesters mourn Suthin, murder witness steps up; Election date looms; Rice corruption plagues Yingluck
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt may let EC decide election date The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The caretaker government is likely to pass the hot potato of rescheduling the February 2 elections over to the Election Commission (EC) when caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra meets election commissioners today.A source in the…
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US embassy consular outreach clinic in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Le Meridien Hotel in Karon on January 29. Consular staff will be available from 8am to midday to provide the following services: • Passport renewal applications (US$110 or 3,410 baht for adult passports, US$105 or 3,255 baht for a minor’s passport). • Notarial Services…
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Three arrested for role in fatal Phuket bag-snatch, one still at large
PHUKET: Phuket Police have arrested three of the four suspects involved in the fatal stabbing of bag-snatch victim Dithchart Insom, who was killed on December 16 (story here). One suspect is still at large. Police were put on the killers’ trail after interrogating one of their friends who witnessed the killing, named by officers only as “Jib”. On January 22,…
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Phuket Town to enjoy Chinese acrobats, but no fireworks for Year of the Horse
PHUKET: A troupe of 50 acrobats from China will headline the entertainment in Phuket Town to usher in Chinese New Year this Friday. The Henan Acrobatic Troupe will perform nine chapters of their “Chinese fairy tale” repertoire, explained Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) President Paiboon Upatising. “They will also perform other splendid shows, but there will not be a fireworks…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Chalerm gives protesters 72 hours to quit
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chalerm tells protesters to leave govt offices in 72 hours or face arrest The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, the director of the Centre for Maintaining Peace and Order (CMPO), today issued an ultimatum to protesters to halt their siege of government offices…
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