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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Sponsored Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Phuket official attacked over alleged affair with man’s niece
PHUKET: An enraged man attacked Chalong Municipality’s Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Wuthiphong Promtawee in Phuket yesterday over an alleged affair Mr Wuthiphong was having with the man’s niece. Arriving at the scene shortly after 10am, Phuket Police were met by a 20-strong-crowd of office employees who had caught the chief’s assailant. Chalong Police officer Lt Col Ekkasit Pinkaew questioned the…
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Brand Phuket: AMCHAM/PR Network to focus on culture, heritage at tomorrow’s event
PHUKET: The Phuket chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with the Phuket PR Network, continues its ‘Brand Phuket’ series of public meetings tomorrow at the Blue Elephant. The event is designed to heighten awareness of Phuket’s diverse history, particularly its Paranakan roots and early ‘shophouse’ communities. With well over 100 bookings for the meeting, the organizers told…
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World News: Biplane crash kills 6 in Australia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 6 confirmed dead after vintage plane wreck found in Australia Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: All six people on board a vintage 1930s biplane which went missing over a huge stretch of bushland this week were confirmed dead yesterday after the wreckage was found in a forest…
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Phuket officials tackle water shortages, floods
PHUKET: Despite heavy rain forecast for the coming few days, the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) this week held its second public meeting to discuss possible solutions to stave off chronic water shortages. At the Phuket Merlin Hotel on Tuesday, PPAO Vice President Soratham Jinda chaired the event, under the slogan “One Tambon, One Water Resource”, with PPAO Chief Administrative…
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Life of Liberty, after the crash
PHUKET: On an island where almost any crash that isn’t fatal is missed in the news, countless personal struggles and victories of the victims of Phuket road accidents are overlooked. Liberty Jefferson had been an English-language teacher at Kanjonkietsuksa School for three and half years, before her was leg shattered in a motorbike crash. Heading north on Thepkrasattri Road from…
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Phuket Sports: Ironman Lieto “Fully Booked!” on double Laguna Phuket Mission
PHUKET: The reputed fastest cyclist in triathlon, Chris Lieto, is heading back to Phuket to compete in the Laguna Phuket Triathlon (LPT) and Ironman 70.3 this year. The American hopes to make up for the disappointment of his Phuket debut last year, when he crashed out on a rain-soaked 70.3 bike course. Renowned as the fastest American Ironman and one…
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World News: WWII plane crash victims finally found
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. identifies remains of 7 Marines missing from WWII plane crash Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The remains of seven U.S. service members who went missing when their military aircraft crashed on an island in Vanuatu during World War II have been identified and returned to their…
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World News: Hong Kong ferry disaster – 38 now confirmed dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 38 dead, 101 injured after boats collide near Hong Kong Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: A tug boat and a ferry collided off the coast of Lamma Island in Hong Kong on Monday evening, killing 38 people and injuring more than 100 others, local authorities said yesterday.…
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CCTV short circuit sparks Phuket antiques shop fire
PHUKET: An in-store CCTV system monitor is believed to have started a fire at an antiques and souvenir shop in the Phuket tourist area of Kata, destroying goods valued at more than half a million baht. Chalong Police duty officer Chianchai Duangsuwan was informed that a fire had broken out at the Sawasdee shop on Taina Road at 10:45am on…
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Phuket Sports: Pacquiao expected to sign contract to fight Thailand’s Buakaw
PHUKET: Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 KOs) is expected to sign a contract tomorrow agreeing to take on Thailand’s most famous fighter, Sombat Banchamek, commonly known as Buakaw, in a special fight planned for December 21. Narong Hengtrakul, one of Thailand’s most renowned international matchmakers for both conventional boxing and Muay Thai fights, will meet Pacquiao in Manila tomorrow to…
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Case closed on Belanger sisters’ deaths
PHUKET: Krabi Police have closed the case on the deaths of Canadian sisters Audrey and Noemi Belanger with no more investigations to be conducted. Audrey, 20, and Noemi, 25, from Quebec, were found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June 15. Both had suffered a violent physical reaction to suspected poisoning. Autopsies conducted by forensic police…
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Phuket Business: HMRC approves Gibraltar
PHUKET: Another surprising development in a year which has seen the UK pension transfer market repeatedly shaken up and placed on its head, Gibraltar announced last recently that it received confirmation from (Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs) HMRC that it may resume accepting QROPS (Qualifying Recognized Overseas Pension Schemes) transfers. The move is extremely surprising because HMRC is not known…
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“I thought we had the power to go far….”
“I thought we had the power to go far in this tournament but, with a young side, you get good performances and you get some average ones.” PHUKET: England captain Stuart Broad is understandably disappointed after his team were knocked out of the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka. The defending champions lost to Sri Lanka by 19-runs to miss out…
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Mayor Pian blasts Phuket land probes as “hypocritical’
PHUKET: Following the inaugural meeting of the newly elected Patong Town Council yesterday, Patong Mayor Pian Keesin blasted the effectiveness of the current spate of ongoing and ever-increasing Phuket land investigations.“I want to see real law enforcement on this issue. Land in Phuket needs to be preserved and its development planned with a long-term view,” Mayor Pian, who was born…
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Live Wire: Is Phuket smart enough for the iPhone 5?
PHUKET: Last week I talked about the iPhone 5, how it compares to the Samsung Galaxy S III, and the problems that people from Toledo to Tashkent are going to have deciding which one to buy. Here in Phuket, we have one HUGE question that doesn’t concern much of the rest of the world – and it’ll be a key…
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Phuket Business: Signs of the island’s time
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Government recently published its economic summary report for the first six months of the year (F6M12). The in-depth report highlights year-on-year (y-o-y) figures and trends in trade, consumerism, and in the island’s tourism, property, investment and agricultural sectors. Here, the Phuket Gazette outlines some of these.TourismThe total number of tourist arrivals in F6M12 remained steady with…
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Korean tourist snorkeling death ruled as “drowning’
PHUKET: Hospital staff in Phuket have confirmed that “drowning” has been listed as the official cause of death of the 29-year-old Korean tourist found dead while snorkeling at Phi Phi Island on Saturday. An International Department officer at Vachira Phuket Hospital confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that the Jungkook Kim, initially named by Tourist Police as “Jury Kuk Kim“, was…
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New Phuket governor announced
PHUKET: The Thai Cabinet has officially named former Phayao Governor Maitree Intusut as the new Governor of Phuket.The Cabinet agreed to the proposed list of governor appointments and transfers for 19 provinces at a meeting today, two days after former Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha retired on Sunday.Sommai Prijasilpa, Phuket’ senior vice-governor, has been filling in as Acting Governor in the…
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Breaking News: Tiger Disco charged over inferno deaths
PHUKET: The operators of Tiger Discotheque have been charged with negligence causing death and physical and mental injury to others, as well as with trading after hours, Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan has confirmed to the Phuket Gazette. The blaze that broke out at the nightclub, just before 4am on August 17, while hundreds of patrons were still inside the…
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New Phuket police chief targets tourist safety, drugs
PHUKET: Phuket’s new Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, has vowed to make drugs and tourist safety his top priorities. Gen Chote was installed as Phuket’s top cop yesterday after arriving from Narathiwat in Thailand’s troubled Deep South, where he served as provincial police commander. His first order to the police chiefs of every police station on the island…
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Phuket FC captain “safe’ after car flips, slams into ditch
PHUKET: Phuket FC alternating captain and starting striker Watcharapong “Pae” Jun-ngam was involved in a serious accident following last night’s football match against Sri Racha. Lucky to be alive, he is reported to be safe with no serious injuries. “Pae has got some minor scratches, but he is safe. He was examined by hospital doctors and he has not suffered…
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Phuket Sports: Sunshine heralds the first 2012 dinghy series event
PHUKET: The Phuket Dinghy Series, launched in 2010 by the organizers of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta, returned over the weekend ending yesterday. The series comprises three weekend events at different Phuket locations in the lead-up to the King’s Cup. Santi Kanchanbandhu, a member of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee, explains what the Phuket Dinghy Series is: “We…
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Phuket Sports: Racing to find adventure in Krabi
PHUKET: The popular sport of Adventure Racing is expected to bring 120 teams from around the world to compete in “The Sheraton Krabi Trophy” on November 3. The race is part of the the Amazing Thailand Adventure Race Series and will start and finish on the magnificent Klong Muang Beach where the Sheraton Krabi Beach Resort is located. Race Director…
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Weird World News: Where dreams come true
PHUKET: Daydreaming has been the noble art of little boys and girls around the world from time immemorial, and in honor of those dreams the Phuket Gazette‘s Weird World News roundup lands headlines of a helicopter delivery of about half a million baht for candy to the creation of the biggest Ferris wheel in the world, and for those who…
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Crab army marches on Phuket streets
PHUKET: Phuket Town residents received a shock yesterday as they witnessed an invading army of crabs marching through the streets in the direction of the nearby mangrove forest and sea. Fortunately, the rare phenomenon was not an alien invasion by the crab-men from outer space. The totally natural event, which occurred at about 7pm, involved thousands of mangrove crabs making…
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Phuket Poll uncovers “isle of infidelity’
PHUKET: More than half the respondents in a Phuket Gazette survey have admitted they have cheated on their partners, with more than 40% saying they are willing to do it again. The Gazette launched the month-long survey after the results of the annual international sex survey by condom-manufacturing firm Durex revealed Thai couples to be among the most promiscuous on…
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Phuket Sports: Marlins reel in the Islanders
PHUKET: The Islanders fell back into into the five-team relegation zone following a 1-0 loss last night to 3rd place Sri Racha Suzuki FC. Despite a wide margin in league points, the competition, played in front of 3,100 fans, was evenly matched with the Sri Racha “Blue Marlins” enjoying only slightly more possession than Phuket. Indeed, it was looking as…
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“I have no doubt in my mind….”
“I have no doubt in my mind that he was with me today all day,” Sergio Garcia said of Ballesteros.PHUKET: Europe claimed the Ryder Cup after staging an amazing fightback on the last day.The American Team went into the tournament yesterday leading 10-6 and only requiring four points from a possible 12 on offer to win the cup. Europe won…
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Phuket’s “Dive against Debris’ reef cleanup sets new world record
PHUKET: The 502 participants who took part in today’s Go Eco Phuket, PADI and Project AWARE-sponsored “Dive Against Debris” can now proudly lay claim to staging the biggest reef cleanup of any kind in the world. The record turnout surpassed pre-event expectations of 14 PADI dive boats and more than 450 participants to sweep the reefs off Koh Racha Noi,…
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New Phuket Police chief honors the Heroines
PHUKET: Phuket’s incoming Phuket Provincial Police Commander, Maj Gen Chote Chawanwiwat, stopped off at the Heroines Monument last night to pay homage to the island’s guardian spirits.Gen Chote arrives in Phuket after serving as the Commander of the Narathiwat Provincial Police in Thailand’s troubled Deep South.He will be installed as Phuket’s top-ranking police officer tomorrow, replacing Maj Gen Chonasit Wattanavrangkul,…
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