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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Make Belgium and the Netherlands your next destination with the right visa in hand. Explore the iconic tulip fields, cruise through Amsterdam’s scenic canals, or stroll through the historic streets of Bruges. Don’t forget to enjoy some authentic Belgian chocolate...
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US Embassy consular outreach in Phuket
PHUKET: The Consular Section of the American Embassy in Bangkok will hold an Outreach Visit at Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort in Karon tomorrow, June 20. Consular staff will be available from 8am to midday to provide services on: • Passport renewal applications (US$110 or 3,300 baht for adult passports, US$105 or 3,150 baht for a child’s passport). • Notarial…
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Thailand News: Songkhla ranked fourth for human trafficking; Car tax scam; Jet-setting monks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Songkhla ranked fourth highest in human trafficking The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Royal Thai Police revealed that Songkhla ranked fourth in terms of areas most at risk for human trafficking crimes at 642, after Bangkok’s 1,108, Chumphon’s 997 and Prachuap Khiri Khan’s 848 locations.This report prompted…
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Rough surf serves up bluebottles at Phuket beach
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has confirmed that the stingers found washed ashore at Surin Beach this week are bluebottles, also known as Portuguese man o’ war.The stingers found so far are juveniles, reported Phuket Gazette reader Daren Jenner.“The presence of these bluebottles on the west coast started about five days ago with the onset of strong southwest…
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Aussie envoy thrusts weapons in Phuket into the spotlight
PHUKET: The Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Bangkok, Jonathan Kenna, yesterday placed the carrying of weapons on the streets of Phuket into the spotlight at a meeting with the Phuket Governor. “I told the governor that the safety of the tourist is the most important issue,” Mr Kenna, speaking in Thai, told the press following a…
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Video Report: Man in pink raincoat robs Phuket Family Mart
PHUKET: A man wielding a knife and wearing a pink raincoat jumped over the counter of a convenience store in Thalang early this morning and made off with the contents of a cash register.Police responding to a call at 3:45am found the two female employees unharmed at the Family Mart at the entrance to Baan Lipon School in Srisoonthorn.One of…
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Phuket still on the map at TTM+ 2013
PHUKET: The island is still a top tourist hub in Southeast Asia, with a wide variety of hotels, resorts and hospitality-related businesses representing Phuket at 13th annual Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2013 (TTM+ 2013), held at the IMPACT Exhibition Hall in Bangkok recently. More than 800 delegates arrived from around the region to network with the 420 hospitality related organizations…
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PIMEX 2014 organizer hyped about January date
PHUKET: The next Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) is open for business, having been taking bookings since early last month, May 2013. PIMEX 2014 is confirmed to take place between January 9 and 12 at Royal Phuket Marina and remains a permanent fixture in the island’s event calendar as it approaches its 11th year. “After careful analysis of the last…
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Phuket storm topples marquee at festival, man crushed by speakers
PHUKET: A Phuket Town motorbike taxi driver died after strong wind toppled a marquee covering the stage at Saphan Hin last night, sending speakers crashing down on him. Police and rescue workers arrived at the 10th Annual Southern Prison Products Fair (story here) at about 7:45pm to find Muhammad Poksakul, a 62-year-old motorbike driver at the nearby Phun Pol Night…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Putin, Obama face off over Syria at G8; Italy flooded with refugees; Brazil unrest swells; NK negotiator to talk in China
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community European, U.S. leaders launch free-trade talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The United States and the European Union launched negotiations for the world’s most ambitious free-trade deal on Monday, promising thousands of new jobs and accelerated growth on both sides of the Atlantic.Trade between Europe and the United…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Insurgent suspect testifies; 5 hurt as Army helicopter ditches; Bangkok dengue; Supercar duo called to surrender
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suspect names leaders behind bombings, murders and van heist in South: official The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A suspected insurgent now in custody, Sakariya Tohtayong, has implicated alleged masterminds of the movement behind unrest in the deep South, a senior official said yesterday.Sakariya gave useful testimony that…
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Police continue search for missing Rohingya children
PHUKET: Police continue to search for the missing 22 Rohingya children who have run away from the Phuket Shelter for Children and Families on Koh Sireh. The children have been missing since early April, says Phuket City Police Chief Sermphan Sirikong. “I have notified the investigation team, and from time to time we patrol Muslim areas to look for them…
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Elephant smugglers caught at work in Phuket
PHUKET: Thalang police seized three elephants being illegally transported into Phuket this morning. Nine people were arrested in the early-morning raid and the two trucks transporting the elephants were seized. Suspects told police that a “Piang Sala-ngam” had sent his son-in-law Sa-ngad Padphai down with the trucks from an elephant camp in the northeastern province of Surin. The trucks departed…
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Phuket python chokes the chicken
PHUKET: A three-meter python was found choking a Phuket resident’s chicken late last night. “I was asleep in the house when I was awoken by the sound of a chicken,” said the owner of the fowl, Pairoj Denmalai. “I came outside to find a large python strangling one of my chickens, and immediately contacted Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers,” he said.…
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V-Phuket braves wild weather to stage anti-government protest
PHUKET: Hundreds of V-Phuket protesters, wearing their iconic Guy Fawkes masks, braved the strong wind and lashing rain in Phuket Town yesterday afternoon to continue their protest against the Pheu Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The rally in Phuket was held in concert with other “V for Thailand” protests in at least 22 provinces, as well as in…
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Cape Panwa Hotel to host Phuket Raceweek
PHUKET: THE 2013 Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek – presented by Mount Gay Rum – celebrates its 10th Anniversary with a strong fleet of boats and international crews taking part from July 17-21 at the five-star Cape Panwa Hotel. The luxurious Cape Panwa Hotel is an ideal regatta venue with its established international reputation, private beach and pier, and spectacular…
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Young American dies in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A 27-year-old American man died instantly on Saturday when he was hit by a Chang beer delivery truck on Wiset Road, in Rawai. “According to witness reports, American Nicolas Javier Solis exited Soi Kok Ma… onto Wiset Road, heading to Rawai Beach,” said Lt Wuthiwat Leangboonjinda of the Chalong Police. “As he exited Soi Kok Ma, he was struck…
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Phuket tourist safety gets 300 CCTV camera boost in Patong
PHUKET: The push by Phuket authorities to increase tourist safety across the island has received a much welcome boost with Patong CCTV control rooms now up and running. The new system, launched as part of the Patong Safety Zone initiative (story here), displays footage from 32 high-quality police CCTV cameras and 300 private CCTV systems at three central locations, Patong…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Sloan ranger named for Gitmo closure; Iran parties for cleric president-elect; Czech out in graft scandal; Kremlin says kiss my Superbowl ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community State Department to name lawyer Cliff Sloan to close Guantanamo Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The State Department on Monday is expected to announce the appointment of Washington lawyer Cliff Sloan to oversee the closure of the controversial Guantanamo detention camp, sources familiar with the decision said on…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: White masks rally; Democrats win Don Mueang; Monks and supercars; Crime re-enactments under the gun
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community White mask rallies spread The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Anti-government white-mask protesters gathered in many provinces yesterday despite opposition from red-shirt supporters of the government.In Bangkok, about 1,000 people – many wearing white Guy Fawkes masks – gathered at the Central World shopping complex yesterday afternoon.It was…
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Dorked in the dark: YouTube video sees Chiang Mai biker arrested
PHUKET: A CHIANG MAI man was arrested by police after a video surfaced on YouTube of him driving around the northern city on a 1.2-million-baht superbike. That might not sound criminal in itself. The issue of concern to the cops was that Chetaphon Chantarabunthawi, 25, was completely naked at the time. Mr Chetaphon told reporters that he had made the…
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Phuket payout for Chinese tourist drowning victim
PHUKET: Representatives from Phuket’s tourism industry stepped forward this week to provide one million baht in compensation to the family of a Chinese tourist who drowned while swimming off Racha Yai Island last year. Yuan Dingrong, 56, drowned after getting into difficulties while snorkeling off La Bay at Rachai Yai Island, about 25 kilometers south of Phuket, on November 20…
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Police probe suicide at Phuket workers camp
PHUKET: Police are investigating the death of a woman who reportedly committed suicide while her husband was out drinking and her 14-year-old son was next door playing with neighbors yesterday afternoon.Phuket City Police officers were called to the scene, a construction workers camp on Soi Kingkaew Uthit in Rassada, at about 5pm.They arrived to find Saeng-ngern Trairoj 54, dead from…
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Phuket Immigration Tourist Service Point opens in Patong
PHUKET: Phuket Immigration’s Tourist Service Point in Patong re-opened on Thursday to a flurry of activity, with about 20 expats and tourists taking advantage of the immigration services provided. “Most of them came to do their 90-day resident reporting and for extensions to permits-to-stay,” said Patong Immigration’s Capt Angkarn Yasanop, who now heads the office with a staff of five.…
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Newborn dumped, found dead in Phuket trash pile
PHUKET: A newborn baby boy with a rubber band twisted tightly around its neck was found dead in a pile of rubbish in southern Phuket beach area of Rawai yesterday afternoon.The baby, estimated to have been dead for over 24 hours, was spotted by Rawai Municipality trash truck driver Sutham Kansuwan on his regular route along Soi Suksan 1, said…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Rohani leads Iran polls; Tabasco graft; Rupert and Wendi get divorced; UK calls for Snowden no fly zone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran votes for new president, Khamenei slams U.S. doubts Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani took a commanding lead ahead of conservative rivals in Iran’s presidential election, according to initial results, but his tally appeared narrowly insufficient to avoid a second round run-off…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: EU to provide 200,000 euros to assist Rohingya refugees in Thailand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community EU to provide 200,000 euros to assist Rohingya refugees in Thailand The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The European Union is committing 200,000 euros to provide humanitarian assistance to Rohingya refugees being detained in Thailand, the EU Delegation to Thailand announced on Friday. The help will…
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French Open: Powerful pair
PHUKET: When Serena Williams powered down three aces in the final game to beat Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 at Stade Roland Garros, she cemented her already legendary status in the game. The oldest winner – at 31 – of a Grand Slam in the modern era, the victory was, coincidentally, her 31st straight success. She has now won every Major…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: National lottery impossible, says expert; Supercar hit list targets rich; Akeyuth murder suspect surrenders; Mobs face off in Chiang Mai
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai national lottery ‘statiscally impossible’: expert The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: After conducting a three-decade-long study, Chulalongkorn University statistician Theeraporn Verathaworn has discovered that the numbers drawn fortnightly in the state lottery are highly improbable. Hence, he said, the system should become fully automated and…
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Lions Tour: Upping the tempo
PHUKET: After two relatively straightforward workouts – against the Barbarians in Hong Kong and the Western Force in Perth, the Lions encountered their first real test at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the setting for the first Test on June 22. Against the Barbarians, the heat had been enervating, with Welsh prop Adam Jones declaring it “like nothing I have…
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Phuket on the cards to host Thailand’s F1
PHUKET: The Ministry of Tourism and Sports has admitted Phuket could host Thailand’s lucrative Formula One race in 2015 due to strong opposition from Bangkok residents. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) put the skids on the F1 race being held in the capital by banning the use of the historic Rattanakosin Island. The move came after residents and business owners complained…
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