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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The 5 most common travel emergencies in Thailand and how to be prepared
Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...
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Live Wire: A decade of hard internet knocks
PHUKET: This is the final installment in a four-part series of articles about getting connected to the internet in Phuket. High season is upon us and many people are looking for good internet connections – for a month, a year, or the rest of their lives. In these four articles I’ve tried to distill more than a decade’s worth of…
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Phuket Business: B300 minimum wage hike to worsen labor shortage
PHUKET: With the nationwide minimum wage set to rise to 300 baht, a labor shortage tops the list of business risks for property and construction firms in 2013. To consumers, this could mean longer construction periods while they wait to take possession of their new homes.Thailand’s construction, infrastructure and manufacturing sectors are now facing a shortfall of about 200,000 workers.…
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Phuket Business – Think outside the box: Pornthip
PHUKET: The island’s most recognized local food-gift company Pornthip (Phuket) Co Ltd, was recently honored with the “Good Design Award” in Japan for the packaging of its Sino-Portuguese snack gift items. This was the second year in a row the company received the accolade for its unique and innovative packaging design. Also recognized with the “G Mark”, the annual award…
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North Korean native found dead in Phuket
PHUKET: A Russian national, but born in North Korea, was found dead in his rented Phuket apartment room this evening.The unclothed body of the man, 46, was found face-up on the floor by the apartment owner after she unlocked the room to access the air-conditioning unit.“I knocked on his door and asked for him to open up for me and…
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World News: Doctor rescued by Navy Seals in Afghanistan
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. forces rescue kidnapped American doctor in Afghanistan Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Seven Taliban insurgents were killed yesterday in a successful operation by US special forces to rescue an American doctor who had been abducted in eastern Afghanistan, officials said. A US service member…
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Phuket ready to rendezvous
PHUKET: Organizers are making final preparations for the 12th annual Asia Superyacht Rendezvous and the anticipation is palpable. Most yachts have arrived, bringing with them captains, crew and VIP guests who are getting revved up for sun, sailing and socializing. The buzz is growing with Christmas around the corner and Phuket’s beaches bustling with families, honeymooners, holiday makers and friendly…
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Kvalka surrenders, denies active role in Phuket Reisz murder
PHUKET: Following his surrender to Samui Police on Saturday, Gyorgy Lajos Kvalka denied any role in the killing of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz. Tourist Police Commander Roy Ingpairoj arrived from Bangkok to present Mr Kvalka, 48, to the press at the Phuket Tourist Police headquarters in Phuket Town on Saturday night. Named on the arrest warrant as “Kvalka Lajos Gyoergy”,…
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Phuket Business: We want to help – IRS
PHUKET: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) insists that it wants to assist US citizens residing overseas, including dual citizens, in catching up with tax filing obligations and provide assistance for people with foreign retirement plan issues.“We want to help US citizens abroad get current with their tax obligations and resolve pension issues,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.Shulman said that as…
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Football Roundup: Van Persie breaches City fortress, Everton win
PHUKET: Manchester United laid down a significant marker in the Premier League title race as Robin Van Persie’s late free kick sealed a dramatic 3-2 Premier League derby win at Manchester City’s home fortress yesterday. City fought back after Wayne Rooney’s first-half double but goals from Yaya Toure and Pablo Zabaleta proved in vain as Van Persie marked his first…
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Phuket expat sailor Stafford Steer dies from cancer
PHUKET: As sailors raced in the final day of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta that concluded yesterday, one of Phuket’s longest-staying expats and best-known personalities in the local yachting community, Stafford Steer from Australia, died after a brief battle with cancer. He was 71 years old. Stafford arrived in Phuket from Cairns, in Far North Queensland, Australia, in 1992 on…
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Pong powers home to win Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Blue skies and consistent winds marked the final day of the 2012 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in fitting style yesterday as teams and their boats assembled at the start line in a final bid to resolve their class contests. Some results had effectively completed on Friday, but most of the classes were anticipated to deliver a thrilling final day…
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World Football Roundup: Torres ignites Chelsea; bad record for Queens Park
PHUKET: Fernando Torres continued to silence his critics by scoring twice for the second game running as third-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at Sunderland last night to record their first Premier League victory under Rafael Benitez.The much-maligned Spain forward struck two goals in the first half, his second from the penalty spot, and almost completed a hat-trick shortly after halftime when…
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Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced
PHUKET: In this week’s Weird World News Roundup we take a wacky trip from New Mexico over the border into Arizona – and back to New Mexico. Usually home to UFO and alien sightings, this time the focus is on more earthly stupidity as we dive into the worlds of a frozen gun, a police note to the mob, and…
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Phuket Opinion: Wake up and shed the shirts
PHUKET: Island residents and expats alike breathed a collective sigh of relief late last month when a dreaded showdown between the Pitak Siam (“Defenders of Siam”), the latest incarnation of the anti-Thaksin People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and government security forces fizzled out on the streets of Bangkok due to lack of popular support and other factors. As events unfolded…
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Samui Police arrest second Hungarian suspect for Phuket Reisz murder
PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat has confirmed that police on Koh Samui have arrested Hungarian national Gyorgy Lajos Kvalka, wanted in connection with the murder of fellow Hungarian Peter Reisz in Phuket. “We are in contact with police there, but at this stage we are not sure when the suspect will be brought to Phuket,” Maj Gen Choti…
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Phuket police chief calls on officers to use smart phones, rolling checkpoints
PHUKET: The 48 Royal Thai Police officers installed in their new positions in Phuket yesterday were ordered to boost their public image and their effectiveness by staging “rolling checkpoints” and using smart phones. The news was handed down by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat at a ceremony at Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town. Maj Gen Choti ordered the…
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Phuket King’s Cup competitors look to bag every point in light winds
PHUKET: With winds easing off slightly during yesterday’s racing, competitors looked to maximize every possible advantage as valuable points were up for grabs.Frank Pong and his Jelik team have been the quickest of the IRC Zero class boats in the last few races, but Kevin Whitcraft’s Won Ma Rang shared class honours yesterday. Won Ma Rang took victory in race…
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Phuket Sports: Futsal – Pearl set to shock “Lightning Shrimp’
PHUKET: The island’s professional futsal team, the “Andaman Pearl”, face a tough away fixture against the Surat Thani Futsal Club, nicknamed the ‘Lighting Shrimp”, tonight. Patt Srivijit, assistant coach of Phuket United, told the Gazette that the game against their southern rivals will be a big match, but he hopes the team use this game to push up the league.…
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International Sports: Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Sports news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UEFA’s Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: UEFA’s decision to host the 2020 European Championship across the continent rather than in one or two host nations has been greeted with enthusiasm as countries battle the crippling financial crisis. European football’s…
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World News: Duke and Duchess deeply saddened by death of “duped” nurse
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nurse who took prank call about royal Kate found dead Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A nurse who answered a prank call at the London hospital that was treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate for morning sickness has been found dead, the hospital said yesterday, in…
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Phuket murder suspect Moshe David re-enacts Reisz killing
PHUKET: Moshe David, the prime suspect in the murder investigation of his former business associate Peter Reisz, this morning re-enacted the sequence of events that led to the death of Mr Reisz. As with all public appearances since his arrest, Mr David was silent in front of reporters. However, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanith announced to the…
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Thailand’s development as a sailing nation with the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Kevin Whitcraft, owner and crew member of Wan Marang and president of the King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee talks about the development of Thailand as a sailing nation, and one truly classic regatta. Who is the skipper of your boat this year?Our skipper, Jaray Tipsuk, is a sailor who has won two silver medals in the SEA Games, and…
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Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Power restored on Thai resort islands after three-day blackout Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Power was finally restored to the Thai resort islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan early this morning after a three-day blackout prompted thousands of peak-season tourists to leave. The electricity…
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World News: Talks to break US “fiscal cliff” resumed
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both sides hint at renewed talks on U.S. “fiscal cliff” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With little to show after a month of posturing, the White House and Republicans in Congress dropped hints yesterday that they had resumed low-level private talks on breaking the stalemate over…
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Phuket Sports: New Brazilian unveiled by Phuket United
PHUKET: Phuket United unveiled their new Brazilian signing, Jardel de Andrade Apolonio, a defensive player from the Liga Futsal League of Brazil, this week. The 29-year old player will wear the number 29 shirt. In an interview with the Phuket Gazette Jardel describes his thoughts on the eve of his first match with the Andaman Pearl: “I like Phuket and…
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Phuket tsunami film ‘The Impossible’ drawing crowds, but no criticism
PHUKET: Although initially thought by some as insensitive, The Impossible, which recounts a Spanish family’s survival and struggle to be reunited in the wake of the devastating 2004 tsunami, is drawing crowds, but no criticism, in Phuket. The blockbuster film starring Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor was shot at a variety of locations in Phuket, with many extras being chosen…
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World News: Huge cuts at Citigroup as financial crisis still bites
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Citigroup to cut more than 11,000 jobs worldwide Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Global financial conglomerate Citigroup yesterday announced it plans to cut more than 11,000 jobs, or about four percent of its global workforce, in a bold move by the company’s new chief executive…
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Police add Thai suspect to Phuket murder manhunt
PHUKET: Moshe David, prime suspect for the murder of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz in Phuket, was presented to the press today after his arrest in Bangkok yesterday. During a press conference in Surat Thani, home to the popular tourist island Koh Samui, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanit announced that officers were now searching for a Thai man…
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Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge Phuket Gazette / Nation Breaking News PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with conspiracy to murder related to the death of a civilian during the red-shirt protests in…
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World News: 77-year-old rescued in aftermath of Typhoon Bopha; 332 dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Philippines finds elderly survivor after typhoon kills 332 Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Rescue workers found a 77-year-old man alive today who had survived on coconuts for two days after a powerful typhoon ravaged the south of the Philippines killing 332 people, with hundreds missing. A…
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