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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Phuket Gazette: Don Mueang; Yala bombing; Sex ‘trade’ not ‘traffic’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Passengers give top marks to Don Mueang restart PHUKET (The Nation): According to a survey conducted by The Nation, only budget airline Nok Air was in operation at the airport. Passengers said they found the service convenient. Security guards said there had been no disruption since…
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Phuket Gazette: Pensioner kills 2 doctors, then himself
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Elderly man kills 2 doctors before killing self in southwestern Germany PHUKET (News Wires): An elderly man opened fire at a hospital in southwestern Germany on Monday afternoon, killing two doctors and wounding a nurse, local media reported. The gunman later killed himself. The attack took…
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Phuket tin smelter Thaisarco under probe
PHUKET: Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosutthirak today led a team of local officials to investigate claims that the Thaisarco tin smelter at Cape Panwa was releasing contaminants into the air, causing lung cancer and other health issues among local residents. Prapan Kanprasang, head of the Damrongtham Center, which acts as the provincial ombudsman’s office, said his office received a letter…
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Phuket alcohol ban for Makha Bucha Day
PHUKET: Phuket Police have confirmed that a 24-hour ban on selling alcohol will come into effect from midnight tonight in respect of tomorrow being the Buddhist holiday Makha Bucha Day. Lt Col Pisit Chuenpetch, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket City Police Station, confirmed to the Phuket Gazette this afternoon that the ban will be enforced across Phuket. “This a nationwide ban…
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Phuket Gazette: McCain calls for airstrikes; Suicide bombing; Kofi Annan visits Syria
– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. Senator McCain calls for U.S.-led airstrikes in Syria PHUKET (News Wires): U.S. Senator John McCain yesterday called for a U.S.-led military operation to establish and defend safe havens in Syria, using airstrikes to protect civilians and rebels from forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. There have been…
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Paiboon alone in start of Phuket election campaigning
PHUKET: On the first morning of enrollment for candidates for the position of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) president, former president Paiboon Upatising was the first and so far only candidate to show his hand today. All other potential candidates have until Friday to register. Mr Paiboon, running for his second term as Phuket’s highest-ranking elected government official, arrived at…
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Phuket rail link gathers steam
PHUKET: The move to build a rail link from Surat Thani to a point just north of the bridges onto Phuket gained momentum on Friday when it was confirmed as one of the projects to be presented to the Cabinet during the minister’s meeting in Phuket on March 19-20. The news was announced at a meeting chaired by Phuket Governor…
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Pla-Wan attack: “Eight is enough’, say Phuket police
PHUKET: Phuket City Police are not pursuing their investigation into whether any more suspects are to be arrested in connection with the attack on Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara. Mr Vorasit is the general manager of the Sri Panwa resort. He was brutally attacked by staff at the Rachada pub in Phuket Town in December. Phuket City Police Superintendent Chote Chidchai today…
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Phuket Gazette: Don Mueang Airport ready to resume operations
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Don Mueang Airport ready to resume operations PHUKET (The Nation): Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra today presided over a re-opening ceremony. The government allocated 392 million baht to the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AoT), with the AoT spending 1.2 billion of its own budget to…
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Phuket business: Indonesia – Asia’s new rising star
PHUKET: For many of us expats in Phuket, our Asian paradise has sheltered many of us from the financial woes being experienced back home by family and friends. Asian markets, though not totally immune to European debt levels and the impending push for White House power, have been fairly resilient over the last few years and have provided steady economic…
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Phuket Live Wire: Shutter island
PHUKET: I’m going to change topic a bit. At the Computer Clinics we used to talk about all sorts of technology, including TVs, tablet computers, cameras and phones – much to the chagrin of several Windows die-hards. The simple fact is that all of the technology is converging, with more-powerful and more-mobile computer chips making all sorts of magic possible.…
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Phuket business: Luxury auto dealer projects 25% growth
PHUKET: Highlighting the European high-end car market’s upward trend in Phuket, a major luxury car dealer has set its sales target to be 25% higher than last year. Sureeporn Udompolvanich, CEO of TSL Auto Corporation Co Ltd, revealed that the company was able to sell 800 cars in 2011 with a 15% increase in total revenue when compared to 2010.…
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Phuket business: Multi-billion baht deal signed
PHUKET: Ruea Yacht, the luxury yacht building division of Phuket-Bangkok based Yacht Solutions, has joined forces with Northrop and Johnson – one of the world’s largest independent yacht brokerage firms. Highlighting the increased demand, supply and overall growth in Thailand’s superyacht industry, the new partnership will generate billions for the local economy. Director of Northrop and Johnson said: “Over the…
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Phuket sports: Morning Star shines bright
PHUKET: The first game of Phuket Soccer Six League’s (PSSL) round three at Headstart International’s Football Island saw The Lounge face Morning Star. Following two quick goals by Karl Ward, it seemed Morning Star would make light work of their opposition, but The Lounge emerged from their slumber and fought back to bring themselves to within a goal at 4-3.…
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FC Phuket crush Tuk Tuks
PHUKET: A new-look FC Phuket played their first pre-season, friendly match recently with Tuk Tuk FC, an outfit of the Le Meridian resort, resulting in a 7-0 goal fest for the home boys. The free-admission match played at Surakul Stadium was a confidence-booster for the Southern Sea Kirin if anything. It was a chance for fans to see their new…
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Phuket Gazette: ‘Star Wars’ conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie dies
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Star Wars’ conceptual artist Ralph McQuarrie dies PHUKET (News Wires): Ralph McQuarrie, the Academy Award-winning conceptual designer and illustrator who was instrumental in defining the look of ‘Star Wars’ icons, died at his home in California on Saturday. He was 82. A statement posted on McQuarrie’s…
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Phuket Gazette: Unknown Mozart piece discovered in Austria
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Previously unknown Mozart piece discovered in Austria PHUKET (News Wires): A previously unknown musical piece by Mozart was discovered inside an eighteenth century music book in Austria, local media reported on Saturday. The Mozart Foundation in Salzburg reported that the piano piece was discovered in a…
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Phuket Gazette: Obama to honor Israel’s Peres with Medal of Freedom
– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama to honor Israel’s Peres with Medal of Freedom PHUKET (News Wires): Israeli President Shimon Peres will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom when he visits the White House in Washington, D.C. later this spring, U.S. President Barack Obama told an audience yesterday. Obama made the announcement at the…
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Phuket woman dies in motorbike accident
PHUKET: A motorbike passenger was killed last night when her driver swerved to avoid a fallen branch, putting the vehicle in the path of a fast-moving pick-up truck in the north of Phuket. Tah Chat Chai Police were notified of the accident on Thepkrasattri Road southbound at 9:25pm. Arriving a the scene, just 50 meters from the Thepkrasattri Bridge off-ramp,…
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Four dead, five injured as pickup truck slams into Phuket tourist van
PHUKET: Four tourists are dead and five injured after a pickup truck loaded with fish and a van filled with tourists heading for Phuket collided in Tai Muang, Phang Nga, yesterday evening.Tai Muang Police received a report of the accident, on the Mae Yey Bridge on Petchkasem Road between Tai Muang and Takuapa Moo 1 in Thung Maphrao, Tai Muang…
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Phuket Opinion: There’s an Elephant in the Room
PHUKET: The United Nations estimates that the human population of the Earth quietly surpassed the seven billion mark last October. As a result, humankind is putting ever more pressure on the environment that sustains us. In the process, we are also driving many other animal species into extinction, some before they are even recognized by science. Few places on the…
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Phuket kids top national ukelele contest
PHUKET: A trio of Phuket primary students have been crowned champions at a national ukulele playing contest. Watchawong Petchsuwan on ukulele, Anwa Rathaporn on base ukulele and Treerat Nachalaem on vocals – all students at Baan Nabon School in Wichit, south of Phuket Town – were bestowed the top accolade at the Junior Thailand Ukulele Champion Contest 2012 on February…
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Swede falls victim to Russian snatch thieves in Phuket
PHUKET; A Swedish tourist in Phuket had his gold chain and other valuables snatched by a pair of women he claims were Russian, according to a local media report. Swedish tourist Peter Wentzel, 40, was walking along the Karon beach road at 11:30pm last night when two foreign women pulled up in front of him on a motorbike and asked…
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Phuket sports: Chevrolet throttle TSLC’s title hopes
PHUKET: The Adult Futsal League (AFL) saw Portrait FC edge a little closer to the Premiership title while Thanyapura lost an opportunity to put more daylight between their pursuers. In second spot before the game, Thanachart Bank faced Portrait FC in a crunch tie that would influence any possibility of catching the league leaders. In a similar start to their…
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Phuket sports: The boys from Brazil
PHUKET: For the second week in succession Phuket’s Fair Play League (FPL) used two different locations for their weekend fixtures with Youth Football Home hosting U14 matches and Quality Schools International (QSI) the venue for U11 matches. Four of the six teams competing in the U14 Division have a real chance of taking the title which makes winning remaining matches…
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World sports: What’s in a week?
PHUKET: Liverpool FC collected their first piece of silverware since their FA Cup victory six years ago last Sunday.Kenny Dalglish, who became only the seventh manager to win all three major domestic titles, heaped praise on Cardiff City, with the Premiership side needing penalties to take the first trophy of the year.Despite the manner of the win, (3-2 from a…
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Phuket’s Lomas impress at Bangkok 10s
PHUKET: The Phuket Lomas recently participated in the two-day Bangkok Youth Rugby 10s tournament at Pattana International School with great performances from both the U12 and U16 teams in their respective divisions. On the first day of competition the Lomas U16s faced cup favourites CIMB Cobra from Malaysia. It was a tense battle in which the Lomas matched their opposition…
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Phuket Gazette: Teacher shot by student; U.S. soldiers killed by Afghan soldier; Blogger Andrew Breitbart dies
– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. teacher shot dead by student in Iraq PHUKET (News Wires): An American teacher who worked at a Christian school in northern Iraq was shot dead by a student on Thursday, according to media reports. The student then killed himself. Jeremiah Small, of Cosmopolis, Grays Harbor County, located in…
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Phuket goes to the polls March 25, April 7
PHUKET: An island-wide ban on the sale of alcohol will go into effect from 6pm on April 6 through to midnight of April 7 so island residents can vote in the upcoming Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) presidential election. Residents living in Chalong and Rassada municipal areas will be subject to a similar ban for elections to select councilors for…
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Phuket PSU chosen for Thai Cabinet meeting
PHUKET: The Phuket campus of the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) yesterday was selected as the venue for the upcoming Thai Cabinet meeting on March 19-20. Sombat Wattanapanich, Cabinet Secretary and Adviser to Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, was accompanied on a tour of the potential venues on the island. Leading the entourage was Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha, Phuket Vice Governor…
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