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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Alcohol act to be strictly enforced in Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket businesses selling and promoting alcohol and tobacco will face stricter enforcement of the Alcohol Control Act in the New Year.Operators of bars, pubs, restaurants and advertising agencies face fines up to 500,000 baht and prison sentences of up to two years for infringements of the laws.The imminent crackdown follows a Ministry of Public Health report claiming that despite…
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Centenary celebrations at Satree Phuket School
PHUKET CITY: Phuketians are invited to join festivities currently underway at Satree Phuket School to celebrate the school’s 100-year anniversary.Many of the school’s 3,334 students have been taking part in celebratory activities since yesterday, including comedy shows, student marching band performances, live animation shows, IQ tests, science and singing contests.Visitors can also have souvenir pictures taken with students wearing traditional…
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Phuket Red Cross Fair starts Dec 30
PHUKET CITY: Phuket is getting ready for what promises to be the biggest Red Cross Fair ever, with the grand prize in the annual raffle no less than a house valued at 2.7 million baht. Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngob yesterday morning chaired a press conference to announce the fair, which will take place at the main staging area at Saphan…
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Embezzlement cases up in Phuket
PHUKET: While drug-related crimes remain Phuket’s most common criminal offense, white collar-crime seems to be on the rise with 33 reported combined cases of fraud and embezzlement recorded in November, according to crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police. Of the 33 cases, just two arrests were made. There were 334 arrests for drug-related offenses for the period, a…
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‘Aqua Zone’ opens in Patong
PATONG, PHUKET: Tourists seeking some good, clean fun in Patong can once again enjoy ‘Aqua Zone’, a collection of 13 inflated playthings floating in a roped off section of Patong Bay. The 150-square-meter aquatic playground is located off the Patong Bay Garden Resort, which is owned by Patong Mayor Pian Keesin. The structures are anchored to the seabed about 20…
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Domestic dispute turns explosive
TRAT: A quarry worker and his wife were blown up after the man apparently detonated a quantity of C-4 plastic explosive during a domestic dispute on November 19. The blast, heard for up to 50km away, had villagers fearfing an invasion by the Cambodian army. Police and rescue workers found the house of Phen Buntham, 42, and his wife Saijai…
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Alleged Aussie perfume thieves out on bail in Phuket
MAI KHAO, PHUKET: A young Australian couple accused of stealing three bottles of perfume from a duty-free shop at Phuket Airport have been released on bail, but must remain in Phuket while their court cases are heard. Police identified the couple as 21-year-old Nathan Robert Hinds and his 16-year-old fiancée, whose name cannot be reported because she is a minor.…
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Gala dinner to celebrate HM The King’s Birthday
PHUKET CITY: The hottest ticket in Phuket next Friday night will be a lavish gala dinner being held to celebrate His Majesty the King’s 82nd birthday and commemorate his several visits to the island during the period from 1959 to 1973. The event will take place starting at 6pm at the Phuket Governor’s Mansion, a historic Phuket site and well-known…
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Swedish man found dead on Koh Racha Yai
RAWAI, PHUKET: Chalong Police are investigating the case of a Swedish man found dead in his hotel room at a resort on Racha Yai Island in the early hours of Sunday morning. Lt Chana Suthimas of the Chalong Police identified the deceased as 36-year-old Jan Mirael Viltfors. Mr Viltfors’ body was discovered by police in his bed at the Ban…
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Mr India restaurant burns in Rawai
RAWAI, PHUKET: A fire at the ‘Mr India’ restaurant on Wiset Road last night caused an estimated 300,000 baht in damages and brought an abrupt end to the meals customers were enjoying. Chalong Police Inspector Chana Suthimas said it took a total of four fire trucks about 30 minutes to contain the blaze, which broke out in the two-unit shophouse…
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Phuket Gazette Readers’ Poll: Night bashes at Karon Beach
PHUKET CITY: With the ‘Roy Fest Phuket Music Festival’ in September and the subsequent revelry at the ‘Chang Regatta Moonlight Night’ full moon party on December 2, Karon Beach appears to be the new hot spot for large crowds of night-time revelers. But is this really a positive development for Phuket? Have your say by clicking the icon on the…
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OPINION: Phuket not yet ready for another tsunami
PHUKET CITY: With the fifth anniversary of the tsunami approaching, now is a good time to reflect on how well prepared Phuket might be should a similar disaster befall us in the future. The sad truth is that we are still a long way from where we should be, even though public awareness of the threat of tsunamis is understandably…
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Barge damages coral at Racha Island
RAWAI, PHUKET: A barge carrying building material has seriously damaged a patch of coral reef off Koh Racha, according to the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR). Locals reported that the barge, allegedly belonging to Namchai Ocean Transport Company, was being towed ashore at Siam Bay on Koh Racha Yai. Prachuap Mokharat, a fisheries officer with the DMCR’s regional…
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Motorbike in Phuket pond: one dead, one injured
CHALONG, PHUKET: A woman drowned after crashing her salaeng (motorbike with illegal side-car) into a tin mining pond on Wednesday evening. The victim’s grand-daughter was also seriously injured in the crash. Another passenger, whose age and gender were not reported, escaped unharmed. Witnesses reported that at around 7:30pm, 56-year-old Wanna Rachathanarak lost control of the vehicle, which slid into a…
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Phuket City Park fisherman netted by cops
PHUKET CITY: A 26-year-old man faces up to three years in prison after being caught fishing in a public park. Khomsan Kaewkhampha, an unemployed Phuket City resident, set out for an early morning fishing expedition last Wednesday. When he arrived at the main pond in Rama IX Park (Suan Luang) in Phuket City, Mr Khomsan baited his hook with a…
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Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Day 5: Royal Thai Navy takes honors
PHUKET: The crew of Royal Thai Navy 1 celebrated the 82nd birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej in style today, winning two races out of two on the final day to become the only Thai crew to taste victory at the 2009 King’s Cup.At the start of the day, which the entire fleet marked with a sail past in…
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Road closures for Laguna Phuket Triathlon
LAGUNA PHUKET: To ensure the safety of competitors at the 16th Laguna Phuket Triathlon tomorrow morning, traffic restrictions will be in place on certain roads around the resort and in other parts of Thalang District. The restrictions will begin at 7am on the roads immediately surrounding Laguna and continue until approximately 12:15pm. A traffic detour will be enforced for all…
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Seedlings planted in Phuket Town for HM The King
PHUKET CITY: Environmental activists and staff of the Royal Phuket City hotel came together yesterday morning to plant 82 seedlings in an empty lot downtown as part of celebrations for HM The King’s 82nd birthday today. Seedlings of the tree, Barringtonia asiatica, a mangrove species, were chosen for the project. Royal Phuket City hotel General Manager Jintana Trakulhoon chaired the…
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Nation unites in wishing beloved King a happy birthday
PHUKET: His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej turns 82 today. On the occasion of his birthday, His Majesty will grant an audience to his well-wishers at the Amarin Winitchai Throne Hall inside the Grand Palace this morning. His Majesty will reach the Amarin Winit-chai Throne Hall at around 10.30am. Accompanying him will be HM the Queen Sirikit, HRH Crown Prince Maha…
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Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Day 4: IRC2 Class goes to the wire
PHUKET: While the outcome in many of the classes remains a foregone conclusion, the IRC 2 class is wide open going into the final day of the 2009 King’s Cup after Thai Navy 1, skippered by CPO. 3 Wiwat Poonpat, won the only race of day four to cut Team Bentley’s lead in the series to a single point.Team Bentley, skippered by…
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Phuket residents protest destruction of ancient trees
MAI KHAO, PHUKET: Protesters who have blockaded roads to the West Sands resort project began allowing partial access to staff today, but continue to deny access to any large vehicles involved in construction at the site. The blockade began on Tuesday, when local villagers discovered eight pine trees had been felled with chain saws along the border of the project…
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Phuket shellfish release to mark HM THe King’s Birthday
WICHIT, PHUKET: More than 100 people took part in a marine animal release ceremony yesterday as part of celebrations for HM The King’s birthday tomorrow. The participants, mostly school children, gathered at Mudong Pier in Wichit for the event, which began at 10am. Released into the sea from plastic bags filled with seawater were 2.5 million tiny postlarval prawns and…
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Another man shot dead in Chalong
CHALONG, PHUKET: A drinking session outside a mini-mart ended in the drive-by shooting murder of a Nakhon Sri Thammarat man early this morning. At 6:30am Chalong Police were notified of a shooting near the entrance to Chao Fah West Soi 55. Arriving at the scene, across from the Infinity Car Finance Shop, investigating officers including Chalong Police Superintendent Chinnarat Rittakananond…
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Phuket Number One in HIV/Aids nationwide: MoPH
PHUKET CITY: Phuket has the highest incidence of HIV/Aids infection of Thailand’s 76 provinces, but the figures are skewed by the island’s huge migrant population, the island’s top government doctor says. Dr Pongsawat Rattanasaeng, director of the Phuket Public Health office, said Phuket’s emergence as a top tourist destination is largely responsible for the province’s dubious distinction as Thailand’s ‘per…
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Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Day 3: Pryde pulls a fast one
PHUKET: Neil Pryde could be on course for another victory in the Racing Division after exchanging first places with Full Metal Jacket on day three of the 2009 King’s Cup Regatta.Hi-Fi finished the first race of the day in pole position while Full Metal Jacket with America’s Cup helmsman Chris Dickson in charge had to settle for second.Roles were reversed in the…
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New Phuket lifeguards next year
PHUKET CITY: The Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (PPAO) wants to improve the provincial lifeguard service and have a new contractor running it by the start of the new year.Lifeguard services ended on November 18 with the expiration of a five-month contract awarded to service provider LP Laikhum Company in mid-June.The PPAO is still waiting for the firm to return all…
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Phuket holds activities for the disabled
PHUKET CITY: Phuket yesterday held early activities to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, held annually on December 3.More than 200 disabled people attended the event, which began at 10am at Phuket Rajabhat University Convention Hall.Activities included an exhibition aimed at informing disabled people of their rights, a legal consulting service, job application assistance and even free haircuts.There was…
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Cafe del Mar’s José Padilla in Phuket sunset performance
PHUKET: Café del Mar’s José Padilla will be playing his signature sunset chill out tunes this Thursday at Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa for a night of ‘Silk Rhythms’. Party goers at the luxury resort’s vast pool-scape can sip sparkling wine in the water with a broad view of the sun setting over the sea while the ‘Godfather of Sunsets’…
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Phuket PTT attendant returns foreigner’s purse
WICHIT, PHUKET: Cynics take note: Like chivalry, honesty is not yet totally dead in Phuket. A gas station attendant returned a purse containing 10,000 baht (approx US$300) in cash and other valuables to a British woman who had accidentally dropped it while filling up on Sunday morning. English expat Kathleen (‘Katie’) Gooch-Firmin pulled into the PTT filling station on Chao…
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Phuket King’s Cup Day Two: Hi Fi takes lead
PHUKET: Neil Pryde’s Hi Fi is leading the way in the Premier Class after the second day of racing at the 2009 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta.Chris Meads on Full Metal Jacket came second and Pryde’s perennial Asian Yachting Grand Prix rival Ray Roberts settled for third on Evolution Racing.Matt Allen’s Ichi Ban looks set to run away with the IRC1…
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