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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Phuket Gazette World News: South Sudan government and rebels sign ceasefire
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South Sudan government and rebels sign ceasefire deal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: South Sudan’s government and rebel troops loyal to sacked Vice President Riek Machar signed a deal on Thursday to end fighting that has lasted more than a month and killed thousands.The leader of President Salva…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: PDRC ponders blocking advance polls; Public gatherings banned; Red shirts marshall; Kwanchai recovering
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community PDRC plans to block advance voting The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The anti-government protesters will try to disrupt advance voting for the February 2 election in Bangkok on Sunday, an informed source said yesterday.Leaders of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) will decide today whether they should…
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Phuket’s DJ Doris to be honored with Celebration of Life, special radio show
PHUKET: Paul Norris, the renowned ‘DJ Doris’ from Phuket Island Radio 91.5FM, will be honored in Phuket with a “Celebration of Paul’s Life” memorial on February 5. The event will be held at the Irish Times pub at Jungceylon in Patong (map here), starting at 7:30pm. Mr Norris died in an early-morning motorcycle accident on January 12, a tragedy which…
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Phuket shivers: lowest temperatures in five years
PHUKET: Yesterday was the coldest day Phuket has seen in five years, the Southern Meteorological Center confirmed. “The minimum temperature in Phuket was 19 degrees Celsius. Our normal lows at this time of the year are 21 to 24 degrees,” said Metta Armeen, the director of weather surveillance at the center. A high pressure system from China has pushed cold…
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Phuket mission to replace tsunami warning buoy
PHUKET: A six-day expedition to replace a tsunami warning buoy that has been displaced from its anchorage in the Indian Ocean will depart Phuket on Monday.“The buoy has been severed [from its base unit] for months,” said Surachai Srisarakham, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), in a statement issued yesterday.“It took time to obtain the…
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Australia Day message from the Australian Ambassador to Thailand
PHUKET: Australia Day is the ideal day to reflect on Australia’s domestic and international achievements. It is also an opportunity for Australians and Thais alike to celebrate and reflect on the relationship between our two countries. Over several generations, Australians and Thais have built a solid bilateral relationship, establishing excellent models of cooperation and finding new ways to learn and…
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Phuket Poll: Patong is island’s trump
PHUKET: The famed nightlife of Patong draws more tourists to Phuket than any other single attraction, according to the results of the Phuket Gazette‘s latest online poll. With the passing of yet another record-breaking year that saw millions of travellers arriving on our shores, the Gazette asked readers, “What single feature draws the most tourists from around the world to…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Coldest weather in decades hits Thailand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Coldest weather in decades hits Thailand The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The temperature in the Thai capital Bangkok fell to its lowest in decades today, during an unusually cold winter that has already claimed 63 lives in northern parts of the country, the government said.“Bangkok hit its…
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Phuket FC get paired with Pattaya United in 2014 season opener
PHUKET: The island’s pro football (soccer) team, Phuket FC has been paired with Pattaya United in the first match of the Yamaha League One (YL1) 2014 season, which will kick off on February 22 and 23.It has not yet been confirmed whether Phuket’s home match with Pattaya will be on Saturday or Sunday. Pattaya United, were the only squad to…
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Don Battles – Merchant of the Orient: no regrets
PHUKET: “This Thailand, you farang!” Perhaps it’s that simple for many fainthearted foreigners struggling to justify distorting dreams for self-made financial freedom in the “Land of No Surprises”; but for one Phuket expat, entrepreneurial legend, the plot turned out to be a tad thicker. Anyone doing business in Phuket – or even just entertaining the prospect – should definitely read…
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Phuket drug busts net two suspects, one armed
PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested a man at a Phuket Town hotel found in possession of drugs with a street value of more than 200,000 baht. Acting on a tip-off, officers raided a room at the Sunanta mansion on Sakdidet Road (map here). “We were informed by undercover police that this man was selling drugs to teenagers in the area,” said…
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Thailand Futsal: Jackson re-signs with Phuket; season opener postponed
PHUKET: Due to the ongoing social-political unrest in the Kingdom’s capital, the Futsal Thailand Premier League (FTPL) 2014 season’s planned January 25 kickoff has been postponed.It is now hoped that the season-opener will commence in February, an administrator of the island’s pro five-a-side footy club Phuket United said.“The [season] start was postponed due to the political [unrest]. The season should…
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Swedish tourist dies in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: A Swedish man on his way to the beach yesterday morning was killed when his motorbike went off the road in Thalang.A friend who was following on another bike told police that the pair were headed to Nai Yang Beach.“He overtook my motorbike on the curve and lost control,” the friend said. “The bike fell over and he bounced…
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Phuket Gazette world News: Italy issues 90 mafia arrest warrants, seizes pizza restaurants
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Italy issues 90 mafia arrest warrants, seizes pizza restaurants Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Italian police on Wednesday issued arrest warrants for 90 suspected members of a Naples mafia clan and seized assets worth millions of euros, including dozens of well-known pizza restaurants in Rome.One suspect, a 42-year-old…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Ukraine braces for street battles after Yanukovich talks fail
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine braces for street battles after Yanukovich talks fail Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Ukrainian opposition leaders emerged from crisis talks with President Viktor Yanukovich on Wednesday saying he had failed to give concrete answers to their demands, and told their supporters on the streets to prepare for…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Central African Republic children forced to commit atrocities – U.N.
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Central African Republic children forced to commit atrocities – U.N. Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: As many as 6,000 children in Central African Republic have been recruited by armed groups and forced to commit atrocities along religious lines in a conflict that is at high risk of spiralling…
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Justice slow to arrive in Phuket child rape cases
PHUKET: Not one of the four men charged with child rape in Phuket over the past 16 months has been acquitted or found guilty of the heinous crime. One suspect, a Laotian accused of repeatedly raping his handicapped stepdaughter, fled the country and has not been captured. Of the three men arrested, two are still waiting for their trials to…
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Officials admit bus ban on Patong Hill not best solution
PHUKET: Officials will go ahead with a trial one-month ban on all buses and trucks travelling over the hills from Thung Thong into Patong starting next month, despite consensus among all major stakeholders that the ban is likely to result in more accidents on the west coast roads (story here). “Stopping them from using the hill road to enter Patong…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Obama, Putin unite for Olympics security
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama, Putin discuss Olympics security in call Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed in a phone call on Tuesday how best to have a “safe and secure” Winter Olympics in Sochi, the White House said.Amid rising concerns about threats from…
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Vandals attack campaign posters for Phuket’s sole election candidate
PHUKET: Seven promotional posters in Koh Kaew and Sapam supporting Jirayus Songyos, the Phuket Pheu Thai candidate for Voting District 2, were found damaged by suspected vandals yesterday morning. “We cannot confirm who damaged the signs,” Mr Jirayus’ secretary, Vithiwat Kulsiriitthikorn, told the Phuket Gazette. “The signs we put up in front of Wat Sapam temple and the entrance of…
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Emotions run high at Phuket protest hero’s funeral
PHUKET: Hundreds of people turned out today to join the Choochan family in mourning the death of Phuket taxi driver Prakong Choochan. Mr Prakong,46, died on Saturday from injuries sustained when an explosive device was thrown at protesters during a street march in Bangkok on Friday (story here). His body was escorted home from Bangkok last night, and arrived in…
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Legal Central Festival Phuket taxi co-op looks to boost service quality
PHUKET: The taxi co-operative serving Central Festival Phuket announced its legality today and is looking to roll out several projects to boost its service quality. Last year, Central Festival Phuket wrangled the right to manage the group once it was legally formed. However, Central Festival Phuket Operations Division Manager Preecha Ritthiratree handed the responsibility back to Taxi Andaman Phuket Limited…
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Phuket park chief still sour over missing morning glory
PHUKET: Officers vowed to continue their investigation into a luxury resort that allegedly cleared swaths of sea morning glory from the beach as part of a beautification project, although the hotel has already replaced the plants. “We will not withdraw the complaint against the Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa, as doing so would signify that we are ignoring our…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand Breaking News: State of emergency announced
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community State of emergency announced in Bangkok Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The caretaker Cabinet announced a 60-day state of emergency for Bangkok and some parts of nearby provinces.The state of emergency was announced on TV by caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. It will take effect on…
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Video Report: Body of Phuket protest victim receives hero’s welcome
PHUKET: The body of Prakong Choochan, who died from injuries sustained when an explosive device was thrown at anti-government protesters in Bangkok, was welcomed home to Phuket by over 100 people lining Thepkrasattri Road this morning. The crowd waved Thai flags and blew whistles as his caravan passed by. “The body left Bangkok at about 9pm last night, escorted by…
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Phuket Court denies bail for Garry Halpin, former Tourist Police Volunteer
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Court denied bail for long-term expat and former Tourist Police Volunteer Garry Halpin, who is being held at Phuket Provincial Prison. “Mr Halpin was denied bail by the court and had also been denied bail by the Chalong Police on December 16,” said Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Jumroon Plaidoung. Police are waiting for drug test results…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Two men said by Islamist militants to have carried out suicide attacks in south Russia appeared in a video donning explosive belts and warning Vladimir Putin to expect a “present” at the Sochi Winter Olympics from fighters…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Central African Republic lawmakers chose their capital’s mayor to become interim president on Monday and lead the country out of months of sectarian killings, as the European Union agreed to send in 500…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Army-police rift widens; Yingluck ponders martial law; Rice farmers join PDRC; Rhino horn for Hanoi bagged
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army-police rift widens The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Rifts between the police and the military appeared to be widening yesterday, as the Army commander in chief asked the national police chief to speed up investigation into recent attacks and a senior naval commander threatened to sue the…
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Phuket’s “invisible moorings’ sink B10mn luxury cruiser
PHUKET: The luxury charter cruise boat Lady Andaman sank after striking a concrete mooring in the approach channel to Chalong Pier late yesterday afternoon.The mooring punched a hole in the hull of the Phuket motor yacht as it was returning from Coral Island with 32 tourists on board, explained Australian boat owner “Sando”, who declined to be named in full.“It…
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