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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Go Eco Phuket brings students, community together for Kata cleanup
PHUKET: Go Eco Phuket, known on the island for staging the world’s biggest reef cleanup earlier this year, are gathering again with fellow community members, Kata Municipality workers, Hilton staff and an estimated 500 students from local schools for a Kata-Karon Beach and reef cleanup. Participants in the event will target both the beaches and the associated reefs that are…
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Police tentatively identify body found in Phuket rubber plantation
PHUKET: Phuket Police tentatively identified the man murdered execution style and left in a rubber plantation on Patong Hill as Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, 47. A missing person complaint was filed with the Koh Samui Tourist police stating that Mr Reisz had gone missing from a rented room in Phuket on November 23, Phuket Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat said. “The…
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Phuket Opinion: Motoring Misery
PHUKET: As work on the 600-million-baht underpass at the Central Festival Phuket intersection gets underway, mounting concern among commuters now turns to seeking ways to cope with what promises to be a whole new level of motoring misery.Government agencies, including traffic police, have freely admitted that work on the project, scheduled for completion in mid-October 2014, is expected to cause…
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No Immigration fees, fines E-payment option in Phuket
PHUKET: The system of E-payments for Immigration fees and fines will not be launched in Phuket for the time being, Phuket Immigration chief Napat Nusen told the Phuket Gazette yesterday.The new system, which allows visitors to pay with a credit or debit card at the Immigration office, will only be launched in the Bangkok area, a Bangkok Immigration Bureau officer…
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Unidentified foreigner found tied up, dead in Patong Hill rubber plantation
PHUKET: The body of an unidentified foreigner was found in a rubber plantation on Patong Hill tied up and wrapped in a black plastic bag yesterday afternoon. “The body was that of a Caucasian man. A plastic bag covered the top half of his body and he was found face down on the ground. His face had obviously been struck…
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Phuket Sports: Futsal – Capitals outshine Pearl
PHUKET: The island’s professional five-a-side soccer club fell 3-5 to Bangkok FC, in an intense match-up in Phuket Town last Saturday. Played in front of nearly 1,000 spectators at Phuket’s 4,000-seat Indoor sports complex in Saphan Hin, the game was both sides’ third match of the 30-fixture, GMM Sport Thailand Futsal Premier League (TFPL) 2012-2013 season. Marking the Andaman Pearl’s…
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World News: Death sentence for man who held slaves; Strange twist
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Death sentence for Chinese man who held slaves in underground Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A Chinese man was sentenced to death yesterday for abducting six young women and holding them as sex slaves in a secret underground dungeon for up to two years. Three…
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Phuket Sports: Tiger would like more major success
PHUKET: Twelve months after ending a two-year victory drought at the tournament he hosts, Tiger Woods is excited about his prospects for 2013 as he prepares to defend his World Challenge title this week. His one-shot triumph over fellow American Zach Johnson at last year’s World Challenge set the tone for a successful 2012 PGA tour campaign highlighted by three…
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Second suspect arrested in Danish abduction, robbery
PHUKET: Phuket Police arrested on Wednesday a second suspect associated with the abduction and robbery of a Danish woman in the designated Patong Safety Zone on November 26.Diana Muller, 37, reported that on November 26 at about 9:30pm she had been abducted, threatened at knife point and robbed by two men, Patong police said.She told police that the pair had…
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Phuket busts nab heroin, cocaine suspects
PHUKET: In a busy two days for drug law enforcement officers in Phuket, a woman was arrested in possession of cocaine at Phuket International Airport on Wednesday and five men with heroin were arrested at an address south of Phuket Town just 24 hours earlier. Lt Col Suthirat Tojumpa, chief of the Phuket branch of the Narcotics Control Board, told…
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Phuket truck powerless on Patong Hill
PHUKET: A 10-wheeled truck carrying more than 50 concrete power poles pitched while trying to climb Patong Hill this morning, causing a traffic tailback stretching about 1.5 kilometers.The mishap occurred at about 11:30am, while the truck tried to climb the steep incline on the western side of the hill in its bid to deliver the power poles to a construction…
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The Curious Case of the Invisible Crown Prince Paras Shah
PHUKET: Journalists trying to catch a glimpse of Nepal’s infamous former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, who was due to report to Phuket Provincial Court yesterday, were in for a long and ultimately fruitless wait.By midday, reporters who had been waiting since 9:30am, had still not clapped eyes on the former crown prince entering the court to report…
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Phuket Sports: Honors even with Anaz champs
PHUKET: This past weekend the Phuket Cricket Group (PCG) had the opportunity to play two games against another touring team from Singapore, the ANZA Champs. The PCG were victorious on Saturday in the 30-over game, while the more social T20 game on Sunday was won by the ANZA team. After winning the toss, the visitors strode out to face the…
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Phuket van crash driver to face vehicular manslaughter charge
PHUKET: Police today confirmed they will charge the driver of the Phuket tour van involved in the accident yesterday morning that claimed the life of a 9-year-old schoolgirl with reckless driving causing death. Sub Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop told the Phuket Gazette this morning that Chalong Police officers were preparing their case against Tuan Russala Samae. However, Lt Kraisorn added,”We have…
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Thailand News: World Justice report ranks Kingdom 80th in serving civil justice
World Justice report ranks Thailand 80th in serving civil justice Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The World Justice Project (WJP) ranked Thailand 80th among 97 countries in delivering effective civil justice in its international Rule of Law Index 2012 report issued on Wednesday. However, despite the low ranking in dispensing civil justice, the report also recognized Thailand’s strong performance in the control…
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Thailand News: Biggest drug bust in Thailand’s recent history
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Pattaya Police arrest Iranians in three hundred million baht drug raid Pattaya Radio 103FM / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The biggest drug raid in Thailand’s recent history took place in Pattaya City yesterday, in a three hundred million baht sting operation. This is without doubt the largest drug sting…
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Osotspa clan member alleges B293mn land swindle off Phuket
PHUKET: Saowanee Osathanugrah, a member of the famous Thai “Osotspa” family, has filed a complaint against her husband for allegedly trying to swindle her out of land on Koh Yao Yai, an island off Phuket, valued at 293 million baht. Osotspa Co Ltd, known worldwide for its M-150 and Shark energy drinks, last year reported a total operating income of…
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Phuket Marine Office splashes out B5.8mn on moorings
PHUKET: The Marine Department is spending 5.8 million baht on installing 300 moorings in coastal havens off Phuket in order to protect coral reefs.“We dropped 200 moorings in Chalong Bay on Saturday. They are available to use now, for free,” Phuket Marine Office chief Phuripat Theerakulpisut told the Phuket Gazette today.“We will drop another 100 moorings in Ao Por this…
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Phuket Sports: PIST hooks all as Sunshine Village cleans up
PHUKET: THE eighth Phuket International Sportfishing Tournament, held last weekend, produced a thrilling end to three great days, particularly for two teams. The Danish ‘Clean Team’ trailed by a minnow, which was required to catch ‘Team Captain Hook’ as the boats headed out under gray skies for the final day of competition. Ian Tubby, captain of Thai Two On, implemented…
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Phuket’s postponed “Andaman World Experience’ raises concerns
PHUKET: Uncertainty clouds the announcement of a firm date for the Andaman World Experience, postponed from November 9, as officials scramble to identify dates when Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra will be available to attend. Chanchai Doungjit, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office, told the Phuket Gazette that the festival would go ahead and that the schedule would…
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Girl, 9, confirmed dead in Phuket tour van crash
PHUKET: Phuket police have named the schoolgirl who died in the tour van crash this morning as Kulnaree Lattuada Lancini, 9 years old, a student at British International School (BIS). Chalong Police Sub Lt Kraisorn Boonprasop told the Phuket Gazette that Kulnaree died at the scene of head trauma. Kulnaree was in the rear seat of a pickup truck that…
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Two new Phuket police stations ready in December
PHUKET: Two new “temporary” Phuket police stations will open by December, ahead of permanent police stations that are slated for completion late next year. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat on Tuesday inspected the construction site of the new Wichit police station in Soi Na Sua on Chao Fa West Road. “On December 6, the two new police stations at…
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Phuket girl, 12, feared dead in tour van crash
PHUKET: A 12-year-old girl is feared dead after a Phuket tour van reportedly collided with a pickup truck near Chalong Temple on Chao Fa West Road in Chalong this morning. According to initial reports, two others were injured in the accident, which occurred at about 7 am. It is not known at this point whether the driver fled the scene…
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Phuket axe murderer out on bail until next year
PHUKET: The 15-year-old boy who confessed to killing his sleeping stepfather with an axe in August will appear before the Phuket Family and Juvenile Court on the morning of February 4 next year. A court official told the Phuket Gazette today that after his confession to Chalong Police on August 22, the youth was remanded in the custody of the…
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Thailand Futsal Premier League: Phuket United eye Colombian star
PHUKET: The island’s pro futsal club, Phuket United, are looking to sign Andres Reyes, one of the up and coming stars showcased at the FIFA Futsal World Cup 2012, held in Thailand earlier this month. Phuket United Assistant Coach Patt Srivijit told the Phuket Gazette that the team is planning to get in contact with Andres Reyes about a possible…
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World Golf: Long putter expected to be outlawed for 2016
PHUKET: With a widely expected ban on anchoring long putters likely to be announced by the game’s ruling bodies today, players have expressed sharply contrasting views ahead of this week’s World Challenge. While 14-times major winner Tiger Woods and putting supremo Steve Stricker are both in favour of such putters being outlawed, 2011 PGA Championship winner Keegan Bradley says he…
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Loy Krathong Festival honors “Phuket yesteryear’
PHUKET: As communities across Phuket celebrate the Loy Krathong Festival tonight, residents in Srisoonthorn, Thalang, will be drawing to a close their three-day version of the festival. Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut officiated at the opening of the Srisoonthorn festival, which this year also honors the area’s tin-mining history, at the Bang Maruan Lagoon – located next to the site of…
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World News: People’s Daily makes readers cry with Onion story
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China’s Communist Party newspaper falls for spoof news story Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The newspaper of China’s Communist Party yesterday reported on a spoof news article from The Onion which named North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as the sexiest man alive. It comes…
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World News: Tests to check if Yasser Arafat was murdered using Polonium
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Arafat’s grave opened for poison tests Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Forensic experts took samples from Yasser Arafat’s buried corpse in the West Bank today, trying to determine if he was murdered by Israeli agents using the hard-to-trace radioactive poison, Polonium.Palestinians witnessed the funeral of their hero and…
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Live Wire: Drilling down on landlines
PHUKET: Last week I talked about the general state of internet connections in Phuket. This week I want to drill down on landlines. I wish I could just point you to a web page that has all of the information about the various internet lines available on Phuket, and let you make a choice. Life isn’t that simple. You would…
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