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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THAI tightens security on flights
BANGKOK: Thai Airways International (THAI) has announced more stringent security measures following the uncovering of a supposedly Al Qaeda-led terrorist plot to detonate liquid-based explosives on flights between Britain and the US. Somchainuk Engtrakul, Chairman of the THAI Board, has announced that the airline has tightened security measures for flights to the US and UK, and also to the Philippines,…
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Marriage certificate shortage “being fixed’
BANGKOK: Mali Satiworaman, Chief of the Registration Printed Forms Department of the Bureau of Registration Administration, has admitted that the shortage of marriage certificate papers countrywide has been a problem for more than a month now. In Phuket, marriages may currently be registered only in Kathu District. Both Muang and Thalang Districts have run out of marriage certificates and the…
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No bias in bookings for Surakul Stadium: Anchalee
PHUKET: The President of the Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor), Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr, has denied allegations that Surakul Stadium is for the use of Thais only, though the OrBorJor has rejected a request to hold the Phuket International Soccer 7s tournament, planned for November, in the stadium. “I know the organizers of the Phuket International Soccer 7s competition would like to hold…
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New dive rules reviewed for loopholes
PHUKET CITY: Aekachai Soonthorn, secretary to Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat, today told the Gazette that the new regulations for the diving industry are being reviewed by the Chief of the Phuket Provincial Public Prosecution Office, Bantoon Thongtan, who is checking for loopholes that dive operators might use to avoid compliance.“The regulations have been in the Public…
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Photographer confesses to murder
PATONG: A freelance photographer has confessed to murdering a cashier from a Patong shopping mall, after a police search uncovered the .38 revolver used in the slaying stashed away inside a pillow in his rented room on Soi Larb Ped, Patong.Pol Lt Col Chaowalit Niamwadee of Kathu Police Station said the body of the victim, identified as 22-year-old Kanjanee “Rung”…
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Engaging in commerce
After expelling a female student for “intolerable” behavior, school teachers at a commercial school in Nakhon Sri Thammarat are living in fear for their lives following the girl’s return accompanied by a gang of young thugs, who smashed windows and threatened to kill every teacher in the school. The contretemps started when one of the teachers overheard a girl student…
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PGTV News Monday 14th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the recent “Por Tor” Chinese festival, an update on the Phya Thai Hospital and a look at a new ferry service. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features a documentary about hydroponics and gardening in Phuket. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired…
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Want to wed in Phuket? Sorry, not now
PHUKET: Want to get married in Phuket City? Thalang? Then you’re out of luck. Both offices have run out of marriage certificates. The only district office that still has supplies – now in very limited numbers – is Kathu.An official from the Muang District Registration Department, who asked not to be named, admitted that her department ran out of certificates…
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Phuket chosen as venue for TV adventure show
PHUKET: The first Isuzu Adventure Race Thailand Championship, involving climbing and kayaking among other events, will be staged in Phuket from October 27 to 29. The competition will be filmed and broadcast by satellite to viewers worldwide, say the organizers. Teams of four people, each including at least one woman, will have to prove their physical and mental toughness over…
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Hospital “dream’ still mired in standoff
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutr has spoken out against Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura’s decision to delay the buyout of the abandoned Phya Thai hospital.“The purchase of the abandoned Phya Thai hospital is like a dream that has fallen apart. I started the process with the Governor on January 13, and the provincial committee for this…
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Turtle festival blocks city center road
PHUKET CITY: Traffic Police have advised motorists that Ranong Rd will be closed today and tomorrow for the annual “Por Tor” Chinese Festival.The Por Tor Festival comes every year in July or August and is intended to make merit for the dead and for spirits. It centers around the making of large cakes in the shape of turtles, following the…
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Tour operators protest plan to hike park fee
PHUKET CITY: All of the operators running tours in Phang Nga Bay – some 500 of them – staged a peaceful protest at the TAT Southern Region 4 Office this morning to demand that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reconsider its plan to double entry fees for national parks with effect from September 15.Police blocked off a section…
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Gov raps “overzealous’ Immigration officer
PHUKET: Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura yesterday morning asked the head of Immigration at Phuket International Airport to transfer a subordinate who refused entry to two loud South Korean tourists on July 11.But the Immigration chief defended his officer’s actions and said he would refer the matter to his superiors before taking any action.The meeting, at the Governor’s Office at Phuket Provincial…
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Dive industry rules imminent
PHUKET CITY: Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Nivit Aroonrat confirmed today that although the new dive industry regulations have not yet been signed by Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura, he believes that they will be “soon”.Yesterday K. Nivit told the Gazette that the documents had already been signed but this afternoon, after rechecking, he said that they were currently awaiting…
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PGTV News Tuesday 8th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the lasting emotional scars of the tsunami, an art exhibition at Mom Tri’s Boathouse, and the Phuket board riders championships at Kalim beach. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with a young “Luk Kreung”. PGTV, produced by the Phuket Gazette, is aired daily on…
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Snatch gang in sticky situation
CHALONG: Over the years there have been several demonstrations in Patong by bar owners opposed to early closing times. Among the arguments most commonly proffered by the bar owners as to why they should be allowed to remain open later is that Patong is a lure to free-spending foreign tourists who want to revel late into the night. It is…
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Progress for pilgrims
CHIANG MAI: Chiang Mai’s famous Phrasingha Temple has unveiled its new 1.6- million-baht public bathroom, which the temple clergy hope will claim this year’s coveted “Toilet of the Year” award. Monks at the temple, which receives hundreds of Thai and foreign tourists a day and as many as 3,000 on Buddhist holidays, saw the need for improvements to its restroom…
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Ya bah busts yield 4,692 pills
KATHU: Thun Tong Police arrested two ya bah (methamphetamine) dealers on Saturday night in Soi Thida, Kathu, seizing 4,692 pills of the illegal stimulant.An undercover officer, posing as a dealer, paid 20,000 baht for 100 pills from Somsak Lertprakit, 34, from Korat. Once the sale was complete, officers led by Pol Maj Gen Theerachai Raktiprakorn of the Tung Tong Police…
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Police colonel linked to killing of editor
PHUKET: A police lieutenant-colonel has been arrested in connection with the murder of local newspaper editor Opas Noothong in April this year.The arrest came after a gun belonging to Pol Lt Col Hattakarn Klinlokai, Inspector for Crime Suppression at Tambon Suksamran police station in Ranong, was found in the car of another suspect, Veenakorn Boonyiun. Forensic tests later confirmed that…
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Phuket flights hold off on using Suvarnabhumi
BANGKOK (The Nation): Despite caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal’s announcement yesterday that the new Suvarnabhumi Airport will be ready to accept domestic flights starting September 15, all Bangkok-bound domestic flights out of Phuket International Airport will continue to use Don Muang Airport until the new airport officially opens on September 28. Flights from major tourist cities, including Phuket and Chiang…
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Security cameras deal signed
PHUKET: The provincial authorities are to install Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) monitoring systems in parts of Patong, Karon and Phuket City in an effort to boost security in popular tourist areas.At Phuket Provincial Police headquarters yesterday, Phuket Governor Udomsak Uswarangkura presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Phuket Provincial Police and CAT Telecom, which will install…
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Democrat wins Council by-election
PHUKET CITY: Despite active campaigning by all three candidates, voter turnout for the Phuket Provincial Council District 1 by-election on August 5 was low, with eventual winner Somkuan Tansakul of the Democrat party winning the vacant seat with just 839 votes. Coming second was engineer Wongwara Sa-nguansak, with 575 votes, while writer Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwittayaporn, who promised to bring…
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PGTV News Monday 7th August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about educating young people about the risks of contracting HIV, an update on security measures in Phuket to prevent bird flu, and a look at the local Thai Chess championships. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with Cindy Ratcliffe MBE. PGTV, produced…
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Provincial Council by-election to go ahead despite complaint filed
PHUKET CITY: Tomorrow’s District 1 Phuket Provincial Council by-election has been complicated by a complaint filed against one of the candidates, Somkuan Tansakul, to the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) by another candidate, Wongwara Sa-nguansak.K. Wongwara has alleged that K. Somkuan’s use of photos of Phuket Provincial Administration Organization (OrBorJor) President Anchalee Vanich-Thepabutra in his campaign material and her open support…
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Phuket teens targeted in HIV awareness drive
PHUKET: The growing number of young adults testing positive for HIV/Aids in the province has prompted the launch of an awareness drive aimed at teenagers and those in their early 20s.At Phuket Provincial Hall, former Senator for Khon Kaen and women’s rights activist Rabiabrat Pongpanich, who is currently President of the Society for Promoting Happy Families, chaired a meeting of…
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English squire murdered, then burned
PETCHABURI (The Nation): An English country squire was killed and his body burnt on a charcoal fire after he divorced his Thai wife because of her gambling debts.After being burned, the body of Toby Charnaud, 41, was then dismembered and parts scattered in Kaeng Krachan national park, a court in Phetchaburi was told on Monday.Charnaud had sold Latimer Farm near…
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PGTV News Wednesday 2nd August 2006
PGTV’s Phuket News today features a story about the first Phuket flight to the new Suvarnabhumi airport, a visit to the opening of the new Desjoyaux offices and has a spectacular photo of the latest victim of the Kata-Chalong hill road. In addition to these and other news stories focused on Phuket, this evening’s show features an interview with Phuket…
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MAS doubles KL-Phuket flights
PHUKET: Malaysia Airlines today resumed its pre-tsunami schedule between Phuket and Kuala Lumpur, reverting to two flights a day. As of today, flights take off from Kuala Lumpur at 9:30 am and 6:10 pm every day, with return flights at 10:25 am and 7:20 pm. An introductory return fare of 2,222 baht is being offered for flights taken before or…
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Phuket tourism leaders tour Suvarnabhumi airport
PHUKET, BANGKOK: Following the inaugural flight from Phuket International Airport (PIA) to Thailand’s new Suvarnabhumi Airport on Saturday, key representatives of Phuket tourism businesses and the Provincial Government called on the central government to expand the major domestic airports throughout Thailand.With some 20 VIPs and members of the media from Phuket on board, Thai Airways International (THAI) flight TG 1882…
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Rearing to go
KATA: The infamously steep stretch of Patak Rd climbing out of Kata toward Chalong claimed another victim today – a truck laden with concrete slabs.No one was hurt when the load slipped off the end of the truck, but it was a couple of hours before a crane, brought in to offload the cargo, cleared it all to the side…
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