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.
-
Sponsored Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Here’s your health checklist before the move
Thinking of retiring in Thailand long-term? Thailand is a popular choice for retirees because of its beautiful landscapes, warm climate, and affordable living. Cities like Chiang Mai and coastal areas offer a relaxed lifestyle with friendly communities. The country also...
-
Phuket Sports: Italian Grand Prix preview
PHUKET: In my last article I said I thought Hamilton would be a very strong contender at Spa together with Räikkönen, Rosberg, Michael Schumacher, Romain Grosjean and Jenson Button. I said it looked hard for Ferrari and Red Bull to shine, but also said “Who knows“? In the event Lewis Hamilton, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso were shunted off the…
-
B100bn up for grabs: Krabi told to prepare for AEC 2015
PHUKET: With 100 billion baht (US$ 3 billion) requested by government agencies for Thailand’s preparation for the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, private and government organizations in Krabi were called on yesterday by the Asean Secretary-General to step up their efforts in order to establish a “central role” in the Andaman. “Krabi will have an advantage over several other…
-
Phuket Park chief files complaint against “Encroacher No 5′
PHUKET: The new chief of Sirinath National Park, Cheewapap Cheewatham, has filed a police complaint against another landowner for allegedly encroaching on national park land. The complaint, against the fifth landowner of the 10 plots raided on August 15, accused two companies of encroaching on five rai of state forest land. The two companies are allegedly controlled by the same…
-
Wives bet in deadly drunken takraw match
PHUKET: A drunken takraw match, the renowned game of “foot volleyball” using a rattan ball, got out of hand in Rayong early last month after construction workers bet their own wives as collateral during the game. When a fight broke out and one member of the group pulled out a gun, the weapon went off, hitting a 27-year-old woman in…
-
Phuket ocean trash inflicting mayhem on turtles
PHUKET: A turtle with one flipper severed and another suffering a deep cut inflicted by discarded fishing nets was recovered from Karon Beach yesterday. The discovery brought to 24 the total number of turtles rescued from Phuket and Phang Nga beaches in the past two months alone. Lifeguards patrolling Karon Beach found the turtle stranded in the sand near Karon…
-
World News: US Jobless claims fall
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. businesses step up hiring as jobless claims fall Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Initial claims for unemployment insurance in the United States fell to 365,000 in the week ending September 1, a decrease of 12,000 compared to the previous week, according to figures released by the…
-
Thai Smile launches new Phuket routes
PHUKET: Thai Smile Air, the new regional sub-brand of Thai Airways International (THAI), will launch daily direct flight services from Phuket to Bangkok and Chiang Mai starting next month. Prasert Tanhansa, manager of the THAI district sales office in Phuket Town, announced the new flights yesterday.“We are going to start one daily round-trip from Phuket-Chiang Mai-Phuket and Phuket-Bangkok-Phuket on October…
-
Asean in Phuket: Immigration to launch fast-track entry for tourists
PHUKET: The Commissioner of the Thai Immigration Bureau has announced that a new automated entry system will be installed at all airports in the country, including Phuket. The system will allow passengers to enter the country without having to endure long immigration lines.The technology, called “Advance Passenger Processing” system, or “APP”, will be installed at all international airports in Thailand…
-
Phuket baby elephant probe sparks raids
PHUKET: The inspection of elephant camps in Southern Thailand, geared to ensure that all pachyderms on the premises are legal, started on Monday and will include searches of the locations in Phuket where elephants were seized earlier this year. “We received an order on Monday from National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department [DNP] Director-General Damrong Phidet to send Regional…
-
Weather warning issued for Phuket, Andaman
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued its second weather warning in 24 hours for Phuket and other provinces along the Andaman coast, advising the public to beware heavy rain, rough seas and possible flooding. The latest advisory, issued by the Southern Meteorological Center at Phuket Airport at 11am today, repeated the TMD’s warning of “abundant rain to very…
-
“It’s a huge challenge…”
“It’s a huge challenge – probably the biggest I have ever undertaken, especially in such a short timeframe”. PHUKET: The 34-year-old former England cricketer, Andrew Flintoff, has been training with boxing legend Barry McGuigan and his son Shane McGuigan in preperation for his boxing debut on November 30. The popular 6’4 cricket legend is yet to announce his heavyweight opponent…
-
ASEAN in Phuket: Australians to assist handling of Rohingya landings in Thailand
PHUKET: The Commissioner of the Thai Immigration Bureau announced yesterday that immigration officials from Australia will assist Thai officials in their handling of ethnic Rohingya refugees who enter Thai territorial waters illegally.“They have a serious problem with Rohingya and Sri Lankans illegally entering their country,” Lt Gen Wiboon Bangphamai explained to the meeting of ASEAN immigration chiefs held at the…
-
Viagra facing stiff competition in Thailand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai version of ‘Viagra’ to be launched next month Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) will launch its erectile dysfunction drug “Sidagra” on October 15 at a fraction of the price of Viagra.The treatment for the men’s disorder has already been registered with…
-
World News: Separatist Parti Quebecois victory sparks shooting – 1 dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Gunman kills 1 during victory speech of Quebec’s first female premiere Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A gunman opened fire outside a building where Canadian politician Pauline Marois was addressing her supporters after being elected the new premiere of Quebec, police said. One person was…
-
Phuket Sports: US Open – Federer out, Murray through
PHUKET: The US Open is about to get into the business part of the tournament and some of the world’s best tennis players are still in with a shout of the title. Roger Federer, who was gifted entry to the quarterfinals as his fourth round opponent Mardy Fish retired before the match due to health reasons, has been knocked out…
-
Phuket Business: Interfering with the navigation systems
PHUKET: Your aircraft has just landed at Phuket International Airport and out comes the ubiquitous mobile phone, despite the flight crew asking you to keep it switched off until the plane arrives at the gate, because of concerns it may interfere with the aircraft’s avionics, thus endangering all on board. A familiar scene to everyone arriving on Phuket and particularly…
-
Ghostly visit leads man to mom’s body
PHUKET: A man in Ayutthaya claims he discovered the gruesome body of his own recently murdered mother after her ghost came back to tell him what had happened to her. The body of Mrs Sukkhapha, 56, (full name not reported) was discovered in a field on July 31. She had been sexually mutilated. Mrs Sukkhapha’s remains were found in a…
-
Vachira Phuket Hospital staff scrub up
PHUKET: Staff at Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday staged a hand-washing contest and other fun activities to highlight the importance of basic hygiene in combating the transmission of infectious diseases.Hospital Director Dr Jessada Chungpaibulpatana presided over the event, dubbed “Clean Hand Project II”.The project was held to remind all staff of the hospital, the largest on the island, about the importance…
-
World News: Destruction in Syria is reaching ‘catastrophic proportions’: UN envoy Brahimi
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN envoy says destruction in Syria is reaching ‘catastrophic proportions’ Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: The new Joint Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) and the Arab League on the Syrian crisis, Lakhdar Brahimi, yesterday said the death toll as a result of the ongoing civil…
-
World News: Fact-finding mission to investigate violence against Rohingya
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityOIC fact-finding mission travels to Myanmar to investigate violence against Rohingya MuslimsPHUKET: THe Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has announced a mission is traveling to Burma (Myanmar) today to investigate the recent violence against Rohingya Muslims.The fact-finding mission is scheduled to last for ten days and will also…
-
Weather advisory for Phuket, Andaman Coast
PHUKET: The Thai Meteorological Department has issued a weather advisory for the six Andaman Coast provinces of Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.Southwest monsoonal conditions prevailing over the west coast will bring wind gusts and heavy to very heavy rain in some areas. Flash flooding may occur in risk areas; people are advised to proceed with caution. Wind-driven…
-
Phuket Business: Pineapples please
PHUKET: A pineapple trading center was opened in Phuket recently in a move aimed at centralizing provincial supply of the fruit, and thus increasing its market penetration potential across Southeast Asia. Vinai Kwankaew of the Phuket Agriculture Office said that pineapples have become the province’s most significant revenue-generating fruit. Phuket pineapples are known for their sweet flavor, tasty and yellow…
-
Phuket Business: Beware of the hammer and nail approach
PHUKET: There is a very famous quote that often comes to mind when speaking with many of my colleagues in the wealth management industry: “When the only tool you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”. Unfortunately many advisers fall into this trap, and despite the fact that everyone’s situation is different, they will recommend the same solution…
-
Phuket poll: Have you ever cheated on your partner?
PHUKET: Results of the annual international sex survey by condom manufacturing firm Durex reveal Thai couples to be among the most promiscuous on the planet. The results have stirred up controversy, denials and debate throughout the country. To get a local angle on all this alleged infidelity, the Phuket Gazette online asks its own esteemed readers whether they have ever…
-
Phuket Business: AMCHAM affirms commitment to saving the environment
PHUKET: The American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) Greater Phuket Chapter assembled at Holiday Inn Patong for its third meeting of the year recently. Organized in conjunction with environmental organization, SEEK, the evening’s discussions focused on ways that hospitality and tourism stakeholders can implement “Green Tourism” practices while reducing operational overheads and thus increasing profit margins. The meeting followed an all-day,…
-
Body of Burmese worker found at Phuket construction site
PHUKET: The decomposing body of a worker from Myanmar was left undiscovered at a Phuket construction site for at least three days before being found late yesterday afternoon. Thalang Police were notified of the body at 6:15pm. Arriving at the scene with Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation workers, police found the body pinned between a wall and some metal scaffolding at the…
-
DNA tests confirm French tourist as Tiger Disco fire victim
PHUKET: The Royal Thai Police Institute of Forensic Medicine in Bangkok has confirmed that the fourth – and last – victim to be identified from the Tiger Discotheque fire in Phuket on August 17 is that of French tourist Emmanuel Becard, aged 30. Friends of Mr Becard reported him as missing the day after the fire, which killed four people.…
-
All silent on “insecticide’ causing deaths of Canadian sisters
PHUKET: A spokesperson at the forensic laboratory at Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok today declined to confirm or deny reports that insecticide containing DEET had been identified as the cause of death of Audrey and Noemi Belanger. The sisters, Audrey, age 20, and Noemi, 25, from Quebec, Canada, were found dead in their hotel room on Phi Phi Island on June…
-
French tourist killed, another comatose in Phuket motorbike crash
PHUKET: One French tourist is dead and another remains in a coma after the motorbike they were riding crashed on the beach road in Karon before dawn yesterday.Chalong duty officer Boonlert Onklang said that police were informed of the accident, at a curved section of the beach road near the Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort, at 3.40am. Arriving at the scene,…
-
“Hungry ghosts’ inspire new Phuket TAT chief to push cultural tourism
PHUKET: The new director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Phuket office is drawing up plans to push Phuket’s cultural festivals after witnessing his first Por Tor festival in Phuket.Director Chanchai Doungjit told the Phuket Gazette this morning that he is devising a four-year plan to bring tourists in from around the world by expressly focusing on Phuket’s cultural…
Don't forget to check out some other things to do in Thailand - get help starting a business or finding a job in Thailand, buy Thailand property, rent a yacht or book a medical procedure worldwide.