Thailand News

Thailand news, politics, business, crime, and lifestyle—get breaking updates from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond. Stay informed on Thai society, economy, tourism, and expat life with The Thaiger.

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    5 ways retirees in Thailand lose money (and how to stop it)

    Retiring in Thailand can be affordable and enjoyable, but many retirees lose money due to common mistakes. High living costs, scams, and unexpected expenses can quickly drain savings. There are five ways that retirees in Thailand can lose money and...

  • Army repels major insurgent attack in South; Marines credit villagers for help

    Army repels major insurgent attack in South; Marines credit villagers for help

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai insurgents attack southern army base, 16 dead including Maloso Jantarawadee, leader of the Runda Kumpalan Kecil insurgent group Reuters / Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: A pre-dawn raid on a Thai military base ended with 16 Muslim insurgents killed today in the deadliest violence in…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Tortured girl smiles; Curfews possible; Kissing Stevie G

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Tortured girl smiles; Curfews possible; Kissing Stevie G

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tortured slave girl learns to smile again Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Sympathy and support is pouring in for a Karen girl who was allegedly kidnapped, enslaved, tortured and scarred over half of her body by a couple in Kamphaeng Phet. Her alleged attackers, Natee…

  • Southern curfew debate; Amnesty opposed; World expo bid under cloud

    Southern curfew debate; Amnesty opposed; World expo bid under cloud

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Curfew could worsen things’ Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: While the government will determine on Friday whether to declare a curfew in the deep South, the Civil Society Council of the Southern Border Provinces said yesterday that the government’s strategies should stress peaceful processes not…

  • Entertainment: ‘Lost in Thailand’ draws more Chinese; Crazy about cabaret

    Entertainment: ‘Lost in Thailand’ draws more Chinese; Crazy about cabaret

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community ‘Lost in Thailand’ draws more Chinese Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Chinese New Year in Thailand this year is likely to see a taste of real culture from China. Thanks to the movie “Lost in Thailand”, a huge box-office success in China, a greater number…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Gambling talk hits tourism tables; B2trn transport plans; No visas for Gulf medical tourists

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Gambling talk hits tourism tables; B2trn transport plans; No visas for Gulf medical tourists

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Kingdom must consider legalised gaming soon, tourism forum hears The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The nation’s pre-eminent gathering of tourism and travel-industry experts has concluded that while Thailand looks headed for its best year ever for tourist numbers and revenues, action to legalise gaming, improve infrastructure and…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Andaman erosion; avian flu alert; Poh pardon; polls to please

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Andaman erosion; avian flu alert; Poh pardon; polls to please

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Officials eye Andaman coastal erosion The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Marine and Coastal Resources Department is formulating plans to tackle coastal erosion in six Andaman Sea provinces. The most severe erosion was found in Tambon Saladan on Krabi’s Koh Lanta, where five meters of…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: YouTube sex spoof withdrawn; Saudi case twist; Bangkok polls turn black; Hotels ride high

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: YouTube sex spoof withdrawn; Saudi case twist; Bangkok polls turn black; Hotels ride high

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Spoof on Thailand removed from YouTube The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Apinand Poshaya-nond, the deputy permanent secretary for culture, has confirmed the removal yesterday of a controversial video posted on YouTube satrizing a computer language-learning program that taught potential toutrists how to negotiate with Thai prostitutes in…

  • Murder fugitive ‘Kamnan Poh’ arrested

    Murder fugitive ‘Kamnan Poh’ arrested

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fugitive Kamnan Poh arrested Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Somchai Khunplome, alias ‘Kamnan Poh’, father of Thailand’s culture minister, was arrested today in Bangkok after years on the run.His son, Sonthaya, looked tense and grim while talking on the phone about his father’s arrest.Somchai was picked up…

  • Thailand to help Rohingya with UN assistance

    Thailand to help Rohingya with UN assistance

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN, 20 nations join Thailand to help Rohingya Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Envoys of more than 20 countries yesterday joined a teleconference that was held to address the grievances of and get help for more than 850 Rohingya people. These illegal migrants were arrested…

  • DNP seeks funds for reforestation

    DNP seeks funds for reforestation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community DNP seeks 9bn baht for reforestation The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A 9-billion baht budget is being sought for forestation projects across the country while plans are being put in place for a nationwide crackdown on encroachers, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Minimum wage costing jobs – Official statistics

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Minimum wage costing jobs – Official statistics

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Over 3,400 have lost jobs in 6 months The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The 300 baht wage policy has cost at least 3,434 workers their jobs during the past six months, according to official statistics. The minimum daily wage was first hiked in April in…

  • Corruption in Phuket: Is there now hope for a cure?

    Corruption in Phuket: Is there now hope for a cure?

    PHUKET: Loosely in formed in 2010, the Anti-Corruption Network this year has become a key organisation that has shed unprecedented light on corruption in Thailand. This group, comprising entities from the public and private sectors, is pushing hard in its campaign against corruption at the corporate and national levels, with the ultimate goal of ensuring fairness to all Thais and…

  • Witness testifies shot that killed Italian came from where security forces were deployed | Thaiger

    Witness testifies shot that killed Italian came from where security forces were deployed

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Shot that killed Italian came from area where troops were deployed: witness The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Criminal Court yesterday heard a witness testify that the gunshot that killed Italian photographer Fabio Polenghi came from where the security forces were deployed during the 2010 political…

  • Thailand News: Govt warns scammers; ACMECS single visa today; optimism for tourism

    Thailand News: Govt warns scammers; ACMECS single visa today; optimism for tourism

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt warns scammers as Thailand is named top destination The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand has long been ranked as one of the world’s best tourist destinations, with so many awards under its belt. However, the Kingdom’s tourism industry is not untainted. Now that Thailand…

  • Thailand News: 3 monks killed in UK; Warning towers

    Thailand News: 3 monks killed in UK; Warning towers

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Three monks killed in tragic UK car crash The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Thai consul in London is visiting two Thais who survived a head-on car crash yesterday in Scotland in which three Thai monks were killed, the Foreign Ministry says.One of the victims was from…

  • Thailand News: TAT expects bumper party for New Year

    Thailand News: TAT expects bumper party for New Year

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community TAT optimistic of new year spending after 2011 disaster Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Travelers during the New Year holidays are expected to spend more than 13.1 billion baht, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). That’s good news for the industry compared with last…

  • Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced

    Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced

    PHUKET: In this week’s Weird World News Roundup we take a wacky trip from New Mexico over the border into Arizona – and back to New Mexico. Usually home to UFO and alien sightings, this time the focus is on more earthly stupidity as we dive into the worlds of a frozen gun, a police note to the mob, and…

  • Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout

    Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Power restored on Thai resort islands after three-day blackout Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Power was finally restored to the Thai resort islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan early this morning after a three-day blackout prompted thousands of peak-season tourists to leave. The electricity…

  • Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge

    Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge Phuket Gazette / Nation Breaking News PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with conspiracy to murder related to the death of a civilian during the red-shirt protests in…

  • Thailand News: World Justice report ranks Kingdom 80th in serving civil justice

    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…

  • Thailand News: Race for Premier League TV rights springs a surprise

    Thailand News: Race for Premier League TV rights springs a surprise

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community CTH spring a surprise, win EPL bid Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: The race for English Premier League TV rights had a surprise conclusion when “dark horse” Cable Thai Holding (CTH) snatched a three year deal under the noses of three big bidders including current…

  • Thailand News: Austrian publisher arrested in Pattaya

    Thailand News: Austrian publisher arrested in Pattaya

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Police arrest Austrian man for attempted blackmail Phuket Gazette / The Nation- DPAPHUKET: Police arrested an Austrian magazine owner in the Thai resort town of Pattaya on charges of attempting to blackmail a German multinational consumer products firm, police confirmed today.The technology crime suppression police unit arrested…

  • Thailand News: Renewed fears from seismic strikes

    Thailand News: Renewed fears from seismic strikes

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fears of ‘big one’ on Mae Chan Fault The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Sunday’s magnitude 6.8 earthquake and aftershocks in Myanmar have renewed fears in Thailand over safety from seismic strikes. “We have to identify the quake risks of each type of building and prepare response…

  • Strong earthquake felt in Bangkok this morning; no reports of tremors in Phuket | Thaiger

    Strong earthquake felt in Bangkok this morning; no reports of tremors in Phuket

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international communityPHUKET: A major earthquake measuring 6.6 magnitude struck central Myanmar this morning, around 60 km (37 miles) northwest of the city of Mandalay, the U.S. Geological Survey said.Residents in Bangkok, the capital of neighbouring Thailand, also said they felt the strong quake.There have been no known reports of…

  • Weird World News: Shocking news connections

    Weird World News: Shocking news connections

    PHUKET: This week’s Weird World News Roundup is all about making the connection, from a flasher at a wedding to a wedding with a deadly-electric ending and finally arriving conveniently at the end with a cleaner and his electric out-of body experience. Naked flasher ruins wedding A bride and groom had their their marriage vows interrupted when a flasher threw…

  • Thailand News: Park fees cut; BMA told to pay; Myanmar opium output rises

    Thailand News: Park fees cut; BMA told to pay; Myanmar opium output rises

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community New parks chief cuts entry fees Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: Admission fees to 29 national parks have been significantly reduced thanks to an order signed by new Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) chief Rerngchai Prayoonvej. Rerngchai signed documents yesterday canceling rules…

  • Hermaphrodite blocked from Thai monkhood | Thaiger

    Hermaphrodite blocked from Thai monkhood

    PHUKET: A young man in Lampang province wants to ordain as a monk at his local temple, just like nearly all Thai Buddhist men do at some point during their lifetimes. But Krittapak Duangchai, 30, has a problem: his local temple will not ordain him as he is a hermaphrodite. The budding monk possesses a vagina as well as a…

  • Thailand News: Petty officer killed and 3 troops seriously wounded in IED attack

    Thailand News: Petty officer killed and 3 troops seriously wounded in IED attack

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rebels hit Tak Bai in lead-up to anniversary Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Just days before the eighth anniversary of Narathiwat’s Tak Bai massacre, the province erupted in violence over the weekend, with attacks continuing yesterday after five simultaneous incidents in the Tak Bai district…

  • Thailand News: TDRI hammers 3G auction

    Thailand News: TDRI hammers 3G auction

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lacklustre 3G bids slammed by TDRI Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: As expected, Thailand’s first 2.1-gigahertz (GHz) spectrum auction yesterday turned out to be a less-than fiercely competitive affair, with the three highest bidders paying a combined 41,625 billion baht – less than 3 per cent above…

  • Weird World News: Cashing in on big money, or not

    Weird World News: Cashing in on big money, or not

    PHUKET: This week’s Weird World News Roundup runs the gambit from a US$1 bank robbery, to a space diamond bigger than Earth, with a half-billion US dollars in between. One dollar, enough for Federal Prison? A “polite” US man was arrested after robbing his local bank for US$1 [30 baht] in an apparent attempt to be charged with a federal…