News
Stay up-to-date with the latest news from across Thailand and beyond with The Thaiger. Our dedicated team brings you breaking news, in-depth analysis, and exclusive stories from this stunning part of the world, covering a diverse range of topics, including local politics, business, culture, and tourism. Keep yourself informed about the Kingdom’s rich history, stunning landscapes, and thriving expat communities, as well as updates on events, attractions, and transportation.
The Thaiger is your essential resource for staying connected with Thailand’s captivating blend of tradition and modernity. To remain in the loop with the country’s most trusted news source, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media.
-
Sponsored
The Melting Clock: A sophisticated spot for Italian cuisine and exquisite wine in Bangkok
It’s no secret that Bangkok has a lot of excellent Italian restaurants and wine bars, so standing out in the crowd is no small task. But The Melting Clock, the Italian restaurant and wine lounge in Ekkamai, has shown that...
-
Thai rubber farmers feel ‘betrayed’ by military government
PHUKET: Thai rubber farmers who supported anti-government protests that led to a military coup in May say they feel betrayed because the ruling military is failing to help soften the blow of plunging rubber prices. Thailand is the world’s largest rubber producer and exporter, but falling prices and a decision by the military not to extend subsidies risks alienating rubber…
-
Neon sign power leak blamed for ATM electric shock death of baby girl
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Neon sign power leak blamed for ATM electric shock death of baby girl The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Electric shocks that killed a two-year-old girl in Trang’s Yan Ta Khao district on August 7 stemmed from a power leakage from a neon sign placed over…
-
Video clip about cruelly-treated elephants prompts probe
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Video clip about cruelly-treated elephants prompts probe The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Police and soldiers are investigating after a video about cruel treatment of elephants in Songkhla’s Haad Yai district yesterday went viral on the Internet. Hat Yai police station superintendent Pol Col Passagorn Klunwarn…
-
Ukraine accuses Russia of invasion on new front
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ukraine accuses Russia of invasion on new front Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Ukraine accused Russia of launching a new military incursion across its eastern border on Wednesday, as hopes quickly faded that Tuesday’s talks between their two presidents might mark a turning point in a…
-
Teenager gatecrashes Serena, Federer party
PHUKET: Despite boasting 34 grand slam singles titles between them, Serena Williams and Roger Federer were forced to share the spotlight with a 15-year-old at the U.S. Open on Tuesday as all three advanced to the second round. American wild card Catherine Bellis, the youngest player in the draw, took her place alongside the five-time U.S. champions by stunning 12th…
-
Man dies as car slams into power pole at high speed
PHUKET: A 31-year-old man died after his car slid out of control on a wet road and slammed into a power pole at high speed in Koh Kaew late last night. Lt Col Sanit Nookong and fellow officers of the Thalang Police arrived at the scene, near the Tha Ruea Shrine on Thepkrasattri Road, soon after 11:45pm. “The driver, Nitikorn…
-
DSI impostors arrested for Phuket massage parlor shakedown
PHUKET: Two men have been arrested for posing as Department of Special Investigation (DSI) officers and extorting money from a Phuket Town massage parlor. Wisanusan Thipayatuch, 42, and Kanapat Khongmuang, 38, were nabbed after extorting 100,000 baht in cash from the owner of Angel Massage in Phuket Town on April 24. “The suspects, who posed as DSI officers, told the…
-
Phuket Airport bomb scare leads to hijacking drill
PHUKET: Phuket International Airport held an airplane hijacking drill today in the wake of a bomb scare yesterday morning. Phuket Airport received an anonymous call yesterday threatening to blow up AirAsia flight FD 3003, which departed from Don Mueang Airport at 10:55am, bound for Phuket. On board were 167 passengers and six crew. The plane was immediately escorted to an…
-
Singaporean wine expert leads two day California wine training seminar
PHUKET: Times when a waiter in a restaurant could get away with just about any wine recommendation – a white for the fish or a random red to go with meat – are luckily over. These days, customers are more and more knowledgeable and demand an ever-growing level of service. Better trained staff can be the key to success, especially…
-
Phuket officials target trash-clogged drains in flood-defense plan
PHUKET: Phuket officials confirmed yesterday that Patong’s drains will be dredged after an inspection revealed they had become clogged with sediment and trash, contributing to recent flooding in the area. The inspection of the roads and of Pak Bang Canal also revealed that many of the buildings there had been extended beyond the legal limit of three meters from the…
-
Phi Phi and Krabi beaches targeted for encroachment demolitions
PHUKET: Phi Phi and Krabi are next in line for beach encroachment demolitions, the Navy has revealed. “We have already removed beach chairs and umbrellas from Phi Phi’s beaches. The next step will be the clearance of illegally-erected structures encroaching on the island’s beach areas. This will begin very soon,” Commander Prinyatham Poonpitagtham of the Royal Thai Marine Corps, told…
-
Phuket blackout leaves underpass underwater
PHUKET: Traffic ground to a crawl at the Darasamuth underpass on Monday after a three-hour power outage rendered pumps useless and allowed heavy rain to flood the underground road. The underpass construction site, located in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall on the bypass road, lost power supply after a transformer blew, explained Samak Luedwonghad, director of the…
-
Panadda urges ethics panels be set up
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Panadda urges ethics panels be set up The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: PM’s Office permanent-secretary ML Panadda Diskul yesterday suggested that ethics committees be established to check local government agencies as part of efforts to fight corruption. Panadda made the proposal after members of the…
-
French boy, 5, dies after being stung by jellyfish off Pha-ngan
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community French boy, 5, dies after being stung by jellyfish off Pha-ngan The Nation/ Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Koh Pha-ngan authorities have warned people to beware of box jellyfish after a |five-year-old French boy died on Saturday after being stung while swimming at a beach of this resort…
-
Nearly 2,000 Europe-bound migrants have drowned this year – U.N.
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nearly 2,000 Europe-bound migrants have drowned this year – U.N. Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Nearly 2,000 people fleeing Africa and the Middle East have drowned in the Mediterranean this year, most of them in the past three months as they tried to reach Europe from…
-
Japan could offer unapproved Ebola drug
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Japan could offer unapproved Ebola drug Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Japan could offer an unapproved drug under certain circumstances to help treat the deadly Ebola virus even before the World Health Organization has decided to make a request for the drug, the country’s top government…
-
Thai ‘baby factory’ doctor to turn himself in
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thai ‘baby factory’ doctor to turn himself in – police Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A Thai doctor who performed in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for women involved in a surrogate baby business dubbed the “baby factory” has agreed to turn himself in, police said on Monday.…
-
Sepak Takraw competition in Sri Soonthorn
A competition of Sepak Takraw, known also as kick volleyball, was held in Phuket’s Sri Soonthorn on 23-24 August. Players from 21 teams divided into three age categories could showcase their acrobatic skills while competing for the prizes with another 10 teams playing Freestyle Sepak Takraw. “The purposes of this competition is to encourage people, especially teenagers, to spend time…
-
No let-up in Gaza war, Israel moves to protect its economy
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community No let-up in Gaza war, Israel moves to protect its economy Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: An Israeli air strike on Tuesday destroyed much of one of Gaza’s tallest apartment and office buildings, setting off huge explosions and wounding 20 people, Palestinian health officials said. Israel…
-
Australia unveils measures to tackle rise of foreign fighters
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australia unveils measures to tackle rise of foreign fighters Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Australia unveiled counter-terrorism measures on Tuesday to prevent young people from becoming radicalised and going to fight in overseas conflicts such as Iraq and Syria, where scores of Australians have joined militant…
-
Surrogate mums admit lying in court over Shigeta’s babies
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Surrogate mums admit lying in court over Shigeta’s babies The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Two Thai surrogate mothers told police yesterday they were instructed to lie to the courts during adoption hearings – to say that their babies were conceived during affairs with the Japanese…
-
French PM to unveil pro-reform cabinet after rebel ministers’ eviction
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community French PM to unveil pro-reform cabinet after rebel ministers’ eviction Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: France’s prime minister will scramble to put together a new pro-reform government on Tuesday, a day after the surprise eviction of rebel ministers who had opposed budgetary rigour. Manuel Valls will…
-
Britain says it’s close to identifying beheading suspect
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Britain says it’s close to identifying beheading suspect Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Britain is close to identifying a suspected British national shown beheading American journalist James Foley in a video released by Islamic State militants last week, the British ambassador to the United States said…
-
Phuket registration for National Reform Council candidates opens
PHUKET: Registration opened today for people wanting to enter the race to serve as Phuket’s representatives on the yet-to-be created National Reform Council (NRC). Wannabe candidates can register at the Phuket Election Commission (PEC) office, on Amphur Road in Phuket Town, from 8:30am to 4:30pm until September 2, PEC Director Kitipong Thiengkunakrit announced this afternoon. The NRC will comprise 250…
-
Phuket floods strike, sink Patong Police Station again
PHUKET: The Patong Police Station flooded for the third time in two weeks as another heavy rainstorm pummeled Phuket earlier this afternoon. “The water is up to our hips at the station,” said Lt Col Suttichai Tianpho of the Patong Police. “The computers and case files have remained on the second floor since the last flood. Now we are moving…
-
Gen Prayuth officially appointed 29th prime minister of Thailand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Prayuth officially appointed 29th premier The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Junta chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha today was officially installed as the 29th prime minister of Thailand. In a ceremony at the Army headquarters in Bangkok, Gen Prayuth received a royal command appointing him to the…
-
Full Metal Dojo brings MMA to Patong once more
PHUKET: “Full Metal Dojo 2: Protect Your Neck” saw fighters from around the globe (including Thailand, Sweden, France, Canada, Philippines, Cambodia, Afghanistan, Japan and more) enter the cage. History was also made as a professional Thai-against-Thai women’s MMA bout took place inside the kingdom for the first time. FMD veteran Michael Dubois took care of business in under 30 seconds,…
-
HRH Princess Srirasmi lands in Phuket to open ‘Family Love Center’
PHUKET: HRH Princess Srirasmi, the Royal Consort of HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, today graced the opening ceremony of the “Family Love Center” in Phuket. The center is aimed at encouraging better family ties between generations: children, parents and grandparents. Princess Srirasmi landed on the island at about 11am and was welcomed by Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut and high-ranking officers.…
-
Police crack Phuket drug network: nab three suspects, ya ice
PHUKET: Police are hoping to take a local drug kingpin into custody soon after three dealers were arrested and nearly one kilogram of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) was seized in two separate raids last week. Phuket Provincial Police last Wednesday arrested Wiwat Mungsuree, 30, and Eaknarong Iadkham, 34, who were found in possession of 136.54 grams of ya ice. “During…
-
Phuket splashes out on education, health in B1.4bn budget
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) has named health and education as its top priorities in its budget request for fiscal year 2015. The PPAO Council voted to splash out on the two critical areas on Friday, when PPAO President Paiboon Upatising revealed the draft budget of 1.445 billion baht. The PPAO is aiming to spend 407.6 million baht…
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.