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

    The 5 most common travel emergencies in Thailand and how to be prepared

    Thailand is a popular destination known for its dynamic culture, stunning beaches, and bustling cities however, travellers can face unexpected travel emergencies that include medical issues, road accidents, petty theft, and natural disasters. To ensure a safe and enjoyable trip,...

  • Donald goes old school in PGA

    Donald goes old school in PGA

    PHUKET: The PGA tour this week hit the Innisbrook Resort in Florida. Rory McIlroy isn’t playing for the next few weeks meaning golf’s world number one spot was up for grabs. That brings us to former number one Luke Donald, whose golf swing now looks as if it’s in slow motion and he has clearly worked out it’s not all…

  • Noppowan powers into semi-final at Phuket ITF tourney

    Noppowan powers into semi-final at Phuket ITF tourney

    PHUKET: Thai tennis sensation Noppawan Lertcheewakarn upset the form books on Thursday by dismissing number one seed Erika Sema of Japan from the Chang ITF Women’s Pro Circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club on Phuket. Sema, ranked at 136 in the world, fought back in the quarter-final after losing the first set to the sixth-seeded, but…

  • Eerie silence cloaks the Phuket death of a Swedish tourist

    Eerie silence cloaks the Phuket death of a Swedish tourist

    PHUKET: The death of a 35-year-old Swedish tourist, whose body was discovered in his hotel room at Kata Beach, has quietly surfaced on Phuket. The resort involved, the Swedish embassy in Bangkok and police have all confirmed that James Karlsson was found dead in his room at the Serene Resort last Wednesday. However, they have all declined to offer any…

  • Phuket Gazette: Early execution of drug convicts

    Phuket Gazette: Early execution of drug convicts

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Chalerm pushes for early execution of drug convicts PHUKET (The Nation): Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm today vowed to push for law amendments to have drug convicts executed 15 days after the Appeal Court’s verdict upholds the death sentence. He said he would propose an amendment to…

  • Fishermen found dead in Phuket estuary

    Fishermen found dead in Phuket estuary

    PHUKET: The body of a fisherman was found dead along the banks of a mangrove estuary on the west coast of Phuket yesterday. Cherng Talay Police were notified of the death by residents of Baan Layan at about 10am yesterday. At the scene, a muddy riverbank near the north end of Layan Beach, they found the body of 52-year-old Praphat…

  • Phuket Gazette: Asian economic news round-up

    Phuket Gazette: Asian economic news round-up

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Top Asean/EU trade officials to convene in Cambodia PHUKET (The Nation): The 2nd ASEAN-EU Business Summit will be held in Phnom Penh on April 1, to bring together entrepreneurs, private investors and public policy-makers from both the EU and ASEAN to address key issues related to…

  • Phuket Gazette: Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observers

    Phuket Gazette: Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observers

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand welcomes Burma’s decision to have international observersPHUKET (The Nation): Thailand has welcomed the Burmese government’s invitations for international representatives as observers for the parliamentary by-election on April 1. Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said that the move demonstrates Burma’s efforts to promote credibility of the upcoming…

  • Motorbike taxi driver dies in Phuket u-turn collision

    Motorbike taxi driver dies in Phuket u-turn collision

    PHUKET: A Phuket motorcycle taxi driver was killed instantly last night when he was hit full force by an oncoming car while trying to make a u-turn on Thepkrasattri Road. Thalang Police were notified of the accident at 9:20pm. Arriving at the scene, on Thepkrasattri Road southbound in front of the electricity substation in Ban Lipon, they found the body…

  • Phuket Gazette: Thailand business news

    Phuket Gazette: Thailand business news

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Honda’s April restart means no plans for relocation PHUKET (The Nation): Honda Automobile (Thailand) will not relocate to Indonesia, as confirmed by its plan to resume operation at the Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya province on April 1, said Industry Minister Pongsvas Svasti. It was reported…

  • Phuket Sports: ITF Phuket reaches finals stages

    Phuket Sports: ITF Phuket reaches finals stages

    PHUKET: Thailand’s Noppawan Lertcheewagarn exacted vengeance on Aiko Nakamura of Japan yesterday at the Chang ITF Pro Women’s circuit event being held at Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Club on Phuket.Noppowan lost to Nakamura in their first and only meeting five years ago in the Pattaya Open.Both are two-handed players and Noppawan was concerned going into the match that this aspect…

  • Phuket Gazette: Probe into Rangers’ ops; Sonthi faces tough question; Reconciliation

    Phuket Gazette: Probe into Rangers’ ops; Sonthi faces tough question; Reconciliation

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rangers’ operations lawful: probe PHUKET (The Nation): The investigation into the shooting of a pickup in Pattani in January by Army paramilitary rangers, which left four villagers dead, has found the operation was lawful under the rules of combat engagement and called for compensation to all…

  • Phuket Gazette: US fighter crashes in Korea

    Phuket Gazette: US fighter crashes in Korea

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. fighter jet crashes in South Korea, pilot safe PHUKET (News Wires): The pilot of a U.S. fighter jet ejected safely yesterday before his aircraft crashed near a base in the western region of South Korea, military officials said. There were no injuries. The accident happened…

  • Budget breakdown; Phuket to get speed cameras, “monkey cheeks’

    Budget breakdown; Phuket to get speed cameras, “monkey cheeks’

    PHUKET: The mobile Cabinet meeting on Tuesday approved 23 projects worth 628 million baht that can be developed immediately in five provinces along the Andaman coast, including a network of speed cameras in Phuket. For the 23 projects slated for immediate start-up, the Cabinet ordered that plans be hurriedly drawn up and presented to the Budget Bureau within two weeks,…

  • Phuket Gazette: Dating websites join to ban sexual predators

    Phuket Gazette: Dating websites join to ban sexual predators

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dating websites will now be checking sex offender registries Phuket Gazette / News WiresPHUKET: Leading online dating companies Match.com, eHarmony and the operator of the websites ChristianMingle and JDate have signed an agreement to check their subscribers against U.S. sex offender registries, the companies announced yesterday. The…

  • Phuket Drama: Yingluck monitor lizard fiasco averted

    Phuket Drama: Yingluck monitor lizard fiasco averted

    PHUKET: The bloated carcass of a monitor lizard was hastily retrieved from a swamp at Klong Koh Pee in Phuket on Monday, just moments before the arrival of Thai premier Yingluck Shinawatra, it can now be revealed. Prime Minister Yingluck and her entourage were scheduled to arrive at the Saphan Hin side of the proposed Klong Koh Pee elevated road…

  • Blue Flag Fair a hit in Phuket Town

    Blue Flag Fair a hit in Phuket Town

    PHUKET: Wage slaves suffering from rising consumer costs and stagnant salaries have been flocking to the Blue Flag Consumer Products Fair at Sanamchai field in Phuket Town, where government-subsidized consumer staples and other products are on sale at rock-bottom prices through tomorrow. Supacha Bunthalit, who heads the Department of Internal Trade (DIT) Office in Phuket, told the Gazette the most…

  • Phuket News Watch: Teenager arrested for sexually molesting 7-year-old boy

    Phuket News Watch: Teenager arrested for sexually molesting 7-year-old boy

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community California teen arrested for sexually assaulting boy in a park Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Police in northern California arrested a 15-year-old boy early this morning (Phuket time) in connection with the sexual assault of a young boy in a local park, police said today.…

  • Special Report: Will more power solve Patong’s woes?

    Special Report: Will more power solve Patong’s woes?

    PHUKET: Mayor Pian Keesin has publicly declared his stand on the need for Patong to become a Special Administrative Zone (click here). His call for the administrative change received a great deal of support at a public meeting held recently to present and explain the concept to local residents and business people. The meeting was coordinated through Patong Municipality and…

  • Phuket Gazette: Can there be no good news for journalists in Mexico?

    Phuket Gazette: Can there be no good news for journalists in Mexico?

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Mexico: 172 attacks against journalists, 9 dead in 2011PHUKET (News Wires): In 2011, at least 172 attack were carried out against Mexican journalists and media, according to press rights group Article 19.The report, called ‘Forced Silence: the State, accomplice to the violence against the press,’ showed that…

  • Phuket Gazette: John Barnes to wing his way to Thailand

    Phuket Gazette: John Barnes to wing his way to Thailand

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Liverpool’s John Barnes set to light up Thailand sixes PHUKET (The Nation): Miss the trademark dribbling of former England international John Barnes? You could witness it at close quarters when the ex-Liverpool winger showcases some of his old tricks at the Standard Chartered EPL Masters Football…

  • Cabinet approves Bt200mn for Phuket mangrove flyover

    Cabinet approves Bt200mn for Phuket mangrove flyover

    PHUKET: Cabinet today approved 200 million baht to build an elevated road over a mangrove forest on the outskirts of Phuket Town. The project, best known as the Klong Koh Pee project, has been on hold for 15 years. The announcement, made by Deputy Government Spokesman Anusorn Iamsa-ard at about midday, followed a morning session of meetings at the Prince…

  • Phuket to receive lion’s share of Cabinet’s Andaman budget

    Phuket to receive lion’s share of Cabinet’s Andaman budget

    PHUKET: The Cabinet provisionally agreed to fund 117 of the projects proposed at the Cabinet meeting, at a total cost of about 84 billion baht, Deputy Government spokesman Chalitrat Chantarubeksa announced today.“Ten of the projects are Andaman-wide projects at a cost of 24.8bn baht. The remaining 107 projects are from the individual Andaman provinces,” Mr Chalitrat said. With 67 projects…

  • “Naughty’ clouded leopard caught, set free north of Phuket

    “Naughty’ clouded leopard caught, set free north of Phuket

    PHUKET: A clouded leopard was captured over the weekend after a dip into the poultry-house on Thanyamundra’s organic farm in Phang Nga, which produces much of the chemical-free produce served in Phuket.Security guard Surasit Wangphakam was responsible for the capture. Hearing chickens “clucking loudly” inside the poultry-house, he looked inside to discover a female cloud leopard “playing” with the chickens.Fifteen…

  • PM Yingluck hounded into Southern healthcare issues

    PM Yingluck hounded into Southern healthcare issues

    PHUKET: Joining the long list of groups petitioning Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for special attention during her first official visit to Phuket for today’s Cabinet meeting was a delegation of doctors, nurses and medical students from Songklanagarind Hospital in Haad Yai. PM Yingluck arrived at the Prince of Songkla University (PSU) Phuket Campus at 8:30am to attend the Cabinet meeting…

  • Laguna Phuket MD resigns

    Laguna Phuket MD resigns

    PHUKET: Michael Ayling has resigned his position as Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels, which owns and operates the Laguna Phuket resort complex on Phuket’s west coast. A media statement issued this morning noted that Mr Ayling’s last day with the renowned resort company will be on May 31, 2012. According to the statement he will be leaving the…

  • Phuket Gazette: Thailand business round-up

    Phuket Gazette: Thailand business round-up

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Tesco Lotus property fund enjoys robust rise on market debut PHUKET (The Nation): Ek-Chai Distribution System, controlled by Britain’s largest retailer Tesco, this month raised Bt18.4 billion in an initial public offering (IPO) of the fund. It sold shares at Bt10.40 each. The Thai property fund…

  • PM Yingluck in Phuket: Senators pitch ‘special economic zone’ plan

    PM Yingluck in Phuket: Senators pitch ‘special economic zone’ plan

    PHUKET: On the first day of the mobile Cabinet meeting yesterday, Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra held closed door talks with local tourism industry leaders who urged her to establish Phuket as a special economic zone. The unscheduled talks, which were off-limits to reporters, saw PM Yingluck meet with Phuket Senator Thanyarat “Ghee” Achariyachai, who chairs the Senate Standing Committee…

  • Phuket Gazette: Nazi death camp guard dies in Germany

    Phuket Gazette: Nazi death camp guard dies in Germany

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dead Nazi John Demjanjuk had almost 28,000 convictions on ‘accessory to murder’ charges Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Nazi death camp guard John Demjanjuk died at a nursing home in southern Germany early Saturday morning, police said. He was convicted last year of nearly 28,000…

  • Man slashes own throat over broken heart

    Man slashes own throat over broken heart

    PHUKET: Relatives of a suspected broken-hearted man heard screaming from the fourth floor of a commercial shophouse where he lived and ran up to investigate. The man, whose name the Phuket Gazette is withholding, attempted to commit suicide in the shophouse off Montri Road by slashing his own throat, according to the local Thai-language newspaper Siangtai Daily. Police were immediately…

  • Phuket Sports: Steady start for FC Phuket in season opener

    Phuket Sports: Steady start for FC Phuket in season opener

    PHUKET: Reinforced by an energetic contingent of loyal fan support, FC Phuket opened their 2012 Thai Yamaha 1 League (TPL Division 1) season on Saturday evening against JW Rangsit FC with a scoreless draw.The evenly matched contest was played at Rangsit’s temporary ground, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy Stadium in Nakhon Nayok province, 70 kilometers northeast of Rangsit.Rangsit’s planned home pitch…