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 Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?
Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
-
Booster for fight against polio
PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) is offering free poliomyelitis vaccinations to Thai and foreign children under the age of five. PPHO Chief Dr Wanchai Sattayawutthipong explained that parents may take their children to any health center, hospital or medical clinic on December 18 to receive the primary polio vaccination, and on January 21 for a booster shot. “We…
-
Officers to play hero for a day
PHUKET: Emergency rescue service teams will stage several rescue exercises this Saturday (December 14) to boost people’s confidence in the authorities’ ability to cope with emergencies. Starting at 10 am in Patong Bay, officers will simulate rescuing people from a boat on fire, then perform a cliff rescue at Laem Phromthep. They will then perform a rescue of a scuba…
-
Policeman shot with own gun
THALANG: A policeman’s wife used her husband’s own pistol to shoot him dead yesterday morning after they had a heated argument near the Sarasin Bridge. Pratheuang “Tim” Saesue, 45, shot Pol Sgt Maj Siripong Aimjad, 35, of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, at 10 am in front of many witnesses. She did not try to flee the scene. Pol Lt…
-
Immigration Chief promoted
PHUKET TOWN: Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), has been promoted to Deputy Commander of Phuket Provincial Police. He will take up his new post on Monday (December 16). Speaking with the Gazette, Col Apirak said that in his new post he would continue the fight against all aspects of the illegal drugs trade. “We’ve…
-
New rules to govern local elections
KATHU: New regulations coming into force on July 9 next year stipulate that committees set up by the Office of the Election Commission of Thailand (OECT) will oversee the running of local elections instead of officers from the Ministry of Interior. Phuket Senator Paiboon Upatising made the announcement at a seminar on Friday entitled Distribution of Authority and Elections Under…
-
Yo wins King&’s Cup
KATA: A fifth place in today’s race off Kata was good enough for Peter Ahern and his crew on board Yo! to take provisional first place overall in the Racing Class of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. Yachts crossed the start line at 8:30 am with a breeze of up to 15 knots breathing new life into the regatta, which…
-
Property auction sparks protest
PHUKET TOWN: About 50 people gathered outside the Merlin Hotel this morning to protest the sale of repossessed houses and land by Bangkok Bank. Noppon Siemhan, a lawyer and member of Phuket Property Protection, said that many properties at today’s auction would be sold at 50%-80% of the original value. “I think they should give a discount of 50%-80% to…
-
Police find Kamnan killer’s shotgun
THALANG: Police have found the gun used in Sunday night’s hitman-style slaying of Moo Baan Saku’s village leader Somboon Panyawai, the area’s police chief said today. Pol Lt Col Jakrit Srisuwan, Chief of Tah Chat Chai Police Station, told the Gazette that the gun was found 300 meters from the scene of the shooting during an extensive search of the…
-
Pla Loma leading King’s Cup race
PHUKET: Pla Loma has held onto the lead in the Racing division on the third day of the King’s Cup Regatta. Provisional series rankings for all classes are as follows: Racing 1. Pla Loma – Keith Moore, 2. Yo – Peter Ahern, 3. Linklaters Mandrake – Robert Elliot. Premier Cruising 1. Australian Maid – John Wardill, 2. Elektra – Marcel…
-
999 ride for the King’s birthday
THALANG: A total of 999 bicycle riders headed off today from Thalang District Office to Surin beach and back on a ride to celebrate the 75th birthday of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej. Sending them off on the 30-kilometer round trip were the President of the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization, Prasit Koeysiripong, and MP Chalermlak Kebsab. Dr Prasit said, “I’m very…
-
Naked lady clue to mystery body
CHALONG: Police are hoping the tattoo of a naked lady will help them identify the body of a man found floating yesterday in Ao Chalong, near Koh Lone. The tattoo is on the right leg of the man, who appears to be either Thai or Burmese. He was dressed in a white t-shirt and baggy trousers and police think he…
-
Winds tease King’s Cup racers again
KATA: The wind faded again after a good start to racing on day two of the King’s Cup Regatta yesterday. Winds of 10 to 12 knots at Phi Phi as the fleet headed for Kata on Phuket had faded by lunchtime. Some of the Racing Yachts failed to complete the course. In other groups, the first race was shortened to…
-
A feast for franchisees
PHUKET TOWN: The third Franchise B2B Thailand event will be held at The Metropole hotel on December 9 and 10, organized by the Department of Business Development. During the event there will be more than 70 Thai food and beverage and service franchises present to meet with potential franchisees. There will also be a seminar with lectures covering different topics…
-
New Pay at Post service
PHUKET: The Communications Authority of Thailand (CAT) has launched a service called Pay at Post, under which customers can pay various bills and traffic fines at any post office. Services – some at a fee of 40-50 baht – include annual vehicle tax payments, compulsory motor insurance, general vehicle insurance, third party insurance payment service, traffic fines, mobile phone services…
-
Beauty in a million
PHUKET: The new Miss Andaman 2002, Waraporn “Oy” Ongkaloy, was crowned on Saturday night and received her prizes – one million baht, a pearl necklace, a pearl crown, and the chance to spend a year promoting the Andaman coast. K. Oy, 21, also won the titles of Miss Photogenic and Miss Popular, netting another 150,000 baht. For the next year…
-
Shotgun slaying by after-dinner killer
THALANG: A dinner with family and friends ended in the execution-style shotgun murder of a local leader at Nai Thon last night. Somboon Panyawai, 44, Kamnan of Baan Saku, was blasted as he walked across the road to return to his car parked about 40 meters away. His wife was already in the car. Police believe the killer, waiting among…
-
Bar closed over lewd show
PATONG: Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi has temporarily closed a go-go bar in Patong’s Soi Seadragon after complaints that a lewd and immoral show was performed there. Two Norwegian tourists took photographs to Kathu police as evidence of Norwegian women competing with Thai bar girls in what they described as a “shameful performance.” At first the Pink Panther bar was fined…
-
World darts champ to take on island&’s best
PHUKET: British darts legend John Lowe is in Phuket and has thrown down the gauntlet to the island’s players to “send me your champion”. Four bars on the island – Heroes in Patong, the Whispering Cock in Cherng Talay, Duncan’s in Phuket Town and the Anchor Bar in Kata – are hosting preliminary rounds this week to sort out who…
-
Sand sculpting a big draw despite rain
KARON: About 300 people gathered at Nong Harn yesterday and braved sporadic showers for the second Chula Phuket Sandsculpting Festival. More than 30 teams of five competed to make the best sand sculptures in four categories of entrants: school, college, hotels and the general public. Between 9 am and 3 pm, entrants took to the sand and made the best…
-
Aussie, Canadian win triathlon
CHERNG TALAY: Australians once again had a strong showing in the annual Laguna Phuket Triathlon, even though last year’s men’s and women’s champions both failed to reclaim the top spots in this morning’s competition. Among the men, Craig Alexander of Australia took first place, followed by American Tim De Boom, while last year’s winner, Courtney Atkinson of Australia, finished third.…
-
International boat show set for Phuket
PHUKET: An international boat show is to be held in Phuket at the end of next year. As well as being a venue for the boating industry, the Phuket International Marine Expo 2003 (PIMEX) will also showcase the Royal Phuket Marina Resort and Spa, which is due to be completed next year. Supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT),…
-
Tourists secure, Gov tells Scandinavians
PHUKET TOWN: Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi today reassured a group of visiting Scandanavian travel agents and print and TV journalists that Phuket was a secure destination for tourists. His visitors came from Denmark and Norway, which, after the Bali atrocity in October, were among the first countries to issue travel advisories warning their citizens to exercise extreme caution when…
-
Immigration arrests drop substantially
PHUKET: The number of people arrested for illegal immigration dropped by more than half between October and November, police statistics show. Figures from November 1 to 25 show 95 people being arrested for illegal immigration, compared with 239 in the comparable period in October. Narcotics arrests and incidents remained about the same with 68 cases reported, and 93 arrests. This…
-
Tourist drowns at Kamala
KAMALA: A 63-year-old Swiss tourist died in an ambulance on the way to hospital yesterday after being pulled from the sea at Kamala. Police named him as Alexander Jost, a regular visitor to the island who had been in Phuket on his latest visit since November 20. Pol Capt Narong Loypatumviroj, Inspector of Kathu Police Station, said that Thais and…
-
Property expo in HK a roaring success
HONG KONG: The Phuket & Samui Property Exhibition held in Hong Kong on Friday, Saturday and Sunday was, on all counts, a major success. More than 1,000 potential property buyers attended the event at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center. There were 22 exhibitors. “The feedback’s been excellent,” said Bill Barnett, Deputy Managing Director of Laguna Resorts & Hotels…
-
Taxis protest over airport ban
PHUKET TOWN: Fifteen drivers from the new metered taxi company Natong Phuket Co Ltd (NPC) gathered at Provincial Hall this morning to lodge a complaint with Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi after being refused entry to Phuket International Airport (PIA). NPC’s Managing Director Adul Lakman and 10 drivers spent an hour discussing the issue with the Governor and PIA Director Lt…
-
Italian killed in head-on smash
KATHU: Italian Gian Piero Sala, 32, died when his motorbike was in a head-on collision with a pick-up truck on Wichit Songkram Rd early on Saturday morning. His Thai companion, who was riding pillion, was left in a coma. Pol Capt Kittipong Klaykaew, an inspector at Tung Tong Police Station, told the Gazette, “We rushed to the scene after receiving…
-
Ya bah bust sets new record
MAI KHAO: Officers on Friday night made Phuket history with a record seizure of 20,000 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills with a street value of about 3 million baht. Speaking at a press conference at Provincial Hall on Saturday afternoon, Phuket Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi explained that the bust followed a three-month undercover investigation involving about 15 officers of the Border…
-
Two murdered in stabbing attacks
PHUKET TOWN: Two men, both the victims of stabbing attacks, were found murdered at separate locations on Friday. Officers answering a call about 7 am found a body, dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, beside Si Sena Rd, near the Rassada port. Pol Capt Kaneuing Pitakkultorn of Phuket Town Police Station said a work permit card in the name…
-
Rassada to become a municipality
RASSADA: The port of Rassada and the surrounding district will be upgraded from a Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) to a municipality (tessabaan) in order to allow it to deal more effectively with some of the issues facing the area. The quality of roads and tap water, as well as the need to prevent flooding, were among problems discussed when Phuket…
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.