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 Gazette Thailand News: Finance Minister warns graft threatens growth; Arrest warrant for missing monk; B100mn fire in Haad Yai
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Finance Minister warns graft threatens growth The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Global credit-rating agency Fitch Ratings believes lessening corruption in the Thai public service will help prop up the Thai economy, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong.Following discussions yesterday with Fitch Ratings, Kittiratt…
-
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand a smuggler’s paradise for abused Rohingya Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The beatings were accompanied by threats: If his family didn’t produce the money, Myanmar refugee Abdul Sabur would be sold into slavery on a fishing boat, his captors shouted, lashing him with bamboo sticks.It had been…
-
DSI called in to tackle taxis and raid foreign businesses
PHUKET: A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) task force will arrive in Phuket next week to carry out raids and arrest illegal taxi drivers and foreign business operators found breaking the law. The officers, expected to arrive on Thursday for a two-day campaign, will target taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport and businesses suspected of using Thai nominees. The news…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: NATO troop deaths reach 100; Kidnapped Dutch couple plead in video; Freed Guantanamo inmate killed in drone attack; ‘Gaddafi land’
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Insurgents kill NATO soldier in Afghanistan, raising year’s toll to 100 Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A coalition service member was killed yesterday when insurgents opened fire at foreign troops in eastern Afghanistan, the NATO led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) said. It raises the…
-
Phuket Gazette World Sports: England maybe next for self-employed builder as cricketing world buzzes
English club player hits 311 runs in 40 overs Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A self-employed builder from Cornwall in south-west England hit 311 runs from 40 overs to help his club to a regional record scoreline yesterday, at a strike rate of 130. The BBC reported that Andrew Brenton lashed 53 boundaries, with 11 sixes, after coming in at…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: NK war weapons ship caught in Panama; England gay marriage on its way; No Islamists in Egypt Cabinet; Glee star Monteith died of overdose; Bulgaria bishop flippers out
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community North Korean ship caught carrying weapons through Panama Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Panamanian authorities might take up to a week to search a North Korean cargo ship that was seized last Wednesday on suspicion that the vessel was hiding missile equipment in a shipment of brown sugar…
-
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice contamination fears grow; Floating parade marks Buddhist Lent; Sadao named in Deep South ceasefire; Ramkhamhaeng bombers in court
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt urged to inspect rice for contamination The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A consumer watchdog is calling on the government to inspect packaged rice after random tests found several samples to be tainted with high levels of methyl bromide, which is used to kill rice-eating…
-
Phuket motorbike arson re-ignites, three bikes torched in Patong
PHUKET: Police suspect arson in the latest Phuket motorbike blaze in which one motorbike was destroyed and two others damaged in Patong early this morning. Officers were called to a five-storey apartment block in Soi Nanai 8, about 500 meters south of the Jungceylon shopping mall (map here), at 7:10 am. “We arrived to find three motorbikes on fire. Some…
-
Phuket sea turtle on the hook – saved
PHUKET: The Phuket office of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) rescued an Olive Ridley sea turtle with a large fishing hook penetrating one of its flippers yesterday.“A fisherman near Lone Island notified us that there was an injured sea turtle that needed our help, as it had been pierced by a fishhook,” Phuket DMCR chief Thanate Mannoi…
-
Phuket braces for more strong wind, heavy thundershowers
PHUKET: The erratic stormy weather across Phuket today, with heavy showers and gusts of wind reaching up to 35km/hr, is no cause for alarm, says the local weather office.However, islanders should prepare to hold onto their hats as the wind is expected to breach Force 6 on the Beaufort scale by Thursday.“So far no weather warning has been issued for…
-
Free seminar in Phuket to focus on overseas investments for expats
PHUKET: A free investment seminar focusing on portfolio management for expats living off the interest produced through their ventures will be held on July 25 at Loch Palm Golf Club.The seminar is being organized by one of the longest standing financial consultancies in Thailand, Montepelier (Thailand) Ltd. Leading the seminar for Montepelier Wealth Management will be Ron Keyte, who has…
-
Chonburi draw in first match of world futsal club tourney
PHUKET: Sixteen of the world’s finest futsal clubs, including Thailand’s 5-a-side champions, have gathered in the heart of the Middle East since July 10 to contest the Kuwait Mini World Futsal Club Tournament. Playing in their opening match last Saturday, the winners of the 2012-2013 Thailand Futsal Premier League, Chonburi Blue Wave drew in their first of three scheduled group…
-
Unable to escape Phuket checkpoint, man arrested with heroin
PHUKET: A man trying to avoid a police checkpoint in Chalong last night was caught by Phuket police and arrested for possession of heroin.“We were at a checkpoint at Soi Thanoothep on Chao Fa East Road,” said Chalong Police Lt Phansak Chaithong.“At 11:50pm, we signaled a man to pull over, but he turned his bike around and tried to ride…
-
Drunk driver walks away from motorbike crash with parked 18-wheeler
PHUKET: A man charged for drunk driving survived slamming into the door of a parked 18-wheeler in Phuket before dawn today. Rescue workers called to the scene at 3am this morning found Nattapol Kansol, 44, with a bloodied face and injured eye next to his motorbike about 500 meters south of Tesco Lotus Thalang on Thepkrasattri Road (map here). Witnesses…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: Spain’s PM won’t resign; Rohingya relief – Myanmar disbands Border Patrol force; Asiana to sue over names gaffe; Cartel kingpin caught; Hundreds netted in child sextortion ring
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Spain’s Rajoy rules out stepping down in blackmail scandal Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Monday rejected calls to resign over a ruling party financing scandal and said he would not allow the matter to hold back his reform plans.The political pressure mounted…
-
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: BoT Gov slams Govt policies; Thaksin b’day party near Bangkok; Lottery surge; PM placates Isarn; Nenkham’s B300mn
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community BoT Gov slams Govt policies as unsustainable The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Bank of Thailand Governor Prasarn Trairatvorakul has slammed government policies as geared towards short-term consumption, saying they have shortcomings and cannot sustain economic competitiveness in the long term.In a speech to Asean ambassadors and high-ranking…
-
First cop to be charged with trafficking suspended from force
PHUKET: Sgt Maj Weerayuth Feuangfu, the Phang Nga policeman believed to be the first Royal Thai Police officer charged with human trafficking (story here), was indefinitely suspended from active duty last week. “He was suspended from the Royal Thai Police last week pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation,” Phang Nga Provincial Police Commander Chalit Kaewyarat told the Phuket Gazette…
-
Phuket police net motorbike thieves
PHUKET: Police arrested three Phuket teenagers yesterday for stealing multiple motorbikes and selling the parts for pocket money. The teenagers were caught in possession of nine stolen bikes in good condition and one that had been dismantled, said Phuket City Police Deputy Superintendent Prawit Engchuan. The teenagers’ activities came to police attention on July 2 when a Mattayom 2 student…
-
Bullets, but no guns: Phuket man charged for illegal possession
PHUKET: Police caught a Phuket man illegally in possession of over 50 rounds of ammunition for multiple types of handguns, but were unable to uncover any weapons during their raid yesterday morning. Phuket City Police secured a search warrant for the house of Suwat Saramas, 30, after receiving a tip-off that he was in illegal possession of firearms. “After we…
-
Phuket man mutilates self in jealous rage
PHUKET: A 19-year-old man charged for assisting in the attack on Vorasit “Pla wan” Issara last year (story here) was found bleeding heavily in his Phuket Town room early yesterday morning after he reportedly stabbed himself in the leg in a fit of jealous rage. Police arrived at the scene, an apartment off Phun Phol Road, at about 3:50am to…
-
Thai skipper sails Sansiri into the lead at TRANSPAC
PHUKET: The 2013 Transpacific Yacht Race (TRANSPAC) started in perfect Southern California conditions on Monday July 8 with Thai entry Sansiri in the first of three starts in a westerly breeze of 15 knots. Co-skippered by Michael Spies and Thai sailor Patinyakorn Bunranrom, the five-strong crew on Sansiri are the first ever Thai entry in a global Ocean Race and…
-
Stalemate edges Phuket FC into fifth
PHUKET: The Islanders moved into fifth place of the 18-team Yamaha League One thanks to a goalless draw with second placed team, PTT Rayong on Saturday evening at Surakul Stadium, Phuket Town. Actual play only lasted 40 minutes, as this was the conclusion to the game abandoned on June 9 due to rainstorms over Phuket forced the match officials to…
-
Two more suspects sought in Phuket attack on Malaysian royal bodyguard
PHUKET: The five people accused of attacking a Malaysian royal family bodyguard in Patong in May continue to be held in Phuket as police pursue two additional suspects. “The court has issued arrest warrants for two Malaysian suspects,” said Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arun Kaewvatee. “We have sent the warrants to Malaysian police, who are searching for them,” he…
-
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Cat meat trade discovered
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand continues to slaughter cats for meat trade Coconuts Bangkok / Phuket Gazette The National News Bureau of Thailand reports that law enforcement officials have apprehended a “transnational” cat smuggler on the border between Thailand and Laos. The miscreant was caught transporting 90 cats into Laos,…
-
Phuket Gazette World News: Obama calls for calm in Zimmerman protests; Thein Sein in UK; Uganda fears refugee crisis; Italian lawmaker becomes monkey man; Aussie gored in Pamps bull run
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Obama calls for calm after Zimmerman acquittal; protests held Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama called for calm on Sunday after the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the shooting death of black teenager Trayvon Martin, as hundreds of civil rights demonstrators turned out at rallies…
-
Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Farmer credit fails; DSI ups Nenkham hunt; Cabinet to tackle violent oil palm land grab
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Credit cards fail to win over farmers The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Launched two years ago, the farmers’ credit-card scheme has proved to be anything but a success. As of June, only about Bt10 billion of credit was outstanding in the first phase from the…
-
Phuket Opinion: Keeping Chinese tourists safe by certifying more guides
Chaifu Saelee, 43, is a Chiang Mai native with a diploma in tourism from Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok. He worked as an interpreter for two years before joining Phuket Huang Tai Tour as a guide. He is now a guide with Phuket Super Holiday Travel. Here, he talks about how to increase safety for Chinese tourists in Phuket by helping…
-
Phuket Opinion: Thanks giving for 4th of July celebrations at Phuket Airpark
PHUKET: We would like to extend a most heartfelt thanks to every one of the many volunteer groups who worked together so well to make last weekend’s inaugural Phuket Airshow and Family Picnic such a successful charity event. The splendid festivities, timed to celebrate the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence 237 years ago, had so much going…
-
Phuket top province for Dengue Fever outbreak
PHUKET: Phuket is now listed as the highest ranking province in Thailand for Dengue Fever outbreaks, Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) Deputy Chief Dr Krit Sakulpat confirmed to the Phuket Gazete today. Despite the ranking, there is no reason to panic, said Dr Krit. “For the statistic, the number of patients is divided by the registered population, which in Phuket…
-
Phuket Poll: Chalong underpass: six routes diverge in chaos and I choose”¦ eh, um, err….
PHUKET: Underpasses are the new mega-project craze on Phuket as officials scramble to find long-term solutions to the island’s mounting traffic congestion. Work is already well underway for Phuket’s first underpass at the Darasamuth Intersection in front of the Central Festival Phuket shopping mall, which was started on November 23 last year (story here). The newest addition to several underpass…
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.