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 Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort puts sustainability at its heart
The term sustainability is often thrown around as a buzzword in the hospitality industry, but at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, it’s genuinely part of their mission. Located in Makham Bay, just south of Phuket Town, the beautiful resort puts...
-
Bangkok Airways flight postponed due to “bomb’ scare
PHUKET: Panic ensued on a Bangkok Airways flight when cabin crew feared a bomb threat after overhearing a conversation between a group of passengers yesterday afternoon. Staff on Bangkok Airways flight PG 924 from Bangkok to Phuket reported that prior to take-off, four passengers on the flight were overheard talking about ‘explosions’ with each other, said Sirote Duangratana, the general…
-
One dead, two missing after Phuket canoe flips
PHUKET: One man is dead and two are still missing after the canoe they were taking to a yacht anchored near Koh Sireh in Phuket capsized last night. Rescue workers were able to recover Visut Prasert, 58, and Santhaya Kasikun, 9, from the water, shortly after the canoe flipped at about 10pm. Mr Visut was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital…
-
Phuket orangutan discovered caged in jungle
PHUKET: Khao Phra Thaeo Non Hunting Zone officers discovered a missing 13-year-old orangutan Saturday evening after she disappeared from the Phuket Zoo ahead of a police raid on Friday. “Milo was found in a healthy condition,” Edwin Weik, the founder and director of Wildlife Friends of Thailand (WFFT), told the Phuket Gazette. “I do not believe that she went missing…
-
Brother-in-law of ex-mayor arrested after standoff with CIB
PHUKET: Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers swarmed the home of former Rassada mayor Suratin Lian-udom on Saturday morning during a standoff with suspected drug dealers (story here). CIB officers were informed that those living in the home may be involved in an influential drug network on the island, confirmed CIB Commander Maj Gen Chatchai Eamsang. Officers from the Crime Suppression…
-
Phuket beach vendor arrested for encroachment
PHUKET: A Phuket vendor caught encroaching on public land at Bang Tao Beach was arrested Saturday afternoon. “Jakkrit Dechana, 28, was arrested with three wooden tables and 10 chairs,” said Col Bancha Panpradap, an officer with the Region 5 Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division (NED). Mr Jakkrit told police he was only in charge of taking care of…
-
Indian army recapture Delhi water source, caste protests continue
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Indian army recapture Delhi water source, caste protests continue Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: The Indian army has taken control of a canal that supplies three-fifths of Delhi’s water, the state’s chief minister said on Monday, raising hope that a water crisis in the metropolis of…
-
Uber driver suspected in Michigan shootings, six dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Uber driver suspected in Michigan shootings, six dead Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A Michigan man who worked as an Uber [UBER.UL] driver was under arrest on Sunday in the fatal shooting of six people in Kalamazoo, as police investigated reports he may have driven customers…
-
Scarred by trafficking abuses, Rohingya stay put in Myanmar camps
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Scarred by trafficking abuses, Rohingya stay put in Myanmar camps Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: After Husaina’s 20-year-old son boarded a boat to escape poverty and discrimination in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, she heard nothing from him for seven months. Then, in a shocking phone call, she…
-
Island View: Pollution in Paradise
PHUKET: In 2015, Delhi was named the world’s most polluted city. When I first saw this report, it made me think back 10 years ago when I was a university student in Phuket and went to Bangkok for a three-month internship. Nearly a decade ago, everything in Bangkok was good – except for the air pollution. The main reason was…
-
Kusoldharm Foundation worker killed in three-vehicle crash
PHUKET: A Kusoldharm Foundation worker was killed yesterday afternoon after he crashed his bike and was dragged underneath a bus in Phuket Town. Police found Sakpayom ‘Ajarn Jack’ Tarapong, 36, lying in the road near the rear wheel of a bus and a parked vehicle, confirmed Maj Somchai Nooboon of the Phuket City Police. “According to the bus driver, Nukul…
-
CSD raids home of former Rassada mayor’s wife
About a hundred officers led by the Crime Suppression Division this morning surrounded the house of former Rassada Mayor Suratin Lian-udom’s wife, as the Central Investigation Bureau continues raids throughout the island. Several suspects were apprehended after declining to be searched and resisting arrest. Mr Suratin was not at home at the time and was not the apparent target of…
-
Opinion: Floating ideas
PHUKET: The spike in the number of marine related accidents in the Andaman is an issue of great concern. The beauty of the Andaman’s marine attractions is a major draw for tourists, but the recent deaths of a French snorkeller and Chinese diver, the maiming of two Russian divers and other marine fatalities so far this year is turning the…
-
Across the Land: The persistent growing pains of Phuket
PHUKET: Last month, MasterCard Asia Pacific Destinations Index 2015 announced that Thailand is the most popular regional travel destination for 2015, with three of its cities making the top ten list. Bangkok was the most popular, followed by Phuket in fifth place and Pattaya in eighth. The survey was based on 167 destinations from 22 countries across Asia Pacific and…
-
Ultraman World Champion to swim around Phuket
PHUKET: Swedish Ultraman World Champion Jonas Colting will undertake the first ‘Swim Around Phuket’. If successful, he will be the first swimmer to circumnavigate the island. Another aim of the mission is to raise funds for the Yaowawit School, a government-approved boarding school for children from underprivileged families, initially founded to help children who were victims of the 2004 tsunami.…
-
![Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video] | Thaiger](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0naHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmcnIHZpZXdCb3g9JzAgMCAzMzAgMjIwJz48L3N2Zz4=)
Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video]
PHUKET: Karon Beach is preparing its sands for the Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket powered by PTT on March 23 through March 27. The international amateur beach volley tournament will feature three classes: two X two men, two X two women and four X four mixed. After preliminary pooled games, the men’s two X two event will be divided into…
-
Phuket orangutan “disappears’ ahead of police raid
PHUKET: A 13-year-old orangutan that conservationists were fighting to free from Phuket Zoo has gone missing, confirmed Wildlife Friends of Thailand (WFFT). “Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (NRECD) of the Royal Thai Police and Department of National Parks (DNP) agreed to investigate the case of Milo, agreeing to raid the zoo this morning,” Edwin Weik, the founder and director…
-
Rawai sea gypsies turn down government offer
PHUKET: The Rawai sea gypsies have turned down the provincial government’s offer to purchase 19 rai of disputed land (story here), insisting that the land deeds must be revoked entirely. Reasons for the most recent refusal in the prolonged land dispute between landowners and the sea gypsies were that the sea gypsies believe the land deeds were unlawfully acquired so…
-
Van driver crushed in early morning collision
PHUKET: A van driver was killed when he reportedly slammed into the back of an 18-wheeler truck on Thepkrasattri Road early this morning. It took rescue workers about 40 minutes to remove driver Nate Saengpayap, 35, from the vehicle, confirmed Lt Col Sanit Nookong of the Thalang Police. “Mr Nate was not transporting any passengers in his van at the…
-
Australia, New Zealand urge China show restraint in South China Sea
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Australia, New Zealand urge China show restraint in South China Sea Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Australia and New Zealand on Friday strongly urged China to refrain from stoking tensions in the South China Sea after its apparent deployment of surface-to-air missiles on a disputed island.…
-
AirAsia CEO: cheap oil paves way to revive expansion
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community AirAsia CEO: cheap oil paves way to revive expansion Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: With low oil prices reducing its operating costs, AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said the budget carrier was ready to start expanding again in southeast Asia and was eyeing Vietnam and the…
-
CIB nabs illegal jet-ski operators in Phuket
PHUKET: A total of 28 jet-ski operators were arrested during a Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) raid on Phuket yesterday. Despite numerous accidents and a legacy of scamming tourists, jet-ski operators have continued to work under an umbrella of lax enforcement of jet-ski rules and regulations. “We arrested the jet-ski operators for renting their vehicles to tourists without provincial permission,” said…
-
OrBorTor council head survives drive-by shooting
KRABI: Police are searching for multiple suspects wanted for the attempted murder of the Ao Luek Noi Administration Organization (OrBorTor) council head. Rorseff Kasirak, 55, sustained serious injuries after a group of men pulled up to his home and fired about 10 rounds Wednesday night, confirmed Capt Manat Inprom of the Ao Luek Police. Mr Rorseff was struck in the…
-
Upcoming alcohol ban for Makha Bucha Day
PHUKET: A nationwide ban on the sale and purchase of alcohol will be in place for 24 hours on Monday out of respect for Makha Bucha Day. “Letters will be sent to night entertainment business operators to inform them of the ban,” Peerayuth Karajedee, Phuket Provincial Police deputy commander, told the Phuket Gazette this morning. “According to trading laws, entertainment…
-
Video Report: Officials hunt boat caught anchoring on corals
PHUKET: Officials are hunting down the company that owns a boat that was caught on video anchoring in fragile corals off Koh Racha Yai. The video shows the anchor biting into a coral bommie with the metal chain laying across a few species of corals. The anchor is connected to a rope tied to the boat, which the cameraman clearly…
-
Video Report: First Thailand Yacht Show a resounding success
PHUKET: The first government-sponsored Thailand Yacht Show attracted almost 5,000 visitors in four days, say the organizers, who hailed the inaugural event a resounding success and believe it will put Phuket firmly on the map as a regional hub for the marine leisure industry. A total of 43 boats from a variety of locala and international boat builders and brokers…
-
Phuket, Tangier plan twin-city partnership
PHUKET: A twin-cities partnership between Phuket and Tangier is in the works following a meeting between the Phuket governor and the Moroccan ambassador to Thailand. “About 10,000 Moroccans visit Phuket each year,” said His Excellency Ambassador Abdelilah El Housni. “Although this number may not seem large, most of these are luxury travelers who own private jets and stay for an…
-
Almost A Decade Ago: WWII relics and superyachts
PHUKET: As the Phuket Gazette plunged in with its first-ever Thailand Yacht Show Special Edition, we narrowed the gap in ‘A Decade Ago’ to 9-years-and-9-months ago… for the sake of marine thematics. Skipping over what is without a doubt a very dry page one at the beginning of the rainy season, let’s dive to the depths of a small story…
-
Zika vaccine shows promise in mice, lifting maker Inovio
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Zika vaccine shows promise in mice, lifting maker Inovio Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Hopes of developing a vaccine against Zika took a small step forward on Wednesday as Inovio Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its experimental shot had induced a robust and durable response in mice. Shares…
-
Apple opposes order to help unlock California shooter’s phone
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Apple opposes order to help unlock California shooter’s phone Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Apple Inc opposed a court ruling on Tuesday that ordered it to help the FBI break into an iPhone recovered from a San Bernardino shooter, heightening a dispute between tech companies and…
-
Phuket to double direct flights from St Petersburg
PHUKET: Phuket will double its weekly flights to and from St Petersburg, Russia due to a sharp increase in the number of Russian tourists on the island, a government spokesperson confirmed. “We will add 14 weekly flights between St Petersburg and Phuket to the already existing flights,” said Deputy Government Spokesman Maj Gen Sunsern Kaewkumnerd. During Tuesday’s Thailand-Russia aviation conference…
![Thailand Beach Volley Festival coming to Karon Beach [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/4_2016220103833722_befeUubbmSCpXLeQUIsKkrqHWJFqEGWflCJFwkhj_jpeg.jpeg)
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.