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

    Infinito helps hotels in Thailand with revenue management

    Maximising revenue and profit–isn’t that the ultimate goal for every business in the hospitality industry? If you run a hotel, you might have heard that revenue management is an effective way to boost your top-line revenue. It involves using data...

  • Phuket receives new Honorary Consul for Italy

    Phuket receives new Honorary Consul for Italy

    PHUKET: Dr Francesco Pensato has been proclaimed the Honorary Consul of Italy for Phuket and the rest of South Thailand. Dr Pensato, a lifelong patron of the arts and himself a composer of music, is also a director of the Thai-Italian Chamber of Commerce (TICC, website here) and chairman of TICC’s Phuket and Southern Region of Thailand Committee. Nominated for…

  • Rohingya rape suspect handed over to court

    Rohingya rape suspect handed over to court

    PHUKET: The Rohingya man charged by police with holding a 25-year-old Rohingya woman captive and raping her repeatedly over three days has been handed over to the Takuapa Court. Kuraburi Police relinquished custody of Korlimula Ramahatu yesterday after he conducted a re-enactment of the alleged crimes on Tuesday. “The suspect denied the rape charge,” Kuraburi Deputy Police Superintendent Chalerm Wannasathid…

  • Phuket manhunt for rapist who impregnated handicapped stepdaughter

    Phuket manhunt for rapist who impregnated handicapped stepdaughter

    PHUKET: Police are searching for a man who repeatedly raped his 15-year-old handicapped stepdaughter, leaving her pregnant before he ran away. The 40-year-old man, originally from Laos, has been at large since June 29, when his wife discovered what he had done. Police have not released a description of the man or a photograph. Patong Police received the report yesterday…

  • Family appeals for help with missing daughter in Phuket

    Family appeals for help with missing daughter in Phuket

    PHUKET: A 20-year-old woman on the verge of moving from Phuket back home to Nakhon Sri Thammarat has been reported missing by her family. Weerawit Sangpan, 28, told Thung Thong Police that his 29-year-old sister, Boonyanee, disappeared sometime early on Sunday. “We talked at midnight on Saturday. She sounded fine; we had a good conversation,” he told police. “She had…

  • Russian tourist dies in ICU after fateful Phuket swim

    Russian tourist dies in ICU after fateful Phuket swim

    PHUKET: The Russian tourist who was comatose after being pulled from the water at Karon Beach on June 23 died on Tuesday at Vachira Phuket Hospital. Kho Khay Gym, 31, had gone swimming with friends at Karon Beach when he was struck by big waves and dragged out to sea. His friends called for help and he was rescued by…

  • Lady Sevenstar will be manned by Phuket Raceweek’s first all female crew

    Lady Sevenstar will be manned by Phuket Raceweek’s first all female crew

    PHUKET: Popular all women’s sailing team Lady Sevenstar has officially entered Asia’s most exciting regatta, the Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Race Week (click here for map, held from 17 – 21 July. “It looked liked we were going to miss the race this time as our usual boat, FireFly Lady Sevenstar /aka the Frog, was not available. Miraculously, in the…

  • Phuket raid nets B100mn of pirated goods in Patong

    Phuket raid nets B100mn of pirated goods in Patong

    PHUKET: A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) task force in Phuket yesterday arrested seven people and seized pirated goods with an estimated street value of more than 100 million baht. Armed with a search warrant and joined by officers from the Patong Police, the DSI agents raided two three-story shophouses in Soi Sukcharoen, off Phang Muang Sai Kor Road in…

  • Phuket rescue launched for Bangladeshi cargo ship: 17 crew rescued, 13 missing

    Phuket rescue launched for Bangladeshi cargo ship: 17 crew rescued, 13 missing

    PHUKET: The Royal Thai Navy has launched an air-sea rescue effort to recover the missing crew from Bangladeshi cargo ship MV Hope after the vessel capsized in heavy seas south of Phuket early this morning.The MV Hope, registered at 97 meters long, started taking on water in heavy seas at about 1:10am, reported Capt Thammawat Malaisukkarin, Director of the Naval…

  • Young cricketers deliver in Phuket Sawadee League

    Young cricketers deliver in Phuket Sawadee League

    PHUKET: Young cricket talent took part in another round of the Phuket Cricket Group’s (PCG) “Sawasdee League” at the Alan Cooke Ground (ACG) last weekend. Although the international school teams were absent, four teams including representatives from the PCG’s Youth Academy, Baan Sapam and Thai Hua played some closely contested matches. The ACGround officially opened last year. Video: Phuket Today…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt celebrates Independence Day; Putin bans gay adoption; Ex-Taliban now in favor of women; Mexican drug lord slays school bullies

    Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt celebrates Independence Day; Putin bans gay adoption; Ex-Taliban now in favor of women; Mexican drug lord slays school bullies

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt army topples Mursi, suspends constitution Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egypt’s armed forces overthrew elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday and announced a political transition with the support of a wide range of political, religious and youth leaders.After a day of drama in which tanks and…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: World Peace under fire; Cabinet wows with vows; Five supercars seized; White masks suspend protest

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: World Peace under fire; Cabinet wows with vows; Five supercars seized; White masks suspend protest

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community World Peace chief welcomes DSI probe The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The World Peace University (WPU) yesterday denied any wrongdoing in the wake of emerging evidence that it has never been accorded the status of a “higher-education institute”.“We don’t cause any trouble. We just confer honorary doctorates,”…

  • More rain forecast as Phuket housing estate goes underwater

    More rain forecast as Phuket housing estate goes underwater

    PHUKET: More rain is forecast for the coming days as Phuket suffers heavy deluges causing minor flooding at locations across the island. More than 68mm of rainfall was recorded at Phuket International Airport yesterday and 56mm fell on Phuket Town, with both locales recording more than 25mm within a three-hour period. A three-hour rainstorm on Tuesday brought flooding again to…

  • Phuket unveils plans for Chalong underpass

    Phuket unveils plans for Chalong underpass

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut has unveiled six routes being considered for a new underpass to be built at Chalong Circle, by far the busiest junction in the south of the island.The new underpass will need to serve about 53,000 cars per day, accounting for about 60 per cent of all traffic in Muang District, he told the press at…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: 45 dead in Iraqi bombings; Mandela family feud twist; Wikileaks trial update; Outsiders are in – Tennis

    Phuket Gazette World News: 45 dead in Iraqi bombings; Mandela family feud twist; Wikileaks trial update; Outsiders are in – Tennis

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nearly 50 killed in Iraq bombings Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: At least 45 people were killed in bomb attacks across Iraq yesterday, most of them in busy markets and commercial areas of the capital Baghdad, police and medics said.The deadliest assault took place in the predominantly Shi’ite…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Missing monk wanted for money laundering; Chalerm unhappy; Yingluck warned of impeachment

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Missing monk wanted for money laundering; Chalerm unhappy; Yingluck warned of impeachment

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Monk had 10 bank accounts with daily transactions of Bt2m The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) has found 10 bank accounts under the name of Luang Pu Nenkham, who calls himself the abbot of Si Sa Ket’s “Wat Pa Khanti Dhamma”…

  • Illegal taxi drivers in Patong threaten Phuket governor with mob action

    Illegal taxi drivers in Patong threaten Phuket governor with mob action

    PHUKET: Illegal taxi drivers from Patong today threatened Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut with mass protests if the government does not do more to help them become legal. The naked threat was delivered today at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall immediately after the Governor’s monthly address to the Phuket media. “We need help from the governor to find a way…

  • Kratom user rats out Phuket drug dealer

    Kratom user rats out Phuket drug dealer

    PHUKET: A nervous drug suspect brought police back to his kratom dealer’s house after being busted at a Phuket checkpoint. The 19-year-old appeared suspicious to police as he arrived at a checkpoint established at Muang Mai – Pa Khlok Road yesterday. “We had the checkpoint set up to search for drugs and weapons in the crime prone area,” Thalang Police…

  • Phuket Police urge motorist safety as car flips into canal, more wet weather forecast

    Phuket Police urge motorist safety as car flips into canal, more wet weather forecast

    PHUKET: Phuket drivers are urged to drive defensively during the current rainy weather, said Patong Police Superintendent Chiraphat Pochanaphan this afternoon. “Wet roads have already caused several accidents in Phuket. Everyone should slow down while driving in rainy conditions,” he said. The warning follows an early morning accident in Patong today when a car flipped over into the Pak Bang…

  • Phantom sex noises in Phuket, voodoo suspected

    Phantom sex noises in Phuket, voodoo suspected

    PHUKET: An inconclusive police investigation has prompted a Phuket woman to publicly appeal for help in unravelling the mysterious “sex noises” she keeps hearing at her Chalong home. Onanong Waltham, 46, accompanied by her housemate Sujittraporn Tephabutra, made her public appeal at the Phuket Press Club yesterday afternoon. “I keep hearing moaning sounds in my house. It sounds like people…

  • Phuket driver escapes injury as car slams into tree

    Phuket driver escapes injury as car slams into tree

    PHUKET: A Phuket woman escaped serious injury late last night when her car slammed into a tree at high speed, ripping the engine from the vehicle and flinging it 50 meters from where the car came to rest.Maj Kittiphum Tinthalang of the Thalang Police received a report of the accident, on Srisoonthorn Road in Baan Manik, in central Phuket, at…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: US seeks to calm Europe; Firefighter deaths – Bow hunter gave warning; Monsignor code words

    Phuket Gazette World News: US seeks to calm Europe; Firefighter deaths – Bow hunter gave warning; Monsignor code words

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. seeks to calm European outrage over alleged spying Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.S. President Barack Obama tried to reassure European allies affronted by reports of U.S. spying yesterday, but suggested all the world’s intelligence services were involved in finding out the thinking of opponents and allies…

  • Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Healthcare funds in intensive care; Govt caves in on rice; Secret Deep South talks; Supercar probe: DSI IDs BMW

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Healthcare funds in intensive care; Govt caves in on rice; Secret Deep South talks; Supercar probe: DSI IDs BMW

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Govt urged to find new funds for health security The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Given the rising cost of the country’s healthcare costs, prominent health economists yesterday urged the government to seek alternative financial sources to support medical insurance schemes.Collecting tax from the sale of unhealthy food…

  • Phuket lifeguard contract signed – budget remains unaltered

    Phuket lifeguard contract signed – budget remains unaltered

    PHUKET: In the aftermath of Phuket’s deadliest beach weekend and the first-time-ever forced closure of sections of beaches by lifeguards, the Phuket Lifeguard Club’s contract with the local government has been renewed, but only for 10 months (story here). “The contract was renewed on June 28 and will last for 10 months,” an officer at the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization…

  • Interview with a Thai TRANSPAC sailor

    Interview with a Thai TRANSPAC sailor

    PHUKET: Local sailor Mr Patinyakorn Buranrom is set to become the first Thai sailor to skipper a yacht in a major international yacht race when he competes this coming week in the Transpacific Yacht Race (TRANSPAC) from Los Angeles to Honolulu. Mr Patinyakorn Buranrom from Phuket, and a member of Ao Chalong Yacht Club, spoke to the Gazette about the…

  • Phuket Grimes brothers’ karting season speeds up

    Phuket Grimes brothers’ karting season speeds up

    PHUKET: Ben and Sam Grimes’ 125cc Junior Class karting season continues at a blistering pace. The brothers recently completed two rounds of the Thai National Championship and two rounds of the Rotax Asia Max Challenge (AMC) series, held in Malaysia. At round two of the Thai Championship in Saraburi, Ben qualified fourth with Sam coming in seventh. An erratic race…

  • Retired Microsoft expat found dead in Phuket luxury villa pool

    Retired Microsoft expat found dead in Phuket luxury villa pool

    PHUKET: A retired Microsoft engineer was found dead this morning in his Phuket luxury villa pool located at Ao Makham.The body of the 69-year-old American expat was floating face down in the pool when police arrived at the scene.“He was wearing black swimming trunks. There was blood around his ear – but no trace of a struggle,” said Lt Anurak…

  • Phuket FC loses direction as FA Cup draws them to Bangkok

    Phuket FC loses direction as FA Cup draws them to Bangkok

    PHUKET: The Islanders were unable to maintain their top-five standing in conclusion to the Yamaha League One (YL1) 2013 season’s first half, losing at home 0-1 on Saturday evening to a more-determined Nakhon Ratchasima FC. Phuket FC’s fixture list is rapidly becoming congested facing two-and-a-half matches in just eight days, including an away match in the FA Cup to SCG…

  • Phuket Raceweek expects big fleet to blow in

    Phuket Raceweek expects big fleet to blow in

    PHUKET: The award-winning Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek is set to welcome a large multinational fleet of boats to its 10th edition, to be held July 17-21 at Cape Panwa Hotel off the Southeastern tip of the island. Over the last 12 months, regattas around the region have experienced a decline in entries, however, Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket Raceweek looks…

  • Blaze engulfs Phuket cable yard

    Blaze engulfs Phuket cable yard

    PHUKET: Fire broke out at the TT&T cable yard on Thepkrasattri Road in Koh Kaew last night, causing an estimated 10 million baht in damage. No injuries were reported. Firefighters arrived soon after 8pm to find the yard next to the TT&T main office building – located opposite the Isuzu showroom, north of Boat Lagoon (map here) – engulfed in…

  • Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt locked in standoff, millions protest; EU confronts US on spying; Aussies back Rudd; Iraq football bombing; Nigeria mass jailbreak

    Phuket Gazette World News: Egypt locked in standoff, millions protest; EU confronts US on spying; Aussies back Rudd; Iraq football bombing; Nigeria mass jailbreak

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Egypt locked in standoff after millions rally against Mursi Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Egypt was locked in a tense standoff on Monday after millions of protesters swarmed into the streets to demand the resignation of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi and militants set the ruling Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters…