News
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Sponsored How to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses in Thailand?
Managing medical expenses in Thailand is important as healthcare costs continue to rise. The country’s healthcare system includes both public and private options, but even with the Universal Coverage Scheme (UCS) for citizens, many still face high out-of-pocket medical expenses....
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Officials raze illegal plantations in Krabi
Yesterday (May 9) the Chief of the Hat Nopparat – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, Worapoj Lomlim raided a plantation in Krabi to demolish rubber, durian and stink bean trees which are aged around seven to ten years. Nearly 100 officials attended the raid to assist in the razing of the illegal crops. The Chief claims that more than 2,000 trees were encroaching on…
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Rain expected in many provinces in Thailand up to the weekend
PHOTO: Colin Gallagher All regions in Thailand are expecting increased rainfall from now until the weekend while officials in many provinces are mopping up the damage left behind by recent storms. TMD has issued weather warnings for thunderstorms and heavy rain up to May 13 as a high-pressure trough from China extends across the upper part of Thailand while southeasterly…
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Stunning Malaysian election result ousts Barisan Nasional
FILE PHOTO Malaysia’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition has crossed the minimum threshold of 112 seats needed to form government in Malaysia. The Election Commission continue to count a few remaining votes this morning but have confirmed the win of the Pakatan Harapan party and coalition members. The result brings to an end the rule of Barisan Nasional (BN) and…
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Motorbike taxi driver arrested after robbing Australian tourist
A reenactment was held at Rawai Palm Beach Resort, opposite the Rawai Municipality yesterday (May 9) led by Chalong Police Chief Col Pakayot Tanongsak together with Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos. The suspect in the re-enacment was 48 year old Tanapon Sukjam, a motorbike taxi driver from Surat Thani who’s stationed at Rawai Beach. On May 8, around 3:30am, Tanapon robbed…
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Paklok community release new marine life to counter over-fishing in the region
The Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong attended activities yesterday (May 8) at the Baan Para Pier in Paklok at 4pm. Joining him were the Chief of the Phuket office of the Department of Fisheries, Kowit Kaoean and others. Mr Kowit says, “Our marine resources are being degenerated and decreased as illegal fisheries equipment continue to be used and there are many fisheries…
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JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa appoints new GM Matthias Y. Sutter
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa is delighted to announce the appointment of Matthias Y. Sutter as the General Manager who brings with him a wealth of knowledge and 18 years of luxury hospitality expertise. In this role, he will be primarily responsible for managing the hotel operations and maintaining the exceptional services of the 265-room keys luxury Phuket resort…
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Nigerian man arrested with cocaine in Thalang
A team of the Thalang Police today (May 9) have arrested a 32 year old Nigerian man, Emeh Tobechukwu Kyran. He was arrested at a checkpoint on Thapkrasattri Road southbound in front of Thalang Police Station at 2.30am this morning. He was found cocaine with totaling 44.7grams. The arrest came after Kyran, who was driving a car, was stopped by…
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Chalong Hospital ‘phase one’ expected to be ready this November
The first section of the Chalong Hospital is expected to be fully operational in time for this year’s high-season. Chalong Mayor Samran Jindaphol says, “There are many tourists visiting Chalong along with the expats living there. It is very important to have a fully operational hospital in this area. Nearly one hour is needed for the transportation from the Chalong…
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Choking driver smashes into roadside shop in Chumpon
A driver who claims he was choking on a pill, lost control of his pickup truck which smashed a phad thai shop on a popular food street in Chumphon, severely injuring the food vendor. Police report that the accident happened at 6pm last night, a busy time on the so-called “food street” in the heart of the Lang Suan downtown…
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Maybe this idea might get off the ground – Uber takes to the skies
Uber has held its second annual “flying taxi” conference in LA showcasing its prototype future taxi service and promising to revolutionise the way we get around busy urban areas.. Embraer and Pipistrel Aircraft, two aircraft manufacturers that are working with Uber, released new concept images of aircraft they plan to build for the ride-hailing company’s ambitious project. Karem, also based…
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Police crackdown on Kathu and Patong pharmacies selling unlisted drugs
Officials from Kathu District Office led by Kathu District Chief Somprach Prabsongkram along with a pharmacist from the Phuket Public Health Office (PPHO), randomly checked pharmacies in the Kathu District this week. Three pharmacies in Patong have been checked and found to be legal. Police were checking for sales of cough syrups that could be used to mix with Kratom…
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Swedish man dies after allegedly jumping from 8th floor of a Phuket hotel
A Swedish man has died after allegedly jumping from the balcony of a Patong hotel. Patong Police were notified of the incident at 3:35pm yesterday (May 8). Together with rescue workers and Patong medical staff, they arrived at the hotel on Rat Uthit 200 Pi Road in Patong. At a parking area near the building they found the body of a…
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Changes to visa applications at the Thai Consulate-General in Penang
The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Penang has announced changes to its acceptance and delivery of visas. Penang, Malaysia, has been a popular destination for expats and tourists to head to, particularly from Phuket. There is an entire visa-run industry heading out of the island each day heading for Penang with hotels, restaurants and taxis all ready for the daily hordes…
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Soi Dog Saturday Opening Tours – come and meet your future best friend
Last Saturday, May 5, Soi Dog Foundation welcomed Phuket’s media to visit the Gill Dalley’s Sanctuary located in Mai Khao. The day was held to promote the extended visitor times to allow weekday-work people to experience one of Phuket’s most popular attractions – meet and mingle with small dogs, cats and kittens. The tour starts at 9.30-10.30am and led by…
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Bangkok bus engulfed in flames
Early morning traffic was held up as a Bangkok bus was engulfed in flames on the busy Sukhumvit Road today. No one was injured in the incident. Jor Sor 100 traffic radio station reported that the fire started at 9.31am on Sukhumvit Road in front of the Gateway Ekamai shopping mall. Police closed a section of the inbound Sukhumvit Road,…
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One death in Krabi from Dengue Fever
“From Jan 1 to May 5 there are 266 of Dengue Fever patients which are 57.08 per 100,000 of populations. The numbers of patients are always similar at around this time of the year.” This from the Deputy Director of Krabi Public Heath Office Doctor Chalermpol Osotpromma. “One patient has died from Dengue Fever in Krabi this year. Most patients who are…
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Tour operators called to discuss accident prevention
A meeting has been held at the Phuket Tourism and Sports Office this week led by Tourist Police commander Col Tongchai Wilaiprom together with the Director of the Phuket Provincial Office of Tourism and Sports, Sirawee Waloh. Joining them were local Phuket tour operators. Col Tongchai says “In recent years many tourists have died and been injured in marine and road accidents. These incidents…
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Spa fire in Koh Sirey under investigation
The Phuket City Police are still investigating a fire at a spa in Rassada on Saturday (May 5). When Police arrived at the spa a sauna room on the first floor had already been badly damaged. Investigators found burn marks on electric wired and a circuit breaker. A small section ceiling of the ceiling had been partly destroyed. No injuries…
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Phuket-Norway co-operation to promote local use of Electrical Vehicles (EVs)
A meeting was held yesterday (May 7) at the Phuket Provincial Hall hosted by the Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong and the Thai Ambassador to Norway, Prasittiporn Wetprasit. Joining them were Phuket’s Vice Governor Thawornwat Kongkaew along with a representative from Oslo, Sture Portuik and a representative from private sector, Snorre Sletvold. Mr Prasittiporn says, ”The government are supporting Electric Vehicles…
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OPINION: Travelling north – The PM woos his past political foes
Despite his protestations to the contrary, the Thai PM is leveraging himself exactly where he needs to be 9 months out from the scheduled national election. A day in the north-east, courting his former red shirt foes, shows that there’s little integrity in politics, no matter who or where you are. Still, completely straight faced, the PM was marching around…
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Fire destroys wooden house in Rassada
Officers from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) stationed at Rassada Municipality were notified of a fire in Soi Tha Jeen in Rassada, Phuket at 5:40pm yesterday (May 6). Fire fighters with three fire trucks along with the Phuket City Police arrived at the scene to find the wooden house well ablaze. It took about an hour to…
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Rain in most parts of the country forecast this week
All the water pistols and buckets of water over Songkran have done the job. It’s been raining around most of Thailand since the Thai New Year 2018, and there’s more to come. The TMD (Thai Meteorological Department) expects that the capital and several rural provinces will experience more rainfall from today up to the weekend. Bangkok and its vicinity have…
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Phuket’s private sector donates money to help Chalong Hospital
This morning (May 7), 9:30am thank-you certificates were handed out to people who have been donating money to assist in the completion of the Chalong Hospital, currently still under construction (the Accident and Emergency Section is already in operation). Certificates were given out by the Director of Vachira Phuket Hospital Doctor Chalermpong Sukontapon along with Director of Chalong Hospital Doctor…
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70 kilogram marbled whipray found in Krabi
A marbled whipray was found in Klongtom by a local fisherman 67 year old Mardya Tamsuan. Mr Mardya caught the whipray while he was fishing this early morning (May 7). The red big whipray is 1.5 metres diameter and two metre from head to tail. The whipray weighs about 70 kilograms. Mr Mardya says, “I took off from the shore…
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Two arrested with drugs and guns
Over the past few days a team of Sakoo Police led by Lt Col Urampohn Kundetsamrit have arrested 17 year old ‘Oat’ and 18 year old Permsak Somsakfrom, both from Phuket. Oat was found with 80 millilitres of liquid kratom inside a pot, one bottle of ‘Datissin’ cough syrup, a can of Pepsi, 50grams of kratom leaf and 400 millilitres of…
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22 year old killed after female driver speeds through red light in Chumpon
PHOTO: Daily News Police were called to the scene of an accident on the Asia Highway in Lang Suan, Chumpon on Saturday night. They found 22 year old Kampanat Pin-Ek dead in the central reservation. Nearby was his Honda Click motorcycle. He had been dragged 50 meters under the front wheel of a Bangkok registered Vigo pick up driven by…
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Activists challenge the Thai PM with three demands
Pro-election activists threatened to march to Government House on the fourth anniversary of the 2014 coup if the ruling junta fails to respond to their call for an election in November. The NCPO seized power on May 22, 2014 in a bloodless coup on the premise that it needed to stop Thai’s protesting violently in the streets of Bangkok. The…
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Thai Kane Shepherd heads to F3 Asian Championship 2018
Kane Shepherd, Thailand’s young motorsports star, is racing in the inaugural Formula 3 Asian Championships, certified by the governing body Fédération International de l’Automobile (FIA). Asian motorsports hit another milestone this year with the introduction of the Formula 3 Asian Championships, certified by the governing body Fédération International de l’Automobile (FIA). The championship, which adopts the federation’s new single chassis,…
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Malaysian PM in a fight for his political life
Just south of Thailand there is a looming political showdown that is likely to reshape Malaysian politics, no matter what happens at Wednesday’s polls. It’s the country’s 14 election since independence. On one side a politically-stained, long-sitting incumbent trying to cling onto power. On the other side an opposition led my the incumbent’s former mentor – the 92 year old Mahathir…
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Wipawee wins in Krabi – fifth win of the year
Wipawee Pratumsuwan after winning in Krabi Race favourite Wipawee Pratumsuwan racked up yet another title, clocking 1:36.34 hours to win the women’s 21km race at the Bangkok Airways Krabi Half Marathon yesterday (Sunday). The 27 year old assistant teacher, who spends most of her weekends competing, clocked eight minutes faster than runner-up Siriphat Bootjen, who crossed the finish line in…
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