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.
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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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USA’s Kessy joins up with Sweat to top Pool G at Phuket Open
PHUKET: USA’s Jennifer Kessy and Brooke Sweat top Pool G after securing two wins on the first day of pool play at the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball Phuket Open yesterday. The penultimate Open of the year is back in Thailand for its eighth consecutive year, taking place from October 28 to November 3. Kessy/Sweat were first on court at 9:00…
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Report: Global wealth has doubled since 2000
PHUKET: A decade of negative real returns on equities, as well as more recent bear markets and housing bubbles bursting, has understandably made commentators cautious, even when there is good economic news. Nevertheless, the 2013 Crédit Suisse Global Wealth Report published recently has concluded that in spite of all this, global wealth has more than doubled since 2000, reaching a…
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Baburina/Mulenko dig deep to knock out top seeded qualifiers at Phuket Open
PHUKET: Svitlana Baburina and Diana Mulenko from Ukraine knocked out top seeded qualifiers Sweden’s Nina Grawender and Karin Lundqvist at the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball Phuket Open yesterday. The penultimate Open of the year is back in Thailand for its eighth consecutive year, taking place from October 28 to November 3. Baburina/Mulenko had the longest time on court in the…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Dogged by dissent, Israel frees 26; Politicians talk too much – Britain; NSA defends spying
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dogged by dissent, Israel frees 26 Palestinian prisoners Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Israel freed 26 Palestinian prisoners on Wednesday, the second stage of a limited amnesty designed to help U.S.-sponsored peace talks that have been dogged by divisions on both sides.The inmates, convicted of murder in the…
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It’s raining snakes in Phuket Town
PHUKET: Recent heavy rainfall has led to a jump in large snakes being nabbed in Phuket, with four rounded up in Phuket Town in the last 24 hours.One of the four giant snakes, a three-meter python, made a dramatic entry into a Phuket Town bedroom by tumbling through a vent.“I heard noise that sounded like something had fallen off my…
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In memory of “Mrs Palmer of the Phuket Hash House Harriers’
Well-known local healer and Phuket triathlete Richard Patrick Cracknell, 66, passed away in Hawaii in the care of his son Jesse on October 24. He succumbed to complications arising from an idiopathic degenerative motor neuron disease (MND).PHUKET: This singular American athlete and healer, known by the Phuket Hash House Harriers (Phuket HHH) as Mrs Palmer, arrived in Phuket in the…
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Traffic resumes after 10-wheeler flips on Patong Hill
PHUKET: Both lanes of traffic resumed up Patong hill (map here) shortly after a flipped 10-wheeler was hauled away. The driver of the truck lost control at about 11:30am on the notorious section of road in Phuket. The truck flipped and crashed into a sedan, Lt Jaruwat Tiamnaka told the Phuket Gazette. “Fortunately nobody was injured,” Lt Jaruwat said. —…
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Phuket Opinion: Climate change of opinion
PHUKET: Whenever I read the letters in a national newspaper, or dare to utter the phrase “climate change” in a bar, someone invariably seems to want to take issue with the idea of global warming. There have always been skeptics – usually from vested commercial or political interests. Proponents of climate change have been branded “criminals” by Lord Monckton, advocates…
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New Region 8 Police Commander demands crime-free beaches
PHUKET: The new Police Region 8 Commander on Sunday demanded that officers in Karon and Patong include beaches in their patrol zones. “In order for tourists to truly relax and have a good time, they must feel safe, even on the beach,” said Police Region 8 Commander Panya Mamen on his first official visit to Phuket. In Karon, Lt Gen…
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Phuket’s Thanyapura extends its challenge
PHUKET: The island’s active and healthy lifestyle destination, Thanyapura Sports and Leisure Center, is extending its commitments to developing sporting excellence in athletes and enthusiasts of all abilities and ages by hosting the Thanyapura Junior Challenge Triathlon, part of the Challenge Laguna Phuket Tri-Fest 2013, on Saturday, November 30. With participants divided into Junior (6-8 years), Intermediate (9-12) and Senior…
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FIVB Phuket Open starts today – Beach Volleyball
PHUKET: World No 1 Taiana Lima and Talita Da Rocha Antunes of Brazil head the seedings of the Phuket Thailand Open, powered by PTT, which starts at Karon Beach today. Seeded second in the six-day competition are compatriots Maria Clara Salgado Rufino and Carolina Solberg Salgado, ranked No 3 in the world. Other seeds include the German pair of Laura…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Bomb disposal veteran killed; Business says no to blanket amnesty; Drug mule caught with 7kg of cocaine
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Revered bomb disposal expert among 3 killed The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Pol Sub-Lt Shaen Warongphaisit, a police bomb-disposal veteran whose face was familiar to both locals and reporters covering the South insurgency, was yesterday laid to rest from his tiring and dangerous job after succumbing to…
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Former Central Festival Phuket security guard robs shops of ex-employer
PHUKET: Police arrested a former Central Festival mall security guard yesterday for stealing over two dozen phones from the mall.Kitti Pueanrak, 23, went to the mall to watch an evening movie on October 21, said Wichit Police Deputy Superintendent Jakkrawath Boontaweekulsawas.When the movie ended, Mr Kitti went down the escalator and slipped into the mobile phone section one floor below.…
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Low minimum access to a Wall Street legend
PHUKET: I have followed the performance of the Abraham Trading Company for many years but it has always been off limits for use with the vast majority of my clients. As has happened with a lot of high-class money managers recently, a low minimum feeder has been opened that allows access to your average offshore investor. What I like about…
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Understanding financial adviser fees – Phuket Investor
PHUKET: Let’s be upfront and say that while no one likes paying fees, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and I, as a financial adviser providing financial advice, along with those on Wall Street who create investment products all need “to eat”, so to speak. That said, there is no reason for you to pay unnecessary or…
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Daughter pleas for help in finding missing father
PHUKET: A distressed woman made a public plea for help in the search for her father, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease and wandered away from home on Saturday afternoon.Benjawan Moonket, 29, filed a missing person report with the Thalang Police at about 5:30pm yesterday.“The missing person is Muang Moonket, 60. He was last seen at about 1pm on Saturday,…
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Ships, planes north of Phuket warned of possible Indian rocket fallout
PHUKET: Ships and planes were warned yesterday to stay away from the Phang Nga coast, north of Phuket, on November 5 as India will launch a rocket that might jettison a fuel tank into the area.“India’s space center told us that the launch would possibly be on November 5, because the weather on that day is expected to be suitable…
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100 SuperCheap workers unaccounted for at Employment Office
PHUKET: None of the 100 Burmese staff who reportedly resigned from SuperCheap after the fire at the megashop have reported their resignations to the Phuket Provincial Employment Office (PPEO).The workers are required by law to report their resignation by November 1, Yaowapa Pibulpol, chief of the PPEO, told the Phuket Gazette.“I have no idea why none of them have shown…
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South Africa considers consulate in Phuket
PHUKET: South African Ambassador Ruby Marks met with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut on Friday to discuss the possibility of opening a consulate on the island.“South Africa has a consulate in Chiang Mai, and now they are considering adding one in Southern Thailand,” Gov Maitri said.“Phuket is a logical choice because we have so many South African visitors – 77,915 last…
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Heavy drinking Phuket chef, 44, found dead from heart failure
PHUKET: A 44-year-old chef was found dead from heart failure in his room on Friday, just a week after starting a new job. The body of Chalong Tiwiyang was found on the floor of his staff bedroom at Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa at about 6pm on Friday evening. Police estimate Mr Chalong had been dead for about 10 hours.…
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Kvik-start your future – Phuket Business
PHUKET: The Danish kitchen brand Kvik, known for its high-quality, low prices and fast delivery times, has rapidly expanded its presence in Thailand over the last year and is on the lookout for business partners in Phuket. Kvik Associate Thomas Sorensen explained that as part of Kvik’s current expansion, the company is offering an unprecedented support package to its new…
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FIVB beach volleyball is looking good
PHUKET: The venue at Karon beach which is hosting the US$146,400 Phuket Thailand Open powered by PTT beach volleyball tournament, the penultimate stop on the 2013 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour is ready for start of play tomorrow. The courts have been laid down and the center court grandstand is in place, along with the temporary offices for the various…
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Phuket tour bus slams into motorists, shophouse; ‘brake failure’ cited, again
PHUKET: Three people were injured when a Phuket tour bus slammed into traffic waiting at the busy Slaughterhouse Intersection in Phuket Town (map here) just after midday yesterday. No tourists were on board the bus at the time of the accident, but the juggernaut slammed into two cars and three motorbikes before it came to a halt when it plowed…
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Phuket Police searching for karaoke assault gang
PHUKET: Police are on the lookout for a gang of youths wanted for a vicious attack on two men outside a karaoke bar in Thalang early yesterday morning. Officers were called to the scene, an unnamed karaoke bar in Soi Ta Mhen, Muang Mai, at 3am. “When we arrived we found Wicharn Mueanprasart, 34, with a knife wound to his…
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Phuket devout demand apology from drunken Russian
PHUKET: About 200 Phuket residents yesterday demanded an apology from the Russian tourist who damaged a statue of revered historical abbot Luang Por Kongdet during a drunken spree late Tuesday night. If the tourist, Oleg Fomenko, 31, or the Russian honorary consul for Phuket do not apologize within seven days, there will be protests, the residents warned. Mr Fomenko was…
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Phuket’s illegal tour van drivers granted temporary amnesty
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transportation Office (PLTO) will issue documents to certify illegal tour van drivers who have applied to become legal so they may continue working until their applications are processed. The news follows a group of illegal van drivers appealing to Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut yesterday for the right to keep working until their applications to become legal…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Fukushima safe after Japan quake; US admits spy tension; Ukrainian life sentence for UK Muslim murder, planting bombs
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fukushima nuclear plant undamaged after Japan quake Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The operator of Japan’s wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant said on Saturday there was no damage or spike in radiation levels at the station after a large earthquake struck in the ocean east of Japan,…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Nation in mourning; Lampang bus tragedy takes legal road; PM orders troop briefing on Preah Vihear
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nation in mourning The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Thailand yesterday began a 30-day period of national mourning over the passing away of His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch Somdet Phra Nyanasamvara, with flags being flown at half-mast and thousands of mourners turning out to pay their…
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French, Polish among injured in Phuket visa run crash
PHUKET: A French woman and a Polish man have been identified as the two foreigners injured in the visa run van accident in Trang province on Monday (story here). “Caterina Murcia, 30, from France, was treated for a broken arm,” a nurse at the Surgery Unit of Trang Hospital told the Phuket Gazette yesterday. “She was discharged from the hospital…
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Phuket police officer on drugs arrested for extorting Frenchman at gunpoint
PHUKET: A Phuket police officer and two accomplices have been arrested for extorting money from a Frenchman at gunpoint while the men were taking drugs together. Police are continuing their search for three additional suspects. Henry Richer, 54, told police that on October 14 he joined Picharn Kaewkongtham and five other men in taking ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) at the…
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