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Thailand news, politics, business, crime, lifestyle, and tourism—stay updated with breaking news and in-depth analysis from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and beyond.
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Sponsored Thailand health insurance that covers chronic conditions: What expats need to know
The Thaiger key takeaways Managing chronic conditions in Thailand requires health insurance that covers specialist visits, medications, tests, and hospital stays. Cigna offers high-coverage plans with access to top hospitals, direct billing, and telemedicine support for convenient long-term care. Expats...
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Runaway driver leaves visa runners stranded, swipes more than B37,000
A ROUTINE visa run to Penang late last month hit a speed bump at the Malaysian border when visa runners returned to the van from the immigration checkpoint to find their driver had absconded.It had been business as usual for the passengers until they reached the border checkpoint in Sadao on January 20. “This time was the same as always.…
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Phuket hosts meeting on safe handling of radioactive materials
PHUKET: Representatives of 15 countries are meeting in Phuket this week to discuss the safe management of used radioactive materials and the potential threats they present if mishandled. The United States, a producer and exporter of radioactive substances, sponsored the conference to discuss the handling of materials after they have been used by industry and hospitals, the Office of ‘Atoms…
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Electrical short started fire on Phuket’s MV Blue Star, says chief
PHUKET: The fire that caused the liveaboard dive boat MV Blue Star to sink in Myanmar waters was started by an electrical short circuit in the engine room, confirmed Ranong Marine Office Deputy Chief Pramuan Thessana this morning. “The dive boat left from Thap Lamu Pier in Khao Lak on January 29,” Mr Pramuan said. “It took the tourists on…
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Phuket Marine Office offers B10,000 reward for pictures of oil-dumpers
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Office is offering a 10,000 baht reward for photographs of people dumping oil into the sea.It is illegal to release oil into the sea, said Phuket Marine Office chief Phuriphat Teerakulpisut.“But we can only arrest suspects if we have enough proof or catch them in action. In the past, we have been too late, and the…
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Phuket rubber tapper fatally felled by tree branch
PHUKET: A Phuket rubber farmer was struck and killed by a falling tree branch while tapping his trees early yesterday morning in Thalang.Jaroon Tankongkoy, 67, left for the rubber plantation at 3am, said his wife, Pranom Tankongkoy.“I was waiting to have lunch with him, but he didn’t come back. At 3pm, I went out to look for him,” Mrs Pranom…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: First rally leader detained; Labour Ministry compiles human-trafficking report; Threat to block rice storage
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Sonthiyarn arrested; first rally leader to be detained The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Sonthiyarn Chuenruethai-naitham, owner and director of T-news agency, yesterday became the first anti-government protest leader to be arrested. He was having a meal alone in the Central Lat Phrao shopping complex when apprehended by…
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Asylum seekers accuse Australian navy of abuse as boat towed to Indonesia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Asylum seekers accuse Australian navy of abuse as boat towed to Indonesia Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: On New Year’s day, 45 asylum seekers in a ramshackle wooden boat slid ashore on a small island off the Australian city of Darwin. Four others had been swept overboard that…
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China in rare crackdown on sex industry in southern vice hub
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China in rare crackdown on sex industry in southern vice hub Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Chinese authorities have carried out a rare crackdown on the sex trade in the “sin city” of Dongguan following a candid report by the state broadcaster on the underground industry.China outlawed prostitution…
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All safe after Phuket dive boat sinks off Myanmar
PHUKET: Everyone has been safely rescued from a Phuket dive boat that sank in Myanmar waters, said the Managing Director of Chalong Sea Sports, Pekka Torri. However, the cause of the fire that erupted aboard the MV Blue Star and led to its sinking has yet to be confirmed. Mr Pekka declined to reveal any details about the incident, other…
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Argument leads to fatal fight outside Phuket karaoke bar
PHUKET: A violent argument in a Phuket karaoke bar on Saturday ended in the death of a fisherman.The unidentified man was drinking with friends at Nong Man Karaoke bar on Sri Sena Road when they began arguing with four fisherman at a nearby table, witnesses told police.“They started fighting outside the karaoke bar,” said Capt Udom Petcharat of the Phuket…
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Phuket Passport Office re-opens despite protesters
PHUKET:The Phuket Passport Office opened its doors today despite the fact that Provincial Hall remains closed due to anti-government protests. The office closed last month after the Passport Division in Bangkok terminated its server connection with provincial passport offices as a precaution during protests in the capital (story here). Many of the people who queued for service today were turned…
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Mueang Thalang win inaugural Phuket Youth Cup
PHUKET: The inaugural Phuket Youth Cup concluded last Sunday with two exciting matches at Surakul Stadium.In the grand finale, it was Mueang Thalang School prevailing 3-1 over the OrBorJor Talad Neua team to win the grand trophy and 20,000-baht prize money. The runners up would have to be content with their slightly smaller trophy and 10,000 baht purse. Two of…
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Phuket United ready for futsal season opener
PHUKET: Get ready for one of the most exciting indoor team sports in the country – the Futsal Thailand Premier League (FTPL) kicks off this weekend, with the island’s pro five-a-side squad, Phuket United to host CAT FC in their season opener on Sunday night. To be played at Saphan Hin’s two-year-new 4,000-seat Indoor Gymnasium, the match will kick off…
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Phuket FC give local expats a lickin’ – soccer superstars get ready
PHUKET: Following their epic 1-1 draw with Thai Premier League powerhouse Chonburi FC last weekend, (click here for video highlights), the island’s pro soccer outfit Phuket FC had a much easier pre-season friendly work-out this past weekend, squashing local expat team Pluto Ice Cream in a 5-1 drubbing at Surakul Stadium. With only several scattered pockets of supporters turning out,…
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Russian tourist, 42, drops dead while chatting with friends
PHUKET: Police have yet to determine why a Russian tourist died suddenly in a Phuket hotel room early yesterday morning.Timur Ivanov and his two traveling companions were eating fruit and drinking a hot beverage together at a hotel at Bang Tao Beach when he suddenly passed out. The friends called hotel staff for help, and rescue workers were summoned to…
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Phuket Sailing: The Bay Regatta 2014 starts this week
PHUKET: With this year’s Bay Regatta set to kick-off this Wednesday and run through to Saturday, the entry list is growing daily with over 32 yachts currently entered, many joining the event for the first time. The Racing Class will be headed by the largest monohull yacht on the course – first time entrant, X-Yacht X-55 Pine Pacific – helmed…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Falling rock derails train in French Alps, two dead
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Falling rock derails train in French Alps, two dead Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: A huge falling rock derailed a train in the French Alps on Saturday, killing two people and partly pushing one of its carriages over the edge of a mountain slope, local officials said.At least…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Spanish princess questioned in corruption investigation
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Spanish princess questioned in corruption investigation Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Spain’s Princess Cristina was questioned by a judge on Saturday in a corruption case that has deepened public anger over graft among the ruling class and discontent with the royal family.It was the first time that a…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Rice rally violence alert; Police seek Lak Si gunmen, arrest Kwanchai shooter; EC petitions PM on new poll
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NSC warns of violence over rice rally The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The National Security Council (NSC) yesterday warned of a possible escalation in violence as rice farmers link up with anti-government protesters to mount pressure on Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and her crew to step down.…
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German man, 70, found dead with sex drug
PHUKET: The discovery of a 70-year-old German man who appears to have died after taking a generic version of Viagra has prompted public health officials in Phuket to issue a warning about such drugs.“People should take care when taking erectile dysfunction drugs, especially if they are older and have underlying medical conditions,” said Orachorn Atthaveelarp of the Phuket Provincial Health…
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Tourist Police evade Phuket shakedown claims
PHUKET: The chief of the Phuket Tourist Police has branded allegations that three of his officers extorted 20,000 baht from an Italian man in Patong as a “big misunderstanding”. The news follows protesters staging a blockade of the Patong beach road last weekend after word of the shakedown spread through the resort town. “The case will not be pursued because…
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Phuket boat crews protest after access denied to Chalong Pier
PHUKET: A group of local boat handlers this morning staged a protest at Chalong Pier to call for unrestricted access to boats moored along the pier. The gathering at the popular terminal for Phuket tour boats (map here) came as officials enforced existing regulations banning motorcycles and motorcycles with sidecars from being driven along the pier. “These people know they…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Russian Winter Games open amid security scares, arrests
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Russian Winter Games open amid security scares, arrests Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Russia’s Winter Olympics got underway on Friday with a grandiose opening ceremony watched by President Vladimir Putin, who will be keen to calm fears of militant attacks and move on from a row over gay…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: PDRC sows seeds of rice farmer alliance; Finance Ministry silent on payment methods; Army ramps up lese majeste action
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Suthep keen for alliance with angry farmers The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The anti-government movement led by Suthep Thaugsuban appears to be seeking an alliance with rice farmers as the embattled caretaker government struggles to find the money owed to the farmers under the price-pledge scheme.Yesterday, Suthep,…
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A rescuer: Ultralight engine did not explode in fatal Phuket crash
PHUKET: The engine of the ultralight flying boat that crashed in the sea near Rawai on Wednesday, killing its pilot, did not explode, says an expat who took part in the recovery effort. “There were no signs of explosive damage to the engine,” Singaporean Marshall Ong told the Phuket Gazette. Mr Ong saw the engine when he entered the water…
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Phuket Opinion: Happy days again
PHUKET: Do you miss your childhood? Wish you were young once again? You can be… just move to another country. It feels not only like moving in space, but also like moving back in time – to the happy days when everything was new, exciting and mysterious. Since I moved to Thailand I have often felt like a toddler as…
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Phuket Opinion: Boosting Phuket tourism through sport
Virat Patee, 55, is a native of Phuket. He has served as the director of the Sport Authority of Thailand’s Phuket office for five years, and formerly served as the director of the SAT Krabi office for 12 years. Here, he talks about the valuable contribution sports make to tourism and suggests how Phuket can do more to promote sport…
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Governor eyes Phuket goat market potential [VIDEO]
PHUKET: Goat meat and milk produced in Phuket could provide local farmers with up to a million baht in annual revenue, the governor has estimated. On Tuesday, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut and Vice Governor Sommai Prijasilpa led officers on a tour of Akarah goat farm in Baan Pru Cham Pa in Thalang and discussed the future of the goat industry…
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Special Report: If there’s something strange and it don’t look good”¦ who ya gonna call?
Special Report Early last Saturday morning, a female tourist spent 45 minutes trying to contact the police. Repeated calls to the Tourist Police hotline 1155 went unanswered until a man picked up and told her he could not speak English and advised her to call the Thalang Police, who put her on hold. The Phuket Gazette’s Chutharat Plerin investigates emergency…
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Australian superyacht industry seeks closer ties with Phuket
PHUKET: Representatives of peak industry body Superyacht Australia, along with several Australian-based marine companies recently toured Phuket as part of a program aimed at fostering business relations in the marine industry. The tour was hosted by the Australian Trade Commission and funded through the Australian Government’s Asian Century Business Engagement Plan grant program. During the visit, the group toured all…
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