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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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Phuket Gazette World News: Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Militant Islamist video threatens Winter Olympics Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Two men said by Islamist militants to have carried out suicide attacks in south Russia appeared in a video donning explosive belts and warning Vladimir Putin to expect a “present” at the Sochi Winter Olympics from fighters…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Central African Republic names new leader, EU to send troops Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Central African Republic lawmakers chose their capital’s mayor to become interim president on Monday and lead the country out of months of sectarian killings, as the European Union agreed to send in 500…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.N. chief Ban withdraws Iran invite for Syria peace talks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.N. chief Ban disinvites Iran from Syria peace talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: U.N. chief Ban Ki-moon withdrew a last-minute invitation to Iran to attend peace talks on Syria on Monday after the Syrian opposition threatened to boycott this week’s conference if President Bashar al-Assad’s main sponsor…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Army-police rift widens; Yingluck ponders martial law; Rice farmers join PDRC; Rhino horn for Hanoi bagged
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Army-police rift widens The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Rifts between the police and the military appeared to be widening yesterday, as the Army commander in chief asked the national police chief to speed up investigation into recent attacks and a senior naval commander threatened to sue the…
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Phuket police chase ends in fiery crash, suspects flee without handgun
PHUKET: A police chase ended in flames yesterday after two men blew through a Phuket City Police checkpoint.Officers pursued the suspects’ silver Honda Civic until the driver took a sharp turn into Soi Nimit 1 in Phuket Town and crashed into the side of a house. The men managed to escape the vehicle after an engine fire erupted, explained Lt…
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Protesters target offices in “Phuket Shutdown’
PHUKET: Phuket anti-government protesters are on the move to close every government office in the province today.“We will spend the whole day closing every government office by covering their sign with a black cotton sheet,” Phuket protest co-ordinator Amnuay Kumban said.The Phuket Gazette has learned that in addition to Phuket Provincial Hall, the Phuket Employment Office, which issues work permits…
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Qatar Airways launches three day sale for Phuket international flights
PHUKET: From today until Wednesday, January 22, Qatar Airways is offering some irresistible deals on international flights this year, with round trip fares on offer for as low as 1,700 baht!For these three days only, as part of its “New Year, New Journey three day sale”, Qatar airlines is offering deals of up to 50% off economy class and 25%…
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Phuket protesters to give Bangkok Shutdown victim a hero’s return
PHUKET: Anti-government protesters will mass at Sarasin Bridge tomorrow night to give a hero’s welcome to the remains of Prakong Choochan. Mr Prakong, 46, died early Saturday morning from injuries sustained when an explosive device was thrown at protesters during a street march in Bangkok on Friday (story here). “His body is being kept at Wat Thepsirin in Bangkok. It…
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Winner of Phuket Red Cross top prize steps forward at last
PHUKET: The top prize winner of the Phuket Red Cross lucky draw didn’t know for several days that he had won because he didn’t check his tickets. “I never expected to win,” said Jittipong Sungthong, 34, a science and technology teacher at Phuket Rajabhat University. “I buy these tickets every year to show my support for the Red Cross. This…
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All quiet on Russian front: Phuket FC prevail in Vladivostok friendly
PHUKET: Maintaining fantastic pre-season form, Phuket FC dominated their all-Russian opponents, FC Forward Vladivostok, winning with a final score of 4-0 in a friendly match on Saturday night at Surakul Stadium. The result came to the dismay of the hundreds of Russian spectators who’d turned out in patriotic fashion – many waving red, white and blue flags, some even wearing…
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Phuket garbage truck downs streetlight near airport
PHUKET: The driver of a garbage truck lost control of his vehicle on the main route to the airport yesterday afternoon, knocking over a light pole on his way to landing the truck in a ditch, injuring himself and his helper. Theerawut Nasalhae, the 19-year-old driver of the Sakoo Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) garbage truck, was returning from a run…
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Phuket Gazette World News: UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN chief invites Iran to Geneva 2, Syria opposition threatens to withdraw Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Syria’s political opposition said on Monday it will withdraw from international peace talks scheduled this week unless United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon retracts an invitation to Iran, President Bashar al-Assad’s main…
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Phuket Gazette World News: U.S. spy chief questions whether Russia behind Snowden leaks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community U.S. lawmaker investigates whether Russia behind Snowden’s leaks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The head of the U.S. House of Representatives Intelligence Committee said on Sunday he is investigating whether former spy agency contractor Edward Snowden had help from Russia in stealing and revealing U.S. government secrets.“I believe…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Protesters clash with police at large Ukraine rally Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Protesters attacked riot police with sticks in Kiev on Sunday and tried to overturn a bus blocking their path to parliament, as up to 100,000 Ukrainians massed in defiance of sweeping new laws aimed at…
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Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Second grenade attack in Bangkok injures 28; Agitators blamed for Friday blast; Rice farmers warn of final showdown
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Second grenade attack The Nation / Phuket GazettePHUKET: Some 28 people, including a number of anti-government protesters, were wounded yesterday afternoon when two grenades were thrown at a rally site at Victory Monument.Seven victims sustained serious injuries and were receiving treatment at four hospitals. One of the…
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Phuket wife grieves death of Bangkok bomb victim
PHUKET: Tippayao Choochan, the grief-stricken wife of the Phuket taxi driver who died in the Bangkok bombing (story here), spoke with reporters this morning. “This was the fourth time Prakong attended the protests in Bangkok. Every time Suthep called for people to come, he joined them,” Mrs Tippayao said. “My husband desperately wanted the right things for the political system…
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Second unidentified body recovered in Phuket in two days
PHUKET: A second unidentified body was found floating in the sea off Rassada this week. Unlike in the first case being investigated by police (story here), there were no signs of violence on the body recovered at Por Pichainawa fishing pier yesterday afternoon. “It looked like the man, who was probably 30-35 years old and 170cm tall, died about 24…
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Phuket Poll: How to stop Patong Hill carnage?
PHUKET: Two people crushed to death by a runaway bus in December is only the most recent disaster on the notorious Patong Hill road (story here). In response, Phuket officials are scrambling to find solutions to stop the carnage (story here). To this, the Phuket Gazette asks our readers in our latest online poll: “What is the best way to…
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Phuket’s 250-million-baht provincial mosque to be built in forest reserve
PHUKET: Land within a forest reserve was approved this week for the construction of the 250-million-baht Phuket provincial mosque complex in Thalang. On January 15, Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut signed off on the use of over nine rai of the Pa Bang Khanun Forest Reserve near the Thalang Technical College. “Our budget was approved by Cabinet last year, and we…
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Phuket taxi driver killed in Bangkok bombing
PHUKET: A Phuket protester was the first to die in the “Bangkok Shutdown” after an unidentified person lobbed a bomb at a procession of demonstrators yesterday (story here). Prakong Choochan, 46 years old and a member of the Royal Paradise taxi rank, died at 1:57am from complications brought on by severe injuries sustained during the bomb attack. Bomb shrapnel pierced…
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Phuket Gazette World News: Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Syria offers Aleppo truce as rebels argue over talks Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The Syrian government, preparing for peace talks with rebels next week, handed the Russian co-sponsors of the conference a proposal on Friday for a local ceasefire and an exchange of prisoners.There was no immediate…
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Governor paves way for congestion free Phuket
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut led a survey yesterday of two road projects that should ease traffic congestion on the island. “With more than 50,000 vehicles travelling between Chalong Circle and Bang Khu Intersection in Kho Kaew daily, it is important to provide alternative routes and improve traffic flow,” Governor Maitri said. One of the projects examined was a two-lane…
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Police pounce on pot peddler in Phuket
PHUKET: Police arrested a Myanmar national yesterday morning for selling marijuana at the Phuket Fishing Port in Koh Sirey. Min Min, 38, was caught with 295 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia and 980 baht in cash by officers from the Region 8 Police Crime Suppression Division.“Undercover officers tipped us off, so we staked out the port,” Maj Roongsak Maichandee said.“We…
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Phuket Opinion: Stiffer penalties needed for those going for gold
Chaiyut Prayoonyong, 65, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, is the president of the Phuket Gold Shop Association. The owner of three gold shops on the island, Mr Chaiyut has over 40 years’ experience as a gold trader.Here, he talks about the steps gold shop owners should take to protect their shops against robberies, and suggests that the government create stricter punishments…
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Phuket Opinion: Success of bus ban relies on enforcement
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office’s trial ban on bus and truck traffic to Patong via the infamous Phra Barami Road over Patong Hill is a good idea. However, lack of proper enforcement by responsible officials, especially Traffic Police units, has the potential to jeopardize success during the trial period – and in the long term, if the measure is…
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Breaking News: 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 28 protesters injured in bomb attack against Suthep’s procession The Nation/Phuket GazettePHUKET: An unknown assailant lobbed a grenade at the procession led by People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC) secretary-general Suthep Thaugsuban on Banthad Thong Road at noon today, injuring 28 protesters.As of 2:07pm, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Erawan…
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Phuket Police attempt to identify dumped body
PHUKET: The body of a man who had been violently assaulted was retrieved from the water near Chokpanuchit fish processing plant in Rassada yesterday afternoon.“We think he was attacked about 24 hours earlier and then dumped from a fishing vessel,” said Lt Col Chaleaw Taihoo of the Phuket City Police.The man was about 165-170 meters tall. There was a stab…
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Phuket Town shop fire doused
PHUKET: Police presume an electrical short circuit started a fire that broke out in a small ceramics store in Phuket Town late last night. No one was injured in the blaze, which caused an estimated 50,000 baht in damage. Two fire teams were called to the scene on Bangkok Road (map here), at 11:10pm. “Firefighters took 30 minutes to put…
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Phuket Gazette World News: In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community In lair of Mexico drug boss, vigilantes hold sway Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: His AK-47 tossed onto a pristine leather sofa in the plush lair of a leader of one of Mexico’s most feared drug cartels, vigilante fighter “El Love” says he is longing for an end…
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Phuket Gazette World News: NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community NSA collects millions of text messages globally – Guardian Reuters / Phuket GazettePHUKET: The U.S. National Security Agency has been gathering nearly 200 million text messages a day from around the world, gathering data on people’s travel plans, contacts and credit card transactions, Guardian newspaper reported on…
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