News
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Sponsored Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort puts sustainability at its heart
The term sustainability is often thrown around as a buzzword in the hospitality industry, but at Pullman Phuket Panwa Beach Resort, it’s genuinely part of their mission. Located in Makham Bay, just south of Phuket Town, the beautiful resort puts...
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Prawit’s watches. They are from a ‘third party’.
Deputy PM General Prawit Wongsuwan has submitted a letter explaining his possession of luxurious watches and a diamond ring, which he failed to include in his assets declaration, to the anti-graft agency. The letter named a third party who would be called upon to testify in the case, according to the anti-graft agency, the National Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday. A meeting…
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SATURDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
A weekend, a new year’s weekend and a long weekend with Monday and Tuesday public holidays this year. Welcome to your Saturday. The threat of rain is still there but enjoy the sunny bits in between. Here’s the main news stories circulating today… Extra public holiday on Tuesday This year the Thai Government has declared one extra day – next…
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DAY ONE – Seven days of danger. Road toll down.
As Thai holidaymakers journeyed to their hometowns for the annual New Year Festival with accompanying high traffic volumes on highways and crowded transport hubs, the Road Safety Operation Centre on Friday reported a slight decrease in accidents, deaths and injuries on the first of the seven-day road safety promotion period ending January 3. Thursday saw 41 deaths and 500 injuries…
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Woman attempts to smuggle in over a kilo of cocaine at Phuket Airport
A woman from Ivory Coast, flying in from Doha, was arrested at Phuket International Airport after an airport X-ray found more than one kilogram of cocaine that she’d swallowed, wrapped in small plastic packets. The 27 year old was stopped by officials at the Phuket international airport after landing on a flight from Doha. She was escorted to a room…
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Phuket’s Governor follows up on stray dog shelter renovations
Phuket’s Governor hosted a meeting with the Phuket Dog Shelter Management Committee today (December 29) at Provincial Hall in Phuket Town to follow up on the progress of its renovation, together with the Chief of Phuket Provincial Livestock Office and a representative of Phuket’s Soi Dog Foundation. “There are 460 dogs in the shelter by now and the shelter opens…
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Who’s coming and what are they spending? Tourist numbers for 2017.
The figures for foreign tourists arrivals in the Kingdom during 2017 are going to reach 35 million visitors, according to statistics from the TAT (Tourism Authority of Thailand). There are a few surprises in the top ten list, including Laotian visitors at #4. China is still the number one source of foreign tourists with 9.92 million visits over the past…
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Traffic routes for 2018 Countdown in Phuket Old Town
Phuket traffic police have announced roads closure and new adjustments around the Phuket Old Town area for the 2018 countdown event on December 30 – 31, from 4 pm – midnight which includes: At Thepkasattri / Tungka intersection, buses and lorries are not allowed. Alternative route is Damrong Road. At Thepkasattri / Dibuk intersection, the road will be closed down…
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Krabi Airport installs EDS weapon detectors
Krabi International Airport has just fitted new Explosive Detection Systems weapon detectors at each checkpoint scanner to improve security measure over the New Year period. The security measure by Department of Airports follows the safety 7-7-7 measure of the Ministry of Transport which targets 7 days before New Year (December 21 – 27), 7 days during the New Year (December…
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The new Smart Visa and digital nomads
PHOTO: neverendingvoyage.com The new Smart Visa might be a visa solution for some, but not all, of the ‘digital nomads’ that have been become ubiquitous in Thailand, from all over the world. Whereas the young professionals might have taken off around the world on a break between their schooling and the start of their professional careers, now they’re taking their…
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FRIDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your news in 3 minutes
A super Full Moon, a new year, but a few more days to go first. A bit cloudy today as the remnants of tropical storm Tembin make their way across the island over the next few ays. The weather forecast predicts some rain over the weekend – we’ll keep you informed and up to date. Here’s today’s main news stories……
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Three more illegal tour guides arrested in Phuket blitz
Three more Chinese-speaking illegal tour guides have been arrested yesterday (December 27) and the day before following the illegal tour guide crackdown initiated by Phuket’s Governor. Yesterday in Soi Sakdidech, in Phuket Town, a team of Phuket provincial authorities along with representatives of Royal Thai Navy Area 3, Provincial Internal Security Operations Command and Volunteer Defense Corps checked a Chinese…
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Yala men arrested with drugs and materials for bombs
Talad Yai police from Phang Nga have arrested two men from Yala province (in the deep south on the Malaysian border). 25 year old Muhammad Hayeehayoh and 22 year old Muhamamsolin Jehlong were arrested. They tested positive for drugs before police extended the investigation to their house and found a number of potential bombs. At midnight (December 28), at Sam…
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16 year old Thai taking aim at an F1 career
Story from PaulPoole.co.th A young man from Pattaya is on track to becoming Thailand’s first Formula One driver. Born and raised in Pattaya, Kane Shepherd started racing at the age of 10, competing in various Thai championships and winning national titles every year. He won his first Asian championship in 2014 and again in 2015. His obvious talent qualified him…
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Smart Visa available from mid-January
PHOTO: world nomads.com Are you smart? Earning a high-salary? Firstly, congratulations! Secondly, you might be eligible for the new four year professional visa, known as the ‘smart visa’ from the middle of January, 2018. According to Lt. Col. Thanarak Boonyaratkarin of the Immigration Bureau, the new Smart Visa will provide more benefits and privileges than any other visa. He says, “you’ll…
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Provincial Hall makes road safety top priority during holiday season
Phuket takes its turn to launch a road and marine accident prevention campaign for the new year season yesterday (December 27). At Provincial Hall Phuket’s Governor Norapat Plodthong hosted the launch of the campaign and led a parade that gathered officials from several Provincial departments, together with local foundations and volunteers. “New Year is the festive time when people travel…
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THURSDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Today is the start of the Seven Days of Danger, one of two periods during the year when Thais, expats and tourists die in preventable road crashes. In large numbers. It’s also the day when we’re told we’ll start to feel the effects of the weakening tropical depression Tembin which started off as a typhoon, killing 200 in The Philippines,…
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Tropical storm ‘Tembin’ weakens but rain still forecast for the weekend
Storm Tembin has been weakened by cold wind, but is still causing heavy rain along the east coast of the southern region and rough sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand, while cool weather and light rain covered the rest of the country. The Meteorological Department issued a weather update today stating that Tembin had degraded into a low-pressure area…
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Paramilitary soldier dies following yesterday’s Narathiwat attacks
One of two paramilitary soldiers wounded during series of attacks in Narathiwat’s Sisakhon district yesterday (Tuesday) has succumbed to his injuries at Naradhiwat Rajanagarindra Hospital. The deceased, 35 year old Kamjorn Tanma, a native of Chiang Mai province, was scheduled to wed his girlfriend tomorrow. A bathing ceremony for Kamjorn was held at Bangnara Temple in Narathiwat’s Muang district, presided…
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19 students injured in Chiang Rai van accident
A van carrying students overturned on a road in Chiang Rai province on Wednesday morning, injuring everyone on board. The accident took place on Paholyothin Road in the Mae Chan district at about 6.40am. Most students sustained minor injuries and were allowed to return home following treatment, but some remained hospitalised as of press time. The van had collision insurance…
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Safety checks at Rassada Pier
The Deputy Director General of the Marine Department, Somchai Sukkamanatkajornkul, visited Phuket’s Rassada Pier, east of Phuket Town, to ensure the safety and security measures during this tourist high season and festive season. The team from the Marine Department together with Phuket’s Marine Office Chief, Surat Sirisaiyasat and Marine Police, visited the pier yesterday (December 26) as the pier is…
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The ‘silly season’ is upon us
New year’s celebrations will soon begin with millions of people hitting the road and revellers gathering at festive venues. But before the celebrations begin, authorities came forward yesterday to advise the public about permitted and prohibited activities. “We will be lenient with the ban on passengers in pickup beds but drivers must be very careful, especially when applying the brakes,”…
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WEDNESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
There are two seven-days-of-danger on Thailand’s roads, as designated by the police – one starting tomorrow and the other during Songkran. They are the two worst periods for road deaths, by far. We don’t want you to be one of the statistics this year so we urge you to prepare ahead of any road trips to ensure that you are…
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Tropical storm “Tembin” makes its way across the Gulf of Thailand
Fishermen have been warned of strong winds and high waves in the Gulf of Thailand as the result of typhoon “Tembin”, which has now passed through southern Vietnam yesterday and due to affect the southern coastal areas from Pranchuap Khiri Khan to Songkhla from tomorrow and Thursday. Payao Muengngam, director of the Southern Meteorological Centre for the east coast, is…
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How was the tsunami reported on the island 13 years ago?
Imagine sitting in a news office on the morning of December 26, 2004. You’re working as a journalist in Phuket. It was that morning that an earthquake struck an area about 500 kilometres south west of Phuket. Two hours later the shock waves reached the island in the form of a tidal surge. This was the first report from the…
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THAIGER TODAY Tuesday, December 26
Toon crosses the finish line | Overpass links the two Central Festival buildings | 60 year old British man drowns at Similans | Free helmets being handed out to kids in Phuket Town | Tropical depression heading our way for the weekend.
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Phuket tourism centres launched
Phuket Governor, Norapat Plodthong, together with the Director General of Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), Jatuporn Burutpat, hosted the opening of the Phuket Tourist Centres yesterday (December 25) in Patong. Phuket’s Governor says that Phuket is a tourism destination welcoming more than 15 million tourists a year, domestic and international, and there are a lot of tourists heading…
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Traffic police giving away helmets to children in Phuket Town
PHOTO: Bishal Tamrakar This morning (December 26), about 50 helmets were given away to children on motorcycles passing by the Mueang Phuket District Office intersection (in front of Merlin Hotel) following a policy to encourage better road safety awareness by deputy commander of Phuket traffic police, Pol Lt Col Teerawat Liamsuwan. “We want to create better awareness among riders with…
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Toon crosses the finish line, exceeding the fund-raising targets and becoming a national hero
Thailand’s national hero Artiwara Kongmalai, better known as Toon Bodyslam, has completed his epic mission to raise funds for state hospitals via a run from the country’s southernmost corner to its northernmost tip. It is a job well done, exceeding targets in many aspects. Artiwara’s charity run has managed to attract more than 1.1 billion baht in donations, far above…
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TUESDAY MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – All your local news in 3 minutes
Boxing Day in Phuket. Where did the name Boxing Day come from? We’ve done the Googling for you. Have a read HERE. There’s another of these pesky tropical storms heading over the South China Sea at the moment, making landfall with Vietnam today then heading over the Gulf of Thailand and affecting the southern coastal provinces from tomorrow and Thursday.…
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Toon to cross the finish line tonight
Rock star runner, turned national hero, Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai will reach his destination at the northernmost tip of Thailand night in Mae Sai district near Chiang Rai (December 25). Toon and his support team are expected to arrive at around 9pm at the border crossing at the end of Phahon Yothin Road in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, more than…
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