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5 hidden healthcare costs in Thailand and how to avoid them
Thailand's healthcare system is affordable and supported by the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) scheme, offering essential services to most citizens. However, hidden healthcare costs can surprise patients and lead to unexpected expenses. These include specialist fees, insurance gaps, emergency services,...
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Krabi drug dealer tries to bury over 10,000 methamphetamine pills
On Saturday (May 12) Krabi Police arrested a woman, 43 year old Surat ‘Rat’ Sansatan. Police seized 10,700 methamphetamine pills (ya bah). She was charged with possession of Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest follows police receiving a tip-off that a big drug deal was going down at a house in Klongtom, Krabi. Police headed to the house…
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Vanranyu cruises to victory at Singha Laguna Phuket Open
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij savoured his first professional victory in front of his family after closing with an even-par 70 to win by six shots in the final round of the Singha Laguna Phuket Open yesterday (Sunday). The 21 year old Thai displayed great form all week as he traded two birdies against as many bogeys on Sunday to secure his…
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Drug dealer arrested in sting operation
Border Patrol Police this week arrested Saksuriya ‘Ta’ Kajornduang at the parking area of the Yeeteng Market on Chao Fa Road in Phuket Town. Police seized 11.93 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) and a licensed handgun with 15 bullets. He was taken to the Phuket Police Station to face charges of possession with a Category 1 drug with intent to sell,…
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Worries arise over full dams, even before start of rainy season
Despite the Royal Ploughing Day, all the water-throwing at Songkran and the annual rocket festival – all trying to encourage water from the skies for the forthcoming wet season – we still have to hope mother nature plays along and delivers the rain needed for the nation’s agricultural areas. But, rolling into wet season this year, most of the main…
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Royal Ploughing Day – Annual ceremony at Sanam Luang
Thailand will have ample water and food this year and citizens will enjoy convenience in transportation according to the types of food preferred by the oxen involved in the annual Royal Ploughing Ceremony held on Monday morning. His Majesty the King presided at the traditional rite that began at 8.29am at Sanam Luang. Agriculture Ministry permanent secretary Lertviroj Kowatana, acting…
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Man killed, murderer arrested in Rassada
The Phuket City Police have been notified of an incident in front of a house in Soi Malipan, Rassada on Saturday (May 12). Police and rescue workers arrived at the scene to find the body of a man who was identified as 30 year old Peerasit Saelim surrounded by a pool of blood on the ground. A kitchen knife was…
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Female drug dealer arrested in Phuket Town
Border Patrol Police this week arrested 24 year old Saranya ‘Palm’ Arjmongkon at a condominium in Phuket Town. Police seized 29.51 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) and 355 methamphetamine pills (ya bah). She was charged with possession with Category 1 drug with intent to sell. The arrest follows police receiving a tip-off that Saranya was selling drugs on the street. On…
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Phuket’s Governor inspects lifeguards at the northern beaches
The Phuket Governor Norraphat Plodthong has had his first inspection of lifeguards at Mai Khao Beach. There are now five lifeguards at Mai Khao Beach, the long stretch of beach along the northern end of Phuket’s west coast. Three more lifeguards will be hired. Governor Norraphat says “Currently there are no beach lights, CCTV camera or tourist service centres at Mai…
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Speaker-equipped drone repels wild elephants
Phetchaburi Rajabhat University academics have used, on a trial basis, a drone equipped with speakers blaring a recording of bee sounds to drive away wild elephants from the La Au forest in Hua Hin district, Kaeng Krachan National Park official Mana Phermpoon said on Sunday. The test at the Phu Sai-Sai En area and some farmland around Anant School in…
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Descendants gather for Siamese Twins Chang & Eng Bunker’s 207th birthday
By Phatarawadee Phataranawik PHOTOS: Chalinee Thirasupa If “Siamese twins” Chang and Eng Bunker, Thailand’s most famous twin entertainers, were alive today, they would no doubt be impressed to see their descendants making their first official visit to the Kingdom to celebrate their 207th birthday on Friday in Samut Songkhram province, the birthplace of the twins. “This [birthday celebration] is so…
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Thai young gun Varanyu leads by eight shots at Singha Laguna Phuket Open
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphiboonkij extended his lead by eight shots after shooting a one-under-par 69 in the third round of the Singha Laguna Phuket Open on Saturday. The 21-year-old Thai, who has led since round one, put himself in prime position for his first professional win. He leads on 18-under-par 192 at the award-winning Laguna Phuket course. New Asian Development Tour…
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Taxi catches fire outside Cassia Laguna Hotel – No injuries
Officials at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) stationed in Cherng Talay were notified of an incident in front of Cassia Hotel in Laguna, Cherng Talay at 9:05pm last night (May 11). Fire fighters with two water trucks arrived at the scene along with the Cherng Talay Police. At the scene they found a burnt white Toyota taxi…
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Malaysian election decoded
by Tim Newton Don’t be under any illusion what has just happened in Malaysia. The country hasn’t been freed from the bonds of a corrupt and draconian long-term government and about to soar into a new era of democracy, growth and prosperity. That a 92 year old former premier, who nurtured both his current deputy Anwar Ibrahim and the ousted…
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Six arrested in child-porn crackdown
Six suspects have been arrested in nationwide crackdowns on child pornography websites. Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal says five suspects from three networks carrying online child pornography have been arrested under warrants and their accounts led to an arrest of another suspect. He said the suspects were arrested in Samut Prakan, Surat Thani and Ubon Ratchathani. Surachet said police learned…
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Varanyu holds commanding lead at Singha Laguna Phuket Open
Thailand’s Varanyu Rattanaphaibulkij maintained his position at the top with his second round of nine-under-par 61 at the Singha Laguna Phuket Open on Friday. The 21-year-old Thai carded a flawless round with seven birdies and one eagle to lead the field by seven strokes on a 17-under-par 123 total at the 2 million baht (approx. USD64,000) event co-sanctioned by the…
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Andaman Hub Medical Network launched in Phang Nga
An opening ceremony was held today (May 11) at the Andaman Hub Medical Network in Takua Pa, Phang Nga. The launch was hosted by Public Health Minister Doctor Piyasakol. Beach safety and marine accident rescue drills were being held. Doctor Piyasakol says, “We have developed public health services for 23 coastal marine provinces. Health Premium Service and Maritime Emergency Care Systems…
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Chinese delegation visit Patong lifeguards and had some suggestions too
A meeting was held yesterday (May 10) at the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Phuket Office (DDPM-Phuket) with the Consul-General for Thailand Zhou Guangxi, Counsellor Li Chunlin, Chinese Consulate-General in Phuket Ma Cui Hong and Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung in attendance. Vice Governor Prakob says, “We are paying a lot of attention to tourist’s safety these days. The Phuket Provincial…
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Phuket Gateway officially launched
The opening ceremony for the Phuket Gateway was held this morning (May 11) in Mai Khao, just north of the Thachachai Checkpoint. The ceremony was hosted by Phuket’s Governor Norraphat and Thalang District Chief Adul Choothong. Governor Norraphat says “The government has been paying attention to locals in the area saying they want to generate more local income for tourists…
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Motorbike driver died after running into garbage truck in Thalang
Thalang Police were notified about an accident in front of the Thalang Police Station on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound at 7:20pm last night (May 10). Police, together with rescue workers, arrived at the scene to find an orange garbage truck was parked beside the road. The truck driver 51 year old Somboon Tonglueng was waiting for police at the scene. A…
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Phuket Property Awards for Export 2018
PHOTO: The Regent Bang Tao “We have received some good ideas from the Phuket Governor to make a good image for condominium investors in Phuket and to improve confidence and credibility for both Thai and Foreign customers. Many condominium project complaints have been filed at the Damrongdhama Centre.“ This from the President of the Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), Boon…
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Police search for truck battery thief in Krabi
A condominium general manager in Ao Nang Kanchit Chotkosit says, “We’ve discovered that on Tuesday (May 8) a thief stole two batteries from water trucks which were parked inside the condominium compound. Those two batteries cost more than ten thousand baht. “CCTV footage shows that the thief was wearing a full face helmet. He was driving a white Yamaha motorbike.…
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Bangkok Airways Phuket Half-Marathon announced
A press conference was held at Limelight Avenue hosted by the Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen, Phuket Vice Governor Prakob Wongmaneerung and Deputy Director of the Phuket Office of Tourism Authority of Thailand, Montri Manator. The media gathering was called to announce the Phuket Half-Marathon to be held on August 5. The marathon is part of Bangkok Airways…
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KLM jet continues flight after precautionary landing in Phuket
At 12:20pm Wednesday staff members at the Air Traffic Control department of the Phuket International Airport were notified that a KLM Boeing 777-200, Flight KL 809 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur, had to make a precautionary landing in Phuket, after smoke started filling the cabin when a passenger’s mobile phone ‘overheated’. Read more HERE General Manager Petch Chancharoen said, “There were…
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Kanchanaburi man arrested in 25 million baht crayfish scam
Beautiful crayfish. Imported fresh. Pay now, delivered soon. Sounds good, but it was all a scam. A 25 million baht scam. A Kanchanaburi man has been arrested for disguising himself as a Singaporean to deceive people into handing over some 25 million baht in exchange for beautiful crayfish that never arrived. Pol Colonel Thongchai Yuket, commander of the Crime Suppression…
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The Blue Horizon World Corporate Golf Challenge, Thailand
The WCGC Thailand roared back into action in 2018 with a new Title Sponsor ‘Blue Horizon’ at the helm of the event, and a new scoring system. With a title sponsor on board it enabled the entry fees to be lowered significantly from last year helping the event double participation on last year event with over 150 teams taking part…
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Volunteer training to get ready for school-term traffic snarls
“There are many schools and educational institutions in Phuket. This will definitely affect the island’s traffic, especially in Phuket Town, when they’re arriving and departing.” Yesterday (May 9) at the Phuket City Police Station, the Phuket City Police Chief Col Sompong Tiparpakun and the Phuket City Traffic Police Deputy Chief Lt Col Pongpop Prasoppichai lunched the training for volunteers to…
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Recharge Your Batteries at Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin
Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin, Asia’s first integrated Holiday Inn hotel and water park, has demonstrated its commitment to innovation and sustainability by installing Hua Hin’s first electric car charging station. Launched in partnership with leading renewable energy company Energy Mahanakhon, the new ‘EA Anywhere’ charging station is a state-of-the-art facility that meets IEC international standards and can support…
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Investors continue buying up Phuket development projects, land prices increasing
President of Phuket Real Estate Association (P-REA), Boon Yongsakul says, “Real estate investment in Phuket is continuing to grow. We are sure that this year’s investment is growing more than last year.” “Phuket has a very beautiful natural environment and Phuket local people are very nice. More foreign tourists continue to visit Phuket. Investors, both Thai and foreigners, are continuing…
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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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