News
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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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Phuket honorary consuls request better coordination with airport
PHUKET: Phuket honorary consuls on Wednesday pushed for better access and resources for providing support to foreigners during emergency situations at Phuket International Airport. “We have requested a contact point, as well as a contact person, who will – in case of an emergency – allow us to quickly get all the necessary information and provide whatever services we can,”…
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Get tested: Phuket cancer survivor says you could be next
PHUKET: The months leading up to July 2015 were the self-described happiest times of Nora Galgoczy’s life. The 29-year-old Hungarian expat was freediving, climbing and in love. She also had cervical cancer, but she didn’t know it. “I expected that I would feel something: something odd, something bad or just something. I thought cancer didn’t attack people like me,” Ms…
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Phuket road-safety campaign continues after initial success
PHUKET: A road-safety campaign encouraging Phuket motorcyclists to wear helmets has been hailed a success in Kathu, where less riders are being arrested for not wearing protective head gear. The progress has prompted officials to extend the campaign at least until the Songkran break in April. The ‘One District, One Road, with 100 Per Cent Helmets’ campaign was launched on…
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B4bn Phuket land seizure not to impact Big Buddha
PHUKET: Despite photographs of Phuket’s Big Buddha appearing along side news stories about the seizure of land valued at 4 billion baht in the same area, the iconic statue will be unaffected by the Anti-Money Laundering Office’s (AMLO’s) investigation. The AMLO transaction board resolved to seize a 45-rai plot and a 19-rai plot of land along Freedom Beach and in…
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‘Hearts are in pieces’ five years after tsunami hits Japan
RIKUZENTAKATA: Japan on Friday mourned the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago that turned towns to matchwood and triggered the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986. The nine-magnitude quake struck offshore on a chilly Friday, sparking huge black waves along a vast swathe of coastline and killing nearly 20,000 people.…
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How a hacker’s typo helped stop a billion dollar bank heist
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community How a hacker’s typo helped stop a billion dollar bank heist Phuket Gazette / Reuters DHAKA: A spelling mistake in an online bank transfer instruction helped prevent a nearly $1 billion heist last month involving the Bangladesh central bank and the New York Fed, banking officials…
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Fukushima’s ground zero: No place for man or robot
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fukushima’s ground zero: No place for man or robot Phuket Gazette / Reuters JAPAN: The robots sent in to find highly radioactive fuel at Fukushima’s nuclear reactors have “died”; a subterranean “ice wall” around the crippled plant meant to stop groundwater from becoming contaminated has yet…
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Phuket athletes bag top spots at Philippines Ironman
PHUKET: Phuket native Jaray Jearanai – Thailand’s top triathlete – and his fellow team members at Z-Coaching Phuket made quite the impression at the Subic Bay Ironman 70.3 held in the Philippines last weekend. The Phuket-based triathlon academy bagged several victories and top spots at the competition. Mr Jaray put in one of his best performances yet to go sub…
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Phuket police told to keep close watch on mass SIM purchases
PHUKET: Phuket police say they were unaware of mass SIM purchases before the arrest of a suspect in Phuket on Saturday, but are keeping an eye on such activities following orders from the national police chief. National Police Commissioner General Chakthip Chaijinda has been in touch with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to discuss security concerns, Region 8…
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Beiber to race into Phuket on Formula 1 Powerboat’s dollar
PHUKET: Justin Bieber, Rihanna and Adele are slated to headline concerts at Phuket’s first Formula 1 Powerboat race in November, said event organizer Lucky Triple T. The artists are expected to grace the Phuket stage for one evening each of the three-night event. Despite his love for fast, expensive vehicles, Mr Bieber is not expected to race. The UIM F1H2O…
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Self-proclaimed prophet’s wrath descends on Phuket lottery shop
PHUKET: A man who claimed to be a prophet of the ‘God of the Sun’ was taken to Vachira Phuket Hospital yesterday after turning violent at a lottery shop in Phuket Town. Suktiporn Onsuwan, 45, claimed that the God of the Sun had divulged to him the winning lottery numbers on the auspicious day of the solar eclipse (story here).…
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Phuket beach officials plan to charge for trash management
PHUKET: Exasperated officials at Mai Khao Beach are urging the public to help maintain cleanliness in the area, barring which, they say they would be forced to implement a visitors’ fee to contribute toward trash management. “We are chalking out a plan to collect a fee from the public and use that money to hire staff to collect trash,” Sarawut…
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Notes found on dead Estonian at Phuket shooting range
PHUKET: Police have found two hand-written notes on the body of an Estonian national who allegedly shot himself in the head at the Patong Hill Shooting Range yesterday. Andres Podra, 38, reportedly rented a .45 handgun at the range and fired seven shots at a target before turning the gun on himself and discharging the eighth round into his head…
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Myanmar on edge as long wait for new president ends
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Myanmar on edge as long wait for new president ends Phuket Gazette / Reuters NAYPYITAW: Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) has proposed a close friend of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi as its presidential candidate, ending a four-month wait for the identity of a…
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Yazidi teenager escaped Islamic State, appeals for help for sex slaves
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Yazidi teenager escaped Islamic State, appeals for help for sex slaves Phuket Gazette / Reuters LONDON: It was a “black morning” two years ago when Islamic State militants seized the Yazidi town of Sinjar in northwest Iraq, abducting thousands of civilians including a 15-year-old girl and…
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German court rules against use of Facebook button
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community German court rules against use of Facebook “like” button Phuket Gazette / Reuters FRANKFURT: A German court has ruled against an online shopping site’s use of Facebook’s “like” button on Wednesday, dealing a further legal blow to the world’s biggest social network in Germany. The Duesseldorf…
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“Fastest man in Phuket’ bags top spot at Powerman Malaysia
PHUKET: Thanyapura triathlon coach Ricky Ekkarat Phanthip announced his return to form with a win at the Powerman Malaysia – Asia Duathlon Championships last weekend. The ‘fastest man in Phuket’ sped his way back into action, after taking a year off following knee surgery, and won first place in the men’s 30-34 age group category. Mr Phanthip led his athletes…
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Ministry of Farang Affairs: Souvenirs for Thai colleagues
The Ministry of Farang Affairs is a one-stop shop where foreigners in Thailand can learn all they need to know about living here. No, we’re not talking about work permits, visas or taxes. We’re talking about day-to-day life in the Land of Endless Shocks and Riddles, of Blur, Befuddlement and the Bizarre. Stay tuned for weekly insights from Minister Stephff.…
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Phuket blood donors save American’s life
PHUKET: Thanks to the generosity of at least 20 blood donors in Phuket, an American car crash victim is now out of danger and recovering from a second round of surgery. Chonita Michelle Cleary, 24, and two of her friends were involved in a collision with a taxi when heading from Cherng Talay to Thalang town at about 1am on…
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BREAKING NEWS: Foreigner killed at Phuket shooting range
PHUKET: A foreigner allegedly shot himself in the head at a Phuket firing range at about 2pm today. The man, who registered at the Patong Hill Shooting Range under the name ‘Andres’, reportedly fired seven shots at the target before discharging the eighth round into his head, confirmed Lt Sawanya Eiadtrong of the Thung Thong Police. Police are at the…
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Clouds over Indonesia obscure total eclipse of the sun for many
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Clouds over Indonesia obscure total eclipse of the sun for many Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A solar eclipse enthralled Indonesia on Wednesday but clouds over some parts of archipelago spoiled the view for many of the skywatchers who had the opportunity to see it in…
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Video Report: Phuketians see first solar eclipse of 2016
PHUKET: Phuketians were treated to a rare celestial spectacle this morning as the sun and moon crossed paths between 6:20am and 8:40am to create the first solar eclipse of the year. Observers in parts of Indonesia were able to see a total eclipse lasting for about four minutes, as the moon completely blocked out the sun – an event so…
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Health, safety top priorities for Phuket beach volley tournament
PHUKET: Preparations for the 2016 Thailand Beach Volley Festival Phuket powered by PTT are in high gear ahead of the international tournament to be held at Karon Beach, March 23-27 (story here), with security at the top of the agenda. Phuket Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul said this morning that with more than 300 participants – about 100 athletes and 200…
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Krabi adds buoys to protect corals
KRABI: In an effort to protect marine life, Krabi officials yesterday announced the installation of 16 additional buoys near popular tourist attractions. “The purpose of the buoys is to mark the presence of coral reefs so that ships and boats can avoid anchoring there,” said Sarayuth Tanthien, chief of the Hat Noppharat Thara – Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park.…
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A Decade Ago: Coral reefs and tidal waves of wastewater
PHUKET: As the Phuket Gazette scuba diving columnist for the last four years, I was dumbfounded when I stumbled over the headline screaming from page one of the 2006 March 4-10 issue: HUGE REEF DISCOVERED. A unique swath of biodiversity for Thailand that consumed at least four square kilometers of seabed off Tai Muang in Phang Nga was the biggest…
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Phuket lawyers, accountants targeted for enabling Thai nominees
PHUKET: Officials will be investigating legal firms and accounting offices connected with businesses suspected of using Thai nominee shareholders to circumvent laws prohibiting foreigners from owning more than 49 per cent of a company within the Kingdom. “We will be looking at whether or not certain lawyers and accountants are providing transparent services for foreign investors. Foreigners are not able…
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Foreign tenants told to go to court for property dispute
PHUKET: A group of tenants living at The Aspasia Phuket, who were hoping to have issues about the property’s management ironed out by the governor, have been told to go to court to settle their disputes. The group of ten expat tenants led by Dutch national Jan Cornelis van Zuilekom were told by Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul yesterday that they…
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![Phuket sea hare mass spawning caused by water temperature rise [video] | Thaiger](https://thethaiger.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/1_2016381216843_mXvAOIhfvpwTywQfNvoBwKnHNiRhNcPzzKzOThuP_jpeg.jpeg)
Phuket sea hare mass spawning caused by water temperature rise [video]
PHUKET: The millions of sea hares that washed onto a Phuket beach yesterday (story here) were part of a mass spawning due to a slight increase in the temperature of the sea. “It is normal during warmer months for the temperature to rise just enough to trigger a spawning response in sea hares. The animals die shortly after spawning, which…
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French pensioner mugged by Phuket ‘teenage’ thugs
PHUKET: Phuket police are hunting for two men who mugged a 70-year-old French woman as she was riding a bicycle along Lay Pang Beach yesterday evening. Martine Delaloy was riding her bicycle along the beach at about 5pm when two suspects, thought to be teenagers, drove past her on a motorbike and snatched her bag, causing her to fall. “When…
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Bangkok gunman’s SIM card prompts Phuket arrest
PHUKET: Police are questioning a Chinese man who was apprehended in Phuket in connection with the attempted robbery of a gun shop in Bangkok on Friday (story here). Police tracked down Su Su, 29, at a residence in Paklok on Saturday evening after it was revealed that he had registered a SIM card found on one of the robbery suspects…
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