News
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Thailand’s healthcare system is well-regarded across Southeast Asia, with options ranging from public hospitals to world-class private facilities. But when it comes to foreign residents or tourists, healthcare access isn’t as straightforward. So, do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?...
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Phuket National Park chief transferred after island resorts raided
PHUKET: National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP) Director-General Damrong Phidet yesterday announced that the chief of Sirinath National Park will be transferred from Phuket after less than a month in office. “The Sirinath National Park Chief will be transferred to work at the DNP [offices] in Bangkok for 30 days,” said Mr Damrong. He went on to explain…
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Two survive as car plows into Phuket power pole
PHUKET: Two men lucky to be alive are recovering at Vachira Phuket Hospital in Phuket Town after the car they were travelling in slammed into a power pole in Cherng Talay about midnight last night. Arriving at the scene, on Pasak-Koktanod Road, police and Phuket Kusoldharm Rescue Foundation rescue workers found a white Toyota Vios with extensive damage to its…
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Mother of Phuket Swedish murder victim sues for B24.5mn as trial postponed
PHUKET: Swedish nationals Johan Sebastian Ljung and Tommy Viktor Soderlund, who have been charged with the stabbing murder of Maksim Schantz on August 1 last year, appeared at Phuket Provincial Court on Tuesday. However, as multiple witnesses, necessary to the case, failed to present themselves at the court, the judge reconvened the trial for 9:30am on November 2. Aeknara Luangsanam…
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Chuvit Facebook tip-off sparks Phuket gambling raid
PHUKET: Phuket Police last night raided a gambling den operating near a major government school in Kathu after its location was revealed by controversial MP Chuwit Kamolvisit, leader of the Rak Thailand Party, on one of his Facebook pages. The raid on the gambling den, at 7:20pm in a house about 100 meters from Baan Kathu School, was conducted by…
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Satree Phuket takes the initiative for AEC
PHUKET: In the next three years, the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) will come into force, and the region’s languages will be as important as English. A school on the resort island of Phuket in Thailand’s south has been providing Myanmar language classes to its high-school students. Secondary students at Satree Phuket School in the provincial seat are paying special attention…
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Thailand Business: Central Plaza has a good time; Mellow Digital; Moevenpick to expand
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Central Plaza Hotel enjoys good H1, eyes record growth Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Central Plaza Hotel, the operator of Centara Hotels & Resorts and quick-service restaurants such as KFC and Mister Donut, is optimistic about its financial performance in the current second half, based…
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Thailand News: Verdict delay in war weapon case
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Verdict on eight Thais in war weapon case “could take two weeks” Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: The trial of eight Thais, arrested in Myanmar on charges of possessing war weapons, was scheduled to end today, but it could take two weeks before the court…
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Governor opens “Festival of 1,000 eyes’
PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday officially opened the 20th Phuket Pineapple Fair at Saphan Hin Park in Phuket Town. The fair kicked off at 5pm and continues through to August 22. Phuket Agricultural chief Winai Khankaew explained to the Gazette, “It’s not just pineapples. There are all kinds of fruit, flowers and other agricultural products on show.” Among the…
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Phuket Sports: Orphans team up with Olympic finalists
PHUKET: A group of school children on Phuket played its part in helping the American pair of Jennifer Kessy and April Ross reach the recent Beach Volleyball Olympic final. Last year the duo competed in the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) Women’s World Tour in Karon and took some time out from competing in their tournament to watch a school…
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World News: Mass shooting at Mexican strip club claims 10
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Death toll rises to 10 after mass shooting at Mexican strip club Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The death toll has risen to ten after gunmen opened fire at a strip club in northern Mexico, state officials said yesterday, in what appears to be the…
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Thailand News: Group to appeal; Myanmar decision expected; Forest fires
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rayong people to appeal against court verdict on land documents Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Local residents from Rayong’s Mae Ramphueng area will be appealing to the Supreme Administrative Court against the lower court’s decision to drop their complaint over the land rights documents held…
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Phuket Town underground cable project ’90 per cent complete’
PHUKET: Phase two of the 39-million-baht project to bury central Phuket Town’s electricity mains cables is more than 90 per cent complete, Phuket City Mayor Somjai Suwansupana has confirmed. The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) has already finished burying the electricity mains cable on Krabi and Deebuk Roads. They are now focused on burying the mains supply along sections of Thepkrasattri…
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Phuket safe from Sumatra smog: Officials
PHUKET: An expert at the Phuket Provincial Health Office today confirmed that no health warning has been issued for Phuket following Sumatran fire-related smog blanketing Southern Thailand.“Phuket is not affected by the smog from Sumatra, so we have yet to issue a smog warning,” Health officer Walapa Jeenloy confirmed to the Phuket Gazette.“There are some other provinces effected by the…
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Thailand News: US Visa given to Thaksin not a political issue
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Politics not involved in visa given to Thaksin : US ambassador Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: The issuing of a visa to former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra was done under United States laws and had no bearing on domestic politics in Thailand, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney…
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Turtles rescued after oil dumping raises alarm
PHUKET: The Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) has put the dumping of used oil into the sea back to the top of their agenda after two oil-stained sea turtles found their way to shore during the last two months. Kongkiat Kittiwattanawong, head of the PMBC’s Endangered Species Unit, has called on all relative organizations to step up their efforts on…
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Foul complaints prompt Phuket piggery inspection
PHUKET: An inspection of a chicken and pig farm led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak has resulted in several recommendations for the farm owners to follow, but otherwise found nothing untoward other than the foul odor emanating from the site. The inspection follows residents at the The Valley 2 housing estate filing a group complaint with the Damrongtham Center…
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Olympics: Medalists come home to heroes’ welcome
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Rousing welcome Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Thailand’s Olympic athletes returned home to a resounding heroes’ welcome yesterday after capturing three medals – including two silver – at the London Games. The Kingdom finished 57th out of 205 countries that competed in the sporting extravaganza.…
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Protest pressures Phuket police to reopen teen death crash probe
PHUKET: Following a public protest yesterday, Chalong Police will reopen their investigation into a traffic accident in which a 16-year-old boy died on Sunday. About 20 people, including the aggrieved father, Sompong Sae-min, friends and family, gathered at Chalong Police Station at about 10am. According to the police report, Weerachat Sae-min, a 16-year-old first-year commerce student at Phuket Technology College,…
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Phuket Live Wire: What exactly is this new 4G?
PHUKET: Thailand has been bombarded with “3G” advertising for years. As befits a term with no real definition, “3G” is all about marketing. A phone company can call two tin cans and a piece of string “3G” and get away with it. Not so 4G. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the US and Europe have been taken to court over…
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Phuket Business: Mid-year tax filing deadline approaches
PHUKET: Companies and individuals who generated income in Thailand during the first six months of 2012 – regardless of where or how payments were made – have until August 31 to file their midyear tax return. In this first article, we will go over the basics of regulations and procedures for filing and paying income tax in Thailand. Next week,…
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Phi Phi islanders, resort tackle rising tide of monsoon trash
PHUKET: Island residents and local resort staff on Koh Phi Phi Don teamed up for a mass beach cleanup on Sunday, removing more than 100 trash bags worth of rubbish that had washed ashore.Local residents together with more than 45 staff from the Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island tackled the rising tide of trash at Lanah Bay, one of…
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Fireball engulfs Phuket marina workshop
PHUKET: Police believe that children playing with fireworks may have accidentally started a fire that destroyed a workshop at Phuket’s Yacht Haven Marina last night. Prai Junnoo, a 33-year-old security guard at the marina, reported the fire at about 9pm. Firefighters from the Mai Khao Tambon Administration Organization (OrBorTor) and the Thepkrasattri Municipality fire brigades arrived swiftly and took 30…
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Thailand News: Billboard kills worker; Senator shoots relative; Thai Olympics review
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Fatality spurs BMA to check billboards Phuket Gazette / The NationPHUKET: More than 900 billboards across Bangkok will be inspected, and if they are found to be unsafe they will be torn down, Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday. The measure was announced after Janya…
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World News: Earthquake victims used Facebook to call for help
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Iran earthquake toll rises to 306 dead, more than 3,000 injured Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: The death toll after two devastating earthquakes struck northwestern Iran over the weekend has risen to at least 306, the country’s ministry of health said yesterday. More than 3,000…
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THAI’s low-cost carrier plan stalls
PHUKET: Plagued by financial losses, Thai Airways International (THAI) has decided to drop plans to establish a low-cost carrier airline by 2013.The chairman of the board, Ampon Kittiampon, confirmed on August 9 that, given the company’s recent financial under-performance, launching a low-cost carrier would not be included in this year’s strategic business plan.Dr Ampon told the press that he was…
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Phuket Sports: Wood claims maiden victory at Thailand Open
PHUKET: Englishman Chris Wood claimed the first win of his professional career yesterday with a two-shot victory in a rain-interrupted US$1million Thailand Open, breaking the hearts of home fans hoping for the first Thai champion in eight years. The 24-year-old European Tour regular – competing in a OneAsia Tour event for the first time – fired rounds of 67, 64,…
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Olympics: Storm follows decision over Thai Boxer Kaew
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Opinion: He’s not the first to see injustice The NationPHUKET: Veteran Kaew Pongprayoon is not the first and possibly not the last boxer to fall victim to controversial refereeing decisions, providing further evidence there is urgent need to change the International Boxing Association (AIBA)’s obviously flawed judging…
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World News: More journalists killed in Syria and Somalia
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Two Syrian journalists killed as TV crew goes missing Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Two Syrian journalists were killed near Damascus on Saturday while covering the ongoing civil war, state-run media and an Arab satellite television station reported yesterday. And a crew member of a…
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PHUKET OPINION: Football thugs lose face in the name of the game
PHUKET: The recent threat of violence against Phuket FC fans who made the journey to Krabi Provincial Stadium should serve as a wake-up call to the Thai Premier League (TPL) to ensure that better security measures are in place for future matches in Krabi, especially those involving southern rivals. [See page 47, current issue of the Phuket Gazette. Digital subscribers…
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Police find “nothing suspicious’ in Chinese drownings
PHUKET: Chalong Police will not be conducting further investigations into two separate drowning deaths of Chinese tourists off Phuket this week, the Phuket Gazette has learned. Chalong Police Deputy Superintendent Boonlert Onklang told the Gazette yesterday that he received a report at about 11:30am on Tuesday informing him that a Chinese woman had died while on a snorkeling trip to…
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