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Sponsored Long-term life in Thailand? 5 reasons private health insurance pays off in the long run
Thailand is a great place for expats and retirees, offering a warm climate, affordable living, and rich culture. However, healthcare can be tricky for foreigners since they aren’t eligible for public health coverage, and private care can be expensive. Private...
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Phuket farmers denounce GMO bill
PHUKET: More than 30 members of the Phuket Farmer Association submitted a letter at Phuket Provincial Hall asking that Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha suspend the Biological Safety Bill until it is properly amended. The bill is set to allow genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to damage the nation’s ecology, with farmers being the ones to suffer the most, Somchai Ratanasuesakul,…
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Thailand spared from EU’s blacklist of airlines
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – National news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand spared from EU’s blacklist of airlines Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: BRUSSELS, Dec 10 The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) expressed concern about Thailand’s air safety oversight on Thursday but not did include any Thai carriers in an updated list of airlines banned from flying…
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Facebook service aimed at professionals to launch in coming months
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Facebook service aimed at professionals to launch in coming months Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Facebook at Work, Facebook Inc’s professional version of its social network, is expected to launch in the coming months, after spending a year in tests, a company executive said. The new…
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First planeload of Syrian refugees headed to Canada
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community First planeload of Syrian refugees headed to Canada Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: After months of promises and weeks of preparation, the first planeload of Syrian refugees was headed to Canada on Thursday, aboard a military plane to be met at Toronto’s airport by Prime Minister…
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Business Buzz: Local customers key to successful business
PHUKET: One of the common mistakes a business can make in a location like Phuket is to forget who is really important. In a holiday location it is very easy to focus on the tourist market, because the perception is they are the ones who are here spending without a care in the world and that there is an endless…
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Phuket tuk-tuk driver returns Brit’s cash-stuffed wallet
PHUKET: The driver of one of the infamous Patong tuk-tuks returned a wallet containing more than 10,000 baht cash to a British tourist in Phuket’s primary party town on Wednesday. Nimit Weladee, 44, discovered the cashed stuffed wallet in the middle of Thaweewong Road. “I picked up the wallet and checked it. There was more than 10,000 baht cash and…
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Finance: Reduce risks while playing market
PHUKET: I am asked all the time, by those who know I am patiently waiting for the next crash to re-enter equity markets, if there is some way they can participate now while reducing downside risk. If we are talking about funds that will need to be liquidated any time within the next five or ten years, I would say…
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Opinion: Fanning the flames of intolerance
PHUKET: With so much media attention being placed on developments surrounding terrorism and the Islamic State (IS), it is important for us here in Phuket not to get sucked into all the anti-Islamic fear-mongering and religious intolerance sweeping through many western nations these days. As the current edition of the Gazette went to press, firebrand United States presidential candidate Donald…
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Partner of killed German seeks justice in Phuket
PHUKET: A woman severely injured in a Phuket traffic accident is demanding justice for her dead German partner, following police failing to conduct a blood alcohol test on a man who allegedly had admitted to drinking prior to the fatal accident on December 3. “I was conscious, but unable to move immediately after the accident. The driver didn’t stop; he…
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Islamic State terrorist warning fails to impact Phuket occupancy
PHUKET: The recently leaked memo warning of Islamic State terrorists being dispatched to Phuket has not affected hotel occupancy numbers, explained the director of the Thai Hotel Association Southern Chapter. “We surveyed occupancy levels at our hotels and saw no impacts that could be attributed to the warning about ten IS members arriving in Thailand,” said Director Kritsada Tansakul. “Overall…
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Favorable winds on day three of King’s Cup
PHUKET: Favorable winds supercharged the trophy hunt on day three of the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta. IRC0 headed out for race 6 on an extensive 34 nautical mile course, a total run of around three hours for some in the class. Duncan Hine’s Alive team made the most of Champagne sailing conditions, managing a 2:39.27 elapsed time, with Frank Pong’s…
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Phuket officials take hardline on dangerous taxi drivers
PHUKET: The Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO) vowed yesterday to take tougher lines against taxi, minivan and tuk-tuk drivers breaking the law. “These drivers usually have more lives in their hands than other motorists in Phuket and they have a responsibility to ensure that their passengers safely reach their destinations. However, they have caused many accidents recently. Such issues can…
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BISP swimmers rake in medals at SEA Age Championships
PHUKET: The final day of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Championships saw British International School Phuket (BISP) JSA Swim Academy swimmers Chantal Liew, Nicholle Toh and Wong Fu Kang add two additional gold medals and two silver medals to the team’s haul. Chantal Liew (Singapore) took the individual gold in the Girls 50m Back in a time of 30.69, with…
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Close clashes at the top of the classes on second day of Phuket King’s Cup Regatta
PHUKET: Following the King’s Cup Regatta’s beautiful sunshine and reliable winds on opening day, day two threw up a markedly different challenge demanding a very high work rate from sailors. The light wind did indeed betray yesterday’s fastest runners at times, adding its own twist to the neck-and-neck finishes that are unfolding across almost all of the classes. This has…
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Krabi officials suspect SOS from Spanish vessel hijacked in Somalia
PHUKET: Krabi officials are contacting international agencies about a Spanish fishing vessel last reported in Somali waters in November. The move followed last Saturday’s discovery by Phi Phi National Park officers of an SOS device believed to be from the ship. ‘Elai Alai 74537’ was written on the emergency position-indicating radio (EPIRB) device. “We checked with EPIRB device experts and…
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Handbag thief is doped-up teacher
PHUKET: A Phuket teacher confessed to police that he had committed multiple counts of snatch theft while under the influence of ya bah (methamphetamine). Locals apprehended Sakkarin Potiwatt, 40, after he snatched an 18-year-old woman’s handbag from the basket of her motorbike on Monday evening, causing her and her passenger to crash, explained Capt Nattaya Supanpong of the Thalang Police.…
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Phuket signs MoU with Xiamen
PHUKET: Phuket officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China’s southeast port city Xiamen last week, making the two tourism driven provinces ‘sister cities’. Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada, along with Provincial officials, welcomed Hong Biling, deputy secretary of the Xiamen Communist Party, to the island on December 3. “It was a great pleasure to give Ms Hong a warm…
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Phuket prepares for inaugural Bike for Dad event
PHUKET: People throughout the nation will be marking the auspicious occasion of HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday with a mass cycling event entitled ‘Bike for Dad’ on Friday, December 11. The event is being held in accordance with HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn’s wish to express his gratitude and loyalty to HM The King on this special occasion, said…
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No sign of Community Chanotes for impoverished Phuket villages
PHUKET: The Community Chanote plan that would guarantee 18 impoverished communities on Phuket the right to live where they have been squatting for generations has stalled out. “As of today, there is no further information about the plan,” said Vice Governor Prajiad Aksornthammakul. “Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do until we get word from Bangkok.” In 2013, then-Phuket Governor…
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China’s capital issues first ever ‘red alert’ on air pollution
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community China’s capital issues first ever ‘red alert’ on air pollution Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: China’s capital issued its first ever “red alert” for pollution, the Beijing city government saidon Monday, warning that the city would be shrouded in heavy smog from Tuesday until Thursday. China’s…
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Rotary Foundation ranks fifth in top 10 world charity organizations
PHUKET: The Rotary Club of Patong Beach (RCoPB) is proud to announce that The Rotary Foundation has been ranked fifth in the top 10 charity organizations throughout the world. The Rotary was given a score of 96.31 out of 100 by Charity Navigator, an American based service that provides information about charities, such as financial health, accountability and transparency. “This…
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Hundreds of rubber trees removed from Krabi wildlife sanctuary
KRABI: More than 40 forest rangers and wildlife sanctuary officials teamed up to cut down hundreds of illegally planted rubber trees at a wildlife sanctuary in Krabi on Saturday. Following Article 25 of the National Reserve Forest Act, officials removed about 400 rubber trees in the Khao Pra – Bang Kram Wildlife Sanctuary in Krabi’s Khlong Thom district. The trees,…
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Chalong bodhisattva image to be removed
PHUKET: A bodhisattva image will be removed from a small waterway in the hills of Chalong following an investigation by the Phuket Damrongdhama Center (ombudsman’s office). A Facebook user, named in Thai as ‘Sajadham Tang-sai-klang’, sent a complaint directly to Phuket Governor Chamroen Tipayapongtada stating that the image of Guan Yin was blocking a natural waterway. The Guan Yin, usually…
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Boat hijackers allegedly hired to “collect unpaid debt’
PHUKET: The leader of a group of armed men who hijacked a Thai fishing vessel south of Phuket told police that they were hired by the boat’s previous owner, who had yet to be paid in full for the vessel. Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency arrested Madyusup Jimaan, 60, and Ta-een Taokloy, 61, on board the Chok Boonmee 5 in Malaysian…
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Big prizes up for grabs at Phuket Red Cross Fair
PHUKET: The Phuket Annual Red Cross Fair will kick off on December 26 and run through January 5 at Saphan Hin, offering a multitude of attractive lucky draw prizes, including a Toyota Vios 1.5G. The popular 11-day fair features hundreds of stalls selling local delicacies, knickknacks, clothing and a huge variety of other items. Fairgoers can also enjoy performances by…
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Task force takes down illegal Phuket casino
PHUKET: A joint task force arrested 40 gamblers during a raid on an underground Phuket casino in Chalong yesterday. “We received a tip-off from neighbors that gambling activities were being hosted in a house on Baan Kok Tanot Soi 3 on a daily basis, with no apparent fear of the law,” said Pakpoom Intharasuwan, Phuket’s Provincial chief administrative officer. More…
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Criminal Code adds clauses to tackle child pornography
PHUKET: Starting on December 8, the Criminal Code will cover three additional types of crimes related to child pornography. The new offences include the possession, sharing or distribution of child pornography. The additions to the Criminal Code are in line with the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Thailand ratified in 1992. Surasit Sangviroatjanapat, a chief judge…
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Social media companies step up battle against militant propaganda
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Social media companies step up battle against militant propaganda Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Facebook, Google and Twitter are stepping up efforts to combat online propaganda and recruiting by Islamic militants, but the Internet companies are doing it quietly to avoid the perception that they are…
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Thailand says looking for four Syrians amid Islamic State warning
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Thailand says looking for four Syrians amid Islamic State warning Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: Thailand said on Sunday it was looking for four Syrian nationals who have overstayed their visas, as the country is on high alert after a Russian warning of possible attacks by…
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Lufthansa passenger arrested after fumbling with door during flight
PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Lufthansa passenger arrested after fumbling with door during flight Phuket Gazette / Reuters PHUKET: A Jordanian-American male passenger was restrained by crew members on a Belgrade-bound Lufthansa flight on Sunday after fumbling with the emergency exit door, a spokesman for the German carrier said. The man,…
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