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    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...

  • Phuket Business: Outlook 2012 – bulls to the fore?

    Phuket Business: Outlook 2012 – bulls to the fore?

    PHUKET: Personally, I am very glad 2011 is over; it was a horrible year across the board for almost all investment strategies. I do think 2012 will be a better year, although I am not predicting that things are going to get better overnight. Unfortunately there are two opposing forces at play which allows for a lot of uncertainty in…

  • Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?

    Phuket Live Wire: So what’s all this about a 3G auction?

    PHUKET: Continuing my series of articles answering questions that I hear most often… the next question is one I expect to hear a thousand times in the next few months. It’s a little complicated, but you’re going to get confused anyway, so let me try to simplify things as best I can. “Woody, I hear that Thailand is finally going…

  • Phuket Business: Customs: trade thrives in 2011

    Phuket Business: Customs: trade thrives in 2011

    PHUKET: Trade flourished during 2011 in Phuket, with the island’s surplus of exports over imports more than 10.4 billion baht, according to statistics recently released by the Phuket Customs House. The total value of imports to the island during the 2011 Thai Government fiscal year (October 2010 to September 2011) was 2.12bn baht compared to 12.5bn baht in exports during…

  • Phuket Business: Petrol pump prices jump

    Phuket Business: Petrol pump prices jump

    PHUKET: Nationwide petrol prices, including those in Phuket, rose by as much as 40 satang earlier this week. The Phuket Gazette confirmed with PTT gas stations in Phuket that the price rises on petrol and gasohol went into effect on the island last Wednesday. The prices of all benzine petrol and most forms of gasohol increased by 40 satang (0.4…

  • Phuket Police arrest alleged gunman in “Ae Inside’ murder

    Phuket Police arrest alleged gunman in “Ae Inside’ murder

    PHUKET: The first suspect wanted in connection with the shooting murder of Phuket reporter Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn last Thursday has been arrested and is set to appear at a police press conference today. An arrest warrant for the suspect, 43-year-old Petchburi native Noppadon “Pae” Praisri, was approved by Phuket Provincial Court on Saturday. The exact time and details of…

  • Phuket Media Watch: 800 dogs rescued; Thailand number 1 for Brits

    Phuket Media Watch: 800 dogs rescued; Thailand number 1 for Brits

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community 800 dogs rescued from smugglers in Nakhon Phanom Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: A Mekong patrol unit headed by Captain Thirakiart Thong-aram found the dogs detained in more than 40 cases on a six-wheel truck on the riverbank in Don Paeng village in Tambon Ban…

  • FC Phuket trashed by Hornbills in season closer

    FC Phuket trashed by Hornbills in season closer

    PHUKET: Despite determination for a strong finish and a surprise substitution late in the game, FC Phuket were no match for the Chainat FC “Hornbills” in the two sides’ final game of the season.The Southern Sea Kirin went down 3-0 on Saturday afternoon in Chainat.Two of Chainat’s goals came in the first half, from an 18th minute goal by Suradet…

  • Weird World News: Sweden officially recognizes a new religion; a pastor lets a tattoo parlor set up shop in the Lord’s house; and a UK mayor pays for not judging jack-o-lanterns

    Weird World News: Sweden officially recognizes a new religion; a pastor lets a tattoo parlor set up shop in the Lord’s house; and a UK mayor pays for not judging jack-o-lanterns

    PHUKET: Religion is an important part of many people’s lives, but in this Weird World News round-up we take a look at some of the stranger religious happenings that hit the headlines this week. Digital pirates find religion SWEDEN has helped digital pirates load their canons by officially recognizing a group that preaches “Copy, download, upload” as an official religion.…

  • Rampant rental car thefts in Phuket

    Rampant rental car thefts in Phuket

    PHUKET: Seven hire cars remain missing from a Phuket rental firm. Two suspects are in custody but three more are evading capture having failed to return the vehicles. The rental company owner suspects they may have been fraudulently sold or have been used to get finance from a pawn-broker. In the middle of October last year, Sarun Thongularn, 37 and…

  • Phuket Sports: Junjita takes 5th at world golf tourney

    Phuket Sports: Junjita takes 5th at world golf tourney

    PHUKET: Golf is certainly on the up-swing in Phuket, with a wealth of young players from the island now competing at international level. The latest Phuket addition to the global golf ranks is Jinjuta Thongtan, a Matthayom 5 (grade 11) student at Satree School. Mr Thammawat Wongcharoenyot, president of The Youth Golf Club of Phuket, met with Phuket Governor Tri…

  • Phuket Sports: Flying start to Flynn’s 2012

    Phuket Sports: Flying start to Flynn’s 2012

    PHUKET: Phuket’s Annissa Flynn started her 2012 surfing season in superb style with victory in the Women’s Division of the 6th annual Monsoon Mayhem International Surf Challenge held at Desaru Beach in Southeast Malaysia. At 13 years old, Annissa was the youngest of the women finalists that included pros such as runner-up Nur Herwani from Malaysia, third place Michaela Partin…

  • Phuket league win slips through Lizard’s hands

    Phuket league win slips through Lizard’s hands

    PHUKET: Two former Island Furniture League champions faced off recently when the Island Cricket Club (ICC) and the Liquid Lounge Lizards took to the ACG for the seventh match of the 2011-2012 season. Both teams looked to secure their first win of the season and gain a degree of confidence moving toward the business end of the season. A tight…

  • Phuket Sports: Phang Nga Bay regatta beckons

    Phuket Sports: Phang Nga Bay regatta beckons

    PHUKET: Phang Nga Bay’s dramatic scenery will provide the spectacular setting for The 2012 Bay Regatta which is scheduled to run from February 1 to 5. Limestone karsts, cliffs, sandy beaches and tropical vegetation offer a superlative visual tour for sailors as well as natural objects to navigate around, but it is the parties and companionship and the down-to-earth nature…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Monk on fire sparks clashes in Tibet; suspected serial killer arrested; suicide bomber kills 53 | Thaiger

    Phuket Media Watch: Monk on fire sparks clashes in Tibet; suspected serial killer arrested; suicide bomber kills 53

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Another self-immolation in Tibet, said to be the 16th Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: A Tibetan Buddhist monk set himself on fire in southwestern China on Saturday, a rights group reported yesterday, triggering clashes between security forces and locals. Free Tibet, a group campaigning for…

  • Phuket celebrates National Teachers Day

    Phuket celebrates National Teachers Day

    PHUKET: Commuters who experienced an unexpected lull in the Phuket traffic chaos this morning can thank the fact that government schools across the island are closed for National Teachers Day today. National Teachers Day falls on January 16 every year and is a day off for all teachers as well as their pupils. It is not to be confused with…

  • Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    Phuket Roads: Swiss man, 56, killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    PHUKET: In our third story on Phuket road carnage today, a Swiss man was killed instantly when his motorcycle was hit by a passenger car on Thepkrasattri Road in Thalang early this afternoon. According to Phuket Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers at the scene, the Swiss man was traveling southbound on Thepkrasattri Road when he was hit full force by a…

  • “Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket police refute need for outside help

    “Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket police refute need for outside help

    PHUKET: The Deputy Commander of Provincial Police Region 8 has spoken out against outside police help in the investigation into the murder of Phuket journalist Wisut ‘Ae Inside’ Tangwitthayaporn. Mr Wisut was shot dead in peak hour traffic on Thursday morning while driving to Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket Town. Maj Gen Pisan Chuldilok made his announcement yesterday – just…

  • Phuket Opinion: Great news for Phuket and our football team

    Phuket Opinion: Great news for Phuket and our football team

    PHUKET: Phuket football fans received some excellent news last weekend with the revelation that FC Phuket will enjoy financial support from Thai Premier League powerhouse Muangthong United next season. The news also came as a considerable relief to fans, given that the team had been reported “sold” and that its future had been very much in doubt. [See sports pages,…

  • Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings

    Phuket reacts to Bangkok terror warnings

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has asked police to step up security at hotels with foreign guests throughout the island in the wake of the US embassy’s issuance of a terror warning to American citizens on Friday. The British embassy in Bangkok followed on Saturday by stepping up its terror warning for certain areas in Thailand. “Phuket has thankfully not…

  • Dutchman sought by police in Thailand gets 28 years in jail in Peru

    Dutchman sought by police in Thailand gets 28 years in jail in Peru

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Dutchman wanted in Thailand gets 28 years in Peru Prison Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Dutchman Joran Van der Sloot, wanted for questioning in Thailand for suspected sex trafficking, was sentenced to 28 years in a Peruvian prison on Friday for the murder of a…

  • Phuket Roads: Another biker critically injured in hit-and-run

    Phuket Roads: Another biker critically injured in hit-and-run

    PHUKET: Phuket Police are seeking the driver of a white sedan involved in a hit-and-run accident that left a motorbike driver critically injured on Thepkrasattri Rd in Thalang last night. The accident happened at about 9:30pm on Thepkrasattri Rd southbound, opposite the new PTT service station in Srisoonthorn Village 1. Thalang Police and Kusoldharm Foundation workers rushed to the scene…

  • Gov calls for gun security after man shot dead in Kalim

    Gov calls for gun security after man shot dead in Kalim

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha has called for police to boost gun security after a man was gunned down while riding home along the Kalim beach road last night. Jakkrit Nutad, 45, from Nakhon Sri Thammarat, was riding home when two men following him pulled alongside and opened fire at about 9pm, said Patong Police Superintendent Col Arayapan Pukbuakao. “Both…

  • Phuket Media Watch: Flood, landslide warnings for South Thailand

    Phuket Media Watch: Flood, landslide warnings for South Thailand

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH– Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community South on alert for floods, landslides; Phuket not affected Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Weather conditions in the lower Gulf of Thailand will get rough over the next few days, the National Disaster Warning Centre (NDWC) warned this morning. It also warned of possible flash floods,…

  • Pheu Thai’s Prompong inspects B4bn ‘stolen’ Phuket land

    Pheu Thai’s Prompong inspects B4bn ‘stolen’ Phuket land

    PHUKET: Pheu Thai Party spokesman and party list MP Prompong Nopparit arrived in Phuket yesterday to inspect 65 rai of land near Patong that is under investigation for having been illegally issued land titles.The land, located behind Freedom Beach on the southern headland south of Patong, was brought to the attention of the National Counter Corruption Commission after it was…

  • Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket reporters call for PM Yingluck to appoint chief investigator

    Ae Inside’ murder: Phuket reporters call for PM Yingluck to appoint chief investigator

    PHUKET: The President of the Phuket Reporters Club, on January 11, filed a formal request for Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to personally appoint the chief police officer who will lead the investigation into the murder of Wisut “Ae Inside” Tangwitthayaporn. Mr Wisut was shot dead in peak hour traffic on Thursday morning while driving to Phuket Provincial Hall in Phuket…

  • Phuket Media Watch: India asks BBC to apologize

    Phuket Media Watch: India asks BBC to apologize

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community India asks BBC to apologize for ‘offensive’ comments on Top Gear Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Indian government has demanded an apology from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) over a TV program’s episode last month which mocked Indian culture. A Christmas special of the ‘Top Gear’ program…

  • Phuket Sports: Chelsea favorite for FA Cup

    Phuket Sports: Chelsea favorite for FA Cup

    PHUKET: Chelsea have been made favorites by bookmakers to secure their seventh FA Cup title following their victory over Portsmouth. The scoreline flattered the Blues who struggled in a dour first half to breakdown determined defensive play by the visitors. Just after the break however, Juan Mata received a low cross from Florent Malouda and swept the ball past Stephen…

  • Bangkok terror alert: Deputy PM Chalerm denies threat

    Bangkok terror alert: Deputy PM Chalerm denies threat

    Following US Embassy warning to Americans, Thai authorities confirm arrest of suspect linked to Hezbollah PHUKET: Senior Thai officials scrambled yesterday to deny that Thailand faced an immediate terrorist threat, following a dramatic warning by the US Embassy to Americans living in Bangkok. The Thai authorities, led by Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, however, confirmed the arrest of a terrorist…

  • Phuket’s “Pla-wan’ recovering returns home, receives second Royal bouquet

    Phuket’s “Pla-wan’ recovering returns home, receives second Royal bouquet

    PHUKET: Sri panwa resort General Manager Vorasit “Pla-wan” Issara is recovering at Sripanwa Villa, Phuket, after being released from hospital on Wednesday. His release was followed by another gift of flowers, this time from HRH Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn. The Royal bouquet was presented to Pla-wan and the Issara family yesterday afternoon by Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha. Mr Vorasit, who…

  • Great day to be a kid in Phuket

    Great day to be a kid in Phuket

    PHUKET: National Children’s Day will be celebrated across Thailand tomorrow and there are many fun activities planned all over Phuket for children to enjoy and learn from. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has dedicated the slogan “Unity, Knowledge, Wisdom, Preserving Thai Identity, and Learning Technology” as the theme for this year’s Children’s Day. Here in Phuket, many organizations will get into…