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    Do foreigners get free healthcare in Thailand?

    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?...

  • Pong powers home to win Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

    Pong powers home to win Phuket King’s Cup Regatta

    PHUKET: Blue skies and consistent winds marked the final day of the 2012 Phuket King’s Cup Regatta in fitting style yesterday as teams and their boats assembled at the start line in a final bid to resolve their class contests. Some results had effectively completed on Friday, but most of the classes were anticipated to deliver a thrilling final day…

  • World Football Roundup: Torres ignites Chelsea; bad record for Queens Park

    World Football Roundup: Torres ignites Chelsea; bad record for Queens Park

    PHUKET: Fernando Torres continued to silence his critics by scoring twice for the second game running as third-placed Chelsea won 3-1 at Sunderland last night to record their first Premier League victory under Rafael Benitez.The much-maligned Spain forward struck two goals in the first half, his second from the penalty spot, and almost completed a hat-trick shortly after halftime when…

  • Phuket motorbike taxis hit over fares

    Phuket motorbike taxis hit over fares

    PHUKET: A motorbike taxi representative from Patong has railed against his fellow drivers, calling for “more ethical” behavior and cessation of the practice of gouging tourists for short journeys in the resort town.The call came at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on November 28. At the meeting, designed to handle a multitude of issues concerning motorbike taxis, Chumpol Aiabsakul,…

  • Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced

    Weird World News: Fire and ice meets fired and iced

    PHUKET: In this week’s Weird World News Roundup we take a wacky trip from New Mexico over the border into Arizona – and back to New Mexico. Usually home to UFO and alien sightings, this time the focus is on more earthly stupidity as we dive into the worlds of a frozen gun, a police note to the mob, and…

  • Samui Police arrest second Hungarian suspect for Phuket Reisz murder

    Samui Police arrest second Hungarian suspect for Phuket Reisz murder

    PHUKET: Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat has confirmed that police on Koh Samui have arrested Hungarian national Gyorgy Lajos Kvalka, wanted in connection with the murder of fellow Hungarian Peter Reisz in Phuket. “We are in contact with police there, but at this stage we are not sure when the suspect will be brought to Phuket,” Maj Gen Choti…

  • Phuket police chief calls on officers to use smart phones, rolling checkpoints

    Phuket police chief calls on officers to use smart phones, rolling checkpoints

    PHUKET: The 48 Royal Thai Police officers installed in their new positions in Phuket yesterday were ordered to boost their public image and their effectiveness by staging “rolling checkpoints” and using smart phones. The news was handed down by Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavalviwat at a ceremony at Provincial Police headquarters in Phuket Town. Maj Gen Choti ordered the…

  • Phuket Governor opens tourist center in Cherng Talay

    Phuket Governor opens tourist center in Cherng Talay

    PHUKET: Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut joined officials from the Cherng Talay Tambon Administrative Organization (OrBorTor) yesterday as he presided over the opening ceremony of a new tourist information center at Surin Beach. Cherng Talay OrBorTor President Ma-ann Samran told the Phuket Gazette that the decision to establish the center came in response to the increasing number of tourists visiting the…

  • Phuket King’s Cup competitors look to bag every point in light winds

    Phuket King’s Cup competitors look to bag every point in light winds

    PHUKET: With winds easing off slightly during yesterday’s racing, competitors looked to maximize every possible advantage as valuable points were up for grabs.Frank Pong and his Jelik team have been the quickest of the IRC Zero class boats in the last few races, but Kevin Whitcraft’s Won Ma Rang shared class honours yesterday. Won Ma Rang took victory in race…

  • International Sports: Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent

    International Sports: Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Sports news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UEFA’s Euro 2020 plan lauded in cash-strapped continent Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: UEFA’s decision to host the 2020 European Championship across the continent rather than in one or two host nations has been greeted with enthusiasm as countries battle the crippling financial crisis. European football’s…

  • World News: Duke and Duchess deeply saddened by death of “duped” nurse

    World News: Duke and Duchess deeply saddened by death of “duped” nurse

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Nurse who took prank call about royal Kate found dead Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: A nurse who answered a prank call at the London hospital that was treating Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate for morning sickness has been found dead, the hospital said yesterday, in…

  • “Meet me halfway’ says Phuket Governor on Paris Hilton beach party

    “Meet me halfway’ says Phuket Governor on Paris Hilton beach party

    PHUKET: The Phuket Governor today called on Sydictive Element, organizers of the monster New Year party touted to be held on Surin Beach, to scale down the party so it can be approved. “The best way is for the organizers and locals to meet halfway. If the two sides can come to a compromise, then I have nothing against the…

  • Phuket murder suspect Moshe David re-enacts Reisz killing

    Phuket murder suspect Moshe David re-enacts Reisz killing

    PHUKET: Moshe David, the prime suspect in the murder investigation of his former business associate Peter Reisz, this morning re-enacted the sequence of events that led to the death of Mr Reisz. As with all public appearances since his arrest, Mr David was silent in front of reporters. However, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanith announced to the…

  • Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout

    Thailand News: Power restored to Samui after three-day blackout

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Power restored on Thai resort islands after three-day blackout Phuket Gazette / The Nation PHUKET: Power was finally restored to the Thai resort islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan early this morning after a three-day blackout prompted thousands of peak-season tourists to leave. The electricity…

  • World News: Talks to break US “fiscal cliff” resumed

    World News: Talks to break US “fiscal cliff” resumed

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Both sides hint at renewed talks on U.S. “fiscal cliff” Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: With little to show after a month of posturing, the White House and Republicans in Congress dropped hints yesterday that they had resumed low-level private talks on breaking the stalemate over…

  • International Boxing: Bout has all the makings of a classic

    International Boxing: Bout has all the makings of a classic

    Marquez and Pacquiao both aim for vindication Reuters / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Tomorrow’s non-title welterweight bout between Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez has all the makings of a classic as the two fighters prepare to meet for a fourth and, almost certainly, final time in the ring. Their previous three encounters were gripping, all-action affairs between Filipino Pacquiao, probably…

  • Phuket Sports: New Brazilian unveiled by Phuket United

    Phuket Sports: New Brazilian unveiled by Phuket United

    PHUKET: Phuket United unveiled their new Brazilian signing, Jardel de Andrade Apolonio, a defensive player from the Liga Futsal League of Brazil, this week. The 29-year old player will wear the number 29 shirt. In an interview with the Phuket Gazette Jardel describes his thoughts on the eve of his first match with the Andaman Pearl: “I like Phuket and…

  • World News: Huge cuts at Citigroup as financial crisis still bites

    World News: Huge cuts at Citigroup as financial crisis still bites

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Citigroup to cut more than 11,000 jobs worldwide Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: Global financial conglomerate Citigroup yesterday announced it plans to cut more than 11,000 jobs, or about four percent of its global workforce, in a bold move by the company’s new chief executive…

  • Police add Thai suspect to Phuket murder manhunt

    Police add Thai suspect to Phuket murder manhunt

    PHUKET: Moshe David, prime suspect for the murder of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz in Phuket, was presented to the press today after his arrest in Bangkok yesterday. During a press conference in Surat Thani, home to the popular tourist island Koh Samui, Provincial Police Region 8 Commander Gen Yongyuth Charoenwanit announced that officers were now searching for a Thai man…

  • Nepal’s former crown prince shipped to Bangkok: Phuket Police

    Nepal’s former crown prince shipped to Bangkok: Phuket Police

    PHUKET: Nepal’s former crown prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev was transferred to Bangkok on December 4 to face charges at Thonglor Police Station, the Phuket Gazette was told. A senior officer involved in the case, who asked not to be named, told the Gazette that Mr Shah was transferred to Bangkok at 10pm on Tuesday. “He was sent to…

  • Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge

    Thailand News: Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Ex-PM Abhisit and Deputy Suthep to face murder charge Phuket Gazette / Nation Breaking News PHUKET: Former Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and former Deputy PM Suthep Thaugsuban will be charged with conspiracy to murder related to the death of a civilian during the red-shirt protests in…

  • US embassy ramps up search for American missing in Phuket

    US embassy ramps up search for American missing in Phuket

    PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok has stepped up its search for missing American citizen Brett Chapman Bean, 43, who was last known to be in Phuket. Staff at the AirAsia office at Phuket Airport confirmed to the Phuket Gazette that Mr Bean had booked a seat on board flight FD3012, which was scheduled to depart Phuket at 9:30pm on…

  • Letter from the Phuket Governor: Safety first, with urban growth a close second

    Letter from the Phuket Governor: Safety first, with urban growth a close second

    Maitri Inthusut arrived on the island to take up the position of Governor of Phuket on October 8. With a master’s degree in political science from Thammasat University, he joined the National Security Council, rising to the position of NSC Secretary-General, before taking up the position of Chief Secretary for the Secretariat of the Cabinet. He has also served as…

  • Phuket Finance: Bonding with your portfolio

    Phuket Finance: Bonding with your portfolio

    PHUKET: People usually think of bonds as safe investments, although I have written before about the dangers that are not so obvious to investors. The reason they can be dangerous in a low interest rate environment, such as we are in now, is because as interest rates rise, the market value of a bond or portfolio of bonds drops, and…

  • Kata Reef roped off for swimmer, diver safety

    Kata Reef roped off for swimmer, diver safety

    PHUKET: A local contingent of marine safety officials and conservationists have installed a “reef line” around the North Kata Reef to protect swimmers, scuba divers and snorkelers from boat traffic and to prevent damage to the reef. Staff from the Marine Safety Center and volunteers from the environmental conservation organization, Go Eco Phuket, joined forces with local government agencies to…

  • Phuket King’s Cup Regatta gives spectacular tribute and racing

    Phuket King’s Cup Regatta gives spectacular tribute and racing

    PHUKET: The entire Phuket King’s Cup Regatta fleet took part in an inspiring sail pass close to Nai Harn Bay yesterday, before the start of the third day of racing. Royal Thai Navy yachts led the procession of Regatta boats from around the world, as they sailed past three Royal Thai Navy ships positioned off Nai Harn Bay. This spectacular…

  • Alleged killer of Hungarian businessman caught in Bangkok

    Alleged killer of Hungarian businessman caught in Bangkok

    PHUKET: Police arrested Israeli-Hungarian dual national Moshe David at a shopping mall in Bangkok today for the killing of Hungarian businessman Peter Reisz, whose body was found hidden with hands bound in a rubber plantation on Phuket on November 29. “We are now searching for another suspect in the case,” Phuket Provincial Police Commander Choti Chavaviwat told the Phuket Gazette.…

  • Father of the Nation

    Father of the Nation

    PHUKET: Today, HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama IX of the Chakri Dynasty, turns 85 years old.Looking back in time, the circumstances surrounding HM King Bhumibol’s 1946 ascension to the throne couldn’t have been more remarkable. Born the second son to Prince Mahidol of Songkhla, the brother of King Prachadhipok (Rama VII), neither the King nor his elder brother…

  • Phuket honors HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday

    Phuket honors HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday

    PHUKET: A host of special ceremonies are being held across Phuket today to honor and celebrate HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 85th birthday, as well as Father’s Day. The ceremonies kicked off at 6:30am with Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut and a host of other public dignitaries leading the offering of alms to 86 monks as part of a blessing ceremony to…

  • World News: Children killed by Vietnam war-era shell

    World News: Children killed by Vietnam war-era shell

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news selected by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Old U.S. mortar shell kills 4 kids in southern Vietnam Phuket Gazette / News Wires PHUKET: An old mortar shell, which was dropped by the United States Air Force on a village in southern Vietnam during the Vietnam War, exploded on Sunday afternoon, killing four young…

  • Phuket Business: HotelTravel – here to stay

    Phuket Business: HotelTravel – here to stay

    PHUKET: After 13 years building his company from the ground up, Phuket expat Blair Speers set a local business benchmark last month when he sold HotelTravel.com (HT) to the Indian based travel and e-commerce group that operates MakeMyTrip.com. Shortly after the US$25 million (760mn baht) acquisition was finalized, executives from the MakeMyTrip Ltd Group (MMT) met with employees at the…