Caitlin Ashworth

Caitlin Ashworth is a writer from the United States who has lived in Thailand since 2018. She graduated from the University of South Florida St. Petersburg with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and media studies in 2016. She was a reporter for the Daily Hampshire Gazette In Massachusetts. She also interned at the Richmond Times-Dispatch in Virginia and Sarasota Herald-Tribune in Florida.
  • Thailand Protest NewsYoung Thais say political divide has caused conflict with their parents

    Young Thais say political divide has caused conflict with their parents

    The ongoing political protests have led to a new, raw divide in Thailand with a split between a younger generation demanding democracy and an older generation trying to protect Thailand’s Monarchy. Student-led protests continue to call for reform of the government and the country’s monarchy. They’ve spoken up about topics considered “unprecedented” in Thai society. Royalists, generally an older generation,…

  • World NewsCambodian PM tests negative for Covid-19 after meeting with Hungarian foreign minister

    Cambodian PM tests negative for Covid-19 after meeting with Hungarian foreign minister

    Cambodian PM Hun Sen says he tested negative for Covid-19, but he will be in self-quarantine for the next 14 days. On Tuesday, the prime minister met with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Peter Szijarto, who tested positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok, Thai officials announced yesterday. The Hungary delegation had a 1-day visit in Phnom Penh on Tuesday before…

  • Thailand NewsHuman rights activists file defamation lawsuit against PM and army

    Human rights activists file defamation lawsuit against PM and army

    A civil defamation lawsuit has been filed by Thai human rights activists against the Office of the Prime Minister for allegedly publishing distorted information on a blog website. The government’s Information Operation allegedly ran a website called puliny.blogspot.com, which is now offline. It published news stories about southern Thailand, but also allegedly shot down claims of human rights violations. The…

  • Thailand NewsCIA cannot grant asylum to Thai activists, US Embassy says conspiracy theories are false

    CIA cannot grant asylum to Thai activists, US Embassy says conspiracy theories are false

    Some claim pro-democracy leaders have applied for political asylum in the United States and the CIA is helping them out, but the US Embassy in Bangkok says it’s not true and the claim isn’t even in line with the process for asylum in America. Bangkok Post spoke with a US Embassy representative on the phone who says the claims about…

  • Environment NewsUrgent plan to reduce PM2.5 – National Environment Board

    Urgent plan to reduce PM2.5 – National Environment Board

    With the air pollutant PM2.5 rising to harmful levels in some areas of Bangkok and increasing in other cities, the National Environment Board has approved an urgent plan. Pollution Control Department chief Atthaphon Charoenchansa says the plan has 12 measures to tackle pollution. It will be submitted to the Cabinet for review. A “pollution information centre” will be formed with…

  • Crime News6 sentenced to 20-50 years in prison for Eagle Gates investment scam

    6 sentenced to 20-50 years in prison for Eagle Gates investment scam

    The Thai Criminal Court sentenced 6 people to prison for money laundering and investment fraud. The 6 defendants were involved with the Eagle Gates Group, a company which was found to be a front for transnational crime, according to the Department of Special Investigation. The first defendant was sentenced to 50 years in prison while the other 5 were each…

  • Covid-19 NewsHungarian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok

    Hungarian foreign minister tests positive for Covid-19 while in Bangkok

    Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijarto tested positive for Covid-19 while on a visit to Bangkok. He arrived in Thailand yesterday and was expected to fly back to Hungary today. Reuters says he has no symptoms while Coconuts Bangkok reports the foreign minister was admitted to the hospital this morning with flu symptoms and later tested positive for Covid-19. The Hungarian…

  • Economy NewsInequality likely after economic recovery – Bank of Thailand governor

    Inequality likely after economic recovery – Bank of Thailand governor

    It’s expected to take at least 2 years for Thailand’s economy to recover, but once it does, inequality is likely to become a top concern, according to the Bank of Thailand governor Sethaput Suthiwart-Narueput. “It is expected to take at least two years before the Thai economy returns to its pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP… Even when the economy…

  • Thailand NewsSurin merchants report fake 100 baht bills

    Surin merchants report fake 100 baht bills

    Fake 100 baht bank notes are reportedly being exchanged in the Isaan province Surin. 2 local merchants say they were each handed what appears to be a counterfeit bill from a customer. A noodle vendor at the Surin Municipal Market says she noticed a 100 baht bill she got from a customer felt strange, more like photocopy paper, she said.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsMonk detained after allegedly sending explicit video to 20 children

    Monk detained after allegedly sending explicit video to 20 children

    A monk in Udon Thani is facing charges after he allegedly sent an explicit video of himself to 20 children, inviting them to have sex with him in exchange for money. 49 year old Pramuk Jaroensuk was forced to leave his monkhood and was charged with publishing pornographic material and attempting to have sexual intercourse with minors. The monk came…

  • Thailand NewsPolice allegedly caught taking a bribe, officers told to “behave appropriately”

    Police allegedly caught taking a bribe, officers told to “behave appropriately”

    An officer was caught on camera allegedly taking a bribe at a checkpoint in Pathum Thani’s Thanyaburi district. The clip shared on Facebook shows a driver of a 10-wheel truck handing 100 baht to a police officer. Provincial police chief Chayut Marayat has ordered the Thanyaburi police chief to investigate and determine if the officer was bribed. If the cop…

  • Thailand NewsThais protest PornHub ban, digital minister says ban will promote “good values”

    Thais protest PornHub ban, digital minister says ban will promote “good values”

    After the popular free porn website “PornHub” was blocked, a group of people protested the ban outside the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society office at the Government Complex in Bangkok’s Chaengwattana district. The ministry recently blocked access to PornHub and 190 URL addresses linked to porn. Porn is illegal in Thailand and digital minister Buddhipongse Punnakanta says the move…

  • Crime NewsCommittee forms to investigate fatal shooting by police officer

    Committee forms to investigate fatal shooting by police officer

    Following outrage from locals over the killing of drug suspect by police, an investigation panel has been set up to look into the fatal shooting. 10 police officers, acting on an arrest warrant, surrounded 31 year old Charoensak Rachpumad at a rubber plantation in Nakhon Si Thammarat’s Ron Phibun district. Witnesses say Charoensak, who only had a small knife, was…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesTemperatures to drop in Northern Thailand, heavy rain expected in the South

    Temperatures to drop in Northern Thailand, heavy rain expected in the South

    The wettest month of the Thai seasons has past. Now we head into cooler, and drier weather, at least in the central and northern regions. Cooler weather is expected in Northern Thailand while a monsoonal trough over Southern Thailand is expected to bring heavy rain, according to the Thai Meteorological Department. Meteorologists say cool weather with isolated rain is possible…

  • Crime News2 alleged drug traffickers killed in shoot off with task force officers

    2 alleged drug traffickers killed in shoot off with task force officers

    Special task force officers shot and killed 2 men suspected of drug trafficking in a shoot off in Chiang Rai’s Mae Fa Luang district during a 2-day drug suppression operation in 3 provinces. Altogether, authorities seized more than 9 million methamphetamine pills and arrested 2 men on drug trafficking charges. In Chiang Rai, soldiers from the Pha Muang task force…

  • Phuket NewsPM calls for long-term plans to revitalise Phuket and Koh Samui

    PM calls for long-term plans to revitalise Phuket and Koh Samui

    PM Prayut Chan-o-cha is calling for long-term plans to rehabilitate Thailand’s tourist destinations following his visit to Koh Samui and Phuket where he saw first hand how the Covid-19 pandemic affected both islands. Prayut says conditions at Phuket are much more drastic as the province heavily relies on international travel. The prime minister says Phuket generates the second-highest income from…

  • Covid-19 News10 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, all asymptomatic

    10 new Covid-19 cases in quarantine, all asymptomatic

    10 new Covid-19 cases were detected in quarantine, according to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration. All the cases were asymptomatic. The total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases is raised to 3,797 with 3,605 recoveries and 59 deaths. 133 people are currently receiving medical treatment for the coronavirus. A 27 year old Thai woman travelling from Bahrain tested positive for…

  • ExpatsExpat says he was almost deported over Facebook posts

    Expat says he was almost deported over Facebook posts

    With the ongoing pro-democracy protests, some have raised question: What could happen to foreigners who get involved or speak out against Thai politics? Or post their thoughts on social media? Well, they could possibly get deported. Expat Yan Marchal says he almost got kicked out of the country for posts he made on Facebook. Many of Yan’s recent Facebook posts…

  • Crime News2 dead, 1 injured in suspected murder-suicide in Samut Prakan

    2 dead, 1 injured in suspected murder-suicide in Samut Prakan

    A man allegedly shot and killed a woman before shooting himself to death after finding her in bed with another man. Police say the other man was shot and injured as he was fleeing the Samut Prakan apartment. Police were called to the second floor apartment above a boat noodle shop and found the owner of the shop, identified as…

  • Thailand NewsSarasas teacher sentenced to 7 months in jail for child abuse

    Sarasas teacher sentenced to 7 months in jail for child abuse

    The Sarasas teacher who was caught on camera abusing kindergarten students has been sentenced to 7 months in jail. An investigation was launched and charges were pressed after classroom surveillance footage showing the child abuse was obtained by parents and shared on social media. More child abuse accusations at the Sarasas Witaed Ratchaphruek School followed and an investigation was launched…

  • Thailand News100 locals surround police after drug suspect was fatally shot

    100 locals surround police after drug suspect was fatally shot

    Around 100 locals in the southern province Nakhon Si Thammarat surrounded a team of police after an officer allegedly shot and killed a drug trafficking suspect. Many witnesses say police “overrated.” 31 year old Charoensak Rachpumad, known as “Bang Mad,” was approached by a team of 10 Crime Suppression Division officers at a rubber plantation in the province’s Ron Phibun…

  • Thailand NewsSome claim “invisible Western hands” back Thailand’s pro-democracy movement

    Some claim “invisible Western hands” back Thailand’s pro-democracy movement

    As the pro-democracy movement spreads, some are speaking out and accusing Western countries – specifically the United States – of “interfering” with Thai politics and backing the student-led protests. A commentator for the Chinese Community Party tabloid Global Times even said the Thai youth are being used as “cannon fodder by the US and its proxies.” Pro-democracy activists say this isn’t…

  • Thailand News“Get the flu shot,” Thai FDA eases worries after post-injection deaths in South Korea

    “Get the flu shot,” Thai FDA eases worries after post-injection deaths in South Korea

    Thailand’s Food and Drug Administration is trying to ease the public’s fears over influenza vaccines after 59 people in South Korea reportedly died sometime after getting the flu shot (although there’s no evidence so far that links the vaccine to the deaths.) FDA deputy secretary general Surachoke Tangwiwat says that vaccine has never been imported to Thailand, adding that people…

  • Pattaya NewsLive grenade found in garbage pile near Chon Buri housing estate

    Live grenade found in garbage pile near Chon Buri housing estate

    A man found a live grenade in a garbage pile near a Chon Buri housing estate. 48 year old Sukhawut Wichada said he was looking around the area for papaya when he came across the grenade. “I was searching for papaya before I found this… I knew it was a grenade. I ran away before calling the police.” Both police…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket is “100% ready” for Special Tourist Visa flights – Transport Minister

    Phuket is “100% ready” for Special Tourist Visa flights – Transport Minister

    The Phuket International Airport is ready for international tourists. The airport has been preparing for weeks and initially expected a group foreigners on the new Special Tourist Visa to arrive last month. Covid-19 mobile testing vehicles were even sent to the airport in early October, prepared to test all the tourists upon arrival, but the travel plans were cancelled last…

  • Transport NewsBangkok Airways offers unlimited flights through new membership program

    Bangkok Airways offers unlimited flights through new membership program

    Bangkok Airways is now offering unlimited domestic flights through a new membership program. The airline launched the new Elite Card for 100,000 baht, allowing unlimited travel throughout 2021. Those interested can apply for the card from now until November 30. Tickets for flights from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 can be booked starting on December 16. Air Asia…

  • Thailand NewsFuel tanker driver killed in crash, truck engulfed in flames

    Fuel tanker driver killed in crash, truck engulfed in flames

    A fuel tanker truck driver died yesterday in the northern province Lamphun after crashing into a car. The truck carrying fuel overturned and caught fire. 59 year old Nikom Kamchan’s body was found near the wreck after firefighters extinguished the fire. It’s the second fuel tanker fire in the past week. 29 year old Patcharin Somsawan says he was driving…

  • Thailand NewsIt’s beetle fighting season in Northern Thailand

    It’s beetle fighting season in Northern Thailand

    It’s fight season … for Rhinoceros Beetles. The bugs battle on a wooden stage. Their horns lock as they push against each other until one backs down. People watch and place bets. Some wagers are as high as 100,000 baht. From the start of wet season until winter, locals in northern provinces Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Lampang gather for…