leah

Leah is a translator and news writer for the Thaiger. Leah studied East Asian Religions and Thai Studies at the University of Leeds and Chiang Mai University. Leah covers crime, politics, environment, human rights, entertainment, travel and culture in Thailand and southeast Asia.
  • Crime NewsThai woman confesses to beating 6 year old granddaughter to death with pestle

    Thai woman confesses to beating 6 year old granddaughter to death with pestle

    Today, a 47 year old Thai woman confessed to hitting her 6 year old granddaughter’s head with a pestle until she died on Wednesday, June 22, in Pathum Thani province in central Thailand. On Wednesday night, police received a report that a 6 year old girl had died inside a rented room in Som Khok District in Pathum Thani province.…

  • Cannabis NewsThailand’s MOD bans use of cannabis on army premises

    Thailand’s MOD bans use of cannabis on army premises

    Thailand’s Ministry of Defense strictly orders military personnel not to use cannabis on army premises, according to ministry spokesman Col. Chinat Punnotok. Military personnel are also strictly prohibited from posting pictures or videos of themselves using cannabis on social media, said the spokesperson. The army’s cannabis ban was decided upon today during a meeting held by Thailand’s Defence Council, presided…

  • Cannabis NewsPhuket public health office says smoking cannabis is legal, but…

    Phuket public health office says smoking cannabis is legal, but…

    Phuket’s Provincial Public Health Office today made a statement to clear up confusion surrounding new cannabis laws. Smoking cannabis is legal, so long as the smoke does not disturb anyone, according to the chief of the Phuket Provincial Health Office Dr. Kusak Kukiatkul. Cannabis smoke is considered a “public nuisance” in Thailand, and smoking the plant in public places is…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner denied bail

    UPDATE: Fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner denied bail

    UPDATE: Fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner denied bail The court denied the owner of Daruma Sushi’s request for bail this afternoon after he was arrested by police at Suvarnabhumi Airport yesterday. Police say “Metha” has caused millions of baht in damages and has countless allegations against him. The 39 year old owner of Daruma Sushi – Metha Chalingsook – got into…

  • Crime NewsPolice arrest 2 Iranian men for scamming people in Thailand

    Police arrest 2 Iranian men for scamming people in Thailand

    Police arrested 2 Iranian nationals today in Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand. The men allegedly scammed people out of money on at least 2 occasions in Samut Songkhram province, southwest of Bangkok. The men would ask people to exchange banknotes, but then snatch the victim’s money and run off without giving anything in return. The 24 year old man and 32…

  • Cannabis NewsThailand develops cannabis test kits that detect THC levels in 15 minutes

    Thailand develops cannabis test kits that detect THC levels in 15 minutes

    Thailand took marijuana off its list of narcotics, but extracts with higher than 0.2% tetrahydrocannabinol – the “happy” chemical – are still illegal. The law was designed to discourage the recreational use of cannabis, but no one knew how it could be enforced, until now. Thailand’s Department of Medical Sciences has developed marijuana test kits that detect THC levels in…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket homeowner checks CCTV to find foreign couple canoodling outside house

    Phuket homeowner checks CCTV to find foreign couple canoodling outside house

    A Thai woman away in Germany was lost for words on Tuesday when she checked her Phuket home’s CCTV camera footage to see a foreign couple – a man and woman – having sex in front of her house. Homeowner Waralak Frisch often resides in Germany with her husband, so she installed security cameras to check on the safety of…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE: Police arrest fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    UPDATE: Police arrest fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner at Suvarnabhumi Airport

    UPDATE: Police arrest fraudulent Japanese restaurant owner at Suvarnabhumi Airport Today, Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau arrested the fraudulent owner of Daruma Sushi, a famous Japanese restaurant chain, at Suvarnabhumi Airport. “Metha” returned to Thailand today having fled to Dubai in the UAE on June 16, after he received over 500 complaints from unhappy customers and staff. Police said Metha caused…

  • World NewsBurmese refugees left stranded on desert island in Thailand for 3 days

    Burmese refugees left stranded on desert island in Thailand for 3 days

    Today, the Thai army picked up 16 Burmese refugees who were left stranded on a desert island off the coast of Ranong province, southern Thailand, for 3 days and 2 nights. The group came to the island from Myanmar by boat and were told to wait for another boat to take them across to the mainland. However, the boat they…

  • World NewsMonkeypox arrives in Singapore and South Korea

    Monkeypox arrives in Singapore and South Korea

    Cases of monkeypox have been confirmed in Singapore and South Korea. Since the outbreak began in May, Singapore’s case is the first recorded in Southeast Asia. Singapore’s Ministry of Health confirmed that a 42 year old British flight attendant tested positive for monkeypox on June 20. He was in Singapore between June 15 and June 17, and again on June…

  • World NewsAt least 250 killed in Afghanistan earthquake

    At least 250 killed in Afghanistan earthquake

    A powerful 6.1 magnitude earthquake has devastated Eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 250 people. Hundreds more were injured and countless homes were destroyed in 4 districts of Paktika province after the earthquake struck in the early hours of this morning, while most people were sleeping. The epicentre was 44 kilometres from the southeastern city of Khost near the border of Pakistan,…

  • World NewsTourists stuck in cable car for hours climb down by rope in India

    Tourists stuck in cable car for hours climb down by rope in India

    Tourists trapped inside 2 cable cars at a mountain range in India were horrified when both cable cars suddenly stopped 1300 feet above the ground on Monday. After being stuck in the air for hours, some of the tourists opted to lower themselves to safety by rope. A total of 15 sightseers, 11 in 1 cable car and 4 in…

  • Cannabis NewsNovices caught smoking cannabis kicked out of Thailand’s monkhood

    Novices caught smoking cannabis kicked out of Thailand’s monkhood

    A group of novice Buddhist monks were kicked out of the monkhood yesterday after they were caught smoking cannabis from a bong at a famous temple in Buriram province in northeast Thailand. The young men – who had been ordained for a total of 4 days – were taking part in a drug addiction programme jointly run by Thailand’s Buddhist…

  • South Thailand NewsSuspected insurgents hijack garbage truck, bomb police booth in southern Thailand

    Suspected insurgents hijack garbage truck, bomb police booth in southern Thailand

    In a suspected insurgency attack in Thailand’s “Deep South,” men armed with guns hijacked a garbage truck, tied up four binmen on the roadside, and placed a 50 kilogram explosive inside the vehicle. The assailants drove to a police checkpoint where they detonated the bomb, blowing up the garbage truck and injuring one police officer. The incident happened yesterday evening…

  • Thailand NewsToday is the longest day of the year in Thailand

    Today is the longest day of the year in Thailand

    The sun will reign over the sky for almost 13 hours today in Thailand, making today (June 21) the longest day of the year. The extended sunlight hours mark the beginning of the summer season in the entire Northern Hemisphere, formally known as “The Summer Solstice.” The sun rose from the sky’s northeastern horizon at 5:51am this morning in Thailand,…

  • Transport NewsAir Canada launches first direct North America – Thailand flight in 10 years

    Air Canada launches first direct North America – Thailand flight in 10 years

  • Environment NewsCathay Pacific plants 999 mangrove trees in Thailand

    Cathay Pacific plants 999 mangrove trees in Thailand

    Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific has planted 999 mangrove trees in the Khlong Khon Mangrove Forest in Samut Songkram, central Thailand as part of its “1 Ticket, 1 Tree” initiative. The airline launched the initiative last year, committing to planting 1 tree for every plane ticket bought in a one-month period. About 50 volunteers, including Cathay Pacific staff and…

  • Thailand NewsGiant honey bees swarm home in southern Thailand

    Giant honey bees swarm home in southern Thailand

    A man from Krabi, southern Thailand, was left terrified and thankfully unharmed after tens of thousands of giant honey bees – or Apis dorsata – swarmed his home on Sunday. Thailand’s giant honey bees have been called “the most dangerous stinging insects on earth” by Cornell University apiculturist Roger Morse. Somchai Kaewkasorn, a Department of Highways official, was watching television…

  • Thailand NewsThai Airways resumes Perth – Bangkok flights

    Thai Airways resumes Perth – Bangkok flights

  • Covid-19 NewsA Cat Gave Me Covid: Vet in Thailand “first in the world” to catch Covid-19 from a cat

    A Cat Gave Me Covid: Vet in Thailand “first in the world” to catch Covid-19 from a cat

    A cat sneezed in a veterinarian’s face and gave her Covid-19, according to a recent study conducted by Songkhla University in southern Thailand. Worldwide, no other cat-to-human cases have been reported. The case study reports that a father and son from Bangkok tested positive for Covid-19 back in August last year, but because there were no hospital beds available in…

  • Crime NewsForeigner stabbed in Pattaya refuses hospital treatment

    Foreigner stabbed in Pattaya refuses hospital treatment

    An unidentified foreign man was stabbed near Walking Street in Pattaya in the early hours of yesterday morning. Despite bleeding heavily, the man refused to get his wounds treated at hospital. He refused to explain what happened or give personal details to the police. Eyewitnesses told police that a physical fight broke out between two foreign men who had been…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand drops outdoor face mask requirement

    Thailand drops outdoor face mask requirement

    Today, Thailand’s Covid-19 taskforce announced that face masks will no longer be required in airy, outdoor spaces in Thailand. The change is expected to come into effect on July 1. The CCSA also announced some other important changes today, such as the cancellation of the Thailand Pass. Dr. Taweesilp Visanuyothin said the public should decide for themselves when wearing a…

  • Crime NewsInfluencers from controversial Lazada ad arrested on suspicion of lèse majesté

    Influencers from controversial Lazada ad arrested on suspicion of lèse majesté

    Yesterday, police arrested three Thai influencers on suspicion of lèse majesté – or insulting the monarchy – in relation to their role in a controversial Lazada advert which shocked the Thai nation last month. In Thailand, lèse majesté is a criminal offence punishable by 3 to 15 years for each count. Police arrested the 3 influencers who starred in the…

  • Thailand NewsBREAKING: CCSA cancels Thailand Pass & changes entertainment venue restrictions

    BREAKING: CCSA cancels Thailand Pass & changes entertainment venue restrictions

    The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration – or CCSA – announced major changes to Thailand’s Covid-19 restrictions this afternoon, including the cancellation of the Thailand Pass. The CCSA met with Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and the Ministry of Public Health today to make decisions about the Thailand Pass, “zones,” closing times of entertainment venues, face masks and temperature checks. …

  • Cannabis NewsCannabis flowers to become a “controlled herb” in Thailand

    Cannabis flowers to become a “controlled herb” in Thailand

    In response to public concern about recreational abuse of cannabis since its decriminalisation last week, Thailand’s Health Minister has signed a ministerial regulation to make cannabis flowers – the part of the plant with high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol – a “controlled herb.” The legislation specifies who is and isn’t allowed to access the THC-rich flowers. The legislation will come into…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand Pass, Bars, Masks: The Thaiger’s predictions for tomorrow’s CCSA meeting

    Thailand Pass, Bars, Masks: The Thaiger’s predictions for tomorrow’s CCSA meeting

    Tomorrow, Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration, or CCSA, will meet to discuss the fate of Thailand Pass, “zones,” closing times of entertainment venues, mask-wearing and temperature checks. Keep a close eye on the Thaiger tomorrow to see if our predictions are correct… Thailand Pass Currently, non-Thai travellers entering Thailand are required to obtain a Thailand Pass QR code prior…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE #2: Thai couple murdered in Taiwan

    UPDATE #2: Thai couple murdered in Taiwan

    UPDATE #2: The Thai man who went on the run after murdering a Thai couple in Taiwan last week asked a middleman to contact the Royal Thai Police on his behalf to inform them that he wants to hand himself in. Apparently, he feels guilty and wants to surrender to police. The police have not spoken to the suspect directly so…

  • Crime NewsUPDATE #2: Lithuanian man allegedly murders trans woman in northeast Thailand

    UPDATE #2: Lithuanian man allegedly murders trans woman in northeast Thailand

    UPDATE #2: Police have caught and arrested the man suspected of murdering a trans woman in Surin 3 weeks ago. Police revealed that the 32 year old man, Malleus Kunickas, is in fact of Lithuanian nationality, and not Russian as thought by the deceased’s family and widely reported in Thai media. Wandee, the deceased’s mother, previously said her daughter’s phone…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s lower house passes Marriage Equality Bill (first reading)

    Thailand’s lower house passes Marriage Equality Bill (first reading)

    Yesterday, Thailand’s Parliament passed the Marriage Equality Bill in the first reading with 210 votes in favour, 180 votes in opposition and 4 abstentions. The bill – previously rejected by Cabinet in March – was pushed by Thailand’s Move Forward Party. A parliamentary committee has been set up to scrutinise the bill over the next 15 days before it is…

  • Thailand NewsLGBTQ+ protesters in Thailand want marriage equality, not ‘civil partnerships’

    LGBTQ+ protesters in Thailand want marriage equality, not ‘civil partnerships’

    Members of Thailand’s LGBTQ+ community gathered outside parliament today to submit a letter calling for the Cabinet to pass the Marriage Equality Bill. The bill would make Thailand’s marriage laws applicable to any couple, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. The Marriage Equality bill was previously rejected by the Cabinet, who said it was redundant because they were instead…