leah

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.
  • Bangkok NewsTaxi’s brakes fail causing 10 vehicle accident in Bangkok

    Taxi’s brakes fail causing 10 vehicle accident in Bangkok

    A taxi driver’s brakes failed as he pulled up to a queue of traffic at a red light in Bangkok earlier today, causing a crash involving 10 vehicles. Four people are injured including a motorbike driver who is in a critical condition. Today, May 26, Pol. Col. Jeerasak Boonyuennan from Phaya Thai Police Station received a report of an accident…

  • Thailand NewsLeicester City travel to Thailand for post-season holiday

    Leicester City travel to Thailand for post-season holiday

    The Leicester City squad are currently in Bangkok celebrating the conclusion of the English Premier League on Sunday. Chairman of the club Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha is taking the City squad on a tour of his homeland, who were pictured at Bangkok’s Temple of the Golden Buddha on Tuesday. The temple’s abbot Chao Khun Thongchai warmly welcomed the team by presenting…

  • Road deathsUPDATE: French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand

    UPDATE: French woman dies riding bicycle in central Thailand

    UPDATE: The Toyota sedan’s dashcam footage confirmed that the traffic lights were on green when the driver struck and killed 26 year old Camille, who was riding a bicycle across a zebra crossing in Ayutthaya in central Thailand yesterday evening. The driver tried to break and swerve out of the way but couldn’t stop in time. Police arrested the driver…

  • South Thailand NewsBomb blasts in southern Thailand heard from Malaysia

    Bomb blasts in southern Thailand heard from Malaysia

    A series of bomb blasts and gunshots occurred in the border town of Tak Bai in Narathiwat on Thailand’s southern border last night. Assailants launched a series of attacks at 2 police stations, a military unit and a market, injuring three police officers. The bombs could be heard in Pengkalan Kubor in Kelantan on the Malaysian side of the border.…

  • Thailand NewsTires of Royal Thai Air Force plane burst during landing in northeast Thailand

    Tires of Royal Thai Air Force plane burst during landing in northeast Thailand

    A Royal Thai Air Force aircraft is stuck on the runway of Ubon Ratchathani International Airport after both rear tires of the plane burst during landing at 11:30am this morning. The normal brake system failed to work so the pilot used the emergency brakes to prevent the plane skidding off the runway, causing the rear tires to burst, making it…

  • Thailand NewsEndangered black panther spotted on road in central Thailand

    Endangered black panther spotted on road in central Thailand

    Tourists on their way to Kaeng Krachan National Park in the central province of Phetchaburi spotted an endangered black panther on the road as they neared their campsite yesterday morning. National park officials have advised tourists to drive with caution and stick to the speed limit in case they encounter black panthers or other wild animals on the road. Yesterday,…

  • EducationTeacher filmed cutting bald patches into 10 students’ hair in northeast Thailand

    Teacher filmed cutting bald patches into 10 students’ hair in northeast Thailand

    A secondary school student from Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand, secretly filmed a teacher cutting bald patches into the hair of 10 male students and posted the video on social media. Netizens have criticised the teacher’s actions as inappropriate and a violation of children’s rights. The director of Suranee Wittaya 2 school in Mueang district said the teacher has since…

  • Thailand NewsRanong reports 41 cases of monkey-to-human “Nousai” malaria

    Ranong reports 41 cases of monkey-to-human “Nousai” malaria

    Authorities in Ranong, southern Thailand, have reported 41 cases of Nousai malaria in the province. Ranong’s Provincial Public Health office reported that most patients infected with Nousai malaria have a history of going deep into the forest. Nousai malaria, caused by the plasmodium knowlesi parasite, is passed from monkeys to humans through female Anopheles mosquito bites. Yesterday, the eastern province…

  • Thailand NewsThailand could drop its mask mandate by mid-June, says Ministry of Public Health

    Thailand could drop its mask mandate by mid-June, says Ministry of Public Health

    After two years of compulsory mask-wearing in indoor and outdoor spaces, Thailand aims to drop its mask mandate by mid-June, according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health Dr. Kiattipoom Wongrachit. At a conference held today at Diamond Plaza hotel in Surat Thani, southern Thailand, Kiattipoom said the ministry is considering dropping the compulsory mandate as soon…

  • World NewsBritish Embassy sparks controversy in Indonesia by raising LGBT+ flag

    British Embassy sparks controversy in Indonesia by raising LGBT+ flag

    The British Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia, hoisted a rainbow LGBT+ flag last week to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia on May 17. However, Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have called the action “highly insensitive” to Indonesian people and have urged other foreign officials not to follow suit. The British Embassy posted a photo of the raised…

  • Phuket NewsThailand’s biggest new attraction “Andamanda” opens in Phuket

    Thailand’s biggest new attraction “Andamanda” opens in Phuket

    Moisture and adventure meets Thai culture and mythology at Andamanda, Thailand’s biggest water park, covering 58 rai of land in Kathu, in Phuket, southern Thailand. On Saturday, Thailand’s former deputy prime minister Suwat Liptapanlop attended the water park’s grand opening. The new theme park is located on the main road to Patong, about 800 metres west of the Samkong intersection,…

  • Bangkok NewsAirAsia plane lands on wrong runway in Bangkok

    AirAsia plane lands on wrong runway in Bangkok

    Today, Thailand’s Civil Aviation Authority – or CAAT – reported a “serious incident” which took place earlier this month. On May 4, an AirAsia Airbus A320-200 landed on the wrong runway at Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport. The Thai AirAsia aircraft departed Ranong city at 12:43 and landed on Don Muang’s unassigned 21L runway at 13:36, instead of the 21R runway…

  • Thailand NewsWoman finds cockroaches in Cafe Amazon hot chocolate in eastern Thailand

    Woman finds cockroaches in Cafe Amazon hot chocolate in eastern Thailand

    A Thai woman finished drinking her cup of Cafe Amazon hot chocolate when she felt like there was something in her mouth. She was almost sick when she spat multiple baby cockroaches out into a glass. Cafe Amazon issued a statement apologising for the incident on their Facebook page yesterday and temporarily closed the store that served the cockroach-infused hot…

  • Thailand News“I still love her:” Laos woman marries Thai man then runs away with the dowry

    “I still love her:” Laos woman marries Thai man then runs away with the dowry

    Today, a heartbroken Thai man recounted the story of how a woman lured him into marriage then ran off with the dowry money. Earlier this month, the 29 year old Thai groom married a 23 year old Laotian woman in Leoi province, northern Thailand. The next day, the bride ran off with the dowry money and hasn’t contacted the groom…

  • Thailand NewsThai Airways to auction off Boeing 737-400 Airframe via Facebook Live

    Thai Airways to auction off Boeing 737-400 Airframe via Facebook Live

    After reporting a net loss of nearly 3.4 billion baht on revenue in Q1, cash-strapped Thai Airways are continuing their online yard sale in a bid to make some extra money. This time, the airline is auctioning off an entire Boeing 737-400 airframe via Facebook Live on their page TG Warehouse Sale this Wednesday, May 25, at 3pm. A TG…

  • Thailand NewsGroup of 69 students stuck in the jungle for 2 days in western Thailand

    Group of 69 students stuck in the jungle for 2 days in western Thailand

    A group of 69 student volunteers camping in the middle of Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary in Kanchanaburi province in western Thailand were safely evacuated by a team of local residents after getting stuck in the dense Thai jungle for two days. Several days of heavy rain caused flash flooding which blocked their only route out of the jungle by…

  • Bangkok NewsLandslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Landslide victory for elected Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt

    Yesterday, Bangkok held its first governor election in eight years. Independent candidate Chadchart Sittipunt won the vote by a landslide, gaining almost 1.4 million votes, breaking the record for the highest number of votes ever in a Bangkok gubernatorial election. Of the 4.36 million people eligible to vote in the election, a total of 2,635,283 people voted yesterday, or 60.48%.…

  • Visa InformationDeadline to apply for “Covid” visa extension extended by 2 months

    Deadline to apply for “Covid” visa extension extended by 2 months

    The deadline to apply for a 60-day “Covid” visa extension in Thailand has been extended by two months, until July 25. The extension follows the Thai government’s decision to extend the country’s “State of Emergency” until July 31. A “Covid” visa extension is designed for foreigners residing in Thailand who are unable to return to their home country due to…

  • World NewsMalaysians continue to flood into Thailand

    Malaysians continue to flood into Thailand

    Every day, 350 – 400 Malaysians apply for “border passes” into Thailand, according to Kelantan Immigration director Azhar Abd Hamid. Since the Thai – Malaysia border reopened on May 5, Malaysia’s immigration offices have received a high volume of applications, especially from residents from Kelantan. Around 40% of applications come from Malaysians who plan to travel to southern Thailand, according…

  • Covid-19 NewsBREAKING: Bars reopening in Thailand’s “Green” and “Blue” Zones, changes to Thailand Pass

    BREAKING: Bars reopening in Thailand’s “Green” and “Blue” Zones, changes to Thailand Pass

    NIGHTLIFE VENUES Today, Thailand’s Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration – or CCSA – announced the official reopening of nightlife venues in both “green” and “blue” zones across the kingdom. Pubs, bars, nightclubs, massage parlours and karaoke bars are permitted to serve alcohol and open until midnight, beginning June 1. Nightlife venues in “yellow” zones are not permitted to reopen. Green…

  • Bangkok NewsUPDATE: Bangkok governor candidates answer Russell Crowe’s questions on TV

    UPDATE: Bangkok governor candidates answer Russell Crowe’s questions on TV

    UPDATE: Bangkok governor candidates answer Russell Crowe’s questions on Thai TV Russell Crowe’s pre-recorded questions for Bangkok governor candidates were streamed on Channel 7HD’s live programme “22 May: Deciding Bangkok’s Fate” this afternoon, prior to the election coming up this Sunday. Crowe asked the questions in English, and three Bangkok governor candidates answered in Thai. Each candidate was given 2…

  • Thailand NewsThai man injured in turbulence demands airline to take responsibility

    Thai man injured in turbulence demands airline to take responsibility

    A Thai man demands an airline to take responsibility for injuries that he said were caused by turbulence during a flight from Nakhon Si Thammarat to Bangkok yesterday evening. He said his lower back and coccyx were in “agony,” but when he expressed the wish to go to hospital, he was allegedly told to pay for the expenses himself. The…

  • Thailand NewsWife dies, husband in coma after eating poisonous mushrooms in northeast Thailand

    Wife dies, husband in coma after eating poisonous mushrooms in northeast Thailand

    A couple from Udon Thani in northeast Thailand made a curry from mushrooms they picked from the jungle on Tuesday, May 17, but the mushrooms turned out to be poisonous. The wife died from poisoning in the early hours of yesterday morning and her husband is currently in a coma in an Intensive Care Unit. The man’s mother, who lives…

  • Bangkok NewsMonitor lizard stuck in water pump causes flood in Bangkok

    Monitor lizard stuck in water pump causes flood in Bangkok

    After hours of heavy rain, deep floods disrupted traffic in the Bang Khen area of Bangkok yesterday afternoon. At first, officials from the Bureau of Drainage couldn’t understand why four pumps designed to pump flood water out of the road had stopped working. When they checked the machinery, they found a huge monitor lizard – or “tua hia” in Thai…

  • Covid-19 NewsThailand plans to declare Covid-19 endemic earlier than expected

    Thailand plans to declare Covid-19 endemic earlier than expected

    Thailand’s Covid-19 situation is continually improving and is expected to be declared an endemic disease more than half a month earlier than expected, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The ministry originally planned to declare Covid-19 an an endemic disease on July 1 this year. Yesterday, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary Kiatiphum Wongrajit announced that Thailand now plans to declare…

  • EducationBangkok University to stream classes by Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Gordon Ramsay

    Bangkok University to stream classes by Bill Clinton, Natalie Portman, Gordon Ramsay

    Bangkok University is the first in the world to collaborate with MasterClass to provide over 150 streamed online classes by internationally renowned celebrities and experts in various fields. The university hopes the unconventional learning style will inspire students to develop their own skills, foster their creativity, improve their performance and set them up for success. Students will get the chance…

  • Crime NewsKarma in Kalasin: Man steals drain cover then drives his car into the hole

    Karma in Kalasin: Man steals drain cover then drives his car into the hole

    A thief from Kalasin province in northeast Thailand got a taste of his own medicine today after he stole a drain cover and proceeded to drive his pickup truck into the open hole. He was forced to request help from municipality officers, who instantly recognised him as the thief from CCTV footage, detained him and handed him over to the…

  • Crime NewsProsecutor in Red Bull heir case kicked out of civil service

    Prosecutor in Red Bull heir case kicked out of civil service

    Today, Thailand’s public prosecution committee unanimously agreed to kick ex-general attorney Nate Naksuk out of the civil service for choosing not to indict the “Red Bull heir,” who killed a police officer in a hit-and-run incident back in 2012. Vorayuth “Boss” Yoovidya – the grandson of billionaire Red Bull co-founder Chaleo Yoovidhya – became a fugitive after speeding through the…

  • Thailand NewsGrandson makes wax model of deceased grandma “to make grandpa happy”

    Grandson makes wax model of deceased grandma “to make grandpa happy”

    A young Thai man from Uthai Thani province in northern Thailand made a life-size wax model of his deceased grandma to ensure that his grandpa doesn’t get lonely. Grandpa liked the idea so much that he requested his grandson to make a wax version of himself too, before he dies, so that he can see himself and his wife sitting…

  • Bangkok NewsFlooding in Bangkok after 10 hours of torrential rain

    Flooding in Bangkok after 10 hours of torrential rain

    Bangkok has flooded in many areas after 10 hours of torrential rain beginning at 3pm yesterday and continuing into the early hours of this morning, according to the Department of Drainage and Sewage. The most affected areas are Chatuchak, Lak Si, Don Mueang and Lat Phrao. In some places, the water level has reached higher than 1 metre. The floods…