Mitch Connor

Mitch is a Bangkok resident, having relocated from Southern California, via Florida in 2022. He studied journalism before dropping out of college to teach English in South America. After returning to the US, he spent 4 years working for various online publishers before moving to Thailand.
  • Thailand NewsThailand refines 10,000-baht digital handout eligibility amid wealth exclusion fears | Thaiger

    Thailand refines 10,000-baht digital handout eligibility amid wealth exclusion fears

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that the government is developing criteria to determine eligibility for a 10,000-baht digital money handout amid speculation that affluent individuals might be exempted from the scheme. The prime minister, also serving as finance minister, stated that the government is refining the scheme following recommendations from diverse sectors. “I am listening to opinions. There will be…

  • Thailand NewsThai workers may be released in next Hamas prisoner batch, says PM | Thaiger

    Thai workers may be released in next Hamas prisoner batch, says PM

    Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin yesterday hinted at possible positive developments regarding the Thai workers held hostage by Hamas. Expectations are high that they may be part of the next release batch, following negotiations facilitated by Qatar. However, the Thai prime minister has not yet had an in-depth discussion with Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara on the matter. Out of the 50…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket’s spirit sobered: 24-hour alcohol ban for Wan Org Pansa holiday | Thaiger

    Phuket’s spirit sobered: 24-hour alcohol ban for Wan Org Pansa holiday

    Popular Thai tourist destination Phuket will observe a strict 24-hour ban on alcohol sales starting from midnight on Saturday, as part of the country’s observance of the Buddhist religious holiday, Wan Org Pansa. This event, which takes place on Sunday, October 29, marks the culmination of the three-month season known as the Rains Retreat, often referred to as Buddhist Lent.…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxis: Drivers demand action against illegal private car services | Thaiger

    Phuket taxis: Drivers demand action against illegal private car services

    Over 100 public transport operators, including metered taxi drivers, green plate taxis, and passenger van drivers, assembled at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to formally complain. They are demanding that the Phuket provincial government take more robust action against illegal private car services operating through taxi apps on the island. The formal complaint was received by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan…

  • Phuket NewsThailand and Australia unite in fight against child sexual exploitation | Thaiger

    Thailand and Australia unite in fight against child sexual exploitation

    Angela Macdonald, the Australian Ambassador to Thailand, and Deputy Chief of the Royal Thai Police Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn joined forces in Phuket yesterday to participate in the Countering Child Sexual Exploitation Regional Dialogue Thailand 2023. The dialogue, taking place at the SAii Laguna Phuket resort in Cherng Talay, brings together law enforcement officials and NGO representatives from nine nations,…

  • Thailand NewsThai PM accuses Israeli employers of exploiting Thai workers amidst crisis | Thaiger

    Thai PM accuses Israeli employers of exploiting Thai workers amidst crisis

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin called on Israeli employers to stop exploiting their Thai workers during this perilous period. He alleges that salary payments are being deliberately postponed as a means to retain Thai workers in Israel amidst growing safety concerns. In a press interaction preceding the weekly Cabinet meeting, the 61 year old prime minister revealed he had contacted…

  • Thailand NewsWinter festival in Thailand to boost tourism through creative events | Thaiger

    Winter festival in Thailand to boost tourism through creative events

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin declared plans to extend the country’s annual winter festival nationwide, renaming it the Thailand Winter Festivals. This announcement followed a strategic meeting with key figures including Tourism and Sports Minister Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol, TAT Governor Thapanee Kiatphaibool, and Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt. The primary focus of their discussion was the forthcoming “Colourful Bangkok Winter Festival” scheduled…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket police crackdown: 39 nabbed in weeklong sweep against drugs and guns, boosting tourist security | Thaiger

    Phuket police crackdown: 39 nabbed in weeklong sweep against drugs and guns, boosting tourist security

    The Phuket Provincial Police apprehended 39 individuals on counts of drug and firearm offences over the past week in their continuous effort to enhance the security of its tourism sector. Between October 15 and 21, Phuket police reported that they had caught 32 suspects red-handed with narcotics. Among them, 11 were implicated in allegations of drug distribution and conspiring to…

  • Tourism News5 good reasons to visit Koh Samui in 2023 | Thaiger

    5 good reasons to visit Koh Samui in 2023

    Thailand’s “coconut island” has come a long way since its hippy heyday in the 1970s. Today, jet-set travellers rub shoulders with the tabloids’ favourite celebrities, while major golf events and regattas have become annual pilgrimages. So, now you’re thinking about a lazy leisurely holiday on this tantalisingly tropical island? The only question is … when to go? January – BBQ Season…

  • Phuket NewsPatong Baywatch resumes night patrols, enhancing safety at popular Thai beach | Thaiger

    Patong Baywatch resumes night patrols, enhancing safety at popular Thai beach

    Patong Surf Life Saving has re-initiated the nighttime beach patrols to boost the safety measures at Patong Beach. Despite the details of the resumption of nighttime patrols still being under wraps by Patong Municipality and the Patong Development Fund, the initiative named Patong Baywatch has been put back into action. The precise number of night watchmen designated for the beach…

  • Thailand NewsKrabi’s national park sees revenue surge to 270 million baht | Thaiger

    Krabi’s national park sees revenue surge to 270 million baht

    Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park in Krabi witnessed an impressive surge in its yearly revenue, exceeding 270 million baht (US$7.47 million). This financial leap has resulted in the park becoming Thailand’s highest-grossing national park. As Thailand prepares for the influx of tourists during the high season in the following month, Ratchanok Paenoi, the park’s chief, has reported…

  • Thailand NewsThai Prime Minister defends controversial 10,000-baht digital handout scheme | Thaiger

    Thai Prime Minister defends controversial 10,000-baht digital handout scheme

    Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin defended the government’s decision to proceed with the controversial 10,000-baht digital currency handout scheme on Monday, despite mounting criticism. Primarily, critics have been concerned about the scheme’s lack of transparency, particularly regarding its funding source. The 61 year old PM, who also holds the position of finance minister, dismissed these concerns. “I insist the policy…

  • Thailand NewsThai worker survives Gaza conflict, returns home after delayed salary payment | Thaiger

    Thai worker survives Gaza conflict, returns home after delayed salary payment

    Thai worker Charnchai Chidkhoksung, who was based just 7 kilometres from the Gaza Strip, recently experienced the peril of war first-hand. The 31 year old was reunited with his family on Sunday night after enduring three months of conflict while working as a tomato collector in the embattled region. Charnchai and his colleagues were witnesses to the Hamas attacks, which…

  • Politics NewsCharter amendment: Thailand’s Move Forward Party seeks controversial rewrite | Thaiger

    Charter amendment: Thailand’s Move Forward Party seeks controversial rewrite

    The Move Forward Party (MFP), Thailand’s principal opposition, is determined to push for a renewed charter amendment through a motion in Parliament on Wednesday. The motion, which is the first item on the debate agenda and is supported by the MFP and its spokesperson, Parit Wacharasindhu, has sparked concern among lawmakers due to the potential broad changes it could bring…

  • Thailand NewsThai village chief killed in wild elephant attack at Surat Thani plantation | Thaiger

    Thai village chief killed in wild elephant attack at Surat Thani plantation

    A wild elephant, part of a herd that had wandered into an oil palm plantation, fatally attacked a village chief in Tha Chana district, Surat Thani province, Thailand. The village chief, Samnao Kraiket, suffered severe injuries including a crushed rib cage, broken hip, and head injuries during an attempt to drive the elephants back into the forest. Despite the efforts…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s Social Security Office allocates 207 million baht for historic board election | Thaiger

    Thailand’s Social Security Office allocates 207 million baht for historic board election

    The Social Security Office (SSO) in Thailand has allocated a budget of 207 million baht for the inaugural election of Social Security Board members. The event, slated for December 24, is a first in the history of the board, according to Boonsong Thapchaiyuth, the Security General. The Social Security Board, under the Social Security Act, serves as an intermediary between…

  • Thailand NewsKnight’s Ring tradition reinstated by Thai Police to honour commendable officers | Thaiger

    Knight’s Ring tradition reinstated by Thai Police to honour commendable officers

    The tradition of awarding the “Knight’s Ring” to commendable officers has been reinstated by the new chief of national police, Police General Torsak Sukvimol. The ceremony, which took place at the Royal Police Cadet Academy in Sam Phran district, Nakhon Pathom, on October 17, saw Police Captain Thanamorn Nunat of Pathumwan station being honoured with the first Knight’s Ring under…

  • Tourism NewsKoh Chang sees tourist surge over long weekend, boosting park earnings | Thaiger

    Koh Chang sees tourist surge over long weekend, boosting park earnings

    Koh Chang, an island off the coast of Trat, was a magnet for tourists over the three-day holiday this weekend. The influx coincided with today’s King Chulalongkorn Day and the tail end of the school break. The chief of Mu Koh Chang National Park, Polwaree Buchakiat, noted that Koh Chang was bustling with visitors this month, contributing to the park’s…

  • Thailand NewsNIDA Poll reveals Thai public disapproval to extended bar hours plan | Thaiger

    NIDA Poll reveals Thai public disapproval to extended bar hours plan

    A recent poll by the National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA) revealed significant public opposition to the Thai government’s initiative to extend operating hours in bars and nightclubs from 2am to 4am. The survey was conducted between October 17 and 19, engaging 1,310 participants above 20 years old from diverse backgrounds. The initiative, proposed by the Interior Ministry of Thailand,…

  • Thailand NewsMotorway project linking Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya set for 2029 | Thaiger

    Motorway project linking Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya set for 2029

    The Department of Highways (DoH) in Thailand is gearing up to construct a new 34.1 kilometre motorway project, linking Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi and Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya. The project, with a budget of almost 15 billion baht, is slated to be completed by 2029. DoH’s director-general Sarawut Songsivilai has stated that this motorway is one among 46 projects…

  • Politics NewsMove Forward Party probes MP over Bangkok sexual harassment claims | Thaiger

    Move Forward Party probes MP over Bangkok sexual harassment claims

    A sexual harassment allegation against a Move Forward Party (MFP) MP is set to undergo investigation, according to Parit Wacharasindhu, a party list MP and spokesperson. The case involves three women accusing an MP from a district within the Thon Buri region of Bangkok and follows closely on the heels of a similar incident reported on October 12 involving a different…

  • Thailand NewsMelioidosis outbreak in Thailand claims ten lives, farmers urged caution | Thaiger

    Melioidosis outbreak in Thailand claims ten lives, farmers urged caution

    An alarming outbreak of melioidosis, also known as Whitmore’s disease, has emerged in Thailand, claiming the lives of approximately 10 farmers in Buriram, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Songkhla. Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC) is warning farmers about the disease, triggered by the fungus Burkholderia pseudomallei, typically found in contaminated soil, water, rice paddies, and cropping farms. The spring outbreak has…

  • Thailand NewsFDA enforces recall of hypertension drugs over cancer-causing impurities | Thaiger

    FDA enforces recall of hypertension drugs over cancer-causing impurities

    A recall of 42 batches of hypertension drugs has been enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from five pharmaceutical manufacturers following the discovery of potentially carcinogenic impurities. The decision came after the detection of azidomethyl biphenyl tetrazole (AZBT) impurities in some models of irbesartan, a drug used to control high blood pressure. Acting secretary-general of the FDA, Narong…

  • Thailand NewsSaudi Arabia pledges to aid Thailand in Israel-Hamas hostage crisis | Thaiger

    Saudi Arabia pledges to aid Thailand in Israel-Hamas hostage crisis

    Thailands Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin announced that Saudi Arabia has pledged to assist in securing the release of Thai hostages caught in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. His statement came after meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud at the Asean-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in Riyadh. The Crown Prince expressed his sympathy towards the Thai workers affected…

  • Thailand NewsThai workers in debt eager to return to Israel after conflict cessation | Thaiger

    Thai workers in debt eager to return to Israel after conflict cessation

    The cessation of conflict in Israel is eagerly awaited by Thai workers who have returned home, as they are burdened by significant debts that require their return to work. Among them is 38 year old Thaworn Aksornsue, a recent returnee from Israel where he spent seven months labouring on a farm, earning approximately 55,000 baht (US$ 1,507) monthly. A substantial…

  • Thailand NewsCourt rejects anti-corruption agency’s review bid in Prawit’s wristwatch probe | Thaiger

    Court rejects anti-corruption agency’s review bid in Prawit’s wristwatch probe

    The Supreme Administrative Court yesterday upheld a prior court’s decision against the National Anti-Corruption Commission’s (NACC) request for a case review involving luxury wristwatches linked to former Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon. The court found no basis for the review, which would require the NACC to disclose details of their investigation into the wristwatch controversy to political activist Veera Somkhwamkid.…

  • Thailand NewsThai hostages safe in Gaza, release hinged on Israeli military ceasefire | Thaiger

    Thai hostages safe in Gaza, release hinged on Israeli military ceasefire

    Seyed Reza Nobakhti, the Iranian ambassador to Thailand, confirmed that the Thai hostages currently held in Palestinian territories remain safe. He mentioned that the hostages, along with others, will only be released once the Israeli military halts its attack on the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian militant group, Hamas, had captured about 200 hostages, including 19 Thai workers, during an unexpected…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Airport’s ‘cool’ conundrum: A chilling malfunction | Thaiger

    Phuket Airport’s ‘cool’ conundrum: A chilling malfunction

    Phuket International Airport publicly addressed the ongoing issue of its malfunctioning air conditioning system at the international terminal managed by Airports of Thailand (AoT Phuket), Phuket International Airport general manager is Monchai Tanode but a response to the problem was delivered in a press release yesterday with no specific signatory. The document clarified the issue of the air conditioning system’s…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket Airport’s future takes flight: Environmental impact on the agenda | Thaiger

    Phuket Airport’s future takes flight: Environmental impact on the agenda

    A meeting took place this morning to discuss the potential environmental and community impact of the proposed development plans for Phuket International Airport. The meeting, organised by the Phuket office of the Airports of Thailand (AOT), was held at the Proud Phuket Hotel near Naiyang Beach. The Chief Administrative Officer of the Phuket Provincial Office, Somprat Prabsongkhram, led the assembly.…

  • Thailand NewsThailand’s EV initiative: Driving towards a greener future | Thaiger

    Thailand’s EV initiative: Driving towards a greener future

    The Thai government has embarked on an ambitious plan to replace ageing government vehicles with electric vehicles (EVs), in line with their carbon neutrality goal set for 2050. The Thai EV initiative move was prompted by a notification issued by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, encouraging the use of EVs within the government sector. PM Srettha’s order, issued via the Secretariat…