Bob Scott

Bob Scott is an experienced writer and editor with a passion for travel. Born and raised in Newcastle, England, he spent more than 10 years in Asia. He worked as a sports writer in the north of England and London before relocating to Asia. Now he resides in Bangkok, Thailand, where he is the Editor-in-Chief for The Thaiger English News. With a vast amount of experience from living and writing abroad, Bob Scott is an expert on all things related to Asian culture and lifestyle.
  • Phuket NewsPhuket taxi driver tussle turns streets into a brawl zone (video)

    Phuket taxi driver tussle turns streets into a brawl zone (video)

    The streets of Phuket resembled more like a battle scene today than a picturesque holiday resort after a furious brawl broke out between local taxi drivers and foreign tourists, raising fresh concerns about visitor safety. What started as a squabble quickly spiralled into a full-blown fight, drawing a large crowd of shocked onlookers. Wichit Police stepped in today, August 30,…

  • Business NewsKrungsri’s card charge: Loan surge despite economic strain

    Krungsri’s card charge: Loan surge despite economic strain

    The unsecured loan arm of Bank of Ayudhya, Krungsri Consumer, is predicting a spike in credit card loans in the second half of the year, despite the economy limping along and new rules raising the minimum payments. Currently, Krungsri’s non-performing loan (NPL) rate is a lowly 1.4%, far better than the industry average of 2.9%. Atis Ruchirawat, head honcho at…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow

    Bangkok braces for river’s ride: Chao Phraya goes with the flow

    Heavy flooding in northern Thailand is now wreaking havoc in Bangkok, with the capital bracing itself for the Chao Phraya River to burst its banks, according to the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). Floodwaters from the northern provinces are surging into Bangkok, spurred by a rushed discharge from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat. This dam, crucial for regulating water…

  • Politics NewsThaksin’s taxing plan to tackle poverty in Thailand

    Thaksin’s taxing plan to tackle poverty in Thailand

    Thaksin Shinawatra is making more waves to shake up Thailand’s social, economic and political scene. His latest pitch? A negative income tax (NIT) to shake up Thailand’s tax system. This isn’t the first time NIT has been floated in Thailand. Over a decade ago, the Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Office (FPO) proposed something similar, and it was included in the…

  • Bangkok NewsMethanol poisoning from homemade hooch causes 6 deaths in Bangkok

    Methanol poisoning from homemade hooch causes 6 deaths in Bangkok

    Police are investigating an alarming rise in methanol poisoning cases linked to homemade alcohol in Bangkok’s Khlong Sam Wa district. Six people have died, and several others are critically ill after consuming the contaminated liquor. Yesterday, August 28, at Nopparat Rajathanee Hospital, Pairoj Suratnawanich, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Medical Services, confirmed that 22 patients are currently receiving…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya City launches flood relief donation points for North Thailand

    Pattaya City launches flood relief donation points for North Thailand

    Pattaya City is rallying together with Bang Lamung district, the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, and Pattaya Police Station to launch donation points for flood relief in North Thailand. The initiative, spearheaded by Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngampiches, Prasert Thongthitcharoen of the Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation, and Petty Officer 1st Class Pittayaphon Kokaew, Bang Lamung District Chief, aims to bring aid…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket deadly landslide leaves officials scrambling for answers (video)

    Phuket deadly landslide leaves officials scrambling for answers (video)

    Government officials in Phuket are urgently consulting experts to investigate a mountaintop disaster where 13 people, including several foreign nationals, were tragically killed in recent landslides. Provincial Governor Sophon Suwannarat announced that the provincial office is reaching out to the permanent secretary of natural resources and environment to enlist expert help in probing the cause of the landslides and preventing…

  • Bangkok NewsAshton Asoke condo finds a lifeline – just in the nick of time!

    Ashton Asoke condo finds a lifeline – just in the nick of time!

    The troubled Ashton Asoke condominium project, mired in legal battles for over a year, may just have found a lifeline. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is considering a retroactive construction permit application, thanks to a new interpretation from the Council of State. This latest twist could spell relief for the tenants and the luxury high-rise, which has been teetering on…

  • Thailand NewsThai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall

    Thai bus firms under siege as Chinese rivals drive them up the wall

    The Thai bus industry is under siege with Chinese bus operators flooding the market with cut-rate prices and dodgy tactics, leaving Thai companies struggling to keep up. The Thai Transportation Operators Association has sounded the alarm on this cut-throat competition. Wasuchet Sophonsathien, the association’s president, laid bare the ongoing crisis. Illegal foreign bus operators are muscling in on the market,…

  • Bangkok NewsThai cops ‘bud’ out Taiwanese cannabis smugglers in Bangkok bust

    Thai cops ‘bud’ out Taiwanese cannabis smugglers in Bangkok bust

    Immigration officials in Thailand, in collaboration with other agencies, snagged two Taiwanese nationals in a high-stakes cannabis smuggling operation. The suspects were arrested in Bangkok’s Bang Rak and Din Daeng districts and now face serious charges for planning to export a controlled drug without permission and overstaying their visas. The bust came after a tip-off from a vigilant citizen who…

  • Thailand NewsNo need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    No need to panic, flood’s just a ‘ripple’ in northern Thailand

    The Government of Thailand urged residents not to panic after the recent deluge in the north of the country, adding it won’t flood Bangkok or its neighbouring provinces. Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai declared that the caretaker administration has everything under control. With waters wreaking havoc in Chiang Rai, Phrae, Nan, Phayao, and Sukhothai, the emergency services are stepping up…

  • Thailand NewsFDA puts the ‘test’ in ‘protest’ over mpox spread

    FDA puts the ‘test’ in ‘protest’ over mpox spread

    The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has swung into action, kicking off the registration process for mpox (formerly monkeypox) diagnostic test kits amid growing fears over the viral infection’s spread. In a bold move, FDA Deputy Secretary-General Lertchai Lertwut revealed the new initiative yesterday, August 22. He stressed that the FDA is cutting red tape for manufacturers and importers alike,…

  • Thailand NewsKoh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke

    Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper’s laughing gas caper goes up in smoke

    A Koh Pha Ngan shopkeeper has been caught red-handed peddling balloons stuffed with nitrous oxide, better known as laughing gas, without a licence, and it’s no laughing matter! Rangsiman Jaisamer was busted by police in his Haad Rin shop early today, August 22, where officers discovered two cylinders of the giggly gas and a stash of balloons ready for sale.…

  • Thailand NewsTragedy strikes the Chao Phraya River: Two dead in jet ski collision

    Tragedy strikes the Chao Phraya River: Two dead in jet ski collision

    A devastating jet ski accident on the Chao Phraya River in Samut Prakan’s Phra Pradaeng district on Saturday night claimed the lives of two people. The jet ski, operated by 21 year old Shindanai Sae Lim, smashed into a small boat, raising serious concerns about his qualifications to handle the watercraft. The Provincial Marine Office’s Samut Prakan Branch acted promptly,…

  • Thailand NewsGun-toting dad holds daughter hostage in Bangkok standoff

    Gun-toting dad holds daughter hostage in Bangkok standoff

    A dramatic hostage situation unfolded yesterday in Lat Krabang Soi 16, Bangkok, as a father armed with a gun held his ten year old daughter captive inside their home. Police swiftly cordoned off the area, barring any unrelated individuals from entering the tense scene. The alarming incident came to light when the child’s mother alerted the police, reporting that her…

  • Northern Thailand NewsKnife-wielding man causes chaos in Udon Thani over inheritance

    Knife-wielding man causes chaos in Udon Thani over inheritance

    A knife-wielding man, reportedly under the influence of drugs, caused chaos as he attacked his relatives, claiming his mother was unfairly dividing the family inheritance. The incident took place in Mueang district, Udon Thani province. Police today, August 19, were called to the scene after reports of a man acting violently at a house on Phon Phisai Road, Mak Khaeng…

  • Pattaya NewsIrishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned

    Irishman’s fatal fall leaves Pattaya hotel guests stunned

    Tragedy struck a swanky 5-star hotel in Pattaya in the early hours of this morning when an Irishman plunged to his death from the 31st floor. The Irishman, Michael Browne, shocked hotel staff and patrons as he fell to his death from the 31st floor today, August 19. The shocking incident, which has left the Pattaya police baffled, raises questions…

  • Thailand NewsPolice seize e-cigarettes disguised as toys worth 10 million baht

    Police seize e-cigarettes disguised as toys worth 10 million baht

    Police raided a warehouse belonging to the major northern Thai online e-cigarette dealer, YAI VAPE, seizing 30,000 items worth 10 million baht. The police found the e-cigarettes disguised as toys to avoid detection by parents and teachers. The Ministry of Public Health is pushing for legislative changes to close legal loopholes. Thai police conducted a press conference today to announce…

  • Business NewsCryptos surge as BNB leads with 89.6% gain in 2024

    Cryptos surge as BNB leads with 89.6% gain in 2024

    Cryptocurrencies are experiencing a resurgence despite global economic challenges and geopolitical uncertainties, emerging as top-performing assets in the first seven months of 2024. Nvidia, one of the Magnificent 7 tech stocks on the US stock exchange, also ranks highly. Binance Coin (BNB) led the cryptocurrency returns this year with an impressive 89.6% gain as of July 22. Bitcoin followed with…

  • Thailand NewsLabour minister intervenes in unpaid wages of 700 migrant workers

    Labour minister intervenes in unpaid wages of 700 migrant workers

    Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakan directed ministry officials to address a situation involving a Chinese company in Prachin Buri that has not paid the wages of over 700 foreign workers for the past two months. Some 700 migrant workers from Myanmar yesterday, August 18, demonstrated at the Rojana Industrial Estate due to the non-payment of their daily wages. Phiphat has tasked…

  • Thailand NewsDoH advises toll cuts over extension to ease Bangkok costs

    DoH advises toll cuts over extension to ease Bangkok costs

    The Department of Highways (DoH) urged the Government of Thailand to focus on reducing toll fees rather than extending the concession for the Don Mueang Tollway, as a strategy to lower living costs in Bangkok. Caretaker Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit recently proposed extending the current concession for Don Mueang Tollway Plc, which is set to expire in 2034. Suriya argued…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket or leave it: Flooded roads sink travel plans to island airport

    Phuket or leave it: Flooded roads sink travel plans to island airport

    Flooding across Phuket is wreaking havoc on travellers bound for the island’s international airport, as waterlogged roads spark major disruptions. Local officials are urging passengers to rethink their travel plans, advising them to allow an extra three to four hours to reach the airport in these treacherous conditions. Phuket International Airport officials issued a public warning, strongly recommending the additional…

  • Thailand NewsFormer PM Thaksin faces court over 2015 lese majeste allegations

    Former PM Thaksin faces court over 2015 lese majeste allegations

    Thaksin Shinawatra, the former Prime Minister of Thailand, made a dramatic return to the Criminal Court today, facing charges in a high-stakes lese majeste case linked to a controversial 2015 interview in Seoul. Arriving at 8.53am, today, August 19, in a yellow shirt and black jacket, the 75 year old Thaksin appeared unfazed as he briefly addressed the press. “I’m…

  • Phuket NewsHelmet on TikTok: Kamala cops go viral to keep heads safe in Phuket

    Helmet on TikTok: Kamala cops go viral to keep heads safe in Phuket

    Kamala police have launched an innovative campaign on TikTok to promote helmet use among road users in Phuket. The initiative has quickly gained widespread attention and praise for its creative approach to enhancing road safety. Kamala Police Chief Somsak Thongkliang stated that the campaign was developed following a directive from higher government officials to improve road safety measures. Recognising the…

  • Thailand NewsBerry big deal: over 1,000 Thai pickers to jam in Sweden, Finland

    Berry big deal: over 1,000 Thai pickers to jam in Sweden, Finland

    Thai workers are set for Sweden and Finland as the new berry-picking season kicks off. In a major move, the Department of Employment has given the green light to a whopping 1,129 Thai workers to pack their bags and head to the Nordic lands. Labour Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakan broke the news, revealing that the first wave of over 1,000 Thai…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesRain check: Thailand braces for a monsoon downpour and flooding

    Rain check: Thailand braces for a monsoon downpour and flooding

    Get out the brollies and waterproofs, the Meteorological Department of Thailand (TMD) issued a warning of heavy rainfall and potential flooding in 49 provinces across Thailand due to a monsoon. The TMD forecasts rain in 70% of the affected areas, advising caution against flash floods and landslides. A weather forecast for the next 24 hours indicates that a monsoon trough…

  • Economy NewsThailand’s economy grows 2.3% in Q2, surpassing forecasts

    Thailand’s economy grows 2.3% in Q2, surpassing forecasts

    Thailand’s economy roared back to life in the second quarter, fuelled by a surge in consumption, tourism, and exports, according to today’s eye-popping official data. This economic boost has prompted the government to up its growth forecast for the year. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) revealed that Southeast Asia’s second-largest economy expanded by 2.3% from the same…

  • Aviation NewsThai Vietjet takes off: Targets nearly 8 million passengers this year

    Thai Vietjet takes off: Targets nearly 8 million passengers this year

    Low-cost airline Thai Vietjet aims to attract nearly eight million passengers this year by enhancing aircraft utilisation and increasing flights on existing routes, with plans to introduce new Boeing 737 Max jets next year. Thai Vietjet Chief Executive Woranate Laprabang highlighted that the visa-free scheme has significantly boosted demand on international routes, particularly to China. The airline operates flights to over…

  • Transport NewsPattaya targets traffic congestion with new management strategies

    Pattaya targets traffic congestion with new management strategies

    Efforts to address Pattaya’s persistent traffic congestion took a significant step forward as Bang Lamung district chief Wikit Manarojkit led a pivotal meeting with key stakeholders at Pattaya City Hall just before the weekend. The gathering included Pattaya City Mayor Poramese Ngamphiches, Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, Superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, Police Colonel Tawi Kutthaeng, Superintendent of Nong Prue…

  • Tourism NewsPattaya’s big splash: New app to make Chinese tourists feel at home

    Pattaya’s big splash: New app to make Chinese tourists feel at home

    Pattaya launched a groundbreaking initiative aimed at enriching the travel experience for Chinese tourists. The Pattaya Business and Tourism Association, led by Boon-anan Pattanasin, hosted a meeting at the Sabai Sabana Hotel on Pattaya Soi 2 to unveil the “Wei Tai Guo” application. During the event, Panawika Limpaphan, Executive Chairman of Digilink (Thailand) Co., Ltd., introduced the new app. Panawika…