Tara Abhasakun

A Thai-American dual citizen, Tara has reported news and spoken on a number of human rights and cultural news issues in Thailand. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in history from The College of Wooster. She interned at Southeast Asia Globe, and has written for a number of outlets. Tara reports on a range of Thailand news issues.
  • Environment NewsEnvironmental police arrest 7 over illegal dumping in Bangkok

    Environmental police arrest 7 over illegal dumping in Bangkok

    Bangkok’s pollution problem is rearing its ugly head once again. Environmental police arrested and charged seven people over illegal dumping at 16 sites in the Thai capital. The chief of the Crime Suppression Division ordered environmental police to inspect 16 spots, following reports of illegal dumping causing foul-smelling air. The dumping also reportedly led to the spreading of germs to…

  • Thailand NewsPercentage of HIV infections rising among young Thais

    Percentage of HIV infections rising among young Thais

    In a worrying new trend, the percentage of AIDS infections has been rising among young Thais. According to the director of the Disease Control Department’s Division of AIDS, nearly two-thirds of new HIV infections are in young people. The director, Dr Cheewanan Lertpiriyasuwat, said this was much higher than the global average of around 30%. One HIV/AIDS prevention organisation, M…

  • World NewsIranian forces kill young man for celebrating World Cup loss

    Iranian forces kill young man for celebrating World Cup loss

    Iranian authorities have once again confronted individual expression with lethal force. Security forces in the country’s northern city of Bandar Anzali have killed a young man for celebrating the national football team’s elimination from the World Cup. Security fatally shot the man in the head last night after he honked his car horn. The man killed, 27 year old Mehran…

  • Tourism NewsThailand’s southern islands are reeling in tourists

    Thailand’s southern islands are reeling in tourists

    South Thailand’s holiday hotspot islands are reeling in tourists once again. The islands of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, and Koh Pha Ngan have seen 2.3 million tourists arrive on their shores in the past 10 months, according to the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s office for the islands. This has generated over 40 billion baht in revenue.…

  • Crime NewsWoman who allegedly scammed victims for over 30 million baht arrested in Pattaya

    Woman who allegedly scammed victims for over 30 million baht arrested in Pattaya

    Another day, another major scam in Thailand. A woman who allegedly scammed victims for over 30 million baht has been arrested in Pattaya. Police arrested the woman, 24 year old Patcharee Maneesri, at a condominium in the city following an arrest warrant from the Loei Provincial Court for fraud and a loan scam imported into a computer system. Patcharee was…

  • World NewsNew drug marks major milestone in slowing Alzhemier’s

    New drug marks major milestone in slowing Alzhemier’s

    A new drug is marking a major milestone in slowing the impacts of Alzheimer’s disease. The drug, Lecanemab, reduces memory decline in Alzheimer’s patients, as shown in its recent trial. Lecanemab is given to patients every two weeks. The drug clears a protein called amyloid, that builds up in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Amyloid is believed to be…

  • Politics NewsIran promises Thailand it won’t attack Israeli tourists

    Iran promises Thailand it won’t attack Israeli tourists

    Iran promised Thailand that it won’t attack Israeli tourists on Thai soil. The Thai government informed Israel’s government yesterday that it had received a commitment from Iran not to attack Israeli targets in Thailand, according to an Israeli Foreign Ministry cable and two Israeli officials. Iran, and Iran-backed forces, are believed to have been behind attacks on Israelis and Jews…

  • Chiang Mai NewsChiang Mai farmers ordered not to move pigs to prevent African Swine Fever spread

    Chiang Mai farmers ordered not to move pigs to prevent African Swine Fever spread

    Livestock officials ordered farmers in a district of Chiang Mai to not move their pigs off farms. This measure in the Doi Saket district is meant to prevent the possible spread of African Swine Fever (ASF). The order comes after a pig in the district died on November 21. Livestock officials visited the farm to test another pig that was…

  • World NewsIranian Kurdish footballer released from jail

    Iranian Kurdish footballer released from jail

    UPDATE The Iranian Kurdish footballer jailed last week has been released on bail, along with another former member of the country’s national team. Iranian authorities announced the release of Voria Ghafouri and Parviz Boroumand yesterday. The Iranian Kurdish player, Voria Ghafouri, was arrested on November 24 for “insulting the national soccer team and propagandising against the government,” Iranian media reported.…

  • World NewsIran threatens footballers’ families with prison and torture, security source says

    Iran threatens footballers’ families with prison and torture, security source says

    There’s been a new development in the situation of Iran’s national football team and the recent events at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Iranian authorities have threatened the families of its national football players with imprisonment and torture, according to a source involved in the security of the games. This news comes after the players refused to sing their…

  • Crime NewsPattaya loan sharks allegedly abduct and assault young woman

    Pattaya loan sharks allegedly abduct and assault young woman

    Loan sharks in Pattaya allegedly abducted and physically assaulted a young woman. The woman, 21 year old Tasneeporn Youngram, reported the incident to Pattaya Police yesterday. Tasneeporn said that four loan sharks forced her to get in a car after she failed to repay 35,000 baht that she borrowed from them. She said this happened on Soi Paniad Chang in Bang…

  • Tourism NewsPhuket sees over 50,000 Russian tourists in past month

    Phuket sees over 50,000 Russian tourists in past month

    Russian tourists seem to be arriving in Phuket in droves with over 50,000 of them landing on its shores in November. This month, 55,097 Russians made their way to the island province, making up its largest tourist group. The second largest tourist group in Phuket this month came from India, with 26,525 travellers, according to Phuket Immigration. The third largest…

  • Crime NewsHundreds of thousands of meth pills seized in Songkhla

    Hundreds of thousands of meth pills seized in Songkhla

    Thailand’s meth problem is rearing its ugly head again, this time in the Southern province of Songkhla. Narcotics control police seized about 400,000 meth pills from a rented room in the Bang Klam district on Sunday. The suspect, 28 year old Athiwat, allegedly told police that he had stored 15 consignments of about 200,000 meth pills, also known as Yaba,…

  • Thailand NewsThai officials plan to nominate historic park for World Heritage status

    Thai officials plan to nominate historic park for World Heritage status

    Thai officials are continuing to seek recognition for the kingdom’s rich heritage. The country’s World Heritage Convention Committee is collecting information for an application for the Phu Phra Bat Historical Park to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park is located in Thailand’s northeast province of Udon Thani. The site demonstrates Thailand’s prehistoric beliefs, according to Lieutenant…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya’s Walk and Eat food festival coming up

    Pattaya’s Walk and Eat food festival coming up

    Foodies in Pattaya have something to look forward to. The city’s Walk and Eat food festival is coming up, after being cancelled or restricted for years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The long festival will run from December 10 to January 29 at the Naklua fish market in Old Town Naklua. Attendees can sample tasty local dishes, and enjoy concerts…

  • South Thailand NewsBuddhists and Muslims rally for peace together in South Thailand

    Buddhists and Muslims rally for peace together in South Thailand

    In one South Thailand province plagued by violence, Buddhists and Muslims are overcoming religious differences to fight for peace. Buddhist and Muslim leaders conducted demonstrators in a rally for peace in Narathiwat province’s city district this morning. Islamic leaders led prayers for peace. Meanwhile, the chairwoman of the Federation of Buddhist Thais in Narathiwat led the demonstrators in shouting demands…

  • Tourism NewsTAT holds Amazing Thailand Fest 2022 in India

    TAT holds Amazing Thailand Fest 2022 in India

    Thailand’s tourism officials held another event to draw visitors to the Land of Smiles, this time in India. The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), in cooperation with Team Thailand in India, held the ‘Amazing Thailand Fest 2022’ in New Deli from November 25-27. The event was part of TAT’s campaign Visit Thailand Year 2022: Amazing New Chapters. The festival displayed…

  • Crime NewsMan arrested in South Thailand for attempted murder in Phuket

    Man arrested in South Thailand for attempted murder in Phuket

    A man has been arrested in South Thailand’s Phatthalung province for attempted murder in Phuket four years ago. The man, 23 year old Thanakorn Phontha, was wanted on arrest warrants issued in January and August 2018. Officers found Thanakorn in his house on Moo 7 in the Srinakarin district, after finding through an investigation that he had been hiding in…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya International Fireworks Festival meets goal of over 100,000 spectators

    Pattaya International Fireworks Festival meets goal of over 100,000 spectators

    The Pattaya International Fireworks Festival 2022 has come to a close, and officials say the festival was a success. Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches said the festival met its goal of bringing back tourists to boost Pattaya’s economy. As expected, the festival drew over 100,000 spectators. Although there were some major traffic delays, there were no reports of other issues during…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya hotel thieves snatch valuables from Thai and Dutch tourists

    Pattaya hotel thieves snatch valuables from Thai and Dutch tourists

    Two Pattaya thieves snatched valuables from Thai and Dutch tourists at a hotel early yesterday morning. The incident took place at an unnamed hotel on Soi Pattaya-Naklua 20 in Bang Lamung. The Dutch victim, 37 year old Christian Fuchs, said he placed 4,000 baht in cash on the table in his hotel room before he went to take a shower.…

  • Koh Samui NewsVIDEO: Naked Russian man walks around with erection in Koh Samui

    VIDEO: Naked Russian man walks around with erection in Koh Samui

    A naked Russian man was spotted cavorting in Koh Samui yesterday. According to witness Justin Ross Lee, an American expat, the drunk man had somehow managed to find himself in the Secret Garden beach resort mixing with shocked leisure seekers. Lee told The Thaiger… “A drunk guy who was speaking Russian was walking on the beach naked with an erection…

  • Hua Hin NewsHua Hin International Jazz Festival coming up

    Hua Hin International Jazz Festival coming up

    The Hua Hin International Jazz Festival is coming up, with more than 30 artists from around the world en route to perform at the renowned tourism hotspot. Several local artists and bands will also be performing. The festival will be held from December 2-3 on Suan Son Pradit beach, in front of the Seapine Recreation Centre. Musicians will perform from…

  • Northern Thailand NewsOfficials expand northeast Thailand’s Naga tourism with new travel route

    Officials expand northeast Thailand’s Naga tourism with new travel route

    Officials are expanding northeast Thailand’s Naga tourism with an exciting new travel route. The route stops at places in the region where people can worship the mythical serpent. The route is organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)’s Udon Thani office. Tourists on the route visit places of worship in the Udon Thani, Nong Khai, and Bueng Kan provinces.…

  • Pattaya NewsWoman injured after Mercedes-Benz catches fire in Chon Buri

    Woman injured after Mercedes-Benz catches fire in Chon Buri

    A woman has been injured after her Mercedes-Benz caught fire in Chon Buri on Wednesday night. The car was engulfed in flames at the entrance of the Naphaphan Land Village on Sukhumvit Road inbound to Rayong province. The village is located in the Sattahip district. The driver, 39 year old Jidapha Rungruangkon, sustained non-life-threatening chest injuries. Fortunately, she managed to…

  • Tourism NewsTourists and seagulls flock to each other at a sandbar in central Thailand

    Tourists and seagulls flock to each other at a sandbar in central Thailand

    Tourists and seagulls are flocking to each other at a sandbar in central Thailand. At Don Hoi Lot, a sandbar in Samut Songkhram province, crowds of excited tourists are gathering to feed the birds fried chicken and pork skins from 5pm until sunset. Hundreds of seagulls arrived at Don Hoi Lot late last month, according to locals. Tourists are excited…

  • China NewsChina’s Covid numbers hit record high

    China’s Covid numbers hit record high

    The number of Covid-19 cases in China has hit a record high, major news outlets reported today. Yesterday, the country recorded 31,527 cases while Beijing recorded its fourth Covid-related death since last weekend. China’s previous Covid peak had been around 28,000 cases when Shanghai was locked down. Virus cases are being recorded in 31 provinces. Officials have tried to avoid…

  • Crime NewsThai police arrest drug smugglers with 1.6 million meth pills, 1 suspect still on the loose

    Thai police arrest drug smugglers with 1.6 million meth pills, 1 suspect still on the loose

    Police arrested five drug smugglers in Thailand’s northern Kamphaeng Phet province yesterday. Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Division seized 1.6 million meth pills from the suspects. The suspects had been driving from Chiang Rai to Bangkok to deliver the pills. The police then apprehended them at a gas station. The pills were spread into 16 backpacks and were hidden in…

  • Phuket NewsBlaze guts foreigner’s car in Phuket

    Blaze guts foreigner’s car in Phuket

    A blaze gutted a foreigner’s car in Phuket’s main city district on Tuesday night. Koh Kaew firefighters rushed to the scene on Number 3013 Road to find the car engulfed in flames. It took the firefighters about 10 minutes to bring the blaze under control. The car was destroyed, but luckily the driver escaped uninjured. The cause of the fire…

  • World NewsWalmart manager commits deadly shooting in US

    Walmart manager commits deadly shooting in US

    A Walmart manager committed a deadly shooting in the US. The gunman, 31 year old Andre Bing, shot and killed six people and injured six others on Tuesday before turning the gun on himself. The incident happened in the break room of a Walmart in Chesapeake, Virginia. Survivors said the gunman walked into a break room and opened fire. One…

  • Hua Hin NewsHua Hin has a huge new beer bar complex

    Hua Hin has a huge new beer bar complex

    There’s been an exciting development in Hua Hin’s nightlife- a huge new beer bar complex. The new Nice 94 complex is located on Soi 94, behind Wonderland and Rock Zone. It has about 40 bars. Across the street from Nice 94, another smaller beer bar complex is also being built. This news comes as Soi 94 has been developing more…