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.
  • Pattaya NewsPolice go after transgender sex workers, urge them not to damage Pattaya’s tourism image

    Police go after transgender sex workers, urge them not to damage Pattaya’s tourism image

    Police are going after Pattaya’s transgender sex workers. Last night, a team of Pattaya Police and Tourist Police inspected Beach Road, arrested 36 suspected transgender sex workers, and took them to the station for identity recording. The inspection’s leader, Police Lieutenant Colonel Pitchaya Khiaoplueng, stressed to the suspects that they could not loiter on the beach and offer sexual services…

  • World NewsBrazil’s far-right president challenges election results

    Brazil’s far-right president challenges election results

    Brazil’s far-right president is challenging the country’s election results, which saw him lose in October. President Jair Bolsonaro’s party, the Liberal Party, has argued that ballots from some machines were compromised during the second round and that the electoral court should reject them. Several news outlets reported today that Brazil’s supreme court justice has now given the party 24 hours…

  • World NewsBangladeshi terrorists who hacked American blogger to death escape

    Bangladeshi terrorists who hacked American blogger to death escape

    Two Bangladeshi terrorists who hacked an American blogger to death in 2015 managed to escape a crowded court in Dhaka on Sunday. Police said that bikers sprayed them with chemicals before taking away the convicts. The Islamist militants had been on death row for killing Bangladeshi-American blogger Avijit Roy. Roy referred to himself as an engineer by profession and a…

  • Phuket NewsPatong business operators want transgender sex workers “cleaned up”

    Patong business operators want transgender sex workers “cleaned up”

    Patong business operators on Bangla Road want transgender sex workers to be “cleaned up,” in addition to food and drink vendors. The president of the Patong Entertainment Business Association, Weerawit Kreuasombat, said… “While Patong officials are now increasing safety management measures on Bangla Road, transgender prostitutes should be cleaned up too. We consistently get complaints that they are annoying and…

  • Pattaya News“Big Joke” holds press conference in Pattaya over Chinese abduction case

    “Big Joke” holds press conference in Pattaya over Chinese abduction case

    Following last month’s abduction of a Chinese man in Pattaya by other Chinese nationals, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, Surachate “Big Joke” Hakparn, held a press conference in the city on Monday. The two abductors cut off the pinky finger of the victim, 41 year old Ren Haibd. They also sent a video to Ren’s 20 year old…

  • Thailand NewsThais among Asian stars ranked on Top Face of the Years 2022

    Thais among Asian stars ranked on Top Face of the Years 2022

    Thais are on a list of Asian stars in the Top Face of the Years 2022,” ranked by a Twitter account named 100 the best face. The list was compiled by counting Twitter users’ comments, likes or shares with the hashtag #topfaceoftheyears2022. At the top of the list is Kim Taehyung, a member of the world sensation K-pop band BTS.…

  • Northern Thailand NewsDistrict in northeast Thailand organising two-month long “Christmas Festival”

    District in northeast Thailand organising two-month long “Christmas Festival”

    Do you ever wish Christmas lasted longer? Well, your wish might come true if you visit one district in northeast Thailand. Phu Ruea district in Loei province will soon hold the “Christmas Festival” at the Phu Ruea Christmas Courtyard, at the entrance to the Phu Ruea National Park. The festival will be held from November 25 until January 31. The opening…

  • Pattaya NewsThai-Italian teen allegedly tries to steal motorcycle taxi in Pattaya

    Thai-Italian teen allegedly tries to steal motorcycle taxi in Pattaya

    A Thai-Italian teenage boy allegedly tried to steal a motorcycle taxi in Pattaya late last night. The motorcycle taxi rider, 46 year old Neramit Klaiprayoon, reported the incident to Pattaya Police. Neramit said he was waiting for a passenger on Soi 13 when he noticed the young suspect suspiciously glancing at his bike. The suspect then got onto the bike…

  • Tourism NewsCharter flights to Phuket and Pattaya filled with Russian tourists

    Charter flights to Phuket and Pattaya filled with Russian tourists

    Charter flights to Thailand’s hotspots of Phuket and Pattaya are being filled with Russian tourists. The chairman of the Chonburi Council of Tourism Industry, Thanet Suparashasrangsi, said… “The Azur Airline will start bringing in charter flights from November 26 on B757 carriers, which can hold about 202 passengers and will improve the number of tourists in Pattaya significantly.” Russia’s Ikar…

  • Phuket NewsSon slits father’s throat in Phuket, allegedly in self defence

    Son slits father’s throat in Phuket, allegedly in self defence

    A man in Phuket allegedly killed his father in a violent incident over cigarette money. The man, 26 year old Arnon Kammanochart, slit the throat of his father, 51 year old Uthai Kammanochart, in Thalang district yesterday evening. Arnon said that he was defending himself. Arnon told Thalang Police that his father asked him to buy cigarettes. Arnon said he…

  • World NewsIran’s football team declines to sing its own anthem at World Cup

    Iran’s football team declines to sing its own anthem at World Cup

    Iran’s football team declined to sing its national anthem at the FIFA World Cup in a move that appears to be a display of solidarity with their fellow countrymen, who are protesting against Iran’s theocratic dictatorship. Before yesterday’s match against England, the Iranian players stood silent as their national anthem was played before the game kicked off. This bold gesture…

  • LifestyleThe evolution of Thanksgiving in a multicultural America

    The evolution of Thanksgiving in a multicultural America

    If you have American friends, you’ve probably heard of Thanksgiving. You probably know that it’s a day when Americans gather with their extended families, and eat a big feast of turkey and other foods. How has this iconic American holiday evolved? How are Thanksgiving traditions changing in an increasingly multicultural America? Controversial origins The story behind Thanksgiving is a touchy…

  • World NewsNorth Korea leader brings 9 year old daughter to missile launch

    North Korea leader brings 9 year old daughter to missile launch

    North Korea leader Kim Jong Un brought an unexpected guest to a missile launch – his nine year old daughter. Kim took his daughter Ju Ae to the launch of a “new type” of intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday. Before the rather unusual daddy-daughter day out, Ju Ae’s existence had not previously been confirmed. Kim said the test was meant…

  • Phuket NewsRowdy monkeys moved on Phuket island

    Rowdy monkeys moved on Phuket island

    Two rowdy monkeys on an island off Phuket have been moved to the far side of the island after bothering residents. The two macaques had been disturbing locals and causing trouble, according to the head of Khao Phra Thaeo Nature and Wildlife Education Center Pongchart Chuahom. Officers from a rescue foundation of the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-hunting Area arrived on…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya man assaults intoxicated man, reportedly for catcalling at his girlfriend

    Pattaya man assaults intoxicated man, reportedly for catcalling at his girlfriend

    Another late-night violent incident took place in Pattaya at around midnight on Saturday. A man physically assaulted an intoxicated man in front of Soi Ko Phai on 1/1, before fleeing the scene. An unnamed witness said the attacker assaulted the victim after the victim catcalled at, whistled at, or made a sexually suggestive comment to the attacker’s girlfriend. The injured…

  • Thailand NewsBody of teen jet skier found in Kanchanaburi reservoir

    Body of teen jet skier found in Kanchanaburi reservoir

    The body of a teenager who tragically perished in a jet ski accident has been found in a Kanchanaburi reservoir on Saturday. The young man, 18 year old Mawin Netdecha from Bangkok, had been jet skiing with a friend at the Srinakarin Dam reservoir on October 24. He then fell out of his jet ski and went missing. Rescuers searched…

  • LifestyleArtists sell work at Phuket exhibition to help underprivileged children

    Artists sell work at Phuket exhibition to help underprivileged children

    Several artists are selling their work at an exhibition in Phuket, with proceeds going to help underprivileged children. The 1st Andaman Art Creation exhibition opened on November 18 and will run until November 30. It is being held at Central Floresta in Kathu. The exhibition includes over 80 items from 50 artists. The proceeds will go to children in the…

  • Crime NewsThai police form centre to suppress World Cup gambling

    Thai police form centre to suppress World Cup gambling

    Thai police have set up a gambling suppression centre amid the FIFA World Cup football tournament. The centre will operate until December 18, Thai media reported yesterday. Almost all forms of gambling are illegal under Thai law, and police are concerned that football fans will gamble on World Cup results. Thai police will also take the following steps: Both uniformed…

  • Phuket NewsTurtle lays over 100 eggs in Phang Nga, marking the start of nesting season

    Turtle lays over 100 eggs in Phang Nga, marking the start of nesting season

    A sea turtle marked the start of nesting season by laying over 100 eggs in Phang Nga yesterday. Officials from the Khok Kloi area found the nest of 118 eggs, with track marks from the turtle, a Bang Khwan Beach. The officials confirmed that a leatherback sea turtle had laid the eggs. Out of the 118 eggs, 106 were fertile…

  • Tourism NewsPattaya International Fireworks Festival coming up next week

    Pattaya International Fireworks Festival coming up next week

    Fireworks lovers should mark their calendars for the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival coming up next week. The festival will be held from November 25-26 on Pattaya Beach, and the fireworks will light up the entire city. Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches says the festival will feature more than 600 street stalls selling all kinds of items. There will be pyrotechnic teams…

  • Pattaya NewsVIDEO: Indian tourist reports theft by Pattaya sex worker, gets informed he broke law too

    VIDEO: Indian tourist reports theft by Pattaya sex worker, gets informed he broke law too

    The conflict between Indian tourists and transgender thieves in Pattaya rages on… An Indian tourist’s night went completely wrong after the sex worker he hired turned out to be a transgender woman. The unnamed tourist said he hired a stranger whom he originally thought was a woman to go to his hotel room on Soi 8 in Bang Lamung. But…

  • World NewsNorth Korea warns US of a “fiercer” military response, launches another missile

    North Korea warns US of a “fiercer” military response, launches another missile

    North Korea has warned the US of a “fiercer military response” to the US’s defence ties with South Korea and Japan. North Korea also launched yet another ballistic missile yesterday. The missile was fired towards North Korea’s eastern waters, according to officials in Seoul. North Korea said in its statement that the warning was in response to trilateral talks between…

  • Hua Hin NewsBakery in Hua Hin reveals tasty Christmas day buffet menu

    Bakery in Hua Hin reveals tasty Christmas day buffet menu

    A bakery in Thailand’s tourist hotspot of Hua Hin has revealed its tasty Christmas day buffet menu. Andreanna’s Bakery, located in Khao Takiab, has listed several delicious dishes. The special buffet lunch menu is available from 12-pm on Christmas Day, and costs 1,299 baht for as much as you can eat. Starters will include French onion soup with cheese croute.…

  • LifestyleSeveral Thai street food eateries earn spots on 2023 Michelin Guide list

    Several Thai street food eateries earn spots on 2023 Michelin Guide list

    Thailand’s culinary scene is making waves. It was announced yesterday that 189 street food eateries across the kingdom have made it to the 2023 Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand list. Out of the 189 restaurants and eateries that made it to the list, 84 were street food eateries, and 105 were restaurants. Michelin Guide’s international director, Gwendal Poullennec, said the high…

  • Covid-19 NewsThai FDA to go after misleading ads for nasal spray supposedly preventing Covid

    Thai FDA to go after misleading ads for nasal spray supposedly preventing Covid

    Thailand’s FDA is going after misleading ads that make it appear that a nasal spray can prevent or heal Covid-19. The FDA is currently gathering evidence to take legal action. The FDA’s deputy secretary-general said today that Besuto Qlears nasal spray has an instruction for people to use it when they develop cold or flu-like symptoms. The deputy secretary-general said…

  • World NewsBurmese junta to release former UK ambassador, Australian economist, and Japanese journalist

    Burmese junta to release former UK ambassador, Australian economist, and Japanese journalist

    The Burmese junta is set to release a former UK ambassador, an Australian economist, and a Japanese journalist who have been detained in Myanmar. The three are being released under amnesty which includes over 6,000 other prisoners. Former UK ambassador Vicky Bowman was arrested with her husband on August 24, and the two were sentenced to a year in prison. Reuters…

  • Pattaya NewsIndian tourists injured in fight with ganja seller on Pattaya’s Walking Street

    Indian tourists injured in fight with ganja seller on Pattaya’s Walking Street

    Indian tourists were injured in a fight with a ganja seller on Pattaya’s Walking Street. The fight broke out in the early hours of the morning on November 14. The weed seller said the tourists had bought ice cream from a shop near his stall when they came to sit down at one of his tables. The seller said the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket restaurant managers arrested for selling parrotfish

    Phuket restaurant managers arrested for selling parrotfish

    There’s been another parrotfish incident in Thailand, this time in Phuket. Three restaurant managers on the island province have been busted for selling parrotfish, a protected animal in Thailand. Officers inspected restaurants in Karon on Tuesday and Wednesday. The three restaurants inspected were Chic Restaurant, found with nine parrotfish, Bounty Seafood, found with five parrotfish, and Ton Tan Seafood, found…

  • Phuket NewsNew direct flight from Oman makes its way to Phuket

    New direct flight from Oman makes its way to Phuket

    A new direct flight from Oman made its way to Phuket International Airport on Monday. The Oman Air flight arrived in Phuket from Muscat, Oman’s capital. The flight carried a total of 162 passengers, who received HKT souvenirs upon arrival, The Phuket Express reported. Phuket has seen a number of new direct flights arrive recently. The flagship airline of Russia…

  • LifestyleThe spiritual significance of lotus flowers in Thailand

    The spiritual significance of lotus flowers in Thailand

    If you live in Thailand, you’ve probably noticed the country’s scenic lotus flowers blooming in ponds across the kingdom. These flowers add a great deal of beauty to Thailand’s scenery. But did you know that lotuses also hold significance in Thai Buddhism? Lotuses grow from mud, and are therefore believed to symbolise growing toward light and warmth, and rising above…