Tara Abhasakun

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.
  • Phuket NewsFour suspects admit they assaulted US tourist in Patong

    Four suspects admit they assaulted US tourist in Patong

    UPDATE Four suspects have reportedly admitted that they physically assaulted an American tourist in Patong early yesterday morning. The assault happened at the nightlife hotspot of Bangla Road. Patong Police Chief Colonel Sujin Nilbodee told The Phuket Express… “The four suspects have admitted they attacked the American man who they claimed was intoxicated before an argument began followed by a…

  • Pattaya NewsThird baby elephant of the year born at Pattaya garden

    Third baby elephant of the year born at Pattaya garden

    The third baby elephant of the year has been born at a botanical garden in Pattaya. The Nong Nooch Gardens Pattaya welcomed the new little member, named “Ply Poa Jai” with a religious ceremony yesterday. The rite was held in front of an elephant statue in the garden. Photos show a monk blessing Ply Poa Jai as the little elephant…

  • World NewsKamala Harris visits South Korea a day after North Korea fires missiles

    Kamala Harris visits South Korea a day after North Korea fires missiles

    US Vice President Kamala Harris today visited South Korea at a somewhat tense time. Just yesterday, North Korea launched two ballistic missiles from its capital of Pyongyang into the East Sea. This was North Korea’s second ballistic missile launch in a week. Harris today met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol to chat about the threat that North Korea…

  • Pattaya NewsFree meals in Pattaya during Vegetarian Festival

    Free meals in Pattaya during Vegetarian Festival

    It’s not just Phuket celebrating the annual Vegetarian Festival, dwellers in Pattaya are also gathering for free vegetarian food. From now until October 5, anyone can eat yummy vegetarian meals for free at the Sawang Boriboon Foundation in the Naklua sub-district of Bang Lamung District. Sawang Boriboon is a Thai-Chinese foundation. It can provide meals for 300 people per seating.…

  • Phuket NewsAmerican tourist allegedly assaulted outside Patong bar

    American tourist allegedly assaulted outside Patong bar

    An American tourist was allegedly assaulted in Phuket’s tourist hotspot town of Patong early yesterday morning. The 35 year old man had wounds on his face, and one of his middle fingers. The man had been at a bar on Bangla Road, where he was reportedly very drunk. He had been with a 24 year old Russian woman. Staff had…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket dwellers honour 10th Lunar Month

    Phuket dwellers honour 10th Lunar Month

    Temples across Phuket have honoured Thailand’s tenth lunar month with food offerings, and traditional puppets. Festivals are held for the tenth lunar month between September and October. During the festival, people offer food to their family members who have died. It is believed that during this time, the spirits of deceased people can come to meet with their relatives. Puppets…

  • Phuket NewsDelivery driver & customer brawl over payment in Phuket

    Delivery driver & customer brawl over payment in Phuket

    A delivery driver and a customer brawled over some payment in Phuket’s town of Chalong at the weekend. The customer, Sorasak, said he had ordered food to be delivered through an online service. Phuket Provincial Police said that during the delivery, “There was an error in the transmission location coordinates.” When the driver, Adisak, finally arrived with Sorasak’s food, the…

  • Visa InformationThailand to extend Smart Visa scheme to draw talent

    Thailand to extend Smart Visa scheme to draw talent

    Thailand is extending its Smart Visa scheme, aiming to draw in more talent to the kingdom. While the scheme used to cover 13 industries, the Thai cabinet yesterday approved extending the scheme to cover 18. Since 2018, Thailand has offered a SMART visa for foreigners who wish to work or invest in the following industries… Next Generation Automotive Affluent, Medical…

  • Chiang Mai NewsPopular Chiang Mai waterfall closed due to flooding

    Popular Chiang Mai waterfall closed due to flooding

    A popular waterfall for tourists in Chiang Mai has closed due to flooding, the National News Bureau of Thailand reported on Monday. The waterfall is located in Doi Inthanon National Park. Floodwaters have also strongly damaged several stores in the Chom Thong district, according to park officials. Locals from the nearby Khun Khun Klang village were seen moving their belongings…

  • Pattaya NewsCrocodile found skinned on Chon Buri beach

    Crocodile found skinned on Chon Buri beach

    Animal protection services are looking into the case of a crocodile carcass found skinned on a beach in Chon Buri province. The 1 metre long skinned croc was found on September 24 on Pha Daeng Beach in Sri Racha district. The poor croc had been skinned from its neck to the tip of its tail. An anonymous local who found…

  • Tourism NewsThailand’s weak baht could have a silver lining in the tourism industry, THA says

    Thailand’s weak baht could have a silver lining in the tourism industry, THA says

    There might be a silver lining to Thailand’s weakening baht for the tourism industry. The president of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) says the weakening baht is one of several factors making Thai tourism more attractive in post-pandemic times. THA president Marissa Nunbhakdi says that now the ‘Test & Go’ and ‘Thailand Pass’ schemes have been scrapped, momentum has built…

  • World NewsAs Iran revolts, president vows to deal with protests

    As Iran revolts, president vows to deal with protests

    As the people of Iran continue to rise against the country’s Islamic regime, authorities are making some remarks. On Friday, the Iranian army said that it will confront “the enemies” behind the protests. Meanwhile, Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi yesterday vowed to “deal decisively” with the protests. Raisi noted that it was necessary to differentiate between protests and disturbing security. He…

  • World NewsThai TikTok star detained at Singapore airport over huge amount of cash

    Thai TikTok star detained at Singapore airport over huge amount of cash

    A Thai TikTok star ran into trouble at a Singapore airport for not declaring that he was carrying a huge amount of cash. The star, whose TikTok name is Sungstarwin, has 2.4 million followers on TikTok, and two million subscribers on Youtube. Sungstarwin was detained at Changi Airport on September 10 for carrying 610,000 baht, or 23,254 Singapore dollars. The…

  • Thailand NewsKanchanaburi school director found dead in canal

    Kanchanaburi school director found dead in canal

    Rescue divers discovered the body of a Kanchanaburi school director in a canal in Tha Muang district yesterday. The woman, 45 year old Nipaporn Wongwilai, was the director of the Ban Nong Ya Plong School in Makham Tia district. The divers started a search yesterday morning after locals found the front bumper and license plate of a car beside the…

  • Pattaya NewsSmall children in Pattaya learn to get help when locked in hot cars

    Small children in Pattaya learn to get help when locked in hot cars

    After a tragic incident last month where a child died in a school van in Chon Buri, Pattaya police are taking measures to prevent similar incidents. Two police lieutenants visited a Pattaya school on September 21 to train preschoolers two to four years old on what to do if they get locked in a hot car. The school was Pattaya…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya official urges mayor to expand legal nightlife zone

    Pattaya official urges mayor to expand legal nightlife zone

    A Pattaya official proposed that Mayor Poramase Ngampiches expand the city’s legal nightlife zone. Pattaya City Council member Damrongkiat Pinitkan made the proposal in a meeting on Friday. Damrongkiat argued that current zones, which have not changed since 2002, are archaic. Damrongkiat noted that rules only allow operators to run entertainment venues on the right side of Pattaya Third Road…

  • World NewsNew cancer treatment sees results in UK

    New cancer treatment sees results in UK

    A new form of cancer treatment being used in the UK is seeing positive results. The drug, RP2, is a weakened form of the cold sore virus, herpes simplex. It has been modified to kill tumours. One man who used the drug had been on end-of-life care. The man, 39 year old Krzystof, had cancer in his salivary glands, near…

  • Phuket NewsAnother push for helmet use in Phuket

    Another push for helmet use in Phuket

    Officials once again pushed for more motorcycle riders to wear helmets in Thailand, this time in Phuket. The push is part of another of Thailand’s many road safety campaigns. Local officials handed out helmets to students and other community members in the Wichit area of Phuket’s main city district on Wednesday. The officials also finished painting a crosswalk in front…

  • Bangkok NewsArtists create sci-fi versions of Bangkok

    Artists create sci-fi versions of Bangkok

    Several artists are creating sci-fi versions of Bangkok in their work. Two filmmakers, a painter, and illustrators are imagining Bangkok with ghosts, AI, and snow in Bangkok. One filmmaker, Stephan Zlotescu, has produced a film about an AI robot falling in love with a woman in Bangkok. The AI takes over a man’s body to pursue the woman. The film,…

  • Pattaya NewsChon Buri blaze kills disabled man and his dogs

    Chon Buri blaze kills disabled man and his dogs

    Another tragic fire broke out in Thailand this week, this time in the eastern Chon Buri province, in the main city district. The blaze hit three houses on Wednesday, killing a 52 year old man named Suriya Eimsawad, who was reportedly disabled. Suriya was not the only one to perish in the devastating fire. His two dogs also died as…

  • Tourism NewsTAT looks to draw more Japanese tourists to Thailand with new campaign

    TAT looks to draw more Japanese tourists to Thailand with new campaign

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand is looking to draw in more Japanese tourists. TAT governor Yuthasak Supasorn announced that TAT will introduce a new partnership campaign in the last three months of the year called “It’s Time to Go To Thailand”. The campaign aims to increase Japanese tourists’ average spending per trip, which right now is only 6,400 baht, the…

  • World NewsNorth Korea releases statement after being accused of selling Russia weapons

    North Korea releases statement after being accused of selling Russia weapons

    North Korea released a statement today after US officials said Russia was looking to buy weapons from North Korea. The statement claimed that North Korea had never exported weapons or ammunition to Russia, and did not plan to. It said that the United States and other “hostile forces” were spreading rumours to “pursue its base political and military aims.” Any…

  • Phuket NewsPrice hike in vegetables prior to Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Price hike in vegetables prior to Phuket Vegetarian Festival

    Phuket is seeing a jump in its vegetable prices as the annual Phuket Vegetarian Festival is coming up on September 26. The prices of many vegetables have shot up on average from five to 20 baht per kilogram. The prices on other vegetarian ingredients have bumped up as well. Vegetable prices usually increase in Phuket before and during the festival…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya’s major roads flooded

    Pattaya’s major roads flooded

    Many of Pattaya’s major roads were flooded by heavy rain last night. Some of the affected roads included South Pattaya Road, Soi Buakhao Road, Sukhumvit Road, and Beach Road. The roads were all underwater with levels ranging between 20 centimetres to 1 metre, The Pattaya News reported. Many popular alleyways were also flooded. The floodwaters stretched onto roadside venues, forcing…

  • Central Thailand NewsRice fields in central Thailand to be used as water retention areas

    Rice fields in central Thailand to be used as water retention areas

    The Office of National Water Resources announced yesterday that rice fields in central Thailand’s Chao Phraya will be made into temporary water retention areas after farmers finish harvesting them at the end of this month. The office’s secretary-general, Surasee Kittimthon, said that more water will be drained from northern Thailand via the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province in…

  • Tourism NewsNew plans to expand Bangkok’s nightlife tourism

    New plans to expand Bangkok’s nightlife tourism

    New plans are underway to help expand Bangkok’s nightlife tourism. Bangkok Governor Chadchar Sittipunt said yesterday that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is talking to experts about decorating some areas so they can become attractions. These are mainly spots in downtown areas and riverside zones, he said. Chadchart has also announced a plan for Bangkok to become a sister city of…

  • Northern Thailand NewsPolice lieutenant in NE Thailand reportedly kills motorcyclist in crash

    Police lieutenant in NE Thailand reportedly kills motorcyclist in crash

    Last night, a police lieutenant in northeast Thailand reportedly crashed into five motorcycles and killed one motorcyclist. CCTV footage caught the lieutenant ramming his truck into the motorcycles waiting for a traffic light at a traffic island in Buriram province. The motorcyclist killed was a 25 year old waiting to make a U-turn. After the crash, the lieutenant’s pickup truck…

  • Crime NewsFight between teens leads to stabbing in NE Thailand

    Fight between teens leads to stabbing in NE Thailand

    There was a knife attack involving groups of teenage boys in Thailand’s northeast province of Khon Kaen last night. Students in Grade 9 from the Mathayom Suksa school stabbed three Grade 11 boys at the school in their abdomens and lungs. The attack happened outside the school in the Nam Phong district. One of the injured boys, Narongrit, told police…

  • Phuket NewsRussian man killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    Russian man killed in Phuket motorbike crash

    A Russian man has been killed after crashing his motorbike into a minivan in Phuket’s resort town of Karon yesterday. Rescuers arrived at the scene on the Karon–Patong Road to find the unconscious man lying on the road and heavily bleeding from his head. The rescuers rushed him to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead. They have not…

  • World NewsSE Asia’s traffickers targeting the young and tech savvy

    SE Asia’s traffickers targeting the young and tech savvy

    Southeast Asia’s traffickers are targeting young and tech-savvy people to lure them into their devastating scams. The traffickers make adverts promising easy work and cushy benefits, drawing in thousands of young, educated victims. When the victims arrive at their destinations they are held captive and forced to work in online scam centres known as “fraud factories.” These include love scams,…