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.
  • Thailand NewsMuay Thai fighter dies from brain injury

    Muay Thai fighter dies from brain injury

    There’s been a tragedy in the world of Thai boxing, commonly known as Muay Thai. After a boxer was declared brain dead last week after his opponent knocked him out in a match last week. The boxer, known as Phanphet Phadungchai, had suffered a brain haemorrhage after the fight. Phanphet’s final match was on July 15, at the Thupatemi Air…

  • Pattaya NewsRescuers capture massive python from Pattaya house

    Rescuers capture massive python from Pattaya house

    Rescuers have managed to capture a massive python that slithered its way into a Pattaya home on Friday night, terrifying the house owner. The owner, 34 year old Sukanya Boonla, told The Pattaya News that she saw the five metres’ long beast behind a water tank. She said, “…it was very big, so I just ran and called for help.”…

  • Thailand TravelFirst tourists arrive in Phuket on South Korea’s Jin Air airlines

    First tourists arrive in Phuket on South Korea’s Jin Air airlines

    Phuket welcomed the first flight of South Korean tourists from Jin Air airlines since Covid-19 restrictions eased. Phuket International Airport staff greeted the 179 passengers as they arrived at the international terminal. They had flown directly from Seoul to Phuket. This news comes after both South Korea, and Thailand, have eased several of their Covid restrictions. On July 1, Thailand…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesMore heavy rain throughout Thailand today and tomorrow

    More heavy rain throughout Thailand today and tomorrow

    Once again, more heavy rain is expected to pour down on most regions of Thailand today and tomorrow. This includes the north, northeast, central, east, and south regions. The Thai Meteorological Department says the monsoon trough is lying across the lower North, upper Central and lower Northeast of Thailand. Meanwhile down in the country’s south, there is a moderate southwest…

  • Pattaya NewsTeen girl found lying on Pattaya beach missing her phone

    Teen girl found lying on Pattaya beach missing her phone

    In the early hours of Friday morning, a teenage girl was found lying on Pattaya Beach with her phone missing. The 15 year old Thai-British national had reportedly been sleeping without moving, even though it was raining. Rescue workers arrived to take the girl, ‘Ann’, to a hospital, when Ann’s friends noticed that her iPhone 11 was missing. One of…

  • Crime NewsMan extradited from Thailand to Australia to face murder charge

    Man extradited from Thailand to Australia to face murder charge

    A man charged with the murder of another man in 2014 has been extradited from Thailand to Australia. The man, 33 year old Antonio “Tony” Bagnato, carried out the murder of 25 year old Bradley Dillon along with others. The suspects shot Dillon in the back three times and stabbed him repeatedly at a car park in Leichhardt, a suburb…

  • Northern Thailand NewsNortheast woman dies chasing biker thief who nabbed her gold chain

    Northeast woman dies chasing biker thief who nabbed her gold chain

    A woman in northeast Thailand died this week while chasing down another biker who nabbed her gold chain. The woman, 47 year old Somchit, had been driving her motorcycle home after going to the bank when another biker started to move closer to her. The biker then snatched her chain. The incident happened in the main city district of Sisaket…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya’s egg thief scrambles yet again

    Pattaya’s egg thief scrambles yet again

    The case of the Pattaya egg thief still hasn’t been cracked, and the thief has scrambled yet again. Another two egg merchants have been duped by the new Pattaya egg thief wreaking havoc around Chon Buri’s Bang Lamung district. One of the victims, 31 year old Wichitra, told The Pattaya News on July 21 that a thief had stolen 10 packs…

  • Politics NewsThai opposition calls out Prayut over military spending

    Thai opposition calls out Prayut over military spending

    A leader of Thailand’s opposition has called out PM Prayut Chan-o-cha over military spending. The deputy leader of the Pheu Thai Party, Yuttapong Charasathien, criticised the government’s plans to purchase submarines and F-35 fighter jets. He said that Prayut should have scrapped a submarine deal when it became obvious that the Chinese manufacturer, China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co, couldn’t…

  • Northern Thailand NewsElderly northeast woman charged with theft after picking plants for curry

    Elderly northeast woman charged with theft after picking plants for curry

    An elderly woman in northeast Thailand just wanted some fresh produce for her curry but ended up being charged with theft. The woman, 70 year old Chaweewan, had headed out on June 11 to pick a handful of galangal sprouts from her village in Phang Khon district of Sakhon Nakhon province. Chaweewan says the area is public land, but one…

  • Environment NewsOfficials launch rubbish cleaning contest in central Thailand

    Officials launch rubbish cleaning contest in central Thailand

    Thailand has a problem with rubbish polluting its streets, but one central province is determined to clean up the mess. Yesterday, officials launched a rubbish cleaning contest in Suphan Buri province. The contest is being organised by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and the Highways Department. The contest is urging communities to clean their roads, intersections, and sidewalks.…

  • Bangkok NewsProfessor says Bangkok floods could escalate in September-October

    Professor says Bangkok floods could escalate in September-October

    One university professor is warning that Bangkok may not have seen the worst of its floods this year. The professor, Dr Seree Supratid, is the director of the Climate Change and Disaster Centre at Rangsit University. Seree said that Bangkok’s flooding could be worse in September and October due to high tides and water runoffs from the northern region during…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok restaurant ranked 39th best in the world

    Bangkok restaurant ranked 39th best in the world

    A restaurant in Bangkok has been ranked 39th in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2022. The restaurant, Sorn, has won two Michelin stars. A hotspot for fine dining, Sorn serves traditional southern Thai cuisine. Sorn’s head chef, known as ‘Chef Ice,’ received the award at a ceremony in London earlier this week. Chef Ice expressed his honour over winning the…

  • Central Thailand NewsZoo in central Thailand accused of mistreating elephants

    Zoo in central Thailand accused of mistreating elephants

    A zoo in central Thailand’s province of Samut Prakan has been accused of mistreating its elephants. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation found four elephants in bad condition at Samut Prakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo. Now, the zoo’s management is liable to a fine of up to 40,000 baht. Officials from the department found the elephants to…

  • Phuket NewsIndian tourists are picking up Phuket’s Old Town economy

    Indian tourists are picking up Phuket’s Old Town economy

    Phuket’s recovering tourism economy is picking up again thanks to Indian tourists. Indians have been the biggest tourist group in Phuket, and Thailand overall this year. Since May 1, over 72,000 Indian tourists have visited Phuket, according to the president of Phuket Old Town Tourism Community, Somyot Pathan. Phuket’s ‘Old Town’ in the main city district is a particular hotspot…

  • Central Thailand NewsThailand’s DDC says boy with Covid-19 who died also had MIS-C

    Thailand’s DDC says boy with Covid-19 who died also had MIS-C

    The DDC said today that a young child who died in central Thailand this week, who had Covid-19, also had Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children. The DDC’s director-general, Dr Opart Karnkawinpong, said doctors at Pathum Thani Hospital tried their best to save the six year old boy. He said they couldn’t save him because he also had MIS-C, and was…

  • Phuket NewsAlleged gold necklace thief on the loose in Phuket

    Alleged gold necklace thief on the loose in Phuket

    It turns out Pattaya isn’t the only spot in Thailand where thieves snatch pricey gold necklaces. One woman in Phuket says a thief on a motorbike grabbed her gold necklace worth about 35,000 baht last night. The victim, 25 year old Kawissara, said she was also driving her motorbike when the thief drove by and snatched her necklace off her…

  • Bangkok NewsUniversity in Bangkok suspends lectures following floods

    University in Bangkok suspends lectures following floods

    Thailand’s heavy rains have hit Bangkok hard, and one university in the capital has even suspended lectures today due to flooding. Ramkhamhaeng University announced on its Facebook page today that lectures on both of its campuses are cancelled due to flooding inside and outside the compound. One of the university’s campuses is located on Ramkhamhaeng road in the city’s east.…

  • Pattaya NewsA bad egg: Pattaya’s egg thief scrambles

    A bad egg: Pattaya’s egg thief scrambles

    Pattaya and Chon Buri have had a variety of bizarre thieves: underwear burglars, cactus robbers, and now, an egg thief. In the past week, two egg merchants in Pattaya have complained that thieves stole their eggs. One of the merchants, who was robbed on July 19, said the eggs stolen from her were worth over 8,600 baht. The merchant, 40…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya village protests after 3 decades without tap water

    Pattaya village protests after 3 decades without tap water

    Locals of one village in East Pattaya are fed up after not having tap water for 30 years. On Tuesday, a crowd of over 50 people in Moo 4 village protested the lack of water and empty promises from officials. The village is located in Chon Buri province’s Bang Lamung district. The villagers have to pay 170 baht for a…

  • World NewsSri Lanka former PM now president, some protesters still aren’t happy

    Sri Lanka former PM now president, some protesters still aren’t happy

    Sri Lanka’s parliament yesterday elected former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe as the country’s new president. He won 134 votes from a possible 223. This news comes after protesters set fire to Ranil’s house on July 9, and also stormed the presidential palace in Colombo. After over 100,000 enraged protesters stormed the palace, former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and has…

  • Pattaya NewsNew plans to help Pattaya’s homeless reintegrate in society

    New plans to help Pattaya’s homeless reintegrate in society

    Pattaya officials are trying new ways to improve the city’s issues with homelessness. Deputy Mayor Wuttisak Rueimkitkan led a campaign launch yesterday, with help from the Chonburi Homeless Protection Center. The campaign’s goal is to help integrate homeless people back into society. Wuttisak had two groups of city officials look for homeless people around Pattaya Beach Road and Pattaya Second…

  • Thailand Weather UpdatesThailand’s heavy rain is coming back

    Thailand’s heavy rain is coming back

    After a brief break, Thailand’s heavy rain is coming back with a vengeance for the rest of this week. The Thai Meteorological Department said there should be heavy to very heavy rain throughout most of the kingdom from today, July 20, until Sunday, July 24. This includes the North, Northeast, Central, East, and South regions. Those living near the coast…

  • Crime NewsLabour minister warns Thai women of trafficking in UAE ‘jobs’

    Labour minister warns Thai women of trafficking in UAE ‘jobs’

    Thailand’s labour minister is warning women about sex trafficking in some fake job opportunities in the United Arab Emirates. The minister, Suchart Chomklin, said yesterday that many Facebook ads invite women to apply for jobs in a spa massage, marketing, personnel management, and gambling websites in the UAE. Surchart said that these ads offer high returns and payment for airfares,…

  • South Thailand NewsPolice arrest man wanted for South Thailand murder

    Police arrest man wanted for South Thailand murder

    Police arrested a man wanted for a murder in South Thailand in March. The suspect, 37 year old Somsak Plano, had allegedly shot at three brothers, killing one of them and injuring another. Somsak’s alleged crime was believed to be related to a personal conflict. The incident happened in the Phato district of Chumphon province on March 2. According to…

  • Pattaya NewsPattaya man allegedly stabs relative after drinking together

    Pattaya man allegedly stabs relative after drinking together

    A Pattaya man allegedly stabbed his relative earlier this week after the two of them drank together. The suspect, 22 year old Amnart, allegedly stabbed 42 year old Songklod in his stomach. The incident happened in front of their home in the Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri province. Songklod’s sister, Kanissara Mahamat, told Bang Lamung police… “The suspect and…

  • Bangkok NewsBangkok school brings back online learning after Covid-19 outbreak

    Bangkok school brings back online learning after Covid-19 outbreak

    A secondary school in Bangkok is bringing back online learning after a big Covid-19 outbreak. The Triam Udom Suksa Phattanakan School, which teaches grades 7-12, has had as many as 910 students test positive for the virus. The school, located in Bangkok’s central district of Suan Luang, plans to shut down to be cleaned on Friday, July 22. The online…

  • Crime NewsSouth Thailand Muslim representatives still pushing against cannabis legalisation

    South Thailand Muslim representatives still pushing against cannabis legalisation

    South Thailand’s Muslim representatives aren’t giving up their fight against Thailand’s cannabis legalisation. Yesterday, the Satun Provincial Islamic Committee of the Islamic Network submitted a petition calling on the government to revise the decriminalization of cannabis and hemp. A representative from one group involved, the Satun Center for Protesting Against Unethical Laws and Regulations, vowed that the groups would call…

  • Bangkok NewsElderly woman near Bangkok dies of Covid-19 after request declined

    Elderly woman near Bangkok dies of Covid-19 after request declined

    An elderly woman near Bangkok has died of Covid-19 after a hospital allegedly declined her family’s request for an ambulance. The incident happened in Nonthaburi, a province bordering Bangkok. A foundation that tried to help the 82 year old woman said that she had several health other conditions as well. These included diabetes, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease…

  • Central Thailand News3 electricians killed in explosion in central Thailand

    3 electricians killed in explosion in central Thailand

    An explosion at a smelting plant in central Thailand’s Ratchaburi province was fatal for three electricians last night. The electricians had been sent to the plant to fix a control board, according to police. But as they were working, the control board exploded, and a fire broke out. Factory workers scrambled to put out the fire with an extinguisher and…