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 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…

  • Chiang Mai NewsRescuers searching for missing tourist in Chiang Mai find broken helmet

    Rescuers searching for missing tourist in Chiang Mai find broken helmet

    Rescuers searching for a missing tourist in Chiang Mai have found a broken helmet and a lifejacket about two kilometres away from where the tourist fell into a river. The man, 30 year old Nicolas Hinckxt, fell off a rubber dinghy while rafting with two of his friends in the Mae Taeng River yesterday. Rescuers have been on the lookout…

  • 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…

  • World NewsJapan keeps hitting new records in Covid-19 cases

    Japan keeps hitting new records in Covid-19 cases

    Japan keeps hitting new records in its number of Covid-19 cases. Yesterday (Friday), there were over 190,000 cases in the island nation. On Thursday, there had been 186,246 cases. Last week, Japan hit a record of 110,600 cases. This news comes as Japan faces a seventh wave of Covid, caused by the BA.5 Omicron sub-variant. BA.5 makes up nearly 100%…

  • 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…

  • World NewsSri Lanka’s military raids protest camp outside president’s office

    Sri Lanka’s military raids protest camp outside president’s office

    Ever since Sri Lanka descended into chaos, protesters have been camping outside of the presidential office in Colombo. But police and military aren’t having it, and today, they pulled down tents and arrested protesters. A police spokesperson confirmed that nine men were arrested, and would appear in court today. Following the raid, the area around the office has been calm,…

  • 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…

  • World NewsOldest giant male panda on earth dies in Hong Kong

    Oldest giant male panda on earth dies in Hong Kong

    Wildlife lovers have a reason to mourn, now that the oldest giant male panda on earth has died today in Hong Kong. The panda, named An An, was 35 years old when he passed away today at Ocean Park. The giant panda believed to have lived the longest was a female panda who died at 38 years old in 2016.…

  • 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 NewsA push for Thai travel to Malaysia

    A push for Thai travel to Malaysia

    Travel agents in Thailand are pushing for more Thais to make their way to Malaysia. According to the president of the Thai Travel Agents Association, Malaysia’s adventure tourism was growing among young people before the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. The TTAA travelled to Malaysia this week with almost 100 outbound tour firms. Due to a large number of Malaysian travellers in…

  • 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,…

  • World NewsGroup of endangered turtles found injured in Japan

    Group of endangered turtles found injured in Japan

    A group of endangered green sea turtles was found with neck injuries in Japan last week. At least 30 of the turtles were found near an island in southern Okinawa prefecture. According to an official from Naha Police Station, some turtles were bleeding and barely breathing. The official said the turtles’ injuries appeared to be caused by a blade. He said…

  • 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…

  • Pattaya NewsIndian man dies of heart attack on island off Pattaya

    Indian man dies of heart attack on island off Pattaya

    An Indian man died of a heart attack on Koh Larn island off Pattaya on Monday, July 18. The man, 43 year old Tandon Gaurav, reportedly died a minute after he sat down in a restaurant on the island. A fellow restaurant-goer tried to give Tandon CPR, but could not revive him. Tandon was then pronounced dead at Koh Larn…

  • 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…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket woman rushed to hospital after jumping from bridge

    Phuket woman rushed to hospital after jumping from bridge

    A Phuket woman has been rushed to a hospital after jumping from a bridge into a canal in the island province’s main city district this morning. Rescue workers pulled the 31 year old woman out of the shallow water, and took her to a nearby hospital. Details about her injuries have not yet been reported, though. The woman had jumped…