When a Thai holiday turned into a fight for survival — and for a hospital bed. Twenty-seven-year-old Belgian Jeremy Bartholomeus is at the center of a wrenching story of a severe motorcycle crash, a staggering hospital bill and an insurance dispute that left his family scrambling to keep him alive and cared for thousands of miles from home. According to a fundraising page launched by Jeremy’s 16-year-old sister, Julie Hecquet, the ordeal began during what should have been a routine holiday in Thailand. Jeremy says he had parked his motorcycle at the side of the road when another rider, allegedly travelling at more than 100 km/h, ploughed into him. CCTV footage posted by the family, they say, backs up their version of events — but Thai authorities reportedly reached a different conclusion. Details about any official investigation or legal action have not been disclosed by the family. The physical price…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Good news for Bangkok’s dog-and-cat parents: the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has launched a citywide push to make pet ownership safer and more traceable — and it’s free. From now through 30 June 2026, you can register and microchip your furry family members at the Din Daeng District Office (Old Site) — no cash required, just a little planning and your pet’s best behavior. What’s on offer? The program provides complimentary microchipping and registration for dogs and cats to strengthen pet traceability and support rabies-control efforts across the capital. There are 500 daily slots total: 200 digital booking slots via the QueQ mobile app and 300 walk-in slots for those who prefer to show up in person. When and where The fixed service is based at the Din Daeng District Office (Old Site). Opening hours are generous to accommodate busy schedules: Monday–Friday: 08:00–20:00 Weekends: 08:00–16:00 Note: walk-in queues close one…
Thailand’s fight against human trafficking has turned up a notch. The Royal Thai Police have launched an intensified, nationwide crackdown aimed squarely at some of the country’s most insidious crimes: child sexual abuse, exploitation in the fishing industry, and trafficking carried out over online platforms. Police General Thatchai Pitanilabutr, Deputy Commissioner General and director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Center, says the move is a direct response to a worrying rise in cases and increasingly sophisticated criminal tactics — especially those that exploit children and digital networks. The numbers paint a stark picture. In 2025 authorities investigated 279 human trafficking cases across Thailand. Those probes generated arrest warrants and legal action against 366 suspects, while 317 victims were rescued and placed under protective care. Sexual exploitation made up the lion’s share of incidents — 246 cases — with 33 cases identified as forced labor. Disturbingly, 15 of those forced-labor cases were…
What began as a petty quarrel over a missing scoop of ice ended in a tragedy that no one at the little roadside restaurant in Thailand will soon forget. In the pre-dawn hours of January 4, a drunken customer’s fury boiled over into violence: a waiter was fatally stabbed and a young woman who tried to intervene was left fighting for her life. Police and rescuers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation were called to the scene at about 4:30 a.m., finding chaos in the aftermath. Tables had been overturned outside the shop, cutlery and chairs scattered, and three people critically injured — two men and a woman. One man, the waiter identified only as Don, had suffered deep stab wounds to his chest and abdomen. He was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. The woman, a 29-year-old known by the nickname Nong Nam, was stabbed once in…
What began as an ordinary evening shopping trip in Si Racha turned into a frightening reminder about the hidden risks of portable batteries. At around 7:00 pm on January 3, 2026, in the Sahapat Airport area of Moo 5, Bueng subdistrict, a power bank connected to a woman’s mobile phone exploded inside her handbag, producing flames that burned her arms and face and set nearby items alight, rescue officials reported. Members of the public called the Sawang Prateep Si Racha Rescue Radio Centre after seeing the woman in distress. Rescue teams arrived to find a chaotic scene: smoke, singed fabric and a distressed shopper with burn injuries. First responders treated her on site before she was rushed to Phyathai Hospital for further care. Officials later confirmed her injuries were not life-threatening, though she required continued observation and treatment. Rescue personnel conducting an initial assessment said the explosion occurred while the…
On the sleepy morning of January 3, 2026, Karon Beach in Phuket played host to a small miracle. At about 11:00 a.m., an adult female green sea turtle hauled herself up from the Andaman Sea, found a soft, quiet patch of sand, and began the ancient business of making new life. The scene—part natural drama, part seaside sermon—drew Thai and foreign holidaymakers who had come to celebrate the New Year and paused, respectfully, to watch one of the ocean’s most patient survivors go about her work. There was no trumpet fanfare, just the hush of waves and the soft shuffling of flippers. Witnesses said the turtle lingered onshore for an extended period, carefully digging her nest, laying a large clutch of eggs, and then using her rear flippers like a pair of careful gardeners to sweep and compact sand over the nest. Once satisfied, she turned and made the slow,…
Bangkok’s nightlife drama spilled into daylight this week when police arrested a 21-year-old bar host accused of breaking into the home of well-known transgender influencer and crepe vendor Nara Crepe Kathoey. The arrest, which took place around 1 p.m. on January 3, unfolded in Soi Lat Phrao 41 in Chatuchak district after a burglary report the previous evening. According to investigators from Phaholyothin Police Station, officers found and detained the suspect at a house on Lat Phrao. A black backpack and a ring were recovered at the scene and catalogued as evidence. The items, along with the suspect’s presence in the residence, set in motion questions about motive, opportunity and how someone connected to Bangkok’s bar scene could end up accused of stealing from a social media star. The victim, who has built a sizeable online following under the name Nara Crepe Kathoey, says she discovered an unknown man inside…
Deported While the Case Was Live: Mae Sot Murder Probe Sparks Outcry and Questions When a mother was found brutally raped and murdered in a rice field in Mae Sot district, Tak province, on November 11, the community braced for answers. Instead, her daughter found herself chasing explanations — and the trail led not to justice, but to confusion and a deportation that has left families and the public demanding accountability. The grieving daughter took to the Facebook page “Survive – Sai Mai Tong Rod” on January 2, asking for public assistance after learning that the Myanmar national accused of the crime had been deported from Thailand while the investigation was still ongoing. According to her post, the suspect — who had previously worked as a rice harvester for the victim — was arrested on November 13. But rather than being held until forensic work and prosecutions were complete, he…
Get ready, futsal fans — South Asia is stepping up to the indoor pitch. The South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) will host the inaugural SAFF Futsal Championship in Bangkok, Thailand, from 13 to 26 January 2026. It’s a landmark moment: the region’s seven member nations will make their debuts in a dedicated futsal tournament designed as much for development as for silverware. A seven-team curtain-raiser All seven SAFF nations are signed up: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. These teams will trade the sprawling outdoors for tight, fast-paced indoor arenas where space is a premium, skills are magnified, and matches feel like high-intensity chess marathons — quick thinking, quick feet, and plenty of dramatic twists. Why Bangkok? SAFF General Secretary Purushottam Kattel said Thailand was chosen for practical reasons: “Bangkok brings proven sporting infrastructure, international accessibility, and the event know-how needed to host a successful indoor…
Just after lunchtime on Friday — well, 12:15pm on January 2, 2026, to be precise — a routine afternoon in Bangkok’s Ladprao neighborhood turned smoky and chaotic when a condominium unit erupted in flames. The scene: a six‑storey building on Ladprao Road in Khlong Chaokhun Sing, Wang Thonglang, where black smoke began pouring from a fourth‑floor apartment and sent neighbours and first‑responders scrambling. The quick response that kept the blaze from spreading Thanks to an immediate emergency call to Chokchai Police Station, a coordinated team was on its way in minutes. Officers linked up with firefighters from Huamark Fire Station and volunteers from the Ruam Katanyu Foundation, turning the residential building into a streamlined rescue operation. Responders worked methodically: they secured the area, evacuated residents, and pushed into the affected unit to locate anyone trapped inside. It was a textbook case of efficient crisis management. Firefighters contained the blaze within…