A quiet afternoon at a school in Udon Thani turned into a nightmare on August 18 when a 53-year-old man driving a pickup struck a 12-year-old boy who was sitting in the activity area after classes. The boy, identified as Tang, was left with a broken pelvis and immediately rushed to Udon Thani Hospital. Doctors have since stabilized him and confirmed he will not need surgery, but he must remain hospitalized for at least three weeks while the pelvic bone heals. What happened According to reports, the pickup was driven by 53-year-old Phan — the husband of one of the school’s teachers. He later told media he did not notice Tang was sitting in that spot and expressed remorse, apologising to the family and accepting responsibility. Still, the incident stirred strong reactions from the local community and the family, who were worried the case might be downplayed because of the…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Late-Night Visit or Shakedown? Ubon Restaurant Owner Files Complaint After Alleged Fake-Police Extortion It was the kind of 2 a.m. drama that makes for a bad thriller and a worse morning-after for a small business owner. In Mueang district, Ubon Ratchathani, restaurant owner Kritwit — 35 years old and reportedly alarmed by what happened at his eatery — has officially filed a complaint after a group claiming to be undercover police allegedly demanded cash to avoid shuttering the place. According to the report submitted to Police Lieutenant Phakaphong Sueksakul, Deputy Inspector of the Mueang Ubon Ratchathani Police Station, the incident unfolded in the early hours of August 18. A party of five men arrived at the restaurant after its official closing time. Although the kitchen had reportedly closed, a few familiar customers were lingering when the men confronted an employee named Siwakorn. “Pay up or close down” — the alleged…
A quiet travel day along the southern road turned grim on August 20, when 30-year-old Yamiya Lotaleang was found dead inside a car at PTT petrol station 418 on the inbound lane to Yala city. The vehicle, stopped in Tha Sap subdistrict of Mueang district, Yala province, became an unexpected scene of investigation after rescue workers alerted Mueang Yala Police Station. According to relatives, Yamiya was travelling from Pattani with plans to reach Betong — and seemed perfectly well until she suddenly lost consciousness. By 4:30 PM she had passed away. The discovery has left family members and fellow travellers bewildered. One moment she was on a routine journey; the next, a life cut off mid-route. Police arrived promptly, notified their supervisors and began the investigation that typically follows any unexplained death: securing the vehicle, documenting the scene and speaking with relatives and witnesses. Local outlets, including KhaoSod, reported that…
In a move that reads like a corporate whodunit, Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce has zeroed in on suspected nominee share-holding schemes in Samut Prakan—this time targeting several foreign-linked steel trading businesses accused of hiding behind Thai names. Leading the charge is Deputy Permanent Secretary Chakara Yodmanee, who heads the task force tackling illegal foreign operations, acting on directions from Deputy Commerce Minister Suchart Chomklin. What started as industry complaints has quickly ballooned into a coordinated, multi-agency probe that could reshape how the kingdom polices foreign investment. The tip-off and the raid The story began when the Thai Roofing Business Association flagged concerns about certain steel traders who may have been acting as nominees—Thai individuals listed as shareholders to mask foreign control. On August 19, 2025, officials from the Department of Business Development (DBD), Department of Internal Trade, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and Samut Prakan provincial teams descended on…
When a political rumour spreads faster than a Bangkok monsoon, someone’s bound to grab an umbrella — or, in this case, a megaphone. The Pheu Thai Party has emphatically stomped on whispers that it plans to name former coup leader and ex-prime minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha as its next candidate for premier. The party’s secretary-general, Sorawong Thienthong, told reporters bluntly that the speculation is pure fiction: “We’ve never considered Prayut for any role. This didn’t come from us.” A denial, not a detour The buzz about a political U-turn — an unlikely reconciliation between Pheu Thai and the Bhumjaithai Party, which once sat in coalition but now sits in opposition — was enough to set off alarm bells. Pheu Thai’s message, however, was crystal clear: no deal, no nomination, no reunion. Sorawong labelled the story fake news and made sure there was no ambiguity about the party’s stance. Backing their…
A routine trip to Silom turns dramatic when a glass door suddenly shatters What began as an ordinary family outing in Silom, Bangkok, took a terrifying turn on August 19 when a glass door at a shopping mall exploded into shards just as a mother, her daughter and her nephew were leaving. The mother later posted dashcam footage and photos to the popular Facebook page Drama-addict, turning a private scare into a widely viewed cautionary tale. “Hi, I have something to share. My family and I visited a shopping mall together, and the incident happened just as we were about to leave. The entire glass door broke, and the glass cut the children. Small pieces of glass also got into my husband’s shoes and clothes,” she wrote, alongside images of the aftermath. Dashcam drama: what the video shows The dashcam clip, reportedly given to the family by a passing driver…
Phone in the Forest: How a Lost Mobile Turned Into a Diplomatic Landmine What began as a routine landmine clearance in the tree-lined borderlands of Surin province quickly escalated into an international headache. On August 19, members of the Royal Thai Navy’s Humanitarian Mine Action Unit were combing the Phu Makhuea area when they stumbled over more than metal and mud: a mobile phone that, officials say, belonged to a Cambodian soldier. That single device, Thai authorities claim, held a trove of video and photographic evidence showing Cambodian troops handling and deploying PMN-2 anti-personnel mines — the very kind of blast that had already maimed three Thai soldiers patrolling the border, leaving some without legs. If the contents are genuine, Thailand says, the footage could demonstrate Cambodia’s breach of the Ottawa Treaty, which bans the use of anti-personnel mines. From Casual Clips to Cold Evidence According to the Royal Thai…
Bangkok’s famous “green lung” is getting a much-needed deep breath — and the credit goes to a bold reforestation push led by energy firm Bangchak. The Thai-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce (TNCC) has applauded the company’s hands-on work in Bang Kachao, Samut Prakan province, highlighting a project that pairs corporate firepower with grassroots energy to restore mangroves, protect wildlife and teach a new generation why nature matters. Planting hope — and rare mangroves At the heart of the campaign was a colourful community planting day at the Bangchak Fulfilling Societal Happiness Forest Park. Bangchak’s sustainability chief, Gloyta Nathalang, joined local residents, conservationists and even athletes to sink seedlings into the mud — not just any seedlings, but rare mangrove species chosen to strengthen the area’s natural flood barriers and boost biodiversity. “This is not just about planting trees. It’s about restoring ecosystems, protecting biodiversity, and educating the next generation on why…
Thailand’s domestic travel scene is getting a welcome jolt of convenience and charm as Pattaya Airways prepares to take delivery of three new ATR72 turboprops this December. Think nimble planes, comfy cabins, and schedules tuned for hop-on, hop-off travel—perfect for anyone who’s dreamed of breakfast in Pattaya, a cultural afternoon in Chiang Mai, and a beachfront dinner in Phuket all in one weekend. Small planes, big impact The ATR72 isn’t just another aircraft model on the tarmac; it’s tailor-made for short-haul trips. Seating up to 72 passengers and boasting upgraded cabins, these turboprops are built for routes that bridge big-city airports and smaller regional strips. That means faster, more frequent links between Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket and a lineup of lesser-known gems popping up on domestic travel maps. “These new aircraft will help connect more destinations, reduce travel times, and support Thailand’s vision of balanced and sustainable tourism,” a…
Thailand’s culinary cosmos simmered into a public spat this month after a beloved street-food legend — Michelin-starred chef Jay Fai — was slapped with a fine over a pricey crab omelette that left a British Thai YouTuber scratching her head (and opening her wallet). On August 15, Pitchaya “Peachii” Chaychana, a well-known Thai YouTuber based in the UK, shared an eyebrow-raising experience on X: she and her friends paid 4,000 baht for Jay Fai’s famous crab omelette, even though the menu listed the dish at 1,500 baht. The servers later explained that the kitchen had used premium crab meat, bumping the price to 4,000 — a savory upgrade the diners say they never asked for and were never clearly offered. To be fair to the dish: Peachii praised the quality and taste, calling the food excellent. The complaint wasn’t about flavour — it was about transparency. She told followers she…