THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Chiang Mai tried to turn its polluted moat into an eco-friendly TikTok moment — and invited 10 geese to do the heavy lifting. The city’s bold, feather-brained idea launched on August 21 when a small flock was released into the southern moat near Chiang Mai Gate with a one-week, headline-ready mission: chow down on aquatic weeds and help restore the water’s health. What followed looked like a nature documentary directed by a social media manager. The geese became instant celebrities. Strollers, selfie-seekers and shutter-happy tourists lined the banks to capture the latest local influencers paddling languidly along the water. Over the weekend crowds swelled into the hundreds as visitors tried to catch the perfect shot of the birds preening in the morning light — or simply to witness Chiang Mai’s newest public-relations stunt in person. But for all the viral potential, the experiment has so far produced more fluff than…

What started as a routine relay practice on a sun-baked field in Bang Klam district, Songkhla, has spiraled into a community showdown over classroom discipline, viral footage and how far a teacher’s authority should reach. The clip that made the town gasp A short video shared on Facebook by TN Boonya captured a moment that many found hard to watch: a male teacher appears to push the back of a kindergarten boy’s head while the child is running on a football field. The boy loses his balance and falls. Within hours the clip travelled beyond the local chat groups and into the wider Songkhla conversation, prompting immediate outrage from family members and online viewers alike. Parents demand answers The guardian of the child—whose son is in kindergarten 3—only discovered the footage recently even though the incident reportedly took place over a month ago during a sports day practice. Shocked and…

Once upon a not-so-distant past, Pattaya felt like a seaside time capsule: street vendors calling out specials, pensioners swapping gossip over cheap coffee, and a generous helping of rules-that-were-more-guidelines-than-law. That era — the freewheeling, cash-in-hand, “I’ll-fix-it-with-my-agent” days — is slipping away, and the city’s neon-streaked beachfront is being quietly refitted with QR codes, digital IDs and a decidedly less forgiving playbook. Longtime residents and weekend warriors alike are waking up to a different Pattaya. The city that once rolled with improvisation now prefers regulation. Visa loopholes that let retirees sail past red tape with bolstered bank balances and friendly agents are being shut. Biometric checks, blockchain tracing and national ID integration are no longer science fiction; they’re becoming routine in government and financial systems. For many expats, the future arriving on these shores feels alarmingly like a software update. “It’s not nostalgia,” says Tom Tuohy, a veteran expat who’s watched…

The suspense gripping Bangkok’s political corridors could end in a matter of days. Suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra signaled yesterday that she expects to be back at the helm by Friday — just in time for a long-awaited Constitutional Court ruling on her premiership. In a video call with her Cabinet on August 26, the 39-year-old Pheu Thai leader sounded upbeat and eager to dive back into government work. “I miss being in the thick of operations,” she told ministers, according to participants. That same sense of optimism echoed through the Cabinet, where colleagues publicly rallied around her as the court countdown ticks closer. “Everyone is encouraging the prime minister,” said Deputy Education Minister Rinthipond Varinvatchararoj, relaying the mood in the virtual meeting. Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong — who also serves as secretary-general of the ruling Pheu Thai Party — reinforced that show of support, stressing that the…

The quiet rice fields of Baan Nong Chan in Sa Kaeo province suddenly found themselves at the centre of a high-decibel showdown last night as Thai security forces unleashed long-range acoustic devices — better known as LRADs or “sound cannons” — to push back a group of Cambodians who had stormed the border village. Deputy Defence Minister General Natthaphon Nakphanich confirmed the dramatic escalation, saying the 1st Army Region deployed the LRADs after dozens of people crossed into Thai soil in Khok Sung district on the evening of August 25. According to officials, the group — a mix of Cambodian civilians and soldiers — tore down concertina wire laid by Thai troops and pushed into Baan Nong Chan, setting off a tense standoff that quickly drew both military and political attention. “The incursion must stop: Baan Nong Chan is Thai land,” Gen. Natthaphon said, leaving no room for ambiguity. He…

What began as a late-night clash over blame and drinking in a small Kamphaeng Phet restaurant has spiraled into a fatal confrontation, courtroom drama and a grieving family’s desperate attempt to keep the accused behind bars. The case centers on 32-year-old Jaruwan Jaifai, who stands accused of stabbing 62-year-old restaurant owner Meena Pattatha to death on August 20. The Khlong Khlung Police Station quickly arrested Jaruwan, but a twist in the legal process has left the community talking: she was released on bail after the victim’s family did not—or could not—successfully block the request. Two nights. One deadly fallout. According to Jaruwan’s account to investigators, the roots of the attack trace back two nights earlier, on August 18. Jaruwan told police that she had been drunk at Meena’s restaurant and claims she was ignored when she pleaded for help as a 67-year-old man allegedly took her away and raped her.…

Yesterday, 25 August 2025 at 12:20 pm local time in Stockholm, Thailand took a big, glossy step into the next generation of air power. In a ceremony that mixed formal diplomacy with the quiet thrill of defense procurement, Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampong witnessed the signing of three key agreements to buy Gripen E/F fighter jets from Sweden — the start of a phased program that will eventually replace Thailand’s long-serving F-16 fleet. The headlines: Phase 1 will bring four Gripen E/F fighters to the Royal Thai Air Force for 19.5 billion baht (about US$600 million). The contracts were inked by Air Force Commander General Panpakdee Patanakul for Thailand and Mikael Granholm, Director-General of the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV), for Sweden. Swedish Defence Minister Dr. Pål Jonsson attended as a witness. Three agreements, one mission More than just a purchase order, the signing included two companion agreements that shape…