THAI.NEWS - Thailand Breaking News

Patong’s seaside buzz has been replaced by a different kind of spotlight — one trained on the town’s police force. What began as a violent scuffle over a rental motorcycle has ballooned into a public relations headache for local authorities after a viral video showed six foreign tourists beating a Thai motorbike rental operator so severely he was hospitalised with a broken jaw and broken ribs. The assault occurred on August 10 and stayed under the radar until the footage landed on the desk of Nirat Phongsitthaworn, the National Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration. Nirat didn’t waste time: he ordered the Kathu district chief to open an immediate investigation. That move jolted local law enforcement into action — but it hasn’t satisfied critics. Nine days after the attack, Patong Police have failed to provide basic information about the suspects. There’s no confirmation of names, ages, nationalities or even…

Alex and Jay swoop back into your feed with a brisk roundup of the stories reshaping Thailand right now — from sky-high freebies and silver-screen tourism to tougher rules for mobile banking and awkward questions about police conduct. Buckle up: it’s a week where travel deals meet accountability, and Banthat Thong might just reclaim its sizzling crown. Free Domestic Flights Ignite a Mini Travel Tsunami In a move that feels equal parts generosity and clever stimulus, Nok Air — backed by government support — is handing out free domestic flights to international visitors who show their inbound flight stubs. The promotion runs through November and promises to put cheap, easy travel back on the map for many. Each participating Thai airline is allotted 60,000 seats under the scheme, and officials say the initiative could drive travel for roughly 200,000 tourists. For explorers looking to swap a long taxi queue for…

The predawn hush at Wang Noi Market in Ayutthaya was shattered on the morning of August 19 when two teenagers tried to turn a routine market stop into a robbery. CCTV footage that later circulated online captured the tense exchange: two youths approached a vendor’s motorbike sidecar at 4:43 a.m. in Lam Sai subdistrict, demanded 1,000 baht, and fled the scene only after the vendor—cornered and out of spare cash—brandished a humble fruit knife in self-defence. A small market, a big scare Wang Noi’s stalls usually wake with the soft sounds of vendors preparing goods and the occasional scooter whirring by. In this case, a 33-year-old vendor named Nattapong—who later uploaded the CCTV clip—was readying his shop when an elderly customer pulled up on a sidecar motorbike to buy ice. That quiet morning moment turned ominous when the two teenagers, one wearing a red helmet and a black shirt with…

Patong’s nightlife is known for its neon glow, pulsing music and, occasionally, a little local mystery. This past Friday, August 16, that mystery took the shape of a cherry-red designer watch — and a Phuket restaurant owner is now asking the public for help identifying a group of foreigners who are accused of taking it. The story was posted on the Phuket Times Facebook page on August 19, complete with CCTV stills and a close-up photo of the missing timepiece: a Vivienne Westwood “Time Machine” watch in a distinctive cherry-red. The restaurant owner wrote that a bag containing the watch was left on the bar counter in the outdoor seating area while staff were working, and that one person from a group of five later picked it up. In the CCTV screenshots shared by the owner, five foreigners — four men and one woman — can be seen playing pool…

In a scene that might sound like the setup for a noir temple drama, officials in Koh Samui carried out a surprise inspection at Wat Si Thawip in Ang Thong subdistrict — and the results were anything but mundane. Led by Jarae Tungkaew, the district chief of Koh Samui’s security division, local defence volunteers teamed up with officers from Koh Samui Police Station and the island’s Tourist Police to check on the sanctity of a well-known monastery. What they found set off a swift chain of disciplinary and legal action. Seven resident monks were politely asked to take urine tests for drugs. Five walked away with clean results, but two 42-year-old resident monks — identified as Boonchob and Phongphet — did not. Boonchob tested positive for drugs, while Phongphet was discovered to have an outstanding arrest warrant for fraud. Searches of the monks’ quarters reportedly turned up no illegal substances,…

A quiet school afternoon in Udon Thani turned into a scene of shock and heartbreak on August 18, when a 12-year-old boy was struck by a pickup truck driven by the husband of a teacher at the same school. The child, who had been waiting for his parents after class, suffered severe injuries — including a broken pelvis — and remains in critical condition at Udon Thani Hospital. The incident unfolded at around 5pm, shortly after classes had ended. According to reports, the boy was seated on the floor of the school’s activity area, a zone that should be reserved for pedestrians. The suspect arrived to collect his wife and drove his pickup into that area. CCTV footage later reviewed by the school director reportedly shows the vehicle alter its path and move toward the boy, who was sitting on the ground, before the driver ran over him and crushed…

What began as a solemn funeral in Thung Song District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, has spiraled into a soap-opera–worthy accusation of alleged police theft and a small-town scandal that’s got locals talking — loudly. On the night of August 13, a group of mourners who had gathered at a temple reportedly turned to a round of hi‑lo (a popular dice game in Thailand) after the ceremony. By about 9:00 p.m., however, the mood changed dramatically when officers raided the scene and arrested 13 people. Chanin Jaidee, a member of the Thung Song District Office, told Channel 8 that he was at the temple that evening and narrowly avoided being arrested himself despite not participating in the gambling. “I was standing outside near a bathroom,” Chanin said, “and police initially mistook me for one of the gamblers.” He also described the raid as frightening — he says one officer brandished what appeared…

Bangkok woke up on August 18 to a familiar buzz: the hum of phones, the murmur of cafes, and the quiet, unstoppable whirr of artificial intelligence weaving itself into everyday Thai life. At a glitzy launch for “Digital Lives Decoded 2025: Building Trust in Thailand’s AI Future,” telecom heavyweight Telenor Asia confirmed what many had suspected—AI is no longer an optional gadget; it’s an invisible co-worker, tutor, and sometimes mischief-maker in millions of Thai pockets. “AI is now an invisible part of our digital lives,” said Jon Omund Revhaug, Head of Telenor Asia, unveiling findings that should make both futurists and regulators lean forward in their chairs. The numbers are striking: 91% of Internet users in Thailand now rely on AI tools—up from 77% in 2024. The study surveyed 1,017 Thais and found that more than half interact with AI at least once a day, while 28% tap into its…

The Ministry of Culture has launched an ambitious campaign to breathe new life into one of Thailand’s most poetic and oldest performance traditions. Under the banner Community-based Revitalisation of Nang Yai Tradition in Thailand (CRNT), suspended Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra confirmed that nang yai — the grand, firelit shadow-puppet theatre that traces its roots to the 15th century — will be proposed for inscription on UNESCO’s Register of Good Safeguarding Practices by March 2026. A blueprint for keeping heritage alive “Nang yai is not just performance art—it is a living legacy of Thailand’s history, spirituality and creativity,” Paetongtarn said, framing the CRNT as more than a preservation project. It’s a blueprint for resilient cultural life that stitches together local communities, national identity and international recognition. The pitch to UNESCO, she explained, aims to show how community-led efforts can safeguard traditions in ways that are practical, sustainable and replicable. Theatre of…

Phuket has just signaled a full-court press against HIV/AIDS — and it’s not subtle. On August 19, the island’s Bukitta Hotel became the command center for a two-day powerhouse workshop that brought together 50 representatives from health agencies, local government and community groups with one bold aim: make Phuket Thailand’s first Province of Ending AIDS by 2030. A roadmap with teeth Chaired by Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer (Palad) Thiraphong Chuaychu, the workshop was more than a photo op. Thiraphong didn’t mince words: ending new infections within the next five years is now a provincial priority. He unveiled a clear roadmap rooted in the province’s 2023–2030 strategic plan — a plan with targets that sound almost shockingly achievable when met with the right will. “This workshop is about uniting every sector under one coordinated plan,” Thiraphong said, setting the tone for two days of lectures, case studies, brainstorming and group…