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Thailand News

All the latest news stories from Thailand are written in English. Fresh news and stories from around the kingdom brought to you daily.
A 19-year-old man was killed after his motorcycle reportedly struck a concrete barrier near the Pong toll plaza on the Road 7 parallel route into Pattaya on 5 September.

Rescue workers said the victim's body was left at the roadside in the sun for more than two hours while police investigators from two stations disputed which one was responsible for the location in Nong Pla Lai, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi.

Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Pattaya Rescue Foundation personnel and volunteers attended after receiving a report of a single-motorcycle crash on the Pattaya-bound side of the road.

The victim was identified from an identity card and driving licence found in his bag as Wanchai, 19, originally from Chaiyaphum province. His black-and-red motorcycle, with Chonburi registration, was found further along the road.

Police jurisdiction resolved after delay

Rescuers contacted Nong Prue Police Station and Bang Lamung Police Station to establish which force had jurisdiction over the crash scene.

According to the rescue foundation, investigators at the two stations passed responsibility between each other for more than two hours. During that time, Wanchai's body remained exposed to the sun and blood at the scene dried and turned black.

It was eventually determined that the location fell under the responsibility of Bang Lamung Police Station.

Initial findings indicated that Wanchai had been riding at high speed before losing control and hitting a concrete barrier separating the expressway from the parallel road. The rider and motorcycle were thrown in different directions by the impact.

Rescue workers later transferred the body to Pattaya Pathomkhun Hospital, where it will be held until relatives provide the documents needed to collect it for religious rites.

Anyone witnessing a road accident in Thailand can contact police on 191 or emergency medical services on 1669, while also giving the clearest possible location details.


Picture courtesy of Amarin

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6 September 2026
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A Thai special enforcement team and industrial standards officials have seized 7,411 electrical appliances and related goods without required Thai safety certification from an online-sales warehouse in Samut Prakan.

The goods, valued at more than 2.5 million baht, were found at a Chinese company-operated fulfilment warehouse on Bang Phli-Tamru Road in Phraeksa, Mueang Samut Prakan. Officials said the items had been intended for sale online.

The raid was announced on 5 September 2026 by General Nakrob Boonbua Thong, chairman of the committee overseeing enforcement of industrial product standards laws and related legislation under the Industry Ministry. He was joined by Nontanat Bunnak, spokesman for the special "Top Gun" task force, and officers from the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI).

Complaint over online fan purchase

TISI said it acted after receiving a public complaint on a webboard from a customer who had bought a fan said to be below standard through a well-known online platform.



The Top Gun team and TISI officers then searched the warehouse, which operated as a fulfilment centre offering order processing, storage, packing and distribution services. A Chinese company was identified as the tenant.

Inspectors found a range of electrical goods with neither the mandatory Thai Industrial Standard, known as the TIS mark, nor a QR code. The seized stock comprised 4,817 wall-mounted fans, 1,624 standing fans, six LED lamps, 373 batteries, 24 air fryers and 567 electric massage guns.

All items have been seized and held as evidence pending legal action.

Safety checks matter for online shoppers

General Nakrob said the appliances did not carry Thai standards certification and had not passed tests intended to guard against electric shock, electrocution and unusually high temperatures. Such faults could lead to short circuits and fires, he said.

He urged the public not to buy cheap electrical goods without a TIS mark and QR code, warning that the lower price was not worth the safety risk. He also encouraged consumers to support Thai-made products carrying the TIS certification, saying they offered better safety, quality and longer service life.

Potential penalties and wider investigation

TISI secretary-general Ekniti Romyanon said electrical appliances are controlled products. Manufacturing and importing them requires prior TISI permission, while sellers must offer only goods meeting the relevant standards.

The operator faces an allegation of selling goods without a TIS mark, an offence carrying a maximum six-month prison term, a fine of up to 500,000 baht, or both.

Top Gun and TISI will widen their investigation to identify and pursue the importer responsible for the batch. If the goods were imported without permission, those involved could face up to two years in prison, a fine of up to 2 million baht, or both.


Pictures courtesy of Thaitabloid

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6 September 2026
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Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has signed an order deporting Israeli national Yaacov Ohayon from Thailand after his conviction by Koh Samui Provincial Court for making threats.

The order, signed on 5 September 2026, states that Ohayon, sent threatening messages to a victim suggesting there would be danger to their life and physical safety. The messages caused the victim fear and alarm, according to the order.

Koh Samui court sentence

Koh Samui Provincial Court found Ohayon guilty under Section 392 of Thailand's Criminal Code, concerning threats that cause another person fear or alarm.

He was initially sentenced to one month in prison and fined 10,000 baht. The court reduced the punishment by half under Section 78 of the Criminal Code after he pleaded guilty, leaving a 15-day jail term and a 5,000-baht fine.

The 15-day prison sentence was suspended for two years.

The Interior Ministry order says his conduct was contrary to public order, good morals or the public's welfare. It therefore found that he met the grounds for deportation under Section 5 of the Deportation Act BE 2499 (1956).

Appeal permitted within seven days

Anutin issued the order using powers under Section 5 of the Deportation Act, together with Clause 4 of the Prime Minister's Office regulations on deportation BE 2569 (2026).

Ohayon may appeal to the prime minister within seven days of being informed of the order. He can request that the deportation order be revoked, or ask for an order allowing him to leave the kingdom, under Section 8 of the Deportation Act.

For foreign residents and visitors, the case is a reminder that a criminal conviction can have immigration consequences beyond a court fine or suspended sentence. A deportation order is an administrative action separate from the criminal penalty, and foreigners facing one should note the short seven-day appeal deadline stated in the order.

Thailand's Deportation Act allows authorities to remove non-Thai nationals where their conduct is deemed a threat to public order, morality or public welfare. The order in this case specifically cites threatening communications and the subsequent Koh Samui court ruling as the basis for that conclusion.


Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

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6 September 2026
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Thai cybercrime police have arrested a 48-year-old Malaysian national accused of acting as a “Master Agent” for the UFA online gambling network in Thailand.

Mr Lim Teck Wee was detained with 16 million baht in cash, six mobile phones, bank passbooks, ATM cards and a cash-counting machine, police said. He faces allegations of arranging online gambling, conspiring to launder money and money laundering.

The arrest was reported on 3 September and was carried out under the Criminal Court arrest warrant, numbered 5213/2569, was dated 1 September 2026.

Probe followed Operation VAR raids

Police said the case grew out of "Operation VAR", an earlier crackdown on the soodaza website. Investigators alleged that the site carried unauthorised links to overseas football broadcasts while embedding advertisements for more than 20 gambling websites connected to the UFA network.

Four suspects were arrested in that initial operation, according to police.

The investigation was then expanded to UFAMaster, described by officers as a one-stop gambling platform offering international football betting, casino games and slot machines. Police said they found more than 10 million baht in financial daily turnover.

Investigators alleged that the network used nominee or mule accounts held by both individuals and companies, moving money through several transactions before converting it into cryptocurrency in an effort to launder funds.

LiveScoreThai link alleged

Police also alleged that the network promoted gambling through the well-known LiveScoreThai website. They said the site both directed users towards gambling platforms and streamed overseas football broadcasts without permission from rights holders.

Mr Lim is alleged to have recruited customers and linked gambling websites to the UFA network in Thailand. Police said he also exchanged funds into digital assets, including cryptocurrency, for gambling website owners.

Cybercrime police said they will widen the investigation and pursue all those involved under Thai law.


Picture courtesy of ThaiTabloid

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5 September 2026
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Udon Thani Airport officially became an international airport on Thursday, September 4, after being added to Thailand's list of airports permitted to handle overseas flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) issued a new announcement setting out the airports authorised to provide international flight services, replacing the previous list. Udon Thani's addition brings the national total to 11 airports.

Thailand's 11 international airports

The other airports named by CAAT are Don Mueang, Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang-Chiang Rai, Krabi, Phuket, U-Tapao Rayong Pattaya, Hat Yai, Samui and Surat Thani.

Udon Thani's status took effect on September 4, allowing it to provide international flight services. The move could open the way for more direct overseas routes from the northeastern city, reducing the need for passengers to travel via Bangkok or other major hubs.

For foreigners living in Udon Thani, nearby provinces or across the wider Isaan region, future international services could make overseas travel more convenient. It may also offer an easier arrival point for visitors heading to the northeast.

Kunming flight due to begin next week

One international route is already planned. Lucky Air is scheduled to launch direct flights between Udon Thani and Kunming, China, on September 8.

The Department of Airports will support the new Udon Thani-Kunming service by giving Lucky Air a 50% discount on aircraft landing and parking fees for one year. The airline will operate the route with a Boeing 737-800, which has capacity for 189 passengers.

The new link is expected to give travellers in Udon Thani and elsewhere in northeastern Thailand another option for international travel from a regional airport.


Picture courtesy of Udon Thani Airport

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5 September 2026
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Police in Kamphaeng Phet have detained a 41-year-old man after his former wife was injured when a car struck her motorcycle outside Bangkok Bank's Tha Makhuea branch in Khlong Khlung district.

The collision was reported at 6.30am on 4 August 2026. The woman, identified as 39-year-old Narirat, was taken to Khlong Khlung Hospital and was later released after treatment.

Police said CCTV footage showed a black Honda Civic following Narirat's red Honda Wave motorcycle from the Tha Makhuea intersection, near the road into Sai Thong Watthana district. The car then turned right and hit the motorcycle in front of the bank in Moo 2, Tha Makhuea subdistrict.

Motorcycle dragged about 200 metres

Narirat was thrown from the motorcycle, while the car dragged the bike for around 200 metres, police said. Footage reportedly showed the driver and a friend getting out afterwards to remove the motorcycle from the front of the car before leaving the scene.



The injured woman suffered wounds to her body and both legs. She told officers that the car's front and rear wheels had run over her right leg, although it was not broken.

Narirat said she believed her former husband deliberately hit her from behind after following her as she rode from home to work. She further alleged that he tried to reverse the car towards her after the crash, but people came to help, so he left.

Former husband questioned by police

Investigators from Khlong Khlung police station found the driver, named as Banjerd, to his home in Khlong Mae Lai subdistrict, Mueang Kamphaeng Phet district, on 3 September. A friend who had been travelling with him was also invited for questioning.


Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

Narirat told police she had ended the relationship two months earlier and had blocked her former husband after he repeatedly tried to reconcile and allegedly made threats through people around her.

She said that, on 20 August 2026, he sent her daughter a message saying he would come to marry her. Narirat said she refused, telling him it was too late.

Banjerd told police he had not intended to kill his former wife. He claimed he meant to hit the motorcycle so that she would stop and get off to discuss their relationship, but said events escalated.

He said he became angry after seeing social-media posts showing Narirat with a new partner and receiving a Line voice message saying she would not resume the relationship. He said the friend in the car did not know what was happening.

Police said they would continue investigating to establish the full circumstances, determine charges and proceed under the law.


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5 September 2026
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Patong police have identified and detained a Kuwaiti national accused of spraying an unknown substance at a pharmacist in a Patong pharmacy on September 2.

The pharmacist required hospital treatment after reporting a numb tongue, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, rapid heartbeat and a feeling that he was about to faint. Police have seized two bottles and sent them for testing to establish what they contained.

Pharmacist taken for treatment

According to the pharmacist, the man first entered the shop to ask for directions to Patong Police Station and advice on buying medicine. He later left, then returned carrying a bottle which resembled a perfume spray, which he had collected from under his motorcycle seat.



The pharmacist said the man sprayed him, reportedly for about 20 seconds, leaving liquid on his clothes and body. He described suffering palpitations, chest tightness and dizziness after the alleged attack.

He said he managed to force the man out of the pharmacy before seeking help from Patong Hospital. Medics reportedly recorded his blood pressure at 160/100 mmHg and gave him intravenous fluids.

The pharmacist also said hospital staff told him there had recently been a similar case involving another Patong pharmacist. Police said the Kuwaiti national may have been linked to several comparable incidents, although their inquiry remains under way.

Bottles sent for testing

Officers took two bottles from the suspect for laboratory examination. Authorities have not said what substance may have been used, or whether it was responsible for the pharmacist's reported symptoms.

The suspect who was not named by authorities, reportedly said he had mental health problems and was preparing to return to Kuwait. The pharmacist said the man had acted aggressively and spoken incoherently. Police plan to notify the Kuwaiti Embassy as their investigation continues.


Pictures courtesy of Top News

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5 September 2026
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A 9.9 million baht solar street-light project in Mukdahan has drawn scrutiny after anti-corruption campaigners questioned why 148 lamps were installed so closely together.

Nikhom Kham Soi Municipality mayor Chalong Butkan said the project, which pre-dated his term in office, was appropriate and had brought benefits to the community.

On 3 September 2026, the Facebook page STRONG Against Corruption Thailand highlighted the scheme in Nikhom Kham Soi Municipality, Mukdahan province, under the heading "Dense solar street lights, 9.9 million baht".

Questions over lamp spacing and costs

The municipality bought 148 sets of 50-watt LED solar-powered road lights, each supplied with an adjustable-height pole and steel-pile foundation.

The project had a budget of 9,916,000 baht. The winning bid was 9,906,000 baht, or an average of about 66,932 baht per set.



STRONG said that a visit to the area appeared to show a large number of poles installed at short intervals. It asked whether such dense installation was necessary, what costs and specifications made up the 66,932-baht unit price, and whether calculations on pole spacing and illumination levels had supported the design.

The group did not claim wrongdoing. However, it said every baht of public money should be open to scrutiny and should be capable of showing value for money.

It called on the relevant agencies to publish the bill of quantities, unit prices, installation plans, distances between poles and engineering calculations. If there was no problem with the scheme, it said, disclosure would allow transparent public examination.

Mayor says the road serves multiple users

Reporters later visited the location with Mayor Chalong, who said the road had previously been dark and isolated, with few people using it.

He said a municipal sports ground along the route held activities two or three times a week, while other government agencies regularly requested use of the area. Wat Suphakorn Nikhom Thammaram also benefited from the lighting, he said.

According to the mayor, groups of older residents use the road for exercise before dawn every day. He said the lighting project was therefore suitable, worthwhile and beneficial to the community.


Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

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5 September 2026
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Thai Immigration Police have arrested a South Korean man, identified as Mr Lim, who is alleged to have been a senior figure in the Lucky Nine investment fraud network. Authorities say the network cheated more than 100 people of over 10 billion won.

Lim was found at a luxury condominium in Nonthaburi province on 3 September 2026 after allegedly moving between accommodation in Phuket to avoid detection. He was wanted under a South Korean arrest warrant and an Interpol notice.

The operation followed a request from a Korean police liaison officer for Thai authorities to trace and detain the suspect. It was carried out by the Immigration Division 6 Investigation Unit and the Immigration Bureau's Investigation Division 2, under senior Immigration Bureau officials.

Alleged casino scheme targeted investors

Investigators said Lucky Nine operated 12 centres across South Korea, including Seolleung, Gold and Somang. The organisation allegedly employed coordinators, IT operations chiefs, software developers and financial managers.

Police said the group solicited money by presenting the venture as a casino business. Investors were placed in one-star to seven-star categories and promised commissions of between 3% and 21%, based on the amount invested.

The structure resembled multi-level marketing, according to investigators. Rather than earning money through a legitimate profitable business, police allege the funds were used for overseas online casino gambling or to pay earlier investors using money received from later participants.

Visa overstay also recorded after arrest

Biometric records showed Lim entered Thailand through Suvarnabhumi Airport on 19 September 2025 with a 90-day visa, allowing him to remain until 17 December 2025.

Police said he admitted his permission to stay had expired and that he had overstayed by 260 days. He also acknowledged the South Korean warrant and Interpol notice.

After locating Lim in Nonthaburi, officers identified themselves and confirmed his identity. He agreed to a search of the room, where police found three mobile phones, two credit cards, one tablet and other valuables.


Picture courtesy of Khoasod

The items were seized because investigators believed they may have been used in the alleged offences or obtained through criminal activity. They are to be passed to South Korean authorities to assist inquiries into other suspected network members who may have fled to Thailand.

Lim was informed of the allegations and his legal rights before being taken to investigators for further proceedings. Authorities said he will be deported to South Korea once the Thai legal process is complete.

Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said the operation reflected policies of the prime minister, Royal Thai Police and Immigration Bureau to strengthen cooperation with security agencies in Thailand and abroad.

"Thailand will not be a hiding place for fugitives or transnational criminals," Phanthana said, adding that authorities would take decisive action against foreigners considered a threat to national security and public order.

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5 September 2026
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Thailand has ordered agencies to intensify inspections of foreign workers and the businesses employing them, warning of substantial fines, possible prison terms and deportation for breaches of work permit rules.

Deputy government spokesperson Patdarasm Thongsaluaykorn said on September 4 that authorities had been told to take a proactive approach against employers, companies and workers who break employment laws.

Employers face heavier penalties

The government has specifically warned employers not to hire foreigners without valid work permits, or to allow foreign staff to work in roles beyond those authorised under their permit.

Jobs cited include Thai massage, barbering, beauty services and driving vehicles. Foreigners are not permitted to carry out these occupations under the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers B.E. 2560, as they are reserved for Thai nationals.

A business employing a foreigner without a valid permit, or using them in work outside their approved role, can be fined from 10,000 to 100,000 baht for each worker involved.

For repeat violations, employers could face up to one year in prison, a fine of 50,000 to 200,000 baht per foreign worker, or both. Repeat offenders would also be barred from employing foreign workers for three years.

Deportation risk for workers

Foreigners found working without permission or outside the conditions of their work rights face fines of 5,000 to 50,000 baht.

After paying a fine, they will be deported from Thailand and prevented from applying for a work permit for two years, according to the government warning.

More than 74,000 businesses checked

Patdarasm said the measures are intended to establish lawful and fair employment standards, prevent human trafficking and safeguard work reserved for Thai nationals.

The Ministry of Labour has been conducting regular spot checks with other agencies at businesses across the country. Officials said legal action would follow where breaches were identified.

During the 2026 fiscal year, authorities inspected more than 74,000 businesses nationwide that employ foreign workers. The checks identified more than 1,700 foreign workers in occupations reserved for Thai nationals, the government said.

Inspections will continue as authorities enforce work permit conditions and restrictions on reserved occupations.

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5 September 2026
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A Thai court has allowed New Zealand teenager Loukas Rainger to return home after he was accused of taking a woman's wristwatch from an airport security tray in July.

Rainger, 18, of Tauranga, appeared at Surat Thani Provincial Court in southern Thailand on Friday 4 September 2026. His lawyer, Werabhat Hemthansarp, said that Rainger had been given clearance to return to New Zealand and would have his passport returned.

The court imposed a two-year suspended sentence. This means Rainger must not break any laws in Thailand during the next two years.

Airport watch allegation

The case concerned an $80 Swatch wristwatch which police said was left behind by a woman at the domestic passenger screening checkpoint at Surat Thani International Airport.

According to Thai police documents, the woman passed through screening, forgot to collect her watch and boarded her flight. After discovering it was missing, she made a formal complaint.

Police said CCTV footage showed a man later identified as Rainger taking the watch from the tray and leaving with it. Rainger denied stealing it during his initial police questioning.

He had spent a month travelling around Thailand with his best friend and was due to fly to New Zealand when he was arrested at Bangkok airport in July. Authorities held his passport following his arrest.

Rainger previously said he had been ill and dehydrated after a long boat trip, and was delirious and struggling to stand at the airport.

"I felt faint, could hardly stand. I scooped up my stuff and stuck the watch in a pocket so I could repack my bag, not even registering what I was doing," he said.

The theft charge carried a possible maximum prison term of five years and a substantial fine. Theft at an airport is also treated more seriously under Thai law than a standard theft.

Court hearing

New Zealand barrister Craig Tuck of LawAid International said the outcome was achieved by an experienced Thai lawyer. He said hearings of this kind are commonly known in Thai practice as an examination of the defendant, rather than a full trial examining all evidence.

Rainger attended Friday's hearing without his mother Natasha, who had been supporting him since his detention but had fallen ill and was receiving hospital treatment. She had previously travelled to Surat Thani to arrange bail after learning of his arrest while recovering from major surgery in Bangkok.



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5 September 2026

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Thai AirAsia has introduced special services for passengers aged 60 and over on all domestic flights, including priority check-in, early baggage delivery and complimentary adjacent seating where available.

The benefits also extend to one travelling companion, the airline said. Passengers must show their identification card, at the check-in service counter to receive the privileges, with no additional charge.

Thansita Akkaritphirot, Thai AirAsia's Commercial Director, said older travellers are an important passenger group that has placed its trust in the airline over many years.

Services for older domestic travellers

The scheme provides a dedicated check-in channel, priority handling of checked baggage at the destination and seating together with a companion. Adjacent seats are subject to the availability of standard seats on each flight.

Thai AirAsia said it had introduced the measures to make journeys easier for older travellers and their families, from the departure airport through to arrival.

The airline has also continued to train and update ground staff and cabin crew so they can better understand the needs of older passengers, Thansita said.

The services apply to every domestic flight, particularly as Thailand approaches the year-end tourism season, when passenger numbers are expected to rise.

Don Mueang counter details

At Don Mueang Airport (DMK), eligible passengers can use dedicated counter 10J in the domestic passenger terminal, Terminal 2. The counter displays an older-passenger symbol and is staffed by Thai AirAsia ground personnel.

At other domestic airports, travellers should look for the relevant symbol at check-in counters or ask airport staff for assistance.

When checking in, eligible passengers will receive a special baggage tag for bags placed in the aircraft hold. This is intended to allow their luggage to be delivered ahead of other bags at the destination airport.


Picture courtesy of Daily News

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5 September 2026
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An Indian tourist has suffered serious injuries after falling at a hotel in Pattaya early on Friday, 4 September. Police are examining CCTV footage after finding no immediate evidence of an assault, while rescuers believe alcohol may have contributed to the fall.

The 42-year-old man, identified as Mr Abhishek, was found in pain in the parking area of a seven-storey hotel on Soi Buakhao 15. He had fractures to both wrists and severe back injuries, according to rescue workers.

The Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan Foundation received the report of a person falling from height at 6.50am. Officers from Pattaya City Police Station also attended the scene.

Rescuers gave Mr Abhishek first aid before taking him by ambulance to Pattaya Memorial Hospital for urgent treatment. He was conscious and able to speak, but complained of severe back pain and repeatedly asked to be taken to hospital quickly.

Police check which room he fell from

Hotel staff said Mr Abhishek had arrived late the previous night with an Indian tour group and checked in to room 312 on the third floor.

However, staff told investigators that tour-group members sometimes exchange rooms without telling the hotel. Police are therefore still trying to establish which room he was occupying and the floor from which he fell.

Officers inspected the rooms, are trying to trace the tourist's movements and review the hotel's CCTV footage in detail. They will also contact and question the tour leader and Mr Abhishek's relatives.

Police who inspected the area said there were no immediate indications of foul play or evidence that another person had attacked him. Their initial assessment is that he may have fallen after drinking.

Insurance arrangements under way

Rescue workers said the tourist smelled of alcohol, although he remained conscious at the scene. The exact circumstances of the fall remain under investigation.

The hotel said Mr Abhishek has travel insurance providing cover of about 500,000 baht. Officials have coordinated the insurance details to support his medical care.


Picture courtesy of ฉลาม นิวส์

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5 September 2026
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A Chinese tourist was bitten on the face by a lion cub at Lion World Cafe on Chiang Mai's Chang Khlan Road on August 28, after picking up the animal and bringing his face close to it.

Wildlife officials have since inspected the cafe, which was given a written warning for not reporting the bite within the required timeframe. They said a further similar failure could bring action under relevant laws and regulations.

The incident happened at about 1.20pm while four Chinese tourists were at the cafe. Officials confirmed that four lion cubs had temporary approval to be displayed and photographed there between August 17 and September 16.

Tourist received hospital treatment

Lion World Cafe said visitors must wash and disinfect their hands, read the rules and follow staff instructions before entering the animal display area.



According to the cafe, the injured tourist ignored rules against direct contact by lifting a cub and placing his face near it. The animal then turned and bit him, leaving two fang marks on his face.

Staff separated the cub from the visitor, cleaned the wounds and gave first aid before taking him to hospital. He received further treatment, along with tetanus and rabies vaccinations.

Cafe disputes compensation reports

Cafe manager Siam said the business refunded the tourist's package in full and provided a further 4,000 baht.

He said the cafe paid directly for the first rabies injection. As the tourist intended to continue travelling and obtain the remaining four injections himself, the cafe gave him 3,200 baht towards vaccinations, calculated at 800 baht each, plus 800 baht for travel expenses.



Siam said the tourist accepted the arrangement and did not pursue further action against the cafe. He disputed Chinese media reports that described the 4,000 baht as compensation for the injury, saying it was intended to cover vaccination and travel costs.

The manager said the coverage had created misunderstandings about the case and had affected the business, with fewer foreign tourists visiting since the reports appeared.

No more lifting or hugging cubs

Officials ordered tighter controls in the display area, including a ban on visitors picking up, holding or directly touching lions and lion cubs. The measures are intended to protect both visitors and the animals.

Lion World Cafe has since strengthened its rules to stop customers lifting or hugging the cubs.


Pictures courtesy of Amarin

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5 September 2026
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Phuket's foreign arrivals by air rebounded in July, with more than 379,000 travellers recorded as the impact of the Middle East conflict eased, according to Travel Link data.

The recovery offers encouragement for the island's tourism businesses ahead of the fourth-quarter high season. However, hotel operators say weaker consumer spending, rising competition and growing room supply will limit both occupancy and price increases.

Somjai Tungkook, vice-president of the Thai Hotels Association's southern chapter, said tourists had begun returning as all, international flights resumed during the third quarter. Phuket normally receives significant inbound passenger numbers from China, Australia and the Middle East.

Major markets including China, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Israel have improved, she said, although some markets, such as South Korea, remain stagnant.

Hotel occupancy may fall below 60%

Despite the stronger July figures, Ms Somjai said average hotel occupancy across Phuket could fall to below 60% in the third quarter, compared with 60% in the same period last year.

She said expanding hotel supply in recent years, including illegal properties, could mean hotels do not fully benefit from the return in visitors. Operators are also reluctant to raise room rates, as higher airfares and travel costs could discourage tourists from spending during their trips.

Ms Somjai said hotels were shifting towards offering more value-added services to attract customers.

High season outlook depends on Middle East tensions
Thanawat Ongcharoen, vice-president of the Phuket Tourist Association, said the island's tourism sector should steadily recover during the fourth-quarter high season if there is no severe escalation in the Middle East.

He said the final quarter should perform as strongly as last year, supported by robust demand from long-haul tourists. Yet hotels are unlikely to raise room rates by as much as double digits because of continuing global economic uncertainty.

Room-rate growth is likely to remain at only 5% year-on-year, in line with inflation and rising costs, he said.

Mr Thanawat also pointed to Thailand's revised visa-free regulations as a challenge for some markets, including Uzbekistan, which had emerged under the previous 60-day visa-free scheme.

From September 15, Uzbek tourists must apply for tourist visas in advance, a change that could affect travellers who had already booked trips in previous months. The Phuket Tourist Association plans to raise the matter with the government and request easier visa requirements for that market.

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5 September 2026
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A 15-year-old student fired several shots at a school in Thailand's Kamphaeng Phet province on Wednesday 2 September, but was subdued before anyone was hit.

The incident, about 200 kilometres north of Bangkok, has renewed attention on active-shooter preparedness in schools across Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, pupils in San Rafael took part in a nationwide school safety drill on Thursday.

Thailand and Philippines face school attacks

The Kamphaeng Phet shooting followed deadly attacks involving students in both Thailand and the Philippines in August.

On August 7, a 14-year-old opened fire at his high school and family home in Nonthaburi province, just north of Bangkok. Eight people were killed and more than 20 injured before the student took his own life.

In the southern Philippines on August 18, a 14-year-old carrying two pistols shot dead a fellow student at a high school before killing himself. In June, two students armed with handguns opened fire at a high school in the central Philippines, killing three fellow students and wounding at least 20 others. The two suspects, aged 14 and 15, were arrested.

Thailand leads Southeast Asia in gun ownership per capita, while the Philippines has the highest number of non-combat firearm deaths per person, according to several surveys.

Philippine schools test lockdown responses

The San Rafael drill, held in Bulacan province, brought together Department of Education officials, local government leaders and public safety and disaster-response agencies. It was intended to test how schools and emergency responders would deal with a range of threats.

"It is a new reality in the country. We are preparing for all kinds of emergencies, from human-induced to weather-induced (events). All of us should be ready. It's a new reality," said Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla.

The exercise included a 30-minute full-scale lockdown, followed by a review involving the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Bureau of Fire Protection, Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Philippine National Police.

Department of Education Undersecretary Malcolm Garma said the aim was to make schools more aware of threats and able to respond through drills and exercises, including knowing "what to do, where to go" and how responders should carry out their roles.

Thai schools have also held drills

Thailand held similar emergency-preparedness exercises last month after the Nonthaburi shooting.

Footage shown by Thai PBS showed first responders at Sarawittaya School in Bangkok teaching students how to react during a school shooting. Pupils were helped to stack desks and chairs against classroom doors to prevent entry.



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5 September 2026
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Chachoengsao authorities have rejected an application to extend a permit for a proposed Jewish cemetery in Bang Khla district, following local concerns about possible effects on water sources and natural resources.

Provincial Governor Nimit Wongvara confirmed the decision on Wednesday, September 3, after the issue resurfaced on Thai social media. He said there are currently only one body buried on the land in Samed Tai.

Water concerns raised by farming community

Unverified posts circulating online claimed that around 9,690 square metres of land would be developed into a Jewish cemetery capable of holding up to 1,200 bodies.



The reports alarmed local residents, many of whom are farmers reliant on water sources in the area. Governor Nimit said the planned cemetery could affect natural resources and water supplies.

A Thai national whose identity has not been publicly disclosed applied in 2021 for permission to operate a cemetery at the site. The project, known as Jewish Cemetery Thailand, was intended to provide extra burial space for Thailand's Jewish community because the existing cemetery in Bangkok had limited capacity.

Local media reported that the plot is enclosed by a fence about four metres high and that its entrance is locked.

Earlier protest and legal appeal

Residents earlier complained to the local administrative office after noticing activity at the property and objected to its use as a cemetery.



Bodies were subsequently reported to have been taken to the site, leading about 60 Thai people to protest outside the premises. ThaiRath reported that authorities reported that one body was buried there, while Thailand's Jewish community said three bodies had been buried.

Officials previously examined the site and declined to renew the cemetery permit, citing failures to meet requirements including its closeness to natural water sources.

The Thai applicant and a private company involved in the scheme have challenged the permit revocation in court. That case remains pending.

The matter has also become locally sensitive because of the site's location in an agricultural community, rather than being solely a question of cemetery capacity for the Jewish community.


Pictures courtesy of ThaiRath

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5 September 2026
Georgealbert
Georgealbert
Bangkok police have arrested a 40-year-old Singaporean man at a condominium in Bang Khae after finding methamphetamine, chemicals and alleged orders for highly toxic substances made through the dark web.

Joel Ong Seng Yong was arrested on 3 September and the case was announced the following day. Police said Singapore's Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) had identified him as a specially monitored criminal with outstanding warrants and a lengthy record involving drugs and serious criminal offences.

Police said the quantity of chemicals, could in theory, kill many people if used in a targeted attack. They also said they found evidence of a discussion of putting poison in a water tank as part of a mass killing plan.

Drugs, cash and chemical materials seized

Police said they found 3 grams of crystal methamphetamine, drug-taking equipment, 200,000 baht in cash and two mobile phones in the condominium, which falls under Lak Song Police Station's jurisdiction.

Investigators also seized half a kilogram of saltpetre, sodium metabisulphite, ammonia solution, nitric acid, borax and two detonator devices. The chemicals have been sent for forensic examination.

According to police, examination of the phones found evidence that Ong had paid 18,000 baht to order toxic substances. Officers alleged he had bought 20 grams of a poison said to be 10,000 times stronger than morphine, as well as 10 grams of drugs used for animal euthanasia or executions.

However, Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Major General Theeradet Thamsuthee said there was no evidence at this stage of terrorism. Experts had also advised that the chemicals recovered were not sufficient to make a lethal bomb, he said.

Police inquiry began in January

The investigation followed a report to the ONCB's 1386 hotline in late January 2026. The caller alleged that Ong, who had fled criminal cases in Singapore, was hiding in Thailand, using crystal meth and becoming violent.

Police said the report included allegations of assault and unlawful detention with a sexual element. Detectives spent more than three months tracing him, initially facing difficulties because he had entered Thailand posing as a student and was not then listed on Interpol's wanted-person system.

Investigators later went undercover as tourists in central Bangkok and spoke to an entertainer who said she knew Ong. She alleged he had assaulted her so severely that blood vessels in her eyes burst, threatened her with a knife, and suggested they die together.

Overstay and drug charges so far

Ong has initially been charged with possessing and using Category 1 narcotics, methamphetamine and remaining in Thailand after his permission to stay had expired. Further charges relating to explosive preparation and dangerous substances remain under investigation.

Police said Ong told investigators he had previously been imprisoned in Singapore for drug offences for one, three and five years, and received three strokes of the cane. He allegedly fled to Thailand after another offence in 2024, sold assets in Singapore for around 5 million baht and later lost 2.5 million baht to a Singaporean friend.

He claimed the poisons were intended for suicide because he feared a smaller quantity would not work, and said he did not want to be returned to Singapore.


Picture courtesy of ThaiRath

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5 September 2026
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Georgealbert
A 59-year-old Chinese man has been detained in Chiang Rai after police said he admitted selling ready-made clothes wholesale and at markets around Thailand for more than 10 years without a work permit.

Wu Suhui was stopped at a Mae Lao Police Station checkpoint on 3 September 2026. Officers said he was driving a covered pickup truck carrying a large quantity of clothing.

Police checked Wu's passport and found he held a retirement visa permitting him to remain in Thailand until 26 March 2027. However, officers said he had no work permit.

Clothes allegedly sourced from Bobae and Mae Sai

Wu, who police said speaks Thai fluently, allegedly told officers that he obtained goods from Bangkok's Bobae Market and Mae Sai Market in Chiang Rai.



He is accused of operating a wholesale business and travelling to markets nationwide to sell clothing. Police said he claimed earnings of about 30,000 to 90,000 baht a month from the activity.

The arrest was carried out by Mae Lao police alongside Chinkorn Satitlerdpipat, a senior labour academic and head of the work inspection and jobseeker protection section at the Chiang Rai Provincial Employment Office.

Police seek further checks

Authorities said they were not fully satisfied with Wu's account, citing his travel through numerous provinces. They said they had concerns that his behaviour could be linked to foreign espionage, although no such charge has been announced.

Police have contacted security agencies and Immigration Bureau officials to conduct further checks, including into his accommodation and the purpose of his long-term stay in Thailand.

Wu has initially been charged under Section 8 of the 2017 Royal Ordinance on the Management of Foreign Workers Employment, as amended in 2018, for a foreigner working without a permit or beyond the work they are entitled to do. The stated penalty is a fine of 5,000 to 50,000 baht.

He was handed to investigators at Mae Lao Police Station for further legal action.


Pictures courtesy of Kaoded

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4 September 2026
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Thailand's northeastern provinces are emerging as Southeast Asia's leading dinosaur research area after scientists identified two new species from fossils found in the region.

The discoveries add to a growing collection of prehistoric remains that could soon bring Thailand's total number of recognised dinosaur species to 16, according to researchers at Mahasarakham University.

A dinosaur statue outside a temple offers a hint of the ancient creatures beneath the soil across the northeast, where the country's richest fossil deposits are found.

Filling a gap in the fossil record

The two species identified this year are Nagatitan chaiyaphumensis, described as Southeast Asia's largest dinosaur, and the long-necked Uragasaurus kalasinensis.

Richard Cloutier, a visiting palaeontology professor from Canada's Universite du Quebec a Rimouski, said Thailand was "the hotspot for research and discovery" in Southeast Asia, despite China, Mongolia and Russia remaining major fossil-hunting countries.



Suravech Suteethorn, deputy director of Mahasarakham University's Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, said Thai discoveries help fill a gap in records from elsewhere.

"Our local dinosaurs are like missing jigsaw pieces that help establish evolutionary connections, particularly around the Jurassic and Cretaceous period transition, approximately 140 million years ago," he said.

Many fossils confirmed this year were excavated a decade or more ago, but required lengthy research and verification. The university holds numerous further specimens awaiting testing.

A possible 16th Thai dinosaur

At Phu Wiang National Park in Khon Kaen, around two hours from the university, Suravech and his father, veteran palaeontologist and colleague Varuvudh Suteethorn, are carefully excavating a giant fossil neck beneath a makeshift roof protecting the site from monsoon rain.

Suravech would not identify the find, but said its eventual confirmation as Thailand's newest dinosaur would "wow" people.

Varuvudh was among the team that announced Uragasaurus last month. The plant-eater grew to up to 20 metres, or 65 feet, and lived about 150 million years ago. It is the first dinosaur of its kind identified in Thailand.



Nagatitan, a 27-tonne herbivore dating from 100 to 120 million years ago, was named for a Southeast Asian folklore serpent, a Greek giant and Chaiyaphum province, where it was found.

A growing draw beyond Thailand's beaches

For foreign residents, families and visitors looking beyond the usual beach, food and city itineraries, the discoveries offer another reason to visit the rural northeast. A dinosaur museum in Khon Kaen has attracted visitors including retiree Songyos Toongtubtim, while a Kalasin museum opened in 2007 draws hundreds of thousands of people annually.

Thitiwoot Sethapanichsakul, a University College London PhD student and co-author of the Nagatitan paper in Scientific Reports, said the northeast's dry climate, sparse vegetation and suitably aged sedimentary layers make it especially favourable for fossils.

However, palaeontology funding remains limited and the research community is small, with expeditions to remote areas costly. Suravech said researchers were seeking government support, joking that, as a Jurassic Park fan, he was still waiting for a billionaire backer.


Pictures courtesy of Daily Mall

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4 September 2026

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Police in Nonthaburi have seized about 500 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, known locally as ya ice, which was concealed in cardboard boxes containing bitter melons at a house in Bang Bua Thong district.

The drugs, estimated to be worth around 100 million baht, were found after police and military intelligence officers expanded an investigation into a suspected drug storage network. The operation was reported at 00.15 on 3 September 69 at a property in Pimolrat subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong, Nonthaburi.

Bang Bua Thong police investigator Pol Lt Col Prasopsin Phim Mee Lai received the report that 500kg of Category 1 narcotics had been hidden at the house.

Drugs packed in 56 boxes

Officers said they had traced a suspected man who drove a white Isuzu D-Max pickup with a Carryboy canopy and Bangkok registration plates into the lane where the property is located.

The man was later identified as Thanadet Panyethanakan. Police searched the property and found the suspected methamphetamine in the house's main hall.

The drugs were packed in orange tea bags bearing Chinese lettering, officers said. They had been placed inside 56 cardboard boxes, with bitter melons, mixed in among the packages in an apparent attempt to disguise the consignment.

Mr Thanadet and the seized drugs were taken to Bang Bua Thong Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Police, military intelligence personnel from the Special Warfare Command Operations Centre, and Narcotics Suppression Bureau officers took part in the investigation.


Picture courtesy of Thairath

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4 September 2026

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A freight train travelling from Hua Takhe to Laem Chabang derailed in Chonburi on Friday afternoon, with three cargo wagons overturning beside the track.

No injuries or deaths were reported after the incident near the Nong Khang Khok railway crossing in Moo 1, Nong Khang Khok subdistrict, Mueang Chonburi district, on 4 September 2026.



Police at Mueang Chonburi station were alerted at about 3pm and went to the scene with relevant agencies. They found three freight wagons off the rails and overturned alongside the railway line.



Recovery work under way

Officials are working with other agencies to inspect the site, recover the overturned wagons and clear the railway line so services can resume as soon as possible.


Pictures courtesy of Amarin

The derailment has affected rail operations on the route, although there was no immediate information on how long the recovery work would take or whether any individual train services had been cancelled or diverted.

The cause of the derailment remains under investigation.

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4 September 2026
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Miss Grand International has cancelled India's role as host of the Miss Grand International 2026 pageant and will bring the event back to Thailand, the organisation announced on 3 September 2026.

India had been due to stage the international contest during September and October 2026. Miss Grand International Public Company Limited said it had ended the hosting arrangement after finding operational problems and shortcomings in event standards.

India hosting deal ended

In its official statement, the company said the arrangements in India did not meet the terms of the agreement or the international standards set by MGI.

It said ending the partnership was necessary to protect the image, quality and experience expected from an international competition. The organisation said it had therefore stopped working with the original host immediately.

Nawat Itsaragrisil, chief executive of Miss Grand International Public Company Limited, has taken control of the response and moved the pageant to Thailand in full.

MGI said the switch was intended to ensure that the contest's operations, contestant activities and live broadcast meet the organisation's highest standards.

Thailand details still to come

The announcement was shared with pageant followers worldwide through the official social media channels of Miss Grand International and Miss Grand Thailand.

However, MGI has not yet announced the Thailand schedule, contestant preparation activities or the venue for the final round. The organisation said official details would be released soon.

The relocation puts a global entertainment event back in Thailand, but the statement did not say which parts of the country would host the contestants or whether activities would be spread across more than one location.

What happens next

MGI is expected to publish the practical arrangements through its official channels. Until then, the only confirmed change is that Miss Grand International 2026 will no longer be hosted by India and will instead be organised in Thailand.

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4 September 2026
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Georgealbert
Police in Surat Thani have recommended prosecuting two companies and two Thai nationals over alleged nominee arrangements used to acquire land and develop villas on Koh Samui.

The case concerns the estate of French national Catherine Jolie Roland Germain Delacot, 59, who died in April 2024 and left assets worth almost 100 million baht to her Thai housekeeper.

Police recommend charges in land case

On 3 September 2569, Pol Lt Col Kittisak Charoenrup, deputy investigation superintendent at Muang Surat Thani police station and a member of the provincial nominee-case investigation team, submitted files recommending prosecution.



The files will be signed by Pol Maj Gen Suwat Suksri, commander of Surat Thani Provincial Police, before suspects are sent to prosecutors at the Koh Samui Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

The cases are recorded as criminal cases 399/2567 and 400/2567 at Koh Samui police station. They name G.V.N.E. Co Ltd and four parties, and Maxicat Co Ltd and four parties.

Investigators recommend charging both G.V.N.E. Co Ltd and Maxicat Co Ltd with foreign nationals conducting a land-trading business through nominee companies.



They also recommend charging Thongsai, 50, and Ratchaprapa, 36, with supporting a foreigner to conduct a land-trading business illegally. Police said there can be no prosecution against Ms Delacot, a company director, because she has died.

Estate followed death at Mae Nam villa

Ms Delacot died by suicide using a gun on 29 April 2024 at a luxury villa worth more than 50 million baht in Mae Nam, Koh Samui. Her will subsequently left assets valued at nearly 100 million baht to her close Thai housekeeper.

After her death, Surat Thani Provincial Police's centre for suppressing transnational crime and illegal immigration worked with an Army Region 4 task force dealing with state-land encroachment and natural-resource destruction.

Their examination identified suspected irregularities in Ms Delacot’s landholding and business operations, including the possible use of Thai individuals as shareholding nominees to set up companies and operate a property business.

Land, villas and alleged nominees

Investigators said Ms Delacot came to Thailand around 2007 and rented a home in Bo Phut, Koh Samui. In about March 2012, she took documents to a law office to arrange her registration as the authorised director of Maxicat Co Ltd.


Pictures courtesy of Daily News

Police said Thai nationals did not invest in the business. Maxicat then bought and received the transfer of 1 rai and 2 ngan of land for 2.7 million baht.

The land was subdivided for the construction of five villas known as Maprao, developed by G.V.N.E. Co Ltd. Between 2018 and 2022, three homes were sold for 7-8 million baht each, while the remaining two were offered on long-term rental arrangements to foreigners.

Police said the companies recorded losses and had never paid tax. In 2020, Maxicat changed its company directors after acquiring land, leaving Ms Delacot as the sole director. The company held a large three-storey villa valued at 50 million baht which was awaiting sale when she died.

For foreigners, the case is a reminder that Thailand closely scrutinises land purchases and villa developments involving Thai shareholding structures. Foreigners cannot generally own land directly, and authorities may investigate arrangements where Thai shareholders are suspected of acting on behalf of a foreign owner.


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4 September 2026
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Georgealbert
Israel's ambassador to Thailand, Dr Alona Fisher-Kamm, met the commissioner of the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) on 2 September to discuss possible legal and investigative responses to fake news and disinformation.

The talks focused on false information that could mislead the public and have a negative impact on Israeli tourists and the Israeli community living in Thailand.

Meeting at the Central Investigation Bureau

Dr Fisher-Kamm met Pol. Lt. Gen. Nattasak Chaowanasai, the CIB commissioner, in a discussion on information that could cause public misunderstanding.

The two sides exchanged views on how fake news and disinformation may affect Israelis in Thailand, including visitors and members of the resident community.

No particular claims, online platforms or cases were identified in the account of the meeting. Nor were any new enforcement measures announced.

Embassy stresses accurate information

The Israeli Embassy said it attached importance to promoting accurate information. It said it would continue to work with Thai authorities to support responsible and informed access to information.

The embassy said its continuing work with Thai authorities would be aimed at encouraging more responsible access to information rather than relying on unverified reports.


Picture courtesy of Khaosod

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4 September 2026

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