Pattaya crackdown finds 17 Cambodian beggars, including babies

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14 August 2026, 16:58

PATTAYA — Pattaya authorities rounded up 17 Cambodian nationals, including seven children, during a crackdown on begging along Pattaya Beach, with officials saying some adults were seen carrying young children to solicit money from tourists.

The operation was carried out on 11 August by Pattaya City officials, Pattaya police, Chon Buri immigration officers and social welfare officials following complaints from residents and businesses about foreign nationals begging and approaching tourists at major tourist spots.

Officers patrolled along Pattaya’s Second Road and the beachfront, where they found a group of 17 Cambodian nationals consisting of 10 adults and seven children.

The adults included one man and nine women. Among the children were babies and toddlers aged seven months, two years and three years. Officials said some of the adults were carrying young children while asking tourists for money.

Authorities said checks found that some of the Cambodian nationals had previously been arrested, prosecuted and deported from Thailand. Some had reportedly been deported three or four times before returning and allegedly resuming similar activities.

Officers also found eight homeless Thai nationals who were allegedly intoxicated while asking for money from members of the public and tourists.

All those detained were taken to have their records documented before being handed over to Chon Buri’s social welfare authorities for further legal procedures and assistance where appropriate.

Pattaya authorities said the operation was aimed at maintaining public order, reducing disturbances to tourists and preserving Pattaya’s image as a safe and welcoming tourist destination.

PM to visit Australia and New Zealand to expand trade and investment

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14 August 2026, 16:57

BANGKOK — 14 August 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will make official visits to Australia from 17–20 August and New Zealand from 20–22 August, seeking to expand markets for Thai goods, attract investment and strengthen strategic partnerships.

Government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said the visits, made at the invitation of the two countries’ prime ministers, will also seek to link businesses and increase cooperation on security and people-to-people travel.

The Australia trip will be the first official visit by a Thai prime minister in 14 years, ahead of the 75th anniversary of Thai-Australian diplomatic relations in 2027.

Anutin is due to meet Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to advance the Thailand-Australia Strategic Partnership in trade, investment, security, clean energy, science, technology and innovation. They will also seek to implement the 2026–2029 Thailand-Australia Strategic Partnership Action Plan.

The prime minister will be accompanied by Thai private-sector representatives and attend a Thai-Australian business networking event organised by the Board of Investment and Austrade. The government hopes the visit will help Thai businesses build networks, find partners and develop investments.

Thailand will also encourage greater Australian investment, particularly in future industries and clean energy, which the government said could support investment, jobs and technology transfer.

Rachada said Thailand would seek to expand science, technology and innovation cooperation, especially between the National Science and Technology Development Agency and Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, or CSIRO, to help turn research into commercial applications.

The cooperation is also intended to give Thai start-ups and innovators opportunities to learn from Australia’s innovation ecosystem and connect with international markets.

The New Zealand visit will be the first by a Thai prime minister in 13 years and coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Anutin is scheduled to meet New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and sign a joint declaration formally upgrading Thailand-New Zealand relations to a strategic partnership, providing a framework for longer-term cooperation.

Thailand will seek greater access to the New Zealand market for agricultural products, food, consumer goods and retail businesses, while also encouraging New Zealand investment in Thailand.

Anutin is due to meet companies interested in investing in Thailand, including tourism operator Skyline Enterprises and appliance manufacturer Fisher & Paykel. Thai business representatives will also take part in networking and business-matching activities with New Zealand firms.

Thailand and New Zealand will also seek closer cooperation against transnational crime, Rachada said.

The government will additionally push for the resumption of direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland, which it said would support tourism, education, business ties and travel between the two countries.

“Every overseas trip by the prime minister must create opportunities for Thailand,” Rachada said. “The goal is clear: Thai products must gain more markets, Thai businesses must gain partners and new opportunities, and Thailand must attract more investment, technology and knowledge.”

Sports cardiologist warns HYROX competitors after athlete suffers cardiac arrest

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14 August 2026, 16:46

Sports cardiologist warns HYROX competitors after athlete suffers cardiac arrest

BANGKOK — 14 August 2026, A sports cardiologist has urged HYROX competitors to listen to warning signs from their bodies and stop immediately if symptoms such as chest pain, unusual shortness of breath or dizziness occur, following reports of an athlete suffering cardiac arrest during the event.

The warning came after the Facebook page Ploy Talk posted a photo showing a HYROX competitor receiving CPR before being taken to hospital.

Dr. Akanit Srisukwattana, an internal medicine specialist in cardiology and sports cardiology, subsequently posted advice for HYROX participants on his Akanis Srisukwattana Facebook page.

Addressing HYROX competitors, Dr. Akanit said there had been a report of an athlete suffering a heart attack during competition.

He said the reported incidence of cardiac arrest during sports was about one in 100,000 people in the general population. For people aged 50 and over or those with underlying health conditions, however, the rate could be as high as one in 5,000, he said.

There is currently insufficient data to establish whether HYROX carries a higher risk of death than running or other endurance sports, according to the doctor.

However, he explained that HYROX combines running with power-endurance exercises, which can cause heart rate and blood pressure to rise sharply at certain points. The physical demand can therefore be greater than ordinary running or weight training, particularly during high-resistance stations such as Sled Push, Sled Pull and Burpee Broad Jumps.

Dr. Akanit advised competitors to keep their effort in line with what they had trained for and avoid pushing for a faster time or working beyond their physical capacity on the day.

He particularly warned people with risk factors including high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking history or a history of cardiovascular disease. These factors can increase the risk of plaque rupture and a sudden heart attack, he said.

During competition, athletes should not feel they have to give maximum effort at every station. They should allow themselves periods to ease off and control their breathing, particularly during demanding stations, so that the heart has a chance to reduce its workload before they resume running.

For people at higher risk, Dr. Akanit recommended keeping most of their effort around RPE 7/10 — feeling tired but still in control and able to speak in short sentences.

Periods of exertion at RPE 8–9/10, when an athlete is so exhausted that speaking is difficult, may occur during competition but should not be maintained for long periods.

He urged competitors to stop immediately and alert the event medical team if they experience any of the following warning signs:

Chest tightness or pain
Unusually severe shortness of breath compared with the level of exertion
Dizziness, feeling faint or loss of consciousness
Abnormal palpitations
Cold sweats or feeling as though they are about to faint

Dr. Akanit concluded by encouraging competitors to enjoy the event while avoiding unnecessary anxiety.

“Those in the risk group should enjoy competing. Train as you compete, don’t worry excessively, but don’t push beyond your limits,” he said, adding that pre-event health screening is particularly important to assess individual risks and plan exercise and competition at an appropriate level for each person’s physical condition.

Invasive blackchin tilapia caught in large numbers off Chonburi coast

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14 August 2026, 16:01

Invasive blackchin tilapia caught in large numbers off Chonburi coast

CHONBURI — 14 August 2026, A local fisherman in Chonburi was shocked after hauling up about 200 kilogrammes of blackchin tilapia in his fishing net off the coast of Rong Po in Bang Lamung district, raising concerns among local fishermen about possible impacts on marine ecosystems and mussel farms.

The incident occurred in the sea off Ban Bang Lamung, also known locally as Rong Po Bay, near the mouth of Bang Lamung Canal in Moo 4, Bang Lamung subdistrict.

A video posted on Facebook showed the fisherman pulling up his net, which was filled with blackchin tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron). The man wrote: “I went out to catch fish for dinner… but look what I found.”

The footage attracted attention among local residents.

At 10:00 on 14 August, reporters visited Ban Rong Po beach, a local fishing community, and spoke with the fisherman who posted the video, 27-year-old Natthakorn Suea-iam, known locally as “Tai Nut”.

He said the incident happened on 12 August, when he took his boat out to set nets for grey mullet, intending to bring the fish home to prepare a meal for his family.

When he hauled in the nets, however, he found that almost the entire catch consisted of blackchin tilapia. The fish filled the boat, with the total catch estimated at about 200kg.

Natthakorn said he was shocked because he had spent his life around the sea and had never encountered such a large number of blackchin tilapia in the area.

He said he had previously heard about problems involving the invasive fish species in other parts of Thailand, but had never experienced the problem himself until now.

After bringing the fish ashore, Natthakorn posted a video inviting local residents who needed food to take some of the fish. Many residents subsequently came to collect them.

He also kept some of the fish to experiment with cooking, including frying them and making sun-dried blackchin tilapia. He said the fish tasted similar to Nile tilapia but had fattier meat.

Natthakorn said he was now concerned about whether the fish could affect the local ecosystem. While he acknowledged that he did not have sufficient scientific information to confirm any impact, he was particularly concerned that not a single other species was caught in the net during the fishing trip.

He speculated that the blackchin tilapia may have moved from Bang Lamung Canal into the sea following heavy rainfall. However, he stressed that this was only a local fisherman’s assumption and that authorities would need to investigate the source and establish the facts.

Local fishermen in Rong Po, many of whom also operate mussel farms alongside their coastal fishing activities, have expressed concern over the large number of blackchin tilapia found in the area.

They fear the species could affect local aquatic resources and coastal ecosystems, as well as mussel-farming areas.

The fishermen are calling on fisheries officials and relevant agencies to urgently survey the area, assess the fish population and distribution, and investigate any potential environmental impacts.

Chinese scam boss arrested in Pattaya over alleged money laundering network

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14 August 2026, 15:57

CHONBURI — 14 August 2026, police have arrested a Chinese man in Pattaya accused of directing a money-laundering network for scam gangs that processed more than 8.8 million baht, authorities said.

The 30-year-old man, identified only as Zhang, was arrested at a condominium in Nong Prue, Bang Lamung district. He was wanted by Chinese authorities on fraud and money-laundering allegations, police said.

He was also charged in Thailand with overstaying his visa.

Police said Zhang was a senior figure who recruited and directed a network to use ATM cards and bank accounts to withdraw and transfer money obtained through scams, in an effort to obscure the funds’ origin and avoid arrest.

Investigators said Zhang travelled to Thailand in 2023 and 2024 to meet accomplices and use the country as an operational base for the scam network. Members of the group allegedly rotated their personal bank accounts to receive fraud proceeds before others were instructed to make large cash withdrawals.

Police said the network handled more than 1.8 million yuan, or about 8.8 million baht.

According to investigators, Zhang fled China through Japan after learning that Chinese authorities were preparing an arrest warrant. He then allegedly entered Thailand illegally and had been hiding in the country since March 2025.

Crime Suppression Division officers, working with Chon Buri immigration police, located him at the Pattaya condominium and made the arrest.

Police said Zhang confessed during questioning to using Thailand as a base to launder money from scam gangs and to hiding in the country after fleeing Chinese authorities.

He was handed over to immigration police for deportation and further legal proceedings in China.

Israeli ambassador asks Surat Thani to help ensure safety of Israeli visitors

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14 August 2026, 15:43

SURAT THANI — Israel’s ambassador to Thailand has asked Surat Thani authorities to help ensure the safety and well-being of Israeli tourists, long-term residents and business operators in the province.

Ambassador Alona Fisher-Kamm made the request during a meeting with Surat Thani Governor Jumphot Wannachatsiri and provincial officials at the provincial hall on 13 August.

Fisher-Kamm said most Israelis were law-abiding and well-behaved, while acknowledging that some individuals could commit offences.

She said Israel, like other countries, has both good and bad individuals, adding that social media can sometimes create misunderstandings and make people feel unsafe.

The ambassador asked provincial authorities to contact the Israeli Embassy directly if problems involving Israeli nationals arise so that the two sides can work together to resolve them.

She said Israeli authorities had already provided visitors with basic guidance on Thai customs, culture and local laws, including prohibited activities.

Israel currently has five projects aimed at promoting cooperation in Thailand, including a high-value agricultural development project in Koh Samui, she said.

Fisher-Kamm also said she planned to invite the Surat Thani governor to attend a meeting in Israel in November.

Governor Jumphot said Surat Thani treats tourists from all countries equally and takes legal action against anyone who violates Thai law regardless of nationality.

He said provincial authorities were committed to providing transparent and equal treatment to visitors of all nationalities to ensure they feel safe and have a positive experience in the province.

Jumphot also welcomed potential cooperation with Israel on high-value agriculture, saying Israeli projects could provide useful examples for Surat Thani to study.

He said provincial agencies were ready to coordinate with Israeli businesses and visitors, directing business-related matters to the provincial commerce office, tourism issues to the provincial tourism and sports office, and security concerns to provincial police and immigration authorities.

The two officials exchanged souvenirs before concluding the meeting.

Fisher-Kamm was making her fourth visit to Surat Thani. During the visit, she was scheduled to preside over the opening of Khuan La School in Tha Chang district and meet with the Surat Thani provincial police chief later in the day.

Three French tourists rescued after night adrift off Koh Samui

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14 August 2026, 14:55

SURAT THANI — 14 August 2026, three French tourists were rescued after spending the night in the sea off Koh Samui when the jet ski they had rented failed to return to shore.

The three — a 50-year-old father and two boys aged 12 and 9 — were found at about 11:00 on Thursday treading water about seven nautical miles, or nearly 13 kilometres, east of Koh Mat Lang. They were safe but exhausted and were being taken to Bangkok Hospital Samui for medical checks.

The family of five had been spending time at Chaweng Beach on Wednesday afternoon. At 17:30, the father and two boys rented a jet ski from an operator based on the beach in front of Long Beach Hotel for 30 minutes, while the man’s wife and daughter remained on shore.

When the jet ski had not returned after the allotted time, the operator searched the surrounding waters with binoculars, then sent out two jet skis to look for them. After failing to locate the group, the operator alerted authorities through the 1784 safety hotline at 20:25.

Koh Samui district officials, territorial defence volunteers, police, rescue workers, disaster-prevention officials and local jet-ski operators joined the search. Additional agencies joined the operation at 20:50.

Rescue boats searched through the night, including around Plai Laem Bay, Chaweng Beach and Koh Som from 22:00. At 23:20, three further boats searched from Chaweng Bay towards the channel off Koh Phangan.

Search efforts overnight were hampered by strong waves and winds outside the bay and were suspended at 01:00 before resuming at 09:00 on Thursday.

Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay said the rescue involved several agencies and local jet-ski operators, who continued the search overnight and into the morning until the three tourists were found.

Missing uncle and nephew found safe after seven days in forest

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14 August 2026, 14:43

Missing uncle and nephew found safe after seven days in forest

PHAYAO — 14 August 2026, Relatives and residents in Phayao broke down in tears of relief after two villagers who had been missing for seven days in forest in Chiang Muan district were found safe.

The two men, identified as 74-year-old Nak Kamlue and 20-year-old Rames Jan Daeng, both residents of Ban Pin, Moo 3, Chiang Muan subdistrict, disappeared after entering a remote forest area and lost contact with their families.

Earlier on 14 August, relatives and local residents performed a traditional ceremony known as “opening the forest”, making offerings and asking forgiveness from the spirits believed to protect the land and mountains. They prayed for the forest to open a safe path for rescue teams to locate the missing men and bring them home.

The breakthrough came when search teams operating deep inside the forest contacted the joint search command centre by radio to report that they had found both missing men.

The news immediately brought an emotional scene at the command centre in Chiang Muan district. Relatives who had been anxiously waiting for updates burst into tears, hugged one another and cried with relief after spending a week fearing for the men’s safety.

Officials initially reported that both men were safe. Rescue teams were working to bring them out of the forest and hand them over to medical and public health personnel for health assessments and first aid.

The discovery followed seven days of intensive search efforts involving rescue workers, officials, community leaders and local residents. Search teams had faced dense forest and difficult terrain that made access to the area challenging.

Authorities are still awaiting further details, including the exact location where the two men were found, their physical condition and the route used by rescuers to reach them.

The Chiang Muan Subdistrict Municipality’s joint missing-person search command centre is expected to release further official information.

PM Anutin flies his own plane to Korat, escorted by 3 F-16s

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14 August 2026, 14:23

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul arrived at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima on Friday in his private plane, escorted by three F-16 fighter jets in a simulated VIP protection mission.

Anutin, who also chairs the National Security Council, was visiting the Royal Thai Air Force’s Wing 1 to review its operational readiness and observe demonstrations of air combat capabilities.

As the prime minister’s aircraft entered the airbase’s airspace, two F-16s flew alongside it while a third flew above, simulating an escort mission for a VIP aircraft before the planes landed.

Anutin was received by Air Chief Marshal Seksan Khantha, commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Air Force, Defence Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen, Defence Permanent Secretary Gen. Tharapong Malakam, Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Ukrit Boontanont and senior military officers.

The prime minister reviewed an honour guard before watching demonstrations of the Air Force’s tactical missions, including simulated air-to-ground and air-to-air operations involving F-16 fighter jets.

Speaking to personnel at Wing 1, Anutin praised the unit for its role in protecting Thailand’s sovereignty, particularly through tactical fighter operations amid security concerns along the border.

“I would like to commend all commanders, personnel and staff for their sacrifice and dedication in protecting the nation’s sovereignty and providing reassurance to the people,” Anutin said.

He said strengthening the Air Force’s capabilities, particularly its fighter operations, was an important national security priority and that the government was ready to provide full support.

“The government is ready and willing to provide full support so that the Royal Thai Air Force can maintain its highest level of capability,” he said.

Anutin also thanked Air Force personnel for demonstrating unity, patriotism and dedication to the public interest, urging them to maintain their readiness and commitment to protecting the country’s sovereignty and national interests.

During the visit, the prime minister inspected tactical military equipment and watched a Combat Search and Rescue demonstration involving an H225M helicopter.

Indonesia urges Toyota to move regional production hub from Thailand

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14 August 2026, 13:56

Indonesia’s Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa has urged Toyota to move its regional manufacturing hub from Thailand to Indonesia, saying Jakarta is prepared to offer incentives to make the country a more competitive production base.

Speaking at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Automotive Conference (GIAC) in Tangerang, Banten, Purbaya said Indonesia wanted Toyota to establish its main manufacturing base in the country.

“We will support Toyota, but bring your main manufacturing base from Thailand to Indonesia. I will give you whatever incentives you want,” Purbaya said, according to Indonesian media reports.

Purbaya questioned why Thailand remains the region’s automotive manufacturing hub despite Indonesia being Southeast Asia’s largest economy and most populous country.

“We are the largest country in Southeast Asia. Why is the region’s automotive manufacturing hub in Thailand?” he said.

Thailand has built a strong automotive industry over several decades, supported by a large network of parts suppliers, supporting industries and export infrastructure. The country has become a major production and export base for Japanese automakers, including Toyota.

Purbaya acknowledged that Thailand has historically been more successful than Indonesia in attracting automotive investment. He attributed part of the gap to Indonesia’s less competitive investment incentives.

Jakarta is now seeking to close that gap by simplifying business licensing and offering more competitive incentives to automotive manufacturers, he said.

The government also wants to attract Toyota’s broader supply chain, including manufacturers of steel, electronics, chemicals and automotive components.

Purbaya said developing these upstream industries would strengthen Indonesia’s domestic supply chain and reduce the country’s reliance on imported components.

Indonesia already hosts Toyota production facilities and a network of automotive suppliers. However, the government wants to expand the country’s role in regional vehicle manufacturing as it competes with Thailand for new investment, particularly in electric vehicles and related industries.

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