The Koh Samui Provincial Court has fined an Israeli man 5,000 baht for making a threat against the life of a Thai woman who operates a zoo on Koh Samui. Jindarat Sattayapun, owner of Samui Exotic Park, and Kevin, her French-Italian husband, filed a complaint after an Israeli man identified as Jacob posted a threat against her life on Facebook. Police arrested Jacob on 15 August after setting up a checkpoint in front of the zoo, and he was subsequently taken to court.

The court imposed a 5,000-baht fine with its enforcement suspended for two years and ordered the Israeli visitor to comply with Thai law. Police are also searching for another person who allegedly claimed he was offered a 500,000-baht bounty for the zoo owner's death. A separate Israeli national had posted a demand for Jindarat to close her zoo and leave Koh Samui.

The dispute began after an Israeli couple and their two children reportedly claimed they had been refused entry to Samui Exotic Park on 12 August. Jindarat explained that she had decided to refuse admission to Israeli visitors after alleging that several had failed to pay entrance fees, taken animal feed from other visitors' baskets, violated zoo rules, and squirted milk into the faces of her pigs. Deputy Interior Minister Polapee Suwunchwee said he had received reports of disputes between the Thai zoo operator and Israeli expatriates living on the island.

The dispute has also been linked to an arson attack in France. According to a French media report from 19 August, a car was set on fire at about 05:00 on Wednesday in Villeurbanne, near Lyon, with two Molotov cocktails reportedly found at the scene. The incident may have originated from the controversy in Thailand involving a young man from Villeurbanne who is reportedly associated with the zoo, though allegations of antisemitic conduct at the facility were not independently verified.

Samui Exotic Park has announced it no longer wants to receive Israeli visitors, a decision that has been criticized as discriminatory, while the park says it has been subjected to a campaign of harassment and denigration.

Deputy Prime Minister Yossanan Wongswaddi, also Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, led a high-level team from Nan province on August 21, 2569 to assess flooding and flash-flood conditions across the province and coordinate emergency relief and recovery efforts. At approximately 1:30 p.m., he traveled to Pua district's community hall to distribute survival kits donated by the Northern Residents Association to flood victims, accompanied by former Nan MPs including Dr. Chollanan Srikaew and Nathpong Supariyasilp.

Addressing residents in the Northern dialect, Deputy PM Yossanan expressed sympathy for the disaster caused by heavy rain accumulating in the hills and triggering rapid flash floods affecting a wide area. He assured the public that all government bodies, provincial authorities, local administrative organizations, and the Irrigation Department have prepared and are working to alleviate suffering. He confirmed that water levels are receding and the situation is improving, marking entry into the "recovery phase," with local units accelerating cleanup efforts and potentially hiring private contractors to speed the process. Multiple ministries including Social Development and Human Security, Labor, Interior, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and Public Health have coordinated to provide medicines and relief measures.

Deputy PM Yossanan stated his primary objectives are to restore normalcy and rebuild public confidence for tourism recovery. Utilities including electricity and water supply will be restored within 1-2 days. He pledged to remain in the area until conditions improve and to accelerate Irrigation Department projects to permanently solve the recurring flooding that has plagued the region for three years. He also warned residents to watch for landslides if further rains occur.

At 3:00 p.m., the team visited the Chulalongkorn University Phasingh evacuation center in Mueang Nan district, where he warmly interacted with flood victims, creating moments of laughter and relief. He then visited Nan Hospital at 4:00 p.m. to encourage medical staff, officials, patients, and the injured.

AP Thailand is launching an aggressive push into the twin house market in the third quarter of 2025, offering zero per cent financing for up to five years across more than 80 locations throughout Bangkok and its surrounding areas, along with discounts of up to 2 million baht and four new project launches. The move aims to reduce buyer burden and speed up purchasing decisions in an uncertain property market.

Metha Raktham, deputy managing director of AP Thailand, announced that the company has partnered with three major financial institutions—Kasikornbank, Krung Thai Bank, and Thai Commercial Bank—to run the "AP Twin House Smooth 0% Annual Interest for Five Years" campaign. The special offer provides zero per cent financing for up to five years to help ease concerns about long-term repayment obligations for all 80 twin house projects across Bangkok, with prices starting at 2.99 million baht and discounts reaching up to 2 million baht.

In the third quarter of 2025, AP is also launching four new twin house projects: Grand Pleno Petchkasem-Charan 2, Grand Pleno Bangna-King Kaew, Grand Pleno Phahonyothin-Thoburom, and Grand Pleno Rama 9-Bangkok Stadium. The key selling point is that every square metre is designed for practical everyday use and reflects genuine understanding of residents' behaviour.

AP's twin houses cover more than 80 locations across Bangkok and the metropolitan area under five brands: Meuang Klang THE EDITION, Meuang Klang, Grand Pleno, Pleno, and Pleno Town, with prices starting at 2.99 million baht.

Beyond the zero per cent five-year offer, AP is providing additional incentives including discounts of up to 2 million baht and a "Buy AP Townhome and Twin House, Win Big" campaign featuring chances to win a Tesla Model 3 worth 1.199 million baht and monthly prizes. The promotion runs from 17 August to 30 September 2025 for bookings and transfers.

On August 21, Deputy Interior Minister Worsit Liangprasit and Justice Minister Rutthapol Naorat coordinated a multi-agency raid across three locations in Pattaya and Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province, to investigate the use of Thai nominees in land holdings and business operations controlled by foreigners. The operation, conducted under court-authorized search warrants, is part of government policy to crack down on illegal business practices, following similar investigations in Koh Phangan, Koh Samui, Suratthani province, and Phuket.

Investigators identified Cozy Beach View Company Limited as potentially violating the Alien Business Act by using Thai nationals—some employed by an international law firm—as nominee shareholders. The first target was KT International Law and Business office in Pattaya, suspected of arranging shell company registrations. The second was Shilat Avenue Pattaya hotel, found to employ similar nominee structures with complex share transfers linked to Lotus Paradise Development Company and individuals with prior aluminum trade experience in Samut Sakhon province. The third location was the company's premises in Nong Phrueao, Bang Lamung, conducting actual business operations. Officials seized evidence to establish the scope and complexity of the nominee network.

Bangkok, August 21, 2026 – Following the successful conclusion of True Academy Fantasia 2026, JJ-Chanita Baisamut, winner of The Winner True AF 2026, led a team of 12 contestants to meet True Corporation executives to express gratitude for their sponsorship. The meeting was headed by Sigve Brekke, Group Chief Executive Officer, joined by Oliver Kittipong Viratetcha, Head of Brand and Communications; Thanpol Manavutti, Head of Home Connectivity; Pirathon Kaem Sri Na Ayutthaya, Head of Content and Media; Chakakrit Urairatn, Head of Government Relations; and Roj Dechordumpan, Head of Mobile Postpaid Operations. They congratulated JJ as the top contestant and presented her prize package consisting of one million baht in cash, two years of unlimited True 5G service for her entire family, 24 months of True Online Home Internet with TrueX IoT equipment, and an opportunity to become True Corporation's new brand presenter and entertainment industry star. The 11 runners-up each received 12 months of unlimited True 5G service and 12 months of True Online Home Internet with TrueX IoT equipment to enhance their digital lifestyle with seamless connectivity. The event concluded with a warm meet-and-greet session at True Tower on Ratchadamri Road, where all 12 contestants performed the True AF 2026 theme song, received red roses from True employees, and took celebratory photographs together.

A 47-year-old woman has reported that her ex-boyfriend, whom she dated for 2-3 years before breaking up over two years ago, has repeatedly broken into her home and harassed her. She filed police reports three times.

On August 16 at 2:21 a.m., the man broke into her home and took her bag containing an ID card, approximately 600 baht in cash, a pawn ticket, an iPad, and a room key.

On August 17 at 1:00 a.m., he broke in again and attempted sexual assault on her 27-year-old daughter and on the victim herself, but was unsuccessful.

On August 21 at 2:22 a.m., he broke in once more, wielding a knife, and attempted sexual assault on both the victim and her daughter, but they managed to escape.

The victim expressed severe fear and concern about her safety, noting that despite filing three police reports, the man has continued to gain entry to her home. She is calling on police to urgently track down and prosecute the suspect to protect herself and her daughter, and is asking anyone with information about him to report it to authorities.