Mechanic says he feared becoming another victim in 5-body murder case

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5 August 2026, 10:17

Mechanic says he nearly took his own life after pressure in 5-body murder case

CHONBURI — A motorcycle mechanic who became a key witness in the investigation into the alleged five-body murder case involving suspect “Pong” said he nearly took his own life after facing intense pressure and public suspicion that he had helped the accused.

Speaking publicly for the first time on the night of 4 August 2026, the 43-year-old mechanic, known as “Neng”, said he was the person heard in an audio clip providing police with information about a motorcycle linked to two missing Russian siblings.

Neng said he saw another suspect, Thong, dismantling a motorcycle near an old cemetery in Huai Yai, Bang Lamung district, on 26 July 2026. When Russian residents later posted missing-person notices featuring the siblings and their motorcycle, he recognised the vehicle immediately and contacted Huai Yai police.

He insisted he had acted in good faith and had cooperated fully with investigators from the beginning.

Neng said Thong had worked for him making charcoal, while Pong had stayed at his property for nearly two months after being released from prison in June. He claimed Pong had appeared to behave normally and had helped with household chores, but later learned that Pong allegedly carried a handgun regularly and used the same weapon in the murders of the Russian siblings and a Thai family of three.

The mechanic said Pong and Thong had also stolen his red Honda Scoopy motorcycle, which was allegedly used during the crimes and later during their escape.

Neng said the emotional toll had been overwhelming. He described himself as having “raised a cobra” by giving Pong shelter and said he had been unable to eat or sleep because of the investigation and rumours circulating in the community.

“I almost put a gun to my temple and ended my life,” he said, adding that a phone call and the arrival of police officers at his house stopped him from pulling the trigger.

He denied any involvement in the killings and said he wanted to clear his name, stressing that he was the one who provided police with crucial information that helped advance the investigation.

Neng also defended Huai Yai police, saying officers had worked tirelessly and successfully solved the case. He said Pong deserved the harshest possible punishment for the alleged murders.

Authorities have not accused Neng of involvement in the killings, and the investigation remains ongoing.

Bangkok asks public to stop food handouts on Ratchadamnoen to curb homeless gatherings

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4 August 2026, 18:50

BANGKOK — Bangkok authorities have asked the public to stop distributing free food along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road, saying the practice has contributed to growing gatherings of homeless people following recent fights that raised public safety concerns.

The measure took effect on Tuesday after officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), police and the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security inspected the area.

Gen. Niphat Thonglek, chief adviser to Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt, said food donations made with good intentions had become a key factor drawing homeless people to the area to wait for handouts.

He said the gatherings had led to problems including disorder, littering, blocked walkways, violent altercations and safety concerns for residents and visitors.

Authorities have designated the area as a surveillance zone and will increase patrols by municipal officers and police, particularly from 18:00 until the following morning, when homeless people typically begin gathering. Mobile patrol units will also monitor the area.

The BMA will install signs informing the public of regulations under the Public Cleanliness and Orderliness Act and enforce the law against violations. It is also urging residents and charitable groups not to stop their vehicles to distribute food along Ratchadamnoen Klang Road until further notice.

Niphat said the city’s objective was not to drive homeless people away without support but to encourage them to use Baan Imjai, a BMA shelter that provides accommodation, meals and access to social services.

He described Ratchadamnoen Road as “the country’s living room” and said it should remain clean, orderly and safe for the public, tourists and young people.

Pol. Gen. Adis Ngamjitsuksri, another adviser to the Bangkok governor, urged donors to channel food assistance through Baan Imjai or one of the Food Banks operated by Bangkok’s 50 district offices.

He said the system would ensure food reached those in need while reducing homeless gatherings in public spaces and improving safety for pedestrians and road users.

Thailand’s first moon mission to launch Thai-made payload

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4 August 2026, 17:52

Thailand's first moon mission to launch Thai-made payload

BANGKOK — Thailand is preparing for a historic step in space exploration, with a Thai-designed and developed scientific payload set to travel to the Moon as part of China’s Chang’e 7 mission on 24 August 2026.

Yotsanan Wongsawat, deputy prime minister and minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, announced the country’s readiness on 4 August during a press conference titled “Thailand’s First Mission to Explore the Moon.”

The CE-7 MATCH scientific payload, developed by Thai researchers and engineers at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), will be one of seven international scientific instruments carried by the Chang’e 7 mission.

The launch of the Long March-5 Y14 rocket carrying the Chang’e 7 spacecraft will be broadcast live from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China’s Hainan province on 24 August.

The mission marks the first time a Thai-developed scientific payload has passed international standards and been selected to participate in a major global lunar exploration mission.

Yotsanan said the achievement was more than a scientific milestone, describing it as evidence of Thailand’s progress in developing human capital and moving towards an innovation-driven economy.

The mission will involve operating in an orbit approximately 200 kilometres above the Moon’s surface, presenting significant technical challenges while creating opportunities to develop advanced engineering expertise and strengthen Thailand’s emerging space economy.

The CE-7 MATCH instrument will monitor space conditions and measure cosmic radiation while studying the relationship between Earth, the Sun and the Moon. It is expected to conduct continuous observations of solar storms over the next three years.

The data could contribute to monitoring and warning systems for satellites around the world, while helping develop Thai engineers with expertise in space-grade technology.

Yotsanan said the most important outcome of the Thailand Moonshot mission was not only the scientific instrument itself but also the development of people.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Education are working together to broadcast the historic launch to more than 3 million young people across Thailand.

The initiative will also partner with Sea (Thailand), using digital platforms with more than 20 million users to expand access to STEM education and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology.

Education Minister Akaranan Kannkittinan said the Ministry of Education had long promoted STEM learning, but the greater goal was to create inspiration among young people.

The mission would show Thai children that technology developed by Thai people could achieve global recognition and reach the Moon, encouraging them to dream bigger and potentially become world-class scientists in the future, he said.

NARIT director Wiphu Rujopakan said the CE-7 MATCH instrument would measure cosmic radiation and study the Earth-Sun-Moon relationship, supporting preparations for the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS) in the future.

He said the mission demonstrated that Thai technology had successfully passed international standards and earned a place in a major global lunar exploration programme.

“The most valuable outcome of this mission is not only the instrument itself, but the potential of Thai people who have grown through the challenge,” Wiphu said.

Thai PBS director Wanchai Tantiwitthayaphitak said the broadcaster would provide live coverage from the Wenchang launch site on 24 August, including real-time mission analysis by experts.

Thai PBS will also create an online learning hub featuring news, in-depth articles and videos about the mission and space exploration.

Meanwhile, Sea (Thailand) senior director Sarut Wanichphan said the company would expand access to STEM learning through its digital platforms.

Information about the CE-7 MATCH mission and the Chang’e 7 launch will be shared through Shopee, while Garena Free Fire’s Craftland mode will feature an “Into the Universe” themed map where users can explore and participate in a real-time launch countdown.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation has invited the public, young people and schools nationwide to watch the live broadcast of the Chang’e 7 launch and the CE-7 MATCH mission on 24 August.

The broadcast will be available through NARIT, the Ministry of Education, Thai PBS and Thai PBS Sci & Tech Facebook pages, as well as NARIT Thailand and OBEC Channel on YouTube.

Additional mission updates and educational activities will be shared through NARIT, the Ministry of Education and Shopee Thailand throughout the mission.

Anutin says peace in Myanmar crucial to ASEAN

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4 August 2026, 17:26

JAKARTA, Indonedia — Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said Thailand’s push for a gradual re-engagement with Myanmar is beginning to show results, pointing to the recent visit by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to detained former Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi as a positive development.

Speaking at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Tuesday, Anutin outlined Thailand’s vision for ASEAN’s future, telling diplomats that the bloc must preserve its unity while responding more effectively to regional challenges. More than 100 ambassadors, permanent representatives and diplomats attended the address.

On Myanmar, Anutin reaffirmed that ASEAN’s Five-Point Consensus remains the bloc’s main framework for addressing the crisis, while arguing that the association should continue its policy of “calibrated re-engagement” with Myanmar’s authorities.

He said the approach seeks to keep dialogue channels open, maintain engagement with stakeholders and respond to realities on the ground while encouraging tangible progress.

“The approach appears to be moving in the right direction,” Anutin said, referring to Monday’s ICRC visit to Aung San Suu Kyi, which marked the first known access granted to the humanitarian organization since her detention. He said Thailand had consistently advocated for such engagement and hoped to see further positive developments.

Anutin said a peaceful and stable Myanmar was not only in Thailand’s national interest as a neighboring country but also essential to ASEAN unity and regional stability.

The prime minister also said Thailand and Cambodia had agreed to restore mutual trust and continue bilateral dialogue, adding that Thailand remained committed to resolving differences peacefully and in accordance with international law.

Beyond Myanmar, Anutin proposed three priorities for ASEAN: strengthening regionalism, building greater resilience against geopolitical and economic uncertainty, and ensuring the bloc delivers tangible benefits to its people.

He said ASEAN should reinforce supply chain, food and energy security, accelerate digital connectivity and deepen cooperation with middle powers and countries in the Global South to preserve the region’s strategic autonomy.

Anutin noted that his speech at the ASEAN Secretariat was the first by a Thai prime minister in 17 years. He said ASEAN’s 60th anniversary next year would provide an opportunity to chart a new course for the regional bloc, with Thailand ready to play a leading role.

Seven giant sinkholes open up in Khon Kaen farmland

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4 August 2026, 16:38

Seven giant sinkholes open up in Khon Kaen farmland

KHON KAEN — Seven large sinkholes have emerged in farmland in Phu Pha Man district, Khon Kaen province, alarming local residents and prompting authorities to investigate the cause.

The sinkholes were reported on 4 August 2026 in Ban Wang Charoen, Village 2, Huai Muang subdistrict, in an agricultural area used by local residents.

An initial survey found seven sinkholes at the site. Each hole was reportedly large and deep, with signs that the affected areas could continue to expand.

The incident has caused concern among residents, who fear further ground collapses in the area.

Phu Pha Man district chief Siwakorn Mitrat assigned senior district official Prachuap Chitkhum to inspect the site alongside Khompet Kornsิง, chief executive of the Huai Muang Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, and community leaders.

The affected area is approximately 12 kilometres from Phu Pha Man cliff and the district centre.

Authorities said tourist attractions in the area remain safe and have not been affected by the incident.

Officials are continuing to inspect the site and assess the situation.

Source: Thawatchai Kraisorn

Old fuel tank explodes during demolition in Ubon, 3 hurt

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4 August 2026, 16:20

Old fuel tank explodes during demolition in Ubon, 3 hurt

UBON RATCHATHANI — 4 August 2026, An old fuel tank exploded while it was being dismantled at a petrol station in front of Samrong Hospital in Samrong district on Tuesday afternoon, injuring three people.

The explosion occurred as workers were carrying out demolition work on an old fuel tank at a petrol station in the area.

Three people were injured in the blast, which also alarmed residents and people in the surrounding area.

Emergency medical and rescue teams rushed to the scene to assess the situation and assist those affected. Authorities cordoned off the area as a precaution before taking all three injured people to hospital for treatment.

Details of their conditions have not yet been released.

Initial inspections indicated that the explosion occurred during the dismantling of the old fuel tank. Authorities suspect that flammable fuel vapour may have remained inside the tank, potentially triggering the blast.

Officials are investigating the scene and collecting evidence to determine the exact cause of the explosion.

The incident was reported by volunteers from the Boonwipha Fire and Rescue Base.

Thailand welcomes 18.5 million foreign tourists in first seven months of 2026

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4 August 2026, 15:44

BANGKOK — Thailand welcomed more than 18.5 million foreign tourists between 1 January and 1 August, generating nearly 900 billion baht in tourism revenue despite a slight decline in visitor numbers from the same period last year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports said.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said Thailand recorded 18,510,243 international arrivals between 1 January and 1 August, down 3.19% year-on-year. Foreign visitors generated 896.2 billion baht in tourism revenue during the period.

China remained Thailand’s largest source market with 3,078,486 visitors, followed by Malaysia (2,373,537), India (1,376,433), Russia (1,100,847) and South Korea (679,064).

During the latest reporting week, from 26 July to 1 August, Thailand received 567,312 foreign visitors, down 2.92% from the previous week, or an average of 81,045 arrivals per day.

The ministry attributed the decline mainly to weaker arrivals from short-haul markets following reports of unrest in Thailand’s southern border provinces and reduced airline capacity on India-Thailand routes, where seat capacity fell 28.6% year-on-year.

Long-haul markets, particularly Europe, continued to grow, supported by new flight connections, including Dubai–Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Amsterdam–Suvarnabhumi services.

South Korean arrivals increased 19.85% from the previous week, driven by family travel during the country’s summer school holidays, making South Korea Thailand’s fourth-largest source market for the week.

Family to conduct second autopsy for Hlun Solo after body returns to Thailand

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4 August 2026, 14:47

BANGKOK — The family of Thai travel creator Hlun Solo said they will arrange a second autopsy after his body is returned from Georgia before holding funeral rites in Thailand.

In an update posted on Monday evening, Hlun Solo’s elder brother said the family plans to send the body to the Central Institute of Forensic Science under Thailand’s Ministry of Justice for an additional examination to ensure all procedures are completed thoroughly and transparently.

The family expects the process to take one to two days after the body arrives in Thailand before funeral rites are held at the family’s home.

Details of the funeral schedule, including the date, time and venue, will be announced once arrangements have been finalized.

The family also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support received following the death of the popular YouTuber, who died in Georgia while filming travel content.

They specifically thanked Chulalongkorn University President Wilert Puriwat, Political Science Dean Pakorn Siriprapob, the Faculty of Political Science and the Rural Scholarship Program for offering to host the first night of funeral prayers.

Responding to inquiries from supporters wishing to help, the family said it would welcome donations of equipment and supplies needed for the funeral, including tents, tables, chairs, fans, sound systems, lighting, portable toilets, drinking water and other essential items.

The family stressed that it was not seeking financial contributions but wanted to give those who wished to pay their final respects an opportunity to support the funeral according to their means.

Hlun Solo, one of Thailand’s best-known travel content creators, died in Georgia while on a filming trip. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by Georgian authorities.

Cambodian woman arrested for selling pork outside work permit in Sa Kaeo

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4 August 2026, 13:39

SA KAEO — Immigration police in Sa Kaeo have arrested a Cambodian woman for allegedly working outside the conditions of her work permit after finding her selling fresh pork at a municipal market.

The operation was carried out by Sa Kaeo Immigration Police in cooperation with the provincial employment office during an inspection of foreign workers at Sa Kaeo Municipal Fresh Market in Muang district.

Officers found the 33-year-old Cambodian national selling fresh pork and asked to inspect her documents. Authorities said she held a valid Cambodian passport and was legally permitted to remain in Thailand until 2027.

However, an inspection of her work permit found that she was authorized to work only as a laborer. Selling fresh pork was deemed to be outside the scope of employment permitted under her work authorization.

She was charged with working without a valid work permit or performing work beyond the conditions authorized under Thailand’s law governing the employment of foreign workers.

The suspect was taken to Muang Sa Kaeo Police Station for legal proceedings.

Sa Kaeo Immigration Police said inspections of foreign workers will continue across the province, warning that authorities will take legal action against employers and migrant workers found violating the conditions of work permits or other labor regulations.

Chinese man jailed 46 years over Pattaya weapons cache

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4 August 2026, 12:47

PATTAYA — 4 August 2026, Chinese national Mingchen Sun has been sentenced to 46 years in prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a cache of military-grade weapons, C4 explosives and signal-jamming equipment in Pattaya.

The Pattaya Provincial Court delivered its ruling on Sunday in the case against Mingchen Sun, who was charged with unlawfully possessing firearms, ammunition, explosives, military equipment and radio communication devices.

Police seized the items on 8 May, including Glock 9mm pistols, M4 and M16 rifles, ammunition, magazines, C4 high explosives, bomb-making components, bulletproof vests, radio signal jammers and communication devices.

Sun admitted all charges during the trial. The court found that the offences involved multiple violations of the firearms, military equipment control and radio communications laws.

While his guilty plea was considered beneficial to the proceedings, the court said the scale and nature of the weapons cache posed a serious threat to public safety and national security. It reduced the sentence by one-third before imposing a total prison term of 44 years and 24 months, equivalent to 46 years.

A second defendant denied the charges. The court temporarily removed that case from its docket, giving prosecutors 15 days to file a new case and ordering the defendant held in custody pending further proceedings.

The court also ordered the confiscation of all seized items, including firearms, ammunition, explosives, body armour, chemical-protection masks, signal-jamming equipment, remote-control transmitters and other military gear.

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