Ministry of Commerce Unveils “Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo 2026,” Showcasing 1,000+ Sustainable Products from 76 Provinces

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13 August 2026, 11:44

The Ministry of Commerce is moving forward with the “Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo 2026,” showcasing more than 1,000 sustainable and environmentally friendly products from 76 provinces nationwide. The Expo reflects the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening local businesses, expanding market opportunities, and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Expo builds on the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) Economy Model, focusing on creating greater product value through local identity, innovation, and creativity, enhancing entrepreneurs’ competitiveness, and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The Expo will feature more than 200 booths showcasing products across key categories, including food and beverages, fashion and accessories, textiles and apparel, household products and furniture, and health and beauty products. The showcase highlights Thai local wisdom, creativity, innovation, and sustainable production.

A key highlight is the Business Matching program, connecting local producers with department stores, hotels, major retailers, and international business partners. The Ministry aims to generate at least THB 500 million in economic value and help Thai products access wider domestic and international markets.

The Expo will also feature sustainability talks, hands-on workshops, live music, and interactive activities to inspire the public and demonstrate how sustainability can create both environmental and economic opportunities.

The Ministry of Commerce invites retailers, buyers, distributors, business operators, and the public to explore and experience the Thailand Local SDGs Plus Expo 2026 — a showcase of Thai creativity, local potential, sustainable products, and new business opportunities.

Thai-Australian artist RICEWINE dies at 27 in road accident

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13 August 2026, 11:27

Thai-Australian artist RICEWINE dies at 27 in road accident

VICTORIA, Australia — 10 August 2026, Talae Rodden, better known by his stage name RICEWINE, a Thai-Australian artist from Melbourne, Australia, has died at the age of 27 after a tragic road accident on Mount Buller Road in Victoria.

Talae was travelling with his mother, Sally, who was driving, when a large tree branch suddenly fell onto their car.

Emergency responders and medical teams rushed to the scene to provide assistance, but Talae died before he could be taken to hospital. His mother sustained serious injuries in the accident.

For fans in Thailand, Talae, or RICEWINE, was a familiar name in the local indie music scene. He had performed in Thailand several times, including a show in Chiang Mai and an appearance at the Maho Rasop Festival 2024.

RICEWINE was a music project created by Talae, blending indie pop, lo-fi, hip-hop and folk into an emotive and distinctive sound.

His songs, including “Summer Spent”, “Maybe”, “Photo” and “Already Gone”, earned him a following among indie music fans in Australia and overseas.

His death at the age of 27 has prompted an outpouring of grief among fans and those who had followed his music in Thailand and beyond.

Six injured in shotgun attack at Korat fair

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13 August 2026, 11:16

NAKHON RATCHASIMA — 12 August 2026, six people were injured after a group of assailants allegedly used knives and a homemade shotgun at a local fair in Dan Khun Thot district late Wednesday night.

The shooting occurred at about 22:30 near the Phor Khun Thot Monument, where the “Chim Shop Chai” food-and-shopping event was being held. Police intervened and later detained one suspect, while others fled the scene.

Rescue workers took the injured to Luang Pho Khun Parisuttho Dan Khun Thot Hospital. Some seriously injured victims were transferred to Maharat Nakhon Ratchasima Hospital.

Event organiser Prakob Patithin said the group attacked people with knives before firing a Thai-made shotgun loaded with “luk roi” ammunition, which disperses pellets widely when fired. The attack came as vendors were packing up at the end of the event.

The injured included a man with knife wounds to his back and finger; another man shot in the back and injured in the right arm; a seriously injured man struck by 13 pellets across his body and arm; a woman shot twice in the leg and hit in the back by pellet fragments; another woman shot in the left arm; and a man with nine shotgun wounds in the back.

Police said their preliminary investigation indicated the dispute began when the suspects allegedly tried to steal a parked motorcycle. The owner reportedly confronted them and, with help from the event organiser, detained one of them.

One suspect then allegedly escaped, returned with friends armed with knives and a shotgun, and carried out the attack.

Dan Khun Thot police are questioning the detained suspect and have sent forensic officers to test him for gunshot residue. Officers are continuing to search for the remaining suspects.

Thai woman missing in Japan since January 2025

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13 August 2026, 10:48

The Mirror Foundation has appealed for information on the whereabouts of a Thai woman missing in Japan since January 2025.

The foundation’s Missing Persons Search Team announced the case on 12 August 2026, identifying the missing woman as Pornsawan Pongsawat, also known by her nickname “Maprao”.

Pornsawan, now 32, was 31 when she disappeared. She was last seen on 24 January 2025 near the student dormitories of the University of Miyazaki in Miyazaki City, Japan.

She is approximately 160 centimetres tall and weighs around 58 kilogrammes, with a medium build. She has fair skin and long dark brown hair, with a mole on the left side of her lip. She has pierced ears and wears one upper denture.

The Mirror Foundation is asking anyone who may have information about Pornsawan’s whereabouts or disappearance to contact its Missing Persons Search Team.

Information can be provided by telephone at +66 80 775 2673, via WhatsApp at +66 63 313 8958, LINE ID 0633138958, or by email at [email protected].

Indian tourist injured after jet ski accident at Patong Beach

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13 August 2026, 10:27

PHUKET — 12 August 2026, A 24-year-old Indian tourist was injured after falling in a jet ski accident at Patong Beach, with rescuers later taking him to Patong Hospital for treatment.

A Facebook user named “Chue Luang Niren” posted a video showing Patong Beach lifeguards rushing to assist the injured tourist, along with a message saying: “Urgent rescue as tourist falls from jet ski and is injured.”

According to the post, the tourist, identified as Mr. Jagga Hardik, 24, had rented a jet ski off Patong Beach in Patong subdistrict, Kathu district, Phuket.

While he was riding the jet ski, the watercraft struck his leg, causing him to fall into the water and suffer an injury.

Patong Beach lifeguards who witnessed the incident immediately moved in to assist and bring the tourist back to shore. The incident occurred at around 18:30 on 12 August.

The Facebook user, who operates a taxi queue in the area, then called the 1669 emergency medical hotline to request assistance.

At around 19:30, rescue workers from the Kusoldharm Phuket Foundation arrived at the scene. They provided first aid before transporting Hardik to Patong Hospital for medical examination and treatment.

Initial checks found that the tourist was unable to walk. Rescue workers therefore used a stretcher to carry him from the beach.

The exact nature and severity of his leg injury remained pending further medical examination.

Human skeleton found on Khon Kaen mountain as police seek identity

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13 August 2026, 09:58

Human skeleton found on Khon Kaen mountain as police seek identity

KHON KAEN — 12 August 2026, A human skeleton was found scattered among rocks on Phu Pha Daeng in Manjakiri district of Khon Kaen province, prompting police to seek relatives of the deceased.

The remains were discovered by villagers collecting forest products on the mountain in Ban Khok Sung, Nangam subdistrict, at around 17:00 on 12 August.

Pol Col Theerathat Phongsuwan, superintendent of Manjakiri Police Station, led police investigators, forensic officers, rescue workers and a doctor from Manjakiri Hospital to inspect the scene after being notified by the villagers.

Officers found human remains scattered on the ground and among gaps in the rocks. The remains appeared to include most parts of a body, including a skull, a section of scalp with hair, a lower jaw, arm and leg bones and parts of the spine. A pelvis has not yet been found.

A brown blanket with a bear cartoon pattern and clothing believed to have belonged to the deceased were also found nearby. The clothing included a black shirt with the English word “DRIVE” printed across the chest. No trousers or skirt, or shoes, were found.

Police said they were initially unable to determine the person’s identity, sex or age.

During the investigation, officers interviewed villagers who had been collecting forest products in the area. One villager, identified as Tao, said he had seen a young man with golden-highlighted hair resembling the hair found with the remains.

The man was believed to have been around 20 to 30 years old. The villager did not know his name but said he was from Kaeng Khro district in neighbouring Chaiyaphum province. He was reportedly seen in the area about a year ago.

Police said the information was consistent with the lower jaw found at the scene, which was relatively small and appeared to belong to a young adult. However, the information has yet to be confirmed.

All recovered skeletal remains have been collected and sent to Srinagarind Hospital for forensic examination and identification.

Manjakiri police are appealing to anyone who may have information about a missing person matching the description to contact Manjakiri Police Station or Manjakiri Hospital so that the remains can eventually be handed over to the family for a religious funeral.

Factory worker shot in forehead in Ayutthaya; police trace two motorcyclists

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13 August 2026, 09:34

AYUTTHAYA — 13 August 2026, a 33-year-old factory worker was critically injured after being shot in the forehead beside Rojana Road in Bang Pa-in district shortly after midnight.

Police said the man, identified as Ballang Buathong from Suphan Buri province, was found unconscious on a pavement outside a used-car garage in Sam Ruean subdistrict at about 00:10. Rescue workers gave first aid and performed CPR before he was taken to Ratchathani Hospital.

A witness told police that two motorcycles carrying young men in similar-looking clothing arrived shortly before a single gunshot was heard. Both motorcycles then sped away.

CCTV footage reviewed by Khaosod English shows a man in a red shirt riding against traffic towards the scene with Ballang as his passenger. Ballang was wearing a factory uniform and carrying a yellow shoulder bag.

After Ballang got off the motorcycle, another motorcycle arrived behind them. Its rider, who was wearing a dark-blue uniform potentially from the same factory, pulled out a gun and shot Ballang at close range.

3 bright web — Ballang (centre) was shot within seconds of the second motorcycle approaching. Just before the shooting, he appears to clutch his bag or reach for an item.

The man in the red shirt then turned his motorcycle around and headed towards Uthai district, while the suspected gunman fled in the same direction.

Investigators said CCTV footage also appeared to show the suspected gunman handing the firearm to the man in red before the pair rode away. Police said they are examining whether the man in red was involved in the attack or had merely brought Ballang to the scene.

Bang Pa-in police chief Col Phiphob Naputra said officers were reviewing nearby CCTV footage and questioning witnesses to establish the relationship between the two men and the injured worker. Police have not ruled out the possibility that they knew each other before the shooting.

Thailand U17 women beat Poland 3-1 to reach volleyball world top eight

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13 August 2026, 09:11

Thailand’s U17 women’s volleyball team, after fighting until the final match to secure a place in the last 16, produced a strong performance to beat Poland in a thrilling four-set contest and advance to the quarter-finals of the world championship.

The 2026 FIVB Volleyball Girls’ U17 World Championship is being held in Santiago, Chile. In the last-16 round on 13 August, Thailand, who finished fourth in Group A, faced Poland, the winners of Group C.

Thailand made an excellent start, taking a 2-0 lead after winning the opening two sets 25-19 and 25-21. Poland, however, adjusted their tactics effectively and fought back to win the third set 25-10, cutting Thailand’s lead to 2-1.

The fourth set was a closely fought affair, with the teams trading points and the lead throughout. The score was level at 20-20 before Thailand edged ahead to claim a thrilling 25-23 victory.

Thailand’s U17 women therefore defeated Poland 3-1 (25-19, 25-21, 10-25, 25-23) to book their place in the quarter-finals, where they will face Taiwan.

Poland, meanwhile, will drop into the 9th-16th classification round, where they will meet Venezuela.

Air India captain tests positive for cannabis after flight plunge

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12 August 2026, 17:32

Air India captain tests positive for cannabis after flight plunge

NEW DELHI — The captain of an Air India flight from Phuket to New Delhi has tested positive for cannabis after the aircraft suddenly lost about 300 feet in altitude last week, an incident that left 17 people injured.

On 12 August, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation summoned Air India Chief Executive Officer Campbell Wilson to provide an explanation over the incident involving an Airbus A320neo.

Neither Air India nor India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation has responded to requests for comment. Wilson, however, told several media outlets that the airline had already reported updates from its investigation into the incident to the ministry.

The summons came days after Indian authorities launched an investigation into the incident, which left 13 passengers and four crew members injured.

The Indian government previously said the flight, which departed from the Thai tourist destination of Phuket, experienced a “momentary change in altitude” while flying over Odisha state in eastern India.

The aircraft was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members and later landed safely in New Delhi.

On Sunday, 9 August, India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation said an initial screening of the captain for psychoactive substances had produced a result that required laboratory confirmation.

However, Air India said it had not yet been informed of the test results.

Air India is currently majority-owned by Tata Group, while Singapore Airlines holds a stake of about 25%.

Source: CNA

Thailand U17 women advance to volleyball World Championship last 16

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12 August 2026, 16:55

Thailand U17 women advance to volleyball World Championship last 16

Thailand’s U17 women’s national volleyball team secured a place in the last 16 of the FIVB U17 Women’s Volleyball World Championship after defeating Egypt 3-0 in their final group-stage match in Santiago, Chile, on 12 August.

Thailand won 25-15, 25-20, 25-20 to finish fourth in Group A and advance to the knockout stage.

The Thai team played five matches in the group stage, recording two wins and three defeats.

Thailand will face Group C winners Poland in the last 16 on 13 August at 07:00.

Six Asian teams have reached the last 16: Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, the Philippines and Taiwan.

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