Black wastewater flows into sea at Jomtien Beach after heavy rain

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4 July 2026, 16:32

CHONBURI — 4 July 2026, Heavy rain in Chonburi triggered environmental concerns on Saturday after black wastewater was seen flowing from a drainage pipe into the sea at Jomtien Beach in Pattaya.

The incident drew public attention after Chonburi MP Thanatharn Pramoonpong posted a video showing dark water being discharged into the sea, raising concerns over pollution and the impact on Pattaya’s tourism image.

Reporters later inspected the area near tourist boat ramp A, opposite Siam Commercial Bank on Jomtien Beach, and found black water was still flowing from the drainage pipe into the sea, although the volume had begun to decrease after the rain stopped.

Local boat operators said the problem occurs repeatedly during heavy rain and has affected their work, as runoff from the pipe has eroded part of the boat ramp, making it difficult to move boats in and out of the water.

They called on Pattaya City and relevant agencies to find a permanent solution, saying the recurring discharge not only affects operators but also damages the image of one of the city’s main tourist beaches.

The blackwater incident came as heavy rain also caused damage elsewhere in Chonburi. In Si Racha district, part of a wall at a factory under construction reportedly collapsed, allowing large amounts of foam packaging waste to spill into nearby communities.

Residents said the foam fragments were scattered through streets and drainage areas, prompting concerns over environmental damage and calls for a thorough clean-up and investigation into the construction site.

Authorities have been urged to inspect both incidents and ensure measures are taken to prevent similar problems during future heavy rain.

Village wall collapses in Chonburi after foam waste washed into homes

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4 July 2026, 15:10

CHONBURI — 4 July 2026, A village wall in Sriracha district collapsed on Saturday morning after heavy overnight rain washed large amounts of foam waste from a nearby waste-sorting site into a residential area.

The incident occurred at Boonraksa View 2 village in Moo 7, Bo Win subdistrict. Local officials said floodwater carried foam debris, believed to come from old refrigerators and freezers, from a waste-sorting area next to the village into the housing estate, scattering the material across the area and affecting several households.

Officials from the Bo Win Subdistrict Administrative Organisation and related agencies inspected the scene, cleared foam debris and opened drainage channels to ease the flooding. Authorities are also preparing to survey the damage.

Arthit Inprasit, chairman of Boonraksa View 2 village, said the land behind the village is privately owned and has been divided into rental plots. He said a foreign operator had rented part of the area long-term to run a waste-sorting business involving old refrigerators and freezers.

According to Arthit, after valuable parts were removed from the appliances, large amounts of foam waste were left piled up on the site. When heavy rain hit the area overnight, floodwater swept the foam into a large mass, which pressed against the rear wall of the village until it collapsed along a long section.

Water then poured into residents’ homes. At least one house was damaged, while several households were affected by floodwater and foam debris entering their living areas.

Arthit said the village has faced regular flooding during heavy rain in the past, but nothing as severe as this incident. He believes the large accumulation of foam waste was a major factor, as the material absorbed water and was pushed by the flood current with enough force to damage the wall.

Residents are calling on authorities to investigate the waste-sorting operation, including whether its waste storage and disposal practices comply with the law. They also urged officials to assess the damage and introduce measures to prevent a similar incident from happening again.

Mother remembers monk son killed during pilgrimage in Mukdahan crash

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4 July 2026, 11:25

KHON KAEN — 4 July 2026, The mother of a Khon Kaen monk who died after being struck by a pickup truck allegedly driven by an 11-year-old boy in Mukdahan says her son had found purpose in the monkhood after surviving a serious accident years earlier.

Phra Khamsing Chailert, 41, died while walking with a group of monks on a tudong, a Buddhist pilgrimage. His mother, Panja Chailert, 69, said the death of her youngest son has left the family struggling to cope.

Speaking at her home in Ban Pong Daeng, in Khon Kaen’s Phu Wiang district, Panja said Phra Khamsing had been ordained during Buddhist Lent (Khao Phansa) in 2025. Before entering the monkhood, he had survived a serious accident that required medical treatment, but she said his body and some of his abilities had never fully returned to normal.

She said her son later became close to Phra Yongyuth, a monk who had come to stay at the village temple. Phra Yongyuth asked for her permission for Khamsing to be ordained and promised to take care of him.

Panja said she was worried about her son’s condition, but Khamsing also wanted to enter the monkhood, so she agreed.

After his ordination, she said, Phra Khamsing often travelled with Phra Yongyuth on tudong trips to different places, and they had always returned safely.

Before the latest trip, Phra Khamsing visited his mother at home and told her he would join another pilgrimage before returning to the village temple for Buddhist Lent.

“I was worried, so I asked him, ‘Can’t you stay, my son?’” she said. “He answered, ‘I won’t die.’ After that, he didn’t say anything more and left with the group for Mukdahan.”

Panja said she was shocked when she learned her son had been involved in a crash. She felt weak and overwhelmed, and asked her husband to call Phra Yongyuth, but there was no answer. She later learned that Phra Yongyuth had also been injured in the crash.

A nephew who had travelled with the pilgrimage group later told the family he had tried to hold Phra Khamsing after the crash. He said the monk was covered in blood and gasped three times before falling silent at the scene.

Panja said she believes her son may have died at the site of the crash.

She also said that on the night after the accident, dogs at the temple howled throughout the night. Panja said she believes her son may have returned to the temple rather than to his parents’ home, after she had already wished for him to go peacefully to a better place.

Lisa returns to Bangkok for major Shiseido event

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4 July 2026, 10:01

Lisa Manobal returned to Thailand for SHISEIDO ULTIMUNE Studio: LISA’S BACKSTAGE, a major Asia-Pacific event hosted by the beauty brand at CentralWorld.

Lisa, who serves as SHISEIDO’s Global Ambassador, drew large crowds of fans to the venue, with many arriving early to secure spots inside the event area and along Ratchadamri Road for a glimpse of the Thai superstar. Her mother also attended the event to show support.

The event was joined by Win Metawin, Friend of SHISEIDO Thailand, along with Ann Thongprasom, Amy Thasorn, Bonnie Pattraphat, and two members of BUS, PHUTATCHAI and PEEMWASU. KOLs from nine other countries also attended.

Speaking to fans at the event, Lisa thanked them for waiting and supporting her.

“Did you wait long? Sorry. Thank you for coming to see me,” she said.

Lisa also spoke about several of her major moments in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup and the Met Gala, and asked fans to stay tuned for her next major event.

She also shared her beauty routine, naming ULTIMUNE as one of her favourite items. Lisa said she uses it morning and evening, as well as before applying makeup, and has gone through several bottles, making it a regular item in her bag.

Before leaving, Lisa invited fans to visit SHISEIDO ULTIMUNE Studio: LISA’S BACKSTAGE, saying the Bangkok event was even bigger than the one held in Japan.

Former Thai SEA Games sprint gold medallist dies in motorcycle crash

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3 July 2026, 17:15

Former Thai SEA Games sprint gold medallist dies in motorcycle crash

BANGKOK — 3 July 2026, Former Thai sprinter and two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Apisit Promkaew has died after a motorcycle crash in Pathum Thani.

Thailand’s athletics community is mourning the loss of Apisit, a former national sprinter and SEA Games champion, who was killed late Thursday near his residence in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province.

According to Pol. Maj. Gen. Surapong Ariyamongkol, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Athletics Association of Thailand, Apisit’s motorcycle crashed into an electricity pole. He suffered a fatal neck injury and was pronounced dead shortly afterwards.

His family is arranging to transport his body to his hometown in Phatthalung province for funeral rites. The Athletics Association of Thailand said it will host one night of funeral prayers.

News of his death prompted an outpouring of grief from Thailand’s athletics community, with former teammates, fellow athletes, relatives and friends sharing tributes and condolences on social media.

Apisit represented Thailand in the men’s 4×100-metre relay and won gold medals at two consecutive Southeast Asian Games: the 27th edition in Myanmar in 2013 and the 28th edition in Singapore in 2015.

Thailand plans standalone Sports Ministry by 2027

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3 July 2026, 16:45

Thailand plans standalone Sports Ministry by 2027

BANGKOK — 2 July 2026, Thailand is moving ahead with plans to establish a standalone Ministry of Sports, while merging tourism responsibilities with the Ministry of Culture under a major government restructuring.

Sports and Tourism Minister Surasak Phancharoenworakul said that the reform, proposed under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, has made significant progress since he took office.

Speaking to sports reporters, Surasak said the Office of the Public Sector Development Commission (OPDC) is expected to submit the framework for Cabinet approval at the meeting on 7 July 2026.

Under the proposal, the existing Ministry of Tourism and Sports would be split, with sports becoming a separate ministry. Tourism would be merged with the Ministry of Culture to form the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Surasak said the original roadmap envisioned the restructuring taking three years, but the process has moved much faster than expected.

While the new Sports Ministry could be established by the end of 2026, he believes a launch in 2027 is more realistic.

If approved, the reform would make sports a dedicated government portfolio while aligning tourism with cultural policy under a single ministry.

Ancient inscribed gold ring found at Phetchaburi site

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3 July 2026, 16:05

Ancient inscribed gold ring found at Phetchaburi site

PETCHABURI — 2 July 2026, The Fine Arts Department has uncovered two more ancient gold rings, including one bearing a rare Brahmi inscription, during excavations at the Don Yai Thong archaeological site.

Director-General Phanombut Chantarachot said that archaeologists were recovering human skeletons and artefacts from the site after rising groundwater, salinity and seasonal rain threatened to damage the fragile remains.

During the operation, the team discovered two gold rings associated with Skeleton No. 4.

One ring is engraved with an ancient Brahmi inscription and is believed to have served as a signet ring. Preliminary analysis by experts from Silpakorn University and the Fine Arts Department dates the inscription to the 5th–7th Buddhist centuries, or about 1,900–2,100 years ago.

The inscription is read as “Pusrakhitasa”, meaning “belonging to Pusrakhita” or “protected by the Pushya star”. Archaeologists believe the ring’s owner may have belonged to the Vaishya (merchant) caste.

The second gold ring has no decorative design.

Similar Brahmi inscriptions have previously been found on seals and jewellery at archaeological sites in Krabi and Chumphon, highlighting early trade and cultural links between the Indian subcontinent and present-day Thailand.

Both rings have been transferred to Phra Nakhon Khiri National Museum for conservation and further study.

The Fine Arts Department said excavation and recovery work will continue over the coming month before the site is closed and preliminary findings are presented to the public in an exhibition showcasing artefacts recovered from Don Yai Thong.

Venezuela quake survivor rescued after 8 days under 140 tonnes of rubble

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3 July 2026, 15:04

APTOPIX Venezuela Earthquake — Rescue workers attend to Hernán Alberto Gil Flores after he was pulled from the rubble eight days after he was trapped by twin earthquakes that struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

CATIA LA MAR, Venezuela — 3 July 2026, A Venezuelan security guard has been rescued alive after spending eight days trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building following last week’s devastating twin earthquakes.

down1 — Rescue workers carry Hernán Alberto Gil Flores after he was pulled from the rubble eight days after he was trapped by twin earthquakes that struck Catia La Mar, Venezuela. A Chilean firefighter had earlier described the rescue operation as “without doubt the most complex and technically difficult which I’ve had to tackle”. (AP Photo)

The survivor, identified as Hernán Gil, was pulled from the ruins of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping centre in Catia La Mar after an operation that lasted more than 100 hours from the moment rescuers first detected signs that he was alive.

Rescue officials said Gil had been trapped beneath an estimated 140 tonnes of rubble after the building collapsed during the earthquakes on 24 June. Despite the length of time he spent underground, officials said he was in remarkably good condition.

down2 — Residents and rescue workers search through the rubble of buildings damaged in the earthquakes that struck La Guaira, Venezuela. A man has been rescued alive after being trapped for eight days in the rubble of a building that collapsed after twin earthquakes in Venezuela. (AP)

A Costa Rican Red Cross medic said Gil appeared to have survived because he had been inside a small concrete security booth in the basement car park when the building came down. The booth apparently formed a protective pocket around him, shielding him from the debris that collapsed above and around him.

One rescuer said Gil told the team he had not even suffered a broken or torn fingernail. Another described the operation as one of the most technically complex rescue missions he had ever faced.

Rescue teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States were involved in the effort. During the operation, crews sent Gil water, an IV drip, a face mask and protective goggles through a narrow opening as they worked to reach him.

Officials said the rescue tunnel collapsed several times, underscoring the danger faced by both Gil and the rescue workers. A small camera lowered into the rubble eventually captured Gil looking toward rescuers, one eye reddened and his face covered by a mask to protect him from dust.

Despite the ordeal, rescuers said Gil remained alert and even asked for his preferred flavour of electrolyte drink. A Mexican Red Cross worker said Gil helped encourage the rescue team, telling them he was glad they had returned to stay with him.

The rescue came as Venezuela continued to search for survivors following the 24 June earthquakes, which have killed more than 2,000 people, injured thousands more and left many others missing.

down4 — Rescue workers search through the rubble of a building destroyed by the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, Thursday, July 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

Thailand unveils global debut of ‘SHIELD’ technology to fight scam and trafficking

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3 July 2026, 14:40

Thailand unveils global debut of ‘SHIELD’ technology to fight scam and trafficking

BANGKOK — 3 July 2026, Thai police have unveiled a new technology platform dubbed “SHIELD”, describing it as the world’s first system developed specifically to combat transnational call centre scam syndicates and human trafficking networks through real-time international intelligence sharing.

The platform was launched on Friday at the Vithes Samosorn Hall inside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the closing ceremony of the second consultation meeting on preventing and suppressing human trafficking linked to cybercrime. The event was jointly organised by the Royal Thai Police and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bringing together frontline law enforcement officers and representatives from international organisations.

The ceremony was chaired by Social Development and Human Security Minister Nikorn Soemklang and attended by Pinsuda Jayanama, Director-General of the Department of International Organizations, Pol. Lt. Gen. Surapong Thanomchit, Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 8, Pol. Lt. Gen. Kritsada Kanjanalongkorn, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, representatives from law enforcement agencies in 11 countries and officials from several international organisations.

According to the Royal Thai Police, SHIELD is the first platform designed specifically to integrate intelligence against transnational call centre scams and human trafficking. The system enables participating agencies to exchange real-time information on scam compound locations, criminal financial networks, suspected offenders and trafficking victims, helping authorities coordinate investigations, rescue operations and cross-border enforcement more efficiently.

The launch comes as authorities continue to confront large-scale cyber scam operations linked to human trafficking networks operating across parts of Southeast Asia, particularly in border areas of Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. Thai authorities say these criminal groups have exploited victims from numerous countries, generating billions of dollars in illicit proceeds while using neighbouring countries as operational bases and regional transit routes.

In response, the Thai government has designated the suppression of call centre scams and human trafficking as a national agenda, directing relevant agencies to strengthen prevention, law enforcement and international cooperation.

The launch also builds on discussions held during the International Conference on Global Partnerships Against Cyber-Scamming, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok in December 2025, which brought together representatives from 67 countries, international organisations, the private sector and civil society to strengthen global cooperation against cyber-enabled crime.

To date, Thai police said SHIELD has already been adopted by partners in 10 countries: Australia, China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, the Philippines, South Korea, the United States and Vietnam.

Participating international organisations include the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Pol. Gen. Thatchai, who also serves as director of the Royal Thai Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Center and head of the UNODC-designated Anti-Call Center Crime and Human Trafficking Task Force, said SHIELD would strengthen international cooperation by enabling faster, real-time responses to both call centre scams and human trafficking cases.

He further stated that the Royal Thai Police, under the leadership of National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Kitrat Phanphet, would continue working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and international partners to expand the platform and strengthen global efforts against what has become one of the world’s fastest-growing forms of transnational organised crime.

Police bust Tiger gambling network, seize 46 million baht in assets

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3 July 2026, 13:43

Police bust Tiger gambling network, seize 46 million baht in assets

The Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau has dismantled the Tiger online gambling network in Operation Tiger Head Hunt, arresting three suspects and seizing more than 46 million baht in assets after uncovering a network handling around 500 million baht a month.

At a press briefing on 3 July 2026, officers said the investigation targeted the “boonmee” gambling website and more than 40–50 online gambling sites operating under the Tiger platform, offering casino games, slot machines, boxing and international football betting.

Investigators traced the network’s financial transactions and found gambling proceeds were laundered through layers of corporate and nominee bank accounts to conceal their origin.

The investigation led police to Loei province, where a woman admitted she was paid 1,500 baht a month to allow the syndicate to use her home’s Wi-Fi connection to disguise the IP addresses used for online banking transactions.

Further investigation uncovered a safe house in Chiang Mai, which police said was used to collect gaming platform commissions and hold funds for the network.

Police arrested the alleged network leader, Tatchai (surname withheld), along with his girlfriend, Krittaya (surname withheld), who allegedly managed the group’s finances. Investigators said the proceeds were transferred to the bank account of Krittaya’s sister, Romita (surname withheld).

The three suspects face charges including operating an illegal online gambling business, money laundering conspiracy and money laundering.

Assets seized during the raids included a McLaren, an Audi, luxury jewellery, designer handbags and cash worth more than 46 million baht. Authorities also froze an additional 4 million baht in bank accounts linked to the network.

Police said the investigation is continuing to trace financial transactions and seize additional assets connected to the gambling operation.

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