BANGKOK — 16 July 2026, A rocket engineering team from Chulalongkorn University has earned third place in the world at the 19th Annual International Rocket Engineering Competition (IREC) 2026, bringing international recognition to Thailand.
The CUHAR (Chulalongkorn University High Altitude Research Club) team, or Team 213, from the Faculty of Engineering secured third place in the 30k COTS category at the competition, held in Midland, Texas, from 15-20 June 2026. Organised by the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA), the event brought together more than 140 university teams from around the world to design, build and launch high-powered rockets.
CUHAR’s CURSR-V rocket successfully reached an altitude of 30,683 feet, exceeding its target altitude of 30,000 feet, while reaching a top speed of Mach 1.93. The team also achieved full recovery marks after retrieving the rocket without damage, completing the mission successfully from launch to recovery.
According to the official results, CUHAR finished third in the 30k COTS category and 14th overall among 141 competing teams from around the world.
The team said the achievement was the result of months of preparation, the dedication of all team members, and support from academic advisers, sponsors, alumni and other contributors.
Before the competition, the team travelled to Midland to complete the mandatory rocket inspection process and exchanged technical knowledge and experience with teams from other countries.
CUHAR said its members were proud to represent Chulalongkorn University and Thailand on the international stage, thanking everyone who contributed to the development and testing of the CURSR-V rocket.
The team also expressed gratitude to its sponsors, including the Faculty of Engineering at Chulalongkorn University, Onshape, Three Bees, Lenso, RUD, Truscorp, BRP Carbon, Thai Sky Vision, AerCap Ireland Limited and other supporting organisations for helping make the project possible.
CHAIYAPHUM — 16 July 2026, Six male juveniles who escaped from the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Observation and Protection Center and allegedly stole a school pickup truck in an attempt to return home have been arrested in neighboring Chaiyaphum province.
The escape occurred at 05:30 on 16 July 2026, when the six youths took advantage of officers opening a door in the early morning and ran out of the facility. Police said the group had planned the escape in advance by cutting through the bars of their detention room before fleeing.
At around 07:00, the group allegedly stole an Isuzu pickup truck belonging to Ratchasima Witthayalai School, which was parked about 800 metres from the detention center, and drove toward Chaiyaphum.
Police in several jurisdictions set up checkpoints and tracked the suspects’ route as they fled.
The abandoned pickup was later found in Noen Sa-nga district, Chaiyaphum. Maj Gen Sujarit Panlek, commander of Chaiyaphum Provincial Police, ordered investigators to work with officers from Noen Sa-nga Police Station to locate the escapees.
The six juveniles were eventually found and taken into custody without incident.
During initial questioning, one of the youths admitted that he missed his family and wanted to return home. He told investigators he persuaded the others to escape from the detention center and steal the pickup truck to travel back to their hometown.
The six juveniles have been returned to police custody and will be transferred back to the Nakhon Ratchasima Juvenile Observation and Protection Center for legal proceedings.
PHUKET — 16 July 2026, A nine-year-old boy from Phuket has brought international recognition to Thailand after winning two world championship titles in coding and achieving the World No. 1 ranking at the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 in Rome, Italy.
Pavin Pattanavekin, known as Pace, who is currently in Grade 3, claimed the Global Champion – 1st Place title and the World No. 1 ranking in two major categories: the Codementum Grand Final (Grades 3–11) and the Codementum International Final, according to True Coding School Phuket.
The Grade 3 pupil competed against students from Grades 3 to 11 to secure both titles.
Pace also received a Global Top 3 Gold Award in the Online Coding Exam Worldwide Winners competition, bringing his coding achievements this year to two Global Champion titles (World No. 1), two Global Top 3 Gold Awards and one gold medal.
In the STEM competitions, he won another Global Top 3 Gold Award in the Mathematics Olympiad (Grades 3–5) Grand Final, as well as a gold medal in the Science Olympiad (Grades 3–5) Grand Final.
The International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 is a global platform that brings together young participants from around the world. Organisers said the event attracted participants from more than 153 countries, representing 1,700 schools, more than 2,100 teachers and over 38,000 students.
This achievement builds on Pace’s success in 2025, when he won three gold medals at the Coding Olympiad Grand Final in New York City, including a first-place finish in one of the competitions, before going on to claim two world championship titles in 2026.
True Coding School Phuket said Pace’s achievements reflected his strengths in computational thinking, coding, logical reasoning and problem-solving, as well as his determination to develop his skills and challenge himself on the international stage while once again bringing recognition to Thailand.
PHUKET — 16 July 2026, the Phuket Regional Marine Office has intensified its crackdown on illegal jet ski operations, seizing 23 vessels and imposing fines of up to 10,000 baht in an effort to improve marine safety and boost tourist confidence.
Adul Raluekmul, director of the Phuket Regional Marine Office, assigned Thirapong Phannak, a senior ship inspector, along with Marine Department officials, to conduct joint inspections with the Marine Police both on land and at sea across areas under their jurisdiction.
The operation followed orders to accelerate efforts to address problems involving jet ski services and to strictly enforce the law.
During the inspection, authorities found 23 operators in violation of Section 9 of the Thai Navigation in Thai Waters Act for operating jet skis without valid boat licences. Each offender was issued the maximum fine of 10,000 baht in accordance with the law.
The Phuket Regional Marine Office said inspections and law enforcement operations would continue to raise safety standards for marine tourism, protect visitors and ensure that jet ski operators in Phuket comply strictly with the l
BANGKOK — 16 July 2026, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul left for China on Thursday seeking to attract investment from major artificial intelligence and technology companies, with talks also planned on trade, investment, security and transnational crime.
Anutin, who also serves as interior minister, is visiting China from 16–20 July to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai and open a new Board of Investment office in Chengdu.
The Chinese government has also invited him to make an official visit to Beijing, where he is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang.
Anutin said the two leaders would also meet at several upcoming international events, including the ASEAN Summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
“AI is an important issue that the government supports,” Anutin said at Government House before departing. “We will look at how Thailand can cooperate with the international community.”
He said the Shanghai conference would provide an opportunity to address the gathering and meet executives from major AI and technology companies.
The government would explore whether those companies could use Thailand as a base for data centres, manufacturing or other technology-related operations, he added.
Anutin said Chinese President Xi Jinping was scheduled to meet him and his delegation in Shanghai on 17 July.
He described the meeting as an opportunity to follow up on discussions held over the past year, including during His Majesty the King’s visit to China.
“We will ask China to continue supporting Thailand in trade, investment, security and efforts to combat those who break the law,” Anutin said.
Asked to provide examples of the security issues expected to be discussed, Anutin declined, saying such matters should remain part of bilateral talks.
When asked whether the public could expect concrete progress, Anutin said cooperation had continued to advance.
“China is a great friend that has always supported Thailand, whether we ask or not,” he said.
Anutin added that the talks would cover several sensitive issues, including security, corruption, transnational crime and trade.
BANGKOK — 15 July 2026, A Thai woman has revealed that she has allegedly been stalked and harassed by a person she has never known or had any relationship with for more than five years, spanning from 2021 to 2026. She claims the harassment has progressively escalated over the years, with the individual repeatedly sending messages and gifts, attempting to enter her home and following her to her workplace. Despite filing police reports and pursuing legal action, she said the behaviour has continued.
Chatchaya Samroengraja, known as Neen, revealed on social media that the alleged stalker had searched for her personal information, including her home address, phone number and contact details, before sending numerous items, letters and messages to her residence, despite her insisting that she had never met, spoken to or had any relationship with the person.
A letter from the stalker, saying “To Irene, Happy Valentine’s Day. I hope happiness reaches you through your smile every day. Hello. It’s me — “the same person” who sent you the teddy bear. I have never had the courage to do something like this for anyone before, including writing this letter. Sometimes I wonder how I managed to do it. I suppose it’s because I truly like you. It was love at first sight. You reignited my belief in destiny and made me feel as though something I had been searching for all my life had finally become complete. You made me believe that destiny really existed for me, and of course I wasn’t going to let it pass me by. Although I still don’t know how you feel, if this really is destiny, perhaps you don’t feel so differently from me, do you? But now I’m beginning to lose confidence. I’m not very good at expressing myself through social media. Perhaps my words aren’t exciting enough, or maybe I’m simply too serious. I’m afraid I’ve made you feel uncomfortable to the point where you might block me from contacting you. You probably don’t realise that every little thing you do has become the greatest source of encouragement for me. It always makes me happy and brings a smile to my face. I know everything I’ve done is difficult for you to believe. All I ask is that you don’t block me. Leave the rest to me, and let time prove that my feelings are genuine. Please give me a chance. The same person, “Ui” P.S. I tried to draw this, but it didn’t turn out very well. I hope you’ll help make my heart beautiful.”
She said the individual initially sent gifts and letters to her home periodically over several years. Although she did not keep the items, she photographed them as evidence, saying the repeated actions had caused her distress and discomfort.
Neen also shared examples of messages and letters she had received, describing them as evidence of repeated contact from a social media user identified as “Oui.” She said some messages contained expressions of personal feelings and an excessive level of familiarity, including references to dreaming about her, imagining being together with her, and content she considered sexually harassing.
She said some messages might be viewed as expressions of admiration or personal feelings, but the repeated contact without her consent, combined with other actions such as sending gifts, travelling to her home and following her to places connected with her, had left her fearful and anxious for her safety.
Messeges from the stalker: “I forgot to say good morning. I had so many dreams about you last night that it felt as though we’d already been together.” “Have you eaten yet? I’m feeling hungry. Come here and let me have a taste. Eat some extra for me too—I only got to eat with you in my dreams last night.” “You look so delicious that I wouldn’t leave a single bite.” “Can I start with your cheeks? They look so soft.” “That makes it sound like I’m eating fish for a meal, doesn’t it? Haha.”
Neen said that throughout the five-year period, she had replied to the individual only once, asking him to stop sending items to her home. However, she said the person continued contacting her through other channels.
The situation allegedly escalated in 2025 when the individual visited her gated community several times, telling security guards that he knew her or her family.
She revealed that the most concerning incident occurred in early 2026, when the individual travelled to her housing estate and allegedly attempted to break into her home. The person was unable to get inside because the door was locked, with CCTV footage capturing the incident.
The alledged stalker in front of her housing estate.
Neen previously shared details of an incident on 26 November 2025, alleging that the individual attempted to enter the housing estate but was denied access by security guards. She said the person remained outside the estate for a period before leaving.
After filing reports with police and pursuing legal action, Neen said the alleged harassment had not stopped. She claimed the person continued sending messages to her, her manager and people close to her, as well as following her to locations connected with her.
She gave an example of the individual recently visiting a yoghurt shop she had just opened and presenting himself as a customer before asking staff about her whereabouts and personal details. She said the incident made her concerned about her safety in her daily life and at work.
“The shop is located in a public area and is open to everyone, which makes me feel worried and afraid,” she said.
Neen said she decided to speak publicly about the matter because remaining silent had not improved the situation. She said she wanted to protect herself and document that the alleged behaviour was continuing.
The stalker at her yoghurt shop.
She also addressed questions often asked of people who experience harassment, such as whether they had previously spoken to the person or given them false hope, stressing that stalking, harassment and invasions of privacy should never be considered normal, whether the victim is a public figure or an ordinary person.
Neen revealed that she had previously filed police reports and reported the alleged trespassing incident, with one police summons already issued. However, she claimed the individual continued making contact and sending messages.
She said she would pursue further legal action over messages she considered to constitute harassment, as well as the alleged stalking and repeated interference with her private life.
“I have decided to fully pursue legal action to protect my own rights and safety,” she said.
Neen also thanked those who had offered support and advice, adding that actress, presenter, academic and Miss Thailand 2000 “Boom” Panadda Wongphudee, who chairs the Goodness Foundation, a charity that assists people in difficult circumstances and victims navigating Thailand’s justice system, had provided guidance and assistance regarding the matter.
She also called on anyone who knows, is friends with, or is related to the alleged stalker to help warn and look after him, saying the alleged behaviour has affected the safety and privacy of others.
Estefany Landaez sits amid the rubble of a building, waiting to find her two children after the earthquakes in La Guaira, Venezuela, Sunday, July 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
CARACAS — 16 July 2026, The death toll from two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela three weeks ago has risen to 4,829, as rescuers and relatives continue searching for victims buried beneath collapsed buildings.
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez announced the updated toll on Wednesday, adding that 16,740 people had been injured in the disaster. Most have since been discharged from hospital.
The earthquakes have also left 17,907 people homeless, with many survivors still living in crowded temporary shelters where access to clean water and adequate sanitation remains limited.
In La Guaira state, north of Caracas and among the areas hardest hit, rescue workers and relatives continued searching through piles of rubble for the bodies of missing family members.
The search has continued despite three weeks having passed since the magnitude-7.2 and magnitude-7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela on 24 June.
The two earthquakes occurred within about a minute of each other, causing widespread destruction in and around the capital and along Venezuela’s northern coast.
Authorities have gradually increased the official death toll as more bodies are recovered and identified. The number of injured has remained at 16,740 in recent government updates.
International organisations have warned that overcrowding, poor sanitation and shortages of clean water at emergency shelters could increase the risk of disease among survivors.
Members of Venezuela’s Scientific, Penal, and Criminalistic Investigation Corps recover the body of one of Yolimar Torres’s two daughters, whom the family found themselves in the rubble of a building collapsed by the twin earthquakes, in La Guaira, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)Yolimar Torres, left, cries after she and other family members found her daughter’s body, which they recovered themselves from the rubble of a building collapsed by the earthquake in La Guaira, Venezuela, Wednesday, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
AYUTTHAYA — Two volunteers from the Ruamkatanyu Foundation have won widespread praise online after performing CPR on a cat that had stopped breathing after being struck by a pickup truck, successfully reviving the animal in what many viewers described as a miraculous rescue.
A video circulating on social media shows the two rescuers desperately administering first aid to the brown cat. One volunteer supports the animal’s head and keeps its airway open while the other performs continuous chest compressions, urging the cat to breathe again.
Kantharak Raitook, 37, a Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteer, said he and fellow rescuer Watcharapol Suporn, 33, were sitting along Bang Nom Kho Sai Nai Road in Moo 5, Bang Nom Kho subdistrict, Sena district, Ayutthaya, when they witnessed a pickup truck hit the cat.
The pair initially intended to move the cat’s body off the road to prevent it from being run over again. However, after touching the animal, they noticed it was still warm and bleeding from its mouth and nose, prompting them to immediately apply their emergency rescue training.
The two volunteers took turns performing CPR for about 30 minutes before the cat began breathing again, astonishing everyone at the scene.
A daughter of an acquaintance later volunteered to take the cat to a veterinary hospital for emergency treatment.
Pornkamol Phianphong, 47, who later adopted the cat, said the animal was unable to walk and was still bleeding from its mouth and nose when it arrived at his home. He rushed it to a veterinarian, who said the cat would have a good chance of survival if it made it through the first night.
After receiving treatment and close care, the cat regained consciousness the following morning. Although it was initially unable to walk, its condition gradually improved until it fully recovered and was able to walk and live normally again.
Pornkamol named the approximately two-year-old male cat Boon Rod, meaning “survived through merit,” to reflect its remarkable escape from death.
The rescue video has since attracted widespread admiration online, with many praising the two Ruamkatanyu Foundation volunteers for applying their lifesaving skills to save an animal, ultimately giving Boon Rod a second chance at life.
PHAYAO — Police have arrested a 65-year-old man accused of stealing a young woman’s underwear from a dormitory in Phayao province after CCTV footage identified him as the suspect.
Investigators at Muang Phayao Police Station received a complaint on 15 July 2026 from Thikamphon Chaiya, 26, from Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai province.
She reported that underwear she had hung out to dry in front of Room 7 on the second floor of Sriwan Place dormitory in Tha Wang Thong subdistrict, Muang district, had disappeared.
CCTV footage showed an elderly man entering the dormitory, taking the victim’s underwear from the drying rack and leaving the premises. The footage was submitted to police as evidence.
Police investigators traced the suspect through CCTV recordings and identified him as Pleng, 65, from Dok Khamtai district in Phayao.
A search of his home uncovered a motorcycle, helmet and clothing matching those seen in the surveillance footage. Officers also found women’s underwear hanging on a clothesline, while another item was being worn by the suspect.
Police said the suspect confessed to the theft and admitted he had committed similar offences on several previous occasions because of a personal fetish.
Officers seized the evidence, took the suspect to the crime scene for a reconstruction, and later transferred him to Muang Phayao Police Station for further questioning before legal proceedings.
AIS and Bangkok Land have announced a strategic partnership to deploy 5G networks, home broadband services, and enterprise solutions across more than 4,000 rai of Muang Thong Thani. The collaboration aims to transform the area into a model smart city for Thailand under the concept “Muang Thong NEXT: The Smart & Connected City.” The partnership reflects a shared vision to elevate Muang Thong Thani from one of Thailand’s leading event and exhibition destinations into a Hub Connectivity City, seamlessly connecting every part of the urban ecosystem—from living, housing, working, education and entertainment to business, events, transportation, public safety and future economic opportunities. This collaboration represents a major milestone in using intelligent digital infrastructure as a key mechanism to enhance the city’s capabilities across every dimension.
AIS will contribute its comprehensive network capabilities, technologies and digital platforms to strengthen Muang Thong Thani’s readiness through the following initiatives:
Comprehensive 5G network deployment across Muang Thong Thani, with an upgrade to 5G-ADVANCED through carrier aggregation technology. This will deliver higher speeds, stronger performance and lower latency while supporting high-density usage throughout the area, particularly at large exhibition venues and concert halls accommodating tens of thousands of simultaneous users. The network will support applications such as live streaming, immersive experiences, extended reality, holograms and high-quality real-time broadcasting.
Smart Living for every household through AIS 3BB Fibre3 home broadband and the latest WiFi 7 wireless standard. Homes, condominiums and communities will benefit from fast, stable connectivity that is ready to support future intelligent services, ranging from smart homes and working from home to telemedicine and remote health monitoring.
Business transformation for the AI era through Hyper Connectivity, Sovereign Cloud, Data Center and AI Solutions. These services will enable office buildings and businesses to accelerate their digital transformation while supporting connectivity with global cloud platforms, data analytics and managed services delivered by specialist teams.
Enhanced concert and event experiences at IMPACT through WiFi networks and connectivity systems designed to support large numbers of attendees. This will ensure that communications, transactions and digital engagement remain uninterrupted for exhibitors, organizers and visitors. The initiative will also build upon services such as 5G VIP Ultra and Boost Mode on the 5G Standalone network, delivering faster and more reliable digital experiences for event participants.
The digital infrastructure will serve as the foundation for the comprehensive management of a future smart city. It will encompass technologies supporting digital lifestyles, including AI-powered CCTV, smart access systems, digital signage, smart meters, IoT, digital payment systems, data analytics, digital libraries, virtual classrooms and cybersecurity. Data from convention facilities, business districts, residential areas, retail locations, educational institutions, security agencies and public spaces will be integrated into a Smart City Data Platform and Digital Twin. These systems will allow city administrators to view the overall condition of the city in real time and make more accurate decisions regarding traffic, energy consumption, space utilization and public safety. They will also enable new digital experiences for residents, businesses and communities. The initiative will help establish Muang Thong Thani as a model Smart & Connected City that is intelligently managed, secure and prepared for future growth, while improving quality of life and creating new experiences for everyone.
Mr. Paul Kanjanapas, Chief Executive Officer of Bangkok Land Public Company Limited, said: “For Muang Thong Thani, a Smart & Connected City is not simply about introducing technology to manage the city. It is about enabling the entire city to operate more intelligently and efficiently while remaining seamlessly connected, ultimately enhancing the experience and quality of life of everyone in the area. Digital technology will be a key mechanism in bringing the Live–Work–Play–Learn concept to life by continuously connecting residential living, work, entertainment and education. This will allow people to access information, services, activities and facilities more conveniently and in ways that are better aligned with their needs. In education, technology will strengthen the learning ecosystem. Businesses will be able to use digital capabilities to enhance their services, improve efficiency and create new opportunities. In terms of city management, technologies such as Smart AI CCTV, Smart Traffic Management Systems and integrated data systems will help make Muang Thong Thani safer and more efficient while enabling it to accommodate large numbers of people effectively. Our partnership with AIS is therefore an important step toward transforming Muang Thong Thani into a Hub Connectivity City that brings living, working, entertainment, learning and business opportunities together in one fully connected urban environment.”
Mr. Pratthana Leelapanang, Chief Executive Officer of AIS, said: “AIS sees this collaboration as an extension of our role as a National Intelligent Infrastructure provider. We are evolving from being a network operator to becoming an integral part of the foundation that enables cities, businesses and people to grow together on digital infrastructure that is ready, reliable and secure. At the heart of Muang Thong NEXT is the idea that technology should operate naturally behind every experience within the city. This ranges from supporting tens of thousands of spectators at concerts and events and enabling businesses to use cloud and AI technologies to providing Smart Living, telemedicine, smart parking, virtual classrooms and cybersecurity. These capabilities will make everyday life more convenient while enabling safer and more efficient management of the area. They will also allow businesses to gain a better understanding of their customers, design new services and create greater economic opportunities. For AIS, the success of a smart city should not be measured by the number of technologies deployed. It should be measured by the tangible benefits people experience—from transportation, living and working to gaining access to new services and experiences throughout the city. AIS’s role is therefore not merely to connect systems, but to bring together networks, data and the capabilities of every sector. Our goal is to establish Muang Thong Thani as a model Smart & Connected City that sustainably creates value for people, businesses and the urban economy.”
This development represents more than a technological upgrade. It is a collaborative effort to design a new urban ecosystem that systematically connects people, businesses, education, lifestyles and digital infrastructure. The initiative will transform the potential of more than 4,000 rai of Muang Thong Thani into tangible new experiences and opportunities for residents and businesses. It will also advance Muang Thong Thani from a leading national event destination into a Hub Connectivity City and a smart economic district of the future—creating meaningful value for the city, local communities, Nonthaburi Province and Thailand.
