Interior Ministry Deputy Vorrasing Liangprasetth announced on August 5 that following complaints of Thai citizens being threatened and assaulted by foreigners on Koh Samui, he has issued urgent orders to the Surat Thani Governor and Samui District Chief to investigate immediately. The ministry will coordinate all relevant agencies and will not tolerate any incidents that undermine public safety, with strict and impartial legal action against anyone, regardless of nationality or status, found to have violated the law.

Liangprasetth added that authorities will conduct comprehensive inspections of related businesses, including their operations, land use, property ownership, employment practices, permits, and compliance with Thai law, to ensure transparency and build confidence among law-abiding residents and tourists.

Thailand welcomes tourists and investors acting in good faith, but will not tolerate anyone using influence, violence, or abuse of power to intimidate Thai citizens. Public safety is the Interior Ministry's priority, and authorities have been ordered to report findings urgently and address any law enforcement gaps to prevent recurrence. Provincial governors and district chiefs across major tourism areas have been instructed to closely monitor situations and immediately assist residents when incidents occur, affirming that the state will not leave people to face problems alone.

Transport Deputy Minister Siripong Angsakulkiattrakul announced on August 5, 2569 (2026) that the Department of Land Transport has completed preparations to streamline the state welfare card eligibility criteria. The government will automatically exempt owners of vehicles over 20 years old or motorcycles over 15 years old from certain assessment requirements, potentially benefiting approximately 1 million people based on current data. By mid-August, the department will consolidate all information and submit it to the Ministry of Finance for the first round of eligibility review.

Since the cabinet meeting, over 200,000 citizens have submitted additional appeals at transport offices. Officials are handling complaints from all channels and expediting case-by-case resolutions. The implementation is expected to result in 2-3 million additional people qualifying for state welfare card benefits.

Beyond Transport Ministry efforts, the Prime Minister has instructed the Interior Ministry to open one-stop service centers at all district offices nationwide. Officials will also conduct home visits to assist vulnerable groups such as the elderly and disabled who cannot travel easily. These citizens can wait at home or inform their village headmen of their needs, who will coordinate with district offices directly. "This approach will reduce anxiety and ensure no villager is overlooked in receiving these welfare benefits," Siripong stated.

Foreign man caught on CCTV stealing phone in Pattaya caféLegacy An elderly foreign man was caught on CCTV allegedly stealing a mobile phone from a café in Pattaya, prompting an appeal for the device’s return. The appeal was shared by Facebook user Oanchalee Sadkhunthod in a Pattaya group today, August 5. The post asked anyone who recognised the man to tell him to return the phone allegedly taken from Espresso Love café. The incident reportedly occurred on August 3 at the café in Pattaya. Photo via Facebook: Oanchalee Sadkhunthod CCTV footage shows the elderly foreign man entering the café and ordering coffee. After finishing his drink and paying as normal, he left the shop before returning a short time later while staff were speaking with another customer. The footage appears to show the man picking up a mobile phone before leaving the premises, with the alleged theft clearly captured on the shop’s security cameras. The café owner has since filed a police report.

In similar news, last year, a Thai woman in Phuket accused a man believed to be British of stealing her mobile phone and attempting to drive away in her car outside her workshop in Choeng Thale, Thalang district. The woman later said the suspect had been detained after another victim allegedly caught him attempting to steal a motorcycle and handed him over to police. However, she expressed concern that he could be released and reoffend. In another similar incident, police searched for two Middle Eastern men accused of stealing two mobile phones from a hotel. According to staff, one man distracted an employee by asking to view guest rooms while his accomplice allegedly took the devices from the reception counter. CCTV footage reportedly captured the theft, with the stolen phones valued at about 24,500 baht.

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PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC) has become the first Thai plastic pellet manufacturer to receive halal certification in Indonesia, covering all 137 products including HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PS, and Hexene Monomer under the brands InnoPlus by GC, PlastMate by GC, and DIAREX by GC. This certification enhances GC's ability to meet diverse customer needs, particularly in industries requiring verification of raw material halal status throughout the supply chain.

The achievement reflects GC's proactive efforts to upgrade products, systems, and processes to align with Indonesian halal requirements, adapt to regulatory changes, and support continuous business operations for customers and partners in line with customer-centric development strategies. GC operates in Indonesia through PT GCM Marketing Solutions Indonesia (GCMI), a major polyethylene distributor controlling approximately 10% of Indonesia's PE demand and around 20% of PE imports to the Indonesian market.

GCMI serves diverse industries including packaging, food and beverages, consumer goods, construction, electrical and electronics, agriculture, and industrial manufacturing. The halal certification enables customers to clearly verify raw material status, select products, and plan production in line with Indonesian market requirements.

GC's 137 certified products cover HDPE, LLDPE, LDPE, PS, and Hexene Monomer groups under three brands, all passing certification using GC's original formulas and production standards without requiring formula or process modifications. This reflects the company's already-established quality and control systems. Between July 14–17, 2025, Indonesian halal assessment inspectors evaluated GC's manufacturing facilities and warehouses, resulting in halal certification number ID31410078824010726 for all 137 products submitted.

GC has implemented a halal management system, appointed a halal supervisor, and established a working team from relevant departments to oversee operations, support assessments, and manage halal requirements long-term. The halal certification enables customers, manufacturers, distributors, and business partners to systematically verify raw material halal status, increase confidence in product selection, and support production and distribution planning, particularly for products serving Muslim consumers who value the origin and status of raw materials in manufacturing processes.

Sao Ae Jitmuangnon, manager and head of the renowned Jitmuangnon muay thai camp, shared a post by Rodtang Jitmuangnon asking fans about a potential opponent for his first fight following his return. Sao Ae suggested facing Aslamjon Ortikov, a 22-year-old boxer from Uzbekistan. Rodtang Jitmuangnon has scheduled an official fight for the historic 30th anniversary celebration of Jitmuangnon camp on October 28, 2026, at Icon Siam, which marks his first bout after resolving his situation and signing a new contract with ONE Championship. The 29-year-old fighter posted asking "For my comeback fight, who do you want to see me fight?", prompting Sao Ae to share the post with a caption suggesting "How about Aslamjon vs. Rodtang?". The post generated significant fan engagement, with many commenting and offering their own suggestions for opponents they would like to see Rodtang face.

BANGKOK: Homebuyers are increasingly being rejected for mortgages not because they lack income, but because poor financial habits and high household debt are making it harder to qualify for housing loans, according to Government Housing (GH) Bank.