Over 5,000 athletes from around the world are preparing for the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR, which will set a new record for Spartan Kids with more than 2,000 participants, positioning Thailand as Asia's second-largest Spartan venue and generating an estimated 250 million baht in economic circulation.

A press conference was held on July 31, 2025, at The Tee, Club House building at Pattana Sports Resort in Sri Racha district, Chon Buri province, to announce the readiness for the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR at Wisdom Valley in Pattaya and Spartan Kids at Pattana Sports Resort in Chon Buri, scheduled for August 1–2, 2025.

The event was attended by Chaiyaporn Paepphimrattana, Deputy Governor of Chon Buri, who highlighted the province's capacity to host international competitions and welcome athletes and spectators from around the world. Rattanchai Sutthidechanuay, representing the MICE industry marketing office for the Eastern region under the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), discussed the successful acquisition of this world-class race license and cooperation among all sectors in advancing the MICE and sports tourism industries to create economic value for the region.

Also present were Bunperm Intanpasadhorn, CEO of Runrio Thailand; Thumbie Remigio, Race Director; Bodintr Chongruangreung, CEO of Pattana Sports Resort; and Jayakumar Tharmalingam, Brand Ambassador, all discussing their readiness to host the 2026 event and participating in a gift presentation to partners and sponsors.

TCEB, in collaboration with Chon Buri province, Runrio Thailand, and both public and private sector partners, is organizing the 2026 Pattaya Spartan Trifecta Weekend & HH12HR to elevate Thailand as a global hub for Spartan Race obstacle course running. This year's Spartan Kids event has set a record with more than 2,000 participants, ranking second in Asia and the world after China, which hosted nearly 20,000 Spartan Kids World Championship participants, reflecting the sport's growth among families and youth and reinforcing Thailand's capacity to host international competitions.

The festival features the Spartan Trifecta Weekend Pattaya at Wisdom Valley with three distances: Sprint at 5 kilometers with 20 obstacles, Super at 10 kilometers with 25 obstacles, and Beast at 21 kilometers with 30 obstacles. It also includes Hurricane Heat 12HR (HH12HR), a 12-hour continuous team challenge without official timing that emphasizes mission completion, endurance, and physical and mental strength. The Spartan Kids Race at Pattana Sports Resort targets children ages 4–14 with distances of 1–3 kilometers and includes family activities, with both events drawing nearly 5,000 total participants.

Clover Book has released the first trailer for Ayothaya Ayeyarwady, a Thai animated series based on the popular comic by Thai illustrator Amulin, with its first two episodes premiering free on YouTube on 26 September. Set against the conflict between Ayothaya and Hongsawadi, the story follows the eldest son of the ruler of Song Khwae, who is sent to Hongsawadi as a prisoner of war and forms an unlikely childhood friendship with the son of Hongsawadi's viceroy. As the two kingdoms remain divided by war, their bond is tested when the young royals must eventually face one another as enemies.

The nearly two-minute trailer, released by Clover Book on 27 July, previews scenes from episodes two to eight. Episode one is produced by Animetix Production, while Mitta Studio will produce episode two onwards. Clover Book Studio serves as executive producer, with the project supported by the Culture Promotion Department under the Ministry of Culture and snack brand Koh-Kae. Singer Songkran Rangsant has been named as the lead vocalist for the animated series' soundtrack.

Amulin, whose real name is Chalisa Limpipolpaiboon, told Matichon that Clover Book acquired the rights to adapt her comic. The publisher initially intended to finance the animation independently to retain full control over the story but later sought support that would not require changes to its content. The series will be released weekly due to high animation production costs, with income from book and merchandise sales intended to help finance subsequent episodes. Amulin also revealed that the comic's rights have been acquired for a separate series adaptation.

Foreign tourist criticised for posing on abandoned building in PhuketLegacyResidents raised safety concerns after a foreign tourist was filmed sitting on the edge of an abandoned building in Phuket while friends took photographs. The incident at the abandoned building in the Wichit district of Phuket was recorded by residents and shared on social media, where the footage attracted widespread attention before being republished by several Thai news outlets. In the video, the Thai man filming can be heard warning about the danger, saying, “What will happen if this foreigner falls? Don’t do this. Such a quality tourist. This is dangerous, very dangerous.” The unfinished building consists of an eight-storey concrete structure with no protective walls or balcony railings on any floor. Photo via Channel 7 The report added that construction materials and exposed steel reinforcement bars remain on the ground floor, presenting additional hazards to anyone entering the property. The footage showed the foreign tourist sitting on the edge of the top floor with both legs hanging over the side while posing for photographs. It was not clear how many people had entered the building or whether others accompanying the tourist also climbed to the rooftop. Locals told Channel 7 that the construction project had been abandoned for more than four years. They said the owner of the land allows vendors to operate businesses at the entrance to the property in exchange for helping watch over the site. Photo via One News According to the vendors, they noticed the tourists entering the building while operating their stalls nearby. One resident told the media that a Thai national had previously died after falling from the rooftop of the same building. The resident urged both Thai and foreign visitors not to enter the abandoned structure, citing the risk of serious injury as well as the possibility of legal consequences for entering private property without permission. The report did not state whether the incident had been reported to the property owner or whether any action would be taken against the tourist featured in the video.

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Ajinomoto Thailand has unveiled its 2025 business direction, aiming to become a trusted wellness partner by advancing AminoScience expertise and developing food and nutrition innovations under the "Eat Well, Live Well" concept. A major initiative is the launch of "Ajinomoto Restaurant Partner," a new solution supporting Thai food entrepreneurs and chefs through cost reduction, operational efficiency, and quality improvement.

Managing Director Satoshi Utagawa revealed that the company logged 34 billion baht in revenue in 2024, with flagship products including Rosadee seasoning (90% market share), Ajinomoto MSG powder (80% market share), and Buddy canned coffee (50% market share). For 2025, the company will integrate global innovation with Thai consumer insights to enhance quality of life through food and nutrition, creating shared value across the food ecosystem.

Three key food trends are shaping consumer behavior: value for money, with two-thirds of consumers comparing prices; health and longevity, with increased focus on nutrition and healthy lifestyles; and convenience solutions tailored to specific occasions and lifestyle needs throughout the day.

The company's three strategic pillars for 2025 are: promoting "Eat Well" through AminoScience-driven innovation, enhancing "Live Well" with consumer lifestyle products and services, and developing into a Trusted Well-Being Partner creating shared prosperity. Beyond the restaurant program, Ajinomoto is expanding health products, launching Better Meal and Winning Meals projects for athletes and consumers, growing its frozen food business under the "Ajinomoto Umami" brand, and preparing to open the Ajinomoto Amino Museum to offer nutrition, wellness, and innovation experiences through art and technology. In 2024, the company achieved significant sustainability milestones in emissions reduction.

The 39th King's Cup Sepak Takraw Championship will welcome athletes from 19 countries worldwide to compete in one of the sport's oldest and most prestigious tournaments. On July 31 at the Grand Forvung Hotel, Thana Chaiyaprasit, president of the Thai Sepak Takraw Association, and Datuk Abdul Halim Kader, secretary-general of the International Sepak Takraw Federation (ISTAF), held a press conference announcing the world championship for the royal "King's Cup" trophy running from August 4-11 at Fashion Island Shopping Centre. Thana remarked that the King's Cup is one of the most honored and historically significant events in sepak takraw, having served over four decades not just as a competition but as a platform unifying the global sepak takraw community. He stressed that Thailand has made comprehensive preparations covering competition management, venue facilities, athlete amenities, transportation systems, and opening and closing ceremonies, committing to making this tournament successful and memorable for all 19 participating nations. Datuk Abdul Halim Kader stated that the King's Cup remains one of the most valued and prestigious competitions in international sepak takraw, serving as an important platform that brings together world-class athletes and reflecting confidence in Thailand's experience and capability in hosting world-level sporting events. He noted that the King's Cup has long been recognized as a leading competition in the international sepak takraw calendar, functioning as both a showcase for elite athletes and a crucial mechanism for advancing the sport internationally. The ISTAF has introduced several rule and format improvements to enhance modernity, increase competitive intensity, create greater excitement for spectators, and expand the sport's appeal to younger audiences worldwide. The 39th King's Cup features five competition categories: men's singles, mixed doubles, women's pairs, mixed four-person teams, and men's and women's hoop sepak takraw, with nearly 700 athletes from 19 countries participating in competitions held August 4-11 at Fashion Island Shopping Centre.