The superintendent of Ban Pet Police Station has ordered an investigation into a viral video showing a traffic police officer striking a teenager on the head until bleeding. The incident allegedly occurred near Nong Koet Marsh in Ban Pet subdistrict, Mueang Khon Kaen district. On August 1, 2026, a Facebook post titled "Khon Kaen Has a Channel, Tell Me Too" shared a video clip showing a traffic officer standing next to a motorcycle with a teenager sitting on it. The officer then used his left hand to strike the teenager's head forcefully, causing visible injury, while saying "What's up?" The exact date and time of the incident were not specified in the post. Investigation of the location revealed an artificial sandy beach area on the northern side of Nong Koet Marsh, where large groups of teenagers frequently gather at night to drink alcohol. This prompted the traffic police unit at Ban Pet Station to conduct regular patrols to prevent crime, particularly on Friday and Saturday nights. Pol. Col. Phakaphoom Dechareungsil, superintendent of Ban Pet Police Station, stated that he only recently learned of the incident from media reports and will conduct a thorough investigation into the facts and circumstances. He noted that a short video clip provides insufficient context to understand what prompted the officer's actions. Pol. Col. Phakaphoom added that he will request detailed information from his deputy before taking further action. If the officer is confirmed to be under his command, a fact-finding committee will be established immediately, but he requested time to first verify the video.

Thailand is moving emergency medicine into the AI era as the Senate unveils a comprehensive reform plan centered on the NDEMS platform. On August 1, Dr. Premsak Piyayura, chair of a Senate working group on digital emergency and crisis management reform, led colleagues on a study visit to the National Institute of Emergency Medicine in Nonthaburi, where they reviewed a seamless end-to-end framework for emergency medical operations and data integration.

The reform requires three core agencies—the Royal Thai Police, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, and NIEM—to link operations into a single system across eight stages from emergency notification through rescue, medical care, and post-incident recovery. Police will handle security and scene control; the disaster department will command the incident and allocate resources; and NIEM will manage medical response and set nationwide standards. The approach prioritizes "saving lives first" with unified command, victim protection, and PDPA-compliant data security.

Central to the plan is elevating NIEM to a "System Integrator" role managing the national NDEMS platform, which will control, coordinate, and monitor emergency operations in real time across six key layers: patient authentication and treatment rights; command center and rescue team operations; health data integration and AI analysis; communications and automatic caller location systems; and data security and interoperability with all sectors.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

PATTAYA, Thailand – Police from Huai Yai Police Station this morning, August 1st, escorted four suspects in the high-profile murder and body-concealment case involving five victims to Pattaya Provincial Court to formally request their detention. Authorities also opposed bail for the men, identified as Thana (also known as “Pong”), Thongchai (also known as “Thong”), Atsadang […] Four Suspects in Five-Body Murder Case Remanded into Formal Custody; One Apologizes to Victims’ Families, Claims He Was Forced, Bail Opposed, Families Want Death Penalty -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

On August 1, Klose Mos, brother of the late YouTuber Hlun Solo who died in Georgia, posted a statement on behalf of the family to clarify several points and prevent misinformation circulating on social media.

Regarding the timeline of contacting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the family corrected reports claiming they reported the matter on July 19. The actual date of formal notification to the relevant authorities was July 27, 2569.

The family also firmly confirmed they have never opened a donation account and have not authorized any person or organization to collect donations in their name. They warned the public to be cautious of anyone claiming to fundraise using the case and urged people not to believe such claims.

The family stated their sole intention is to bring their brother home to Thailand honorably, follow the facts, and ensure justice is served. They emphasized they do not want this tragedy exploited for personal gain or donations, and that using this loss as a fundraising channel was never their intention.

Currently, relevant agencies and the family's insurance company are assisting with repatriation procedures. The family has given limited interviews—only to one program—to communicate accurate information and reduce misinformation, but some details have still been misreported.

The family has not yet focused on inheritance or property matters, as their priority is bringing their brother's remains back to Thailand and following the investigation and autopsy results from competent authorities to determine the official cause of death.

No official autopsy has been conducted yet, and there have been no recent updates from the embassy. The family will announce any confirmed developments from responsible agencies through their own channels.

The family thanked all government agencies, the embassy, officials, media, and the public for their support and cooperation. They requested that unverified information not be shared to allow proper investigation and honor the deceased and his family.

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under the Ministry of Commerce successfully organized the THAI SELECT Festival 2026 in New York City on July 21, 2026, at Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central Terminal. The event was met with overwhelming enthusiasm from crowds of locals, tourists, and consumers of both American and international backgrounds who visited throughout the day. The atmosphere was vibrant and engaging, with participants showing keen interest in the activities and Thai cuisine, reflecting the popularity of Thai food and the Thai SELECT brand in the American market and underscoring Thai cuisine's role as an important soft power asset for Thailand.

Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barrommet graciously presided over the opening ceremony, bestowing great honor on the Commerce Ministry and affirming the importance of promoting Thai cuisine and the Thai SELECT brand on the international stage. This year's event was organized under the theme "Thai SELECT Playground – Play with Thai Flavors," which highlighted Thai cuisine's charm through experiences that blended taste, arts, culture, and creativity, allowing participants of all ages to learn about and experience the unique identity of Thai food in an enjoyable and accessible way.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthanthapanth visited 15 Thai SELECT restaurants participating in the event, each offering traditional and innovative Thai menus for attendees to sample, along with diverse activities that allowed consumers to engage closely with Thai food culture. The activities drew continuous interest and demonstrated the success of presenting Thai cuisine through participatory experiences that effectively reached consumers.

Prominent actors Mai-Bhakhapolom Romthaiton and Apo-Natthawit Wattanakit participated as Thai soft power representatives, engaging with fans and introducing Thai cuisine's appeal to people from various countries, generating significant interest and adding vibrancy to the festival while expanding awareness of Thai food and the Thai SELECT brand globally.

The success of THAI SELECT Festival 2026 reflects not only Thai cuisine's popularity in the American market but also demonstrates the potential of using food-based soft power to build brand awareness, connect consumers across diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds, and create concrete international trade opportunities. The Department of International Trade Promotion will continue advancing the Thai SELECT brand while elevating Thai cuisine's image through ongoing marketing and public relations activities in foreign markets, building consumer confidence worldwide, promoting Thai restaurants and entrepreneurs abroad, expanding trade opportunities, creating economic value, and strengthening Thai food industry competitiveness in global markets.

On August 1, 2026, the Nong Muang subdistrict leadership team in Si Bun Rueang District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province, reported that Nirun, 41, a resident of Sri Nong Kung, who was facing charges for drug trafficking and theft, escaped from police custody by kicking the rear cage door of the transport vehicle and jumping out while being driven to court. He jumped from the vehicle in the area before the Ban Din Sai Aon soft-dirt settlement. Nirun is described as a tall man with fair skin and short hair, wearing a white short-sleeved shirt and handcuffs. Police subsequently apprehended the suspect in the Ban Huay Phai area, Muang Bai Subdistrict, Si Bun Rueang District, Nong Bua Lam Phu Province.