In Bueng Na Riang and Hua Hin subdistricts, Huai Mek district, Kalasin province, rumors of a vengeful widow ghost spread after two middle-aged men died suddenly in their sleep just two weeks apart, amid reports of dogs howling at night around the village. Fearful residents hung red cloth, red shirts, and other red fabric on their homes, stairs, and trees, believing the ghost was searching for men to take as companions in the afterlife.

Villager Warun Thrakamhar, 45, explained that the panic began two months earlier after a neighbor heard about the first unexplained death. The news spread quickly, and although she was skeptical, she followed others' example for peace of mind. Village headman Yupin Baokham reported that both men who died in May were strong and healthy, aged 56–58, with no chronic illnesses. Before their deaths, villagers heard dogs howling, fueling belief in the ghost. After hanging red cloth provided no comfort, residents consulted monks at multiple temples, who advised that the village had neglected merit-making, causing spiritual imbalance. The community then held a major merit-making ceremony to cleanse the village and avert misfortune.

Dr. Somchai Chomphukhram, Kalasin provincial health officer, stated that officials investigated and found both deaths were caused by acute heart failure and had nothing to do with supernatural causes. The red cloth remains hanging on nearly every house for the peace of mind of residents.

Ukrainian cinema took centre stage at Bangkok's Art and Culture Centre on Monday, where chargé d'affaires Viktor Semenov linked the country's cultural heritage to its struggle to endure war and Russia's responsibility for the deaths of thousands of innocent people.

The opening was attended by members of the diplomatic corps, Thai government officials and parliamentarians, as well as business representatives, members of the Ukrainian community and media.

Semenov spoke about how Ukraine's 35th anniversary of independence was an occasion for reflection and pride.

"Culture never exists in a vacuum," he told Thai officials, diplomats and other guests. "It grows out of what people live through and it is never guaranteed. It can be banned, erased or destroyed."

He said Ukraine had spent almost a third of its modern history living through war since Russia's aggression began, and described the conflict as a test of international rules intended to protect nations large and small.

After speaking about Ukrainian soldiers and civilians killed, wounded, displaced or held in captivity, Semenov invited the audience to honour the innocent victims of the war with a minute of silence.

The ceremony concluded with Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors, Serhii Parajanov's 1965 classic. The embassy noted that the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studio, where the film was made, was hit by Russian missiles in June resulting in extensive damage to the studio which is said to house over 100,000 costumes.

Parajanov's acclaimed 1965 film tells the tragic love story of two young Hutsuls from feuding families in the Carpathian Mountains. It is a lyrical tale where grief, religion, tradition, and music intertwine through vivid, symbolic imagery.

Semenov said the film had carried a significance far beyond its story. Made at a time when Ukrainian cultural expression faced pressure under Soviet rule, it brought Ukrainian language, music and traditions vividly to the screen.

"It was revolutionary for one simple reason," he said. "It said Ukrainian culture exists and that it is beautiful."

Parajanov was later imprisoned by Soviet authorities, Semenov noted, but his work endured and is now regarded as a classic of Ukrainian cinema.

Semenov also thanked Thailand for its support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as humanitarian assistance.

The festival, which runs until 6 August, marks the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence. The embassy said all films in the programme are being shown in Thailand for the first time.

Full show programme:

Wednesday, 5 August Malevych (2025) – a biographical drama about the life and artistic journey of the famous Ukrainian avant-garde artist Kazymyr Malevych The Underground Garden (2026) – a documentary about a children's art studio operating in a Kharkiv bomb shelter and preparing for its first

Actress Becky Rebecca Armstrong is juggling an incredibly packed schedule. She recently appeared at the UNIQLO 2026 Fall & Winter collection launch at Dusit Thani Bangkok, reflecting the concept of "Modern City Feelings."

Becky is preparing five new songs that will debut together at her birthday concert in November. When asked about her workload, she laughed and said, "I'm doing a lot right now—preparing music and managing a huge home construction project." She confirmed that all five songs have already been recorded and will be unveiled at her birthday celebration.

She's also training intensively for the HYROX competition, an unexpected challenge she's decided to take on. Her team is called "Team Armstrong not so strong." Despite limited rehearsal time before the competition, Becky emphasized wanting to enjoy it rather than push herself too hard. "Running is the toughest part," she noted, as the competition involves multiple running segments interspersed with other physical challenges like skiing and rowing.

When asked about her fitness preparation, Becky explained she's running as much as possible since the competition emphasizes that element. However, she's careful not to overtrain because her work schedule continues afterward. She balances training with piano lessons and vocal coaching, fitting everything into available slots throughout the day. "We can do a lot in 24 hours if we're having fun," she said, insisting she doesn't feel overloaded despite the heavy commitments.

She also revealed she hasn't been seeing her friend Freen much lately, suspecting Freen is intensively rehearsing for her own concert. Regarding an upcoming surprise for Freen's birthday on Saturday, Becky confirmed she already has a gift prepared.

Beyond her entertainment career and fitness goals, Becky updated her legal situation. She remains in an ongoing court battle with her former company over unpaid compensation of approximately 20 million baht. She stressed that she has not received a single baht and believes she deserves payment for her work. Despite the legal struggle, she's determined to continue fighting for justice while moving forward with her fresh start.

Actress Udom Taweeporn acknowledged that she had been stubborn and reckless in the past, and credited all of Boss Nuttawat Isakraisil's scolding as important lessons that helped her mature. Meanwhile, Meena Rina clarified that she was not acting as a mediator, but was ready to accept mistakes and improve herself. The pair appeared together at the launch event for the series "Under Her Rules" today (August 5, 2025) at the Deva Pavilion in CentralWorld shopping center, where Udom spoke openly about how her boss's warnings had been accurate and shaped her personal growth.

When asked if her boss had noticed her improvement, Udom explained that given her age and relative newness to the entertainment industry, she and her boss had experienced ups and downs—moments of defiance and being led astray—but whenever he scolded her, she listened and adjusted. She reflected that she and her boss have known each other for ten years and that his words, though sometimes hurtful, had made her grow significantly. Meena emphasized that while she talks more often with Udom, she does not mediate between them; rather, when issues arise, they all acknowledge responsibility and work to improve, and things naturally resolve.

Regarding her acting debut in "Under Her Rules," Udom expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity, noting she had studied acting with several teachers before joining the project. She admitted some regret at discovering the acting world only at age thirty, when most actors enter as children, but she is grateful to now play a leading role. Meena, who has prior acting experience, praised Udom's natural talent despite her lack of previous acting work and encouraged audiences to follow the series. Both expressed hope that they will become a celebrated on-screen pair for their agency and contribute meaningfully to the organization's success. The series "Under Her Rules" premieres on October 17 at 8 p.m. on the iQIYI and IQ.com apps.

Tourism and Sports Minister Surasakdi Panjcharoenvarkul disclosed that foreign tourist arrivals from January 1 to August 1, 2025 totaled 18 million, representing a 3.19 percent decline compared to the same period in 2024. The top five source markets are China, Malaysia, India, Russia, and South Korea. Recent weeks have experienced a slowdown from nearby markets due to reports of unrest in southern border provinces and reduced flight capacity on Indian routes. Overall, Thailand is seeing declining international arrivals from both regional and European long-haul markets. The drop in tourists corresponds with hotel booking rates, which the Thai Hotels Association chairman noted stood at 53 percent in July 2025, lower than July 2024. The association attributes the decline to entering the low season combined with Middle East tensions, which have dampened travel demand. Industry operators are calling on the government during the second half of 2025 to implement multiple support measures, particularly domestic tourism stimulus initiatives to boost revenue and increase economic circulation. These include increasing government conferences and events, adding flights, reviewing visa-free policies, reducing energy costs, cutting government fees, and providing tax relief. Industry leaders also support the Tourism Ministry's plans to consult the Finance Ministry about using borrowed funds for domestic tourism promotion projects, particularly the revised "Thai Travel Thai Plus" program combining government and private spending, which they hope to launch in September and run through October before the peak season. Thai tourism serves as a critical economic engine generating foreign income, but currently faces headwinds from multiple internal and external factors. The private sector's proposals merit serious consideration, and stakeholders hope the government will implement stimulus measures and support, especially during this second half of the year.