NARATHIWAT — 24 August 2026, Security officials have detained one suspect in connection with a series of attacks at 40 locations across Narathiwat province, while bomb disposal teams are inspecting a railway track damaged by an explosive before repairs can begin and services resume as soon as possible.

Personnel from the Southern Border Provinces Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, the Narathiwat Provincial Police EOD unit, the Narathiwat Provincial Forensic Science Division and military sniffer-dog teams went to inspect a railway line where an explosive device had been planted.

The site is at kilometre marker 1090, between Maruebo Railway Station and Tanyong Mat Railway Station in Village 1, Maruebo Tok subdistrict, Ra-ngae district, Narathiwat.

It was one of 40 locations targeted in a coordinated series of attacks on the night of 22 August, prompting the State Railway of Thailand to suspend all train services from 23 August.

Before reaching the scene, officials had to walk about 1 kilometre along the railway line from Maruebo station while exercising caution. They found three improvised explosive devices, each packed inside a 25-kilogramme gas cylinder and fitted with timers.

One device had been placed directly on the railway track, damaging two concrete sleepers and tearing apart the rail, making it impossible for trains to pass. Two other devices had been placed on electricity poles beside a road running alongside the railway, about 50 metres from the main blast site. The poles were damaged but did not collapse.

Officials collected forensic evidence from the scene and estimated that at least six people may have been involved in the attack at this location.

Southern Train Services Adjusted

The State Railway of Thailand has adjusted its southern train services following the attack on the track between Maruebo and Tanyong Mat stations at kilometre marker 1090. The temporary arrangements will remain in place until officials repair the damaged track, which is expected to take one to two days.

Train No. 452 from Sungai Kolok to Nakhon Si Thammarat will terminate at Tanyong Mat before returning as special passenger train No. 2541 from Tanyong Mat to Sungai Kolok.

Train No. 37 from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal to Sungai Kolok, which departed Bangkok on 22 August, will terminate at Maruebo before returning as special passenger train No. 2542 from Maruebo to Yala and continuing as Train No. 38 from Yala to Krung Thep Aphiwat.

Train No. 985 from Bangkok to Sungai Kolok, which departed on 22 August, will terminate at Lalo before returning as special freight service No. 2545 from Lalo to Yala and continuing as Train No. 986 from Yala to Bangkok.

Train No. 447 from Surat Thani to Sungai Kolok will terminate at Yala and operate as Train No. 448 from Yala to Surat Thani on 24 August.

Train No. 463 from Phatthalung to Sungai Kolok will terminate at Yala before returning as Train No. 464 from Yala to Phatthalung.

A mathematics teacher at a school in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi, has been suspended following allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct toward a 16-year-old Grade 10 student, with claims that grades were involved. The school principal revealed that before the case became public, the school had received information and reviewed relevant video evidence, immediately establishing a fact-finding committee. The school invited parents and the student to provide information and asked the accused teacher to give a statement; a three-member committee unanimously found the conduct constituted serious disciplinary violation.

Because disciplinary investigations and penalties for specialists fall under the authority of higher officials, the school compiled witness statements, documents, and physical evidence and submitted the case to the District Education Office for formal disciplinary investigation. The principal noted the teacher had worked at the school for approximately seven years with no previous complaints of this nature. Following discovery of the evidence, the school ordered the teacher to cease teaching duties and avoid contact with students temporarily to prevent interference with witnesses and evidence. The teacher continues other administrative duties given the ongoing investigation status.

The principal clarified that the teacher's separate transfer request was a routine application to which all staff are entitled, not a direct result of this case. Police and disciplinary investigations remain ongoing, with the teacher remaining the accused party pending investigation findings or formal determination.

Time may pass, but memories never fade. The legendary country drama "Love Spell of the Countryside 1995," which once created a nationwide phenomenon, has thrilled fans once again as three iconic actresses—Namphung Thammapreeda, Tom Ratchaneekormnimit, and Pond Rungrat Duangkwan—prepare for a major reunion after 31 years.

This special reunion is made possible through the dedication of producer and music teacher Rueang Yos Phimthong, who has connected the actresses from the countryside back together to create another unforgettable moment in the Harmony of Nakhonsawan Concert themed "Love Spell of the Countryside."

The event's highlight will showcase the classic songs and stories that were most famous in the 1990s, with Namphung, Tom, and Pond returning to the stage together after more than three decades. The activity, created by Nakhonsawan Rajabhat University in partnership with youth networks for Nakhonsawan, aims to promote the city as "Nakhonsawan, the City of Creative Music."

Event details: The concert will be held on August 28, 2025, at Nakhonsawan Rajabhat University with the Youth Network for Nakhonsawan City. Admission is free. True fans of the original drama cannot miss this chance to be part of a new chapter in history and relive the beloved songs of the past.

A 28-year-old Singaporean woman was unhappy that her 60-year-old boyfriend, a bus driver, had no time to spend with her. She attempted to prevent him from going to work, then boarded his bus and called police with false claims that he had stolen 400 Singapore dollars (about 10,319.74 baht) and assaulted her. The incident caused police to investigate and forced him to suspend service temporarily, leaving three passengers stranded.

According to Shin Min Daily News, the woman confessed to making a false report and was sentenced to four days in jail. Investigations revealed the couple had been together for about ten years. The man works as a bus driver at a transport interchange, commuting daily by motorcycle from Malaysia to Singapore for work. On his afternoon shifts, he would bring her lunch at the station where she struggled financially. She had also borrowed money from him multiple times over the years.

On October 6, 2024, around 2:00 p.m., the woman waited at the transport station for her boyfriend to arrive with lunch. Because of rain, his motorcycle arrival was delayed until approximately 2:25 p.m. After he delivered the food and prepared to start his shift, she became upset that he had no time to stay with her and tried to hold back his work uniform to prevent him from leaving. He gently pushed her hand away and left. Around 2:43 p.m., she boarded bus route 112, which he was driving, and sat near the front. He did not respond and continued driving normally.

However, she grew increasingly angry—both over the 400 Singapore dollars she had asked him to return (which she claimed she wanted for clothes and shoes, but he refused) and feeling abandoned at the station. She called police and falsely claimed: "The bus driver stole 400 dollars from me and assaulted me. He is driving the bus now and I am on it." She also accused him of twisting her left arm and injuring her.

After police arrived, the bus had to stop service and three passengers had to switch to the next bus. When questioned, the woman admitted her report was false and caused by personal relationship problems.

The judge noted that her deliberate false report disrupted public transport service and nearly resulted in her boyfriend's arrest while performing his duties. Prosecutors stated that her actions not only interrupted the travel of at least three passengers but also required four police officers to respond.

Thai badminton player Miew Pornpavee, ranked 10th in women's singles worldwide, won a bronze medal at the BWF World Badminton Championship 2026 held in New Delhi, India, concluding last Sunday. This is her first World Championship medal and makes her the second Thai woman singles player to achieve this honour, following Ratchanok Intanon who won the title in 2013 and bronze in 2019.

On Monday morning, August 24, Pornpavee and her coach Top Bhakawat Wailaksa returned to Suvarnabhumi Airport aboard Thai Airways flight TG 316 at 5:25 a.m., greeted warmly by Air Chief Marshal Monthol Satchukra, president of the Badminton Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage.

Pornpavee stated that her performance exceeded expectations, reaching the semi-final and securing her first bronze medal, which she views as an important stepping stone to competing at the top five level globally. She highlighted her upset victory over world number 4 Chen Yufei of China in the round of 16, saying she entered the court relaxed, knowing she had lost to Chen dozens of times with only one previous victory. She focused on maximizing her potential and delivered her best effort.

Regarding future development, Pornpavee emphasized maintaining her physical condition, as she has dealt with recurring injuries. She will consult with her coach to analyse weaknesses and gradually improve her game. She also reflected on the high intensity of women's singles competition, noting that top five players employ styles and physical play similar to men's singles, creating high injury risk. She expressed curiosity about how the 2027 rule change to 15-point scoring will affect athlete bodies.

Pornpavee concluded that this result greatly boosted her confidence and clarified her approach against top players. Her next competition is the China Masters, a World Tour Super 750 event, from September 1-6, 2026 in Shenzhen, where she aims to maintain peak physical condition and perform her best before competing in the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya-Aichi, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

Air Chief Marshal Monthol Satchukra praised Pornpavee, her coach Top Bhakawat Wailaksa, and the coaching team for their outstanding achievement in winning bronze at the 2026 World Badminton Championship.

Premium electric vehicle brand Lepas is pushing into the Thai market in the second half of 2026, announcing the launch of two new models: the Lepas L8 and Lepas L6 SIVP (Super Intelligent Valet Parking), featuring advanced parking systems and driver assistance technology. The vehicles are scheduled for rollout by year-end, accompanied by an expanded dealer and after-sales service network nationwide and domestic production readiness at the Rayong factory.

The business plan was unveiled at Big Motor Sale 2026, held August 21–30 at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, with Lepas offering special promotions and new vehicle options. The brand is strengthening itself through three key strategies: product expansion, dealer network and after-sales service development, and preparation of a domestic production base in Thailand.

Lepas is transitioning from importing complete built-up vehicles (CBU) to establishing a domestic CKD (completely knocked down) assembly operation. Chalal Wang, Country Director of Lepas Thailand, said the company's growth strategy will move from CBU imports toward local manufacturing, supported by the Lepas Care program and expanded after-sales service networks to assure customers across all aspects of vehicle ownership and maintenance.

"A great brand requires a clear growth path. Our expansion strategy begins with CBU imports and progresses to a domestic CKD production base, backed by the Lepas Care after-sales service network to provide customers with complete confidence," Wang said.

For Lepas, vehicles are more than transport; they are "value partners" combining design, technology, safety, and driver identity to create travel experiences suited to modern consumer lifestyles.

Two key new models planned for launch this year are the Lepas L8 and Lepas L6 SIVP (Super Intelligent Valet Parking), a variant of the existing L6 that has found market success in Thailand. The L6 SIVP features Intelligent Pilot technology designed to enhance driving convenience across urban traffic, highway cruising, parking, and long-distance travel. Its standout feature is the SIVP system, which combines Automated Parking Assist (APA) and Remote Parking Assist (RPA) to simplify daily parking. It also includes Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) for added convenience and driving confidence.

Lepas is expanding its dealer network, targeting 50 locations nationwide to support brand growth. Beyond product development, the company is strengthening its dealer and after-sales service infrastructure to back its Thai market expansion.