PHUKET: Phuket tourism officials and private-sector operators are stepping up efforts to attract more Russian and Belarusian visitors ahead of the launch of direct flights from Minsk later this year.

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Supachai Suthathummaphan is preparing to submit a proposal to the cabinet on August 5, 2026, to appoint a new high-level administrator from the Commerce Ministry to fill the position of Permanent Secretary after current holder Wutthikrai Livireraphan retires on September 30, 2026. The leading candidates are Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director-General of the Department of Business Development, and Ormon Saithwithorn, Director-General of the Department of Intellectual Property. Poonpong has distinguished himself by championing the "Thai Help Thai" initiative to reduce prices of essential goods, which became a cornerstone of government policy to ease cost-of-living pressures during the Middle East conflict. He has also led efforts to combat nominee problems through systems to prevent nominee business registration, coordinate enforcement with related agencies, upgrade corporate registration systems, and strengthen various business sectors. Ormon has overseen intellectual property operations including streamlining patent and trademark registration, promoting geographical indication products, assisting SMEs in leveraging intellectual property as capital, fostering research and innovation, protecting intellectual property rights against counterfeits, and supporting Thai entrepreneurs facing IP violations abroad. The cabinet is expected to consider only one nomination, with multiple sources predicting Poonpong will be proposed as the new Permanent Secretary. Separate cabinet consideration is anticipated for other level-10 appointments to replace retiring officials, with rumors suggesting Varawut Somwang, Commerce Ministry Inspector-General, may be proposed as Director-General of the International Trade Promotion Department; Kanicha Nonchuy or Watthanasakul Seua-ia, heads of inspection offices, or Chakka Yodmani, Deputy Permanent Secretary, as Director-General of the Domestic Trade Department to replace incumbent Withayakorn Moonenet, whose management of cost-of-living and energy price issues has not satisfied Deputy PM Supachai; and potential reshuffling of positions within the ministry hierarchy.

An 18-year-old first-year vocational student died in a tragic accident after his motorcycle lost traction on a wet road and slid beneath a van while he was heading home in heavy rain.

At 4:45 p.m. on August 4, 2025, police in Muang Phetchaburi District received a report of a motorcycle-van collision with a fatality near the Nong Son traffic light on the Phetchaburi–Ban Laem Road in Nong Son Subdistrict. Officers and paramedics from Phra Chom Klao Hospital responded and found a white Toyota van parked in the middle of the road with the student's body trapped underneath. A Honda Wave motorcycle was wedged against the side of the van.

According to the victim's friend, the student had just finished classes at the technical college in Phetchaburi and was riding toward his home in Ban Laem District. As he approached the Nong Son red light, his motorcycle lost control and slid into the side of the van, with his body sliding underneath the vehicle. Police investigating the van driver found that heavy rain had made the road surface slippery. The van was turning right onto the Phetchaburi road when the motorcycle, already losing traction, collided with its side and became trapped underneath along with the rider. Authorities transported the body to hospital and are reviewing CCTV footage to investigate the true cause of the accident.

Thailand is preparing for a historic step in space exploration, with a Thai-designed and developed scientific payload set to travel to the Moon as part of China's Chang'e 7 mission on 24 August 2026.

Deputy Prime Minister Yotsanan Wongsawat announced the country's readiness on 4 August during a press conference titled "Thailand's First Mission to Explore the Moon."

The CE-7 MATCH scientific payload, developed by Thai researchers and engineers at the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand (NARIT), will be one of seven international scientific instruments carried by the Chang'e 7 mission. The Long March-5 Y14 rocket carrying the Chang'e 7 spacecraft will launch from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in China's Hainan province on 24 August, with the launch broadcast live.

This marks the first time a Thai-developed scientific payload has passed international standards and been selected to participate in a major global lunar exploration mission. Yotsanan described the achievement as evidence of Thailand's progress in developing human capital and moving towards an innovation-driven economy.

The mission will operate in an orbit approximately 200 kilometres above the Moon's surface and present significant technical challenges while creating opportunities to develop advanced engineering expertise and strengthen Thailand's emerging space economy. The CE-7 MATCH instrument will monitor space conditions and measure cosmic radiation while studying the relationship between Earth, the Sun and the Moon, conducting continuous observations of solar storms over the next three years.

The data could contribute to monitoring and warning systems for satellites worldwide while helping develop Thai engineers with expertise in space-grade technology. Yotsanan emphasized that the most important outcome was not only the scientific instrument itself but also the development of people.

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Education are working together to broadcast the historic launch to more than 3 million young people across Thailand. The initiative will also partner with Sea (Thailand), using digital platforms with more than 20 million users to expand access to STEM education and inspire young people to pursue careers in science, engineering and technology.

Education Minister Akaranan Kannkittinan said the Ministry of Education had long promoted STEM learning, but the greater goal was to create inspiration among young people. The mission would show Thai children that technology developed by Thai people could achieve global recognition and reach the Moon, encouraging them to dream bigger and potentially become world-class scientists in the future.

On August 4, 2569 at 2:00 p.m. at Dusit Forest Hotel in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi, Governor Narish Niramaimongkol chaired a policy meeting with administrative officials and police to strengthen crime prevention and suppression efforts, enhance public safety, and restore confidence among tourists. The meeting included Maj. Gen. Pongphan Wongmaneethat (Chonburi Provincial Police Commander), Col. Patitkorn Srachai (Deputy Commander), district chiefs, and all 23 police station commanders from Bang Lamung and Sattahip districts, along with village leaders.

Governor Narish emphasized that maintaining security requires close cooperation between administrative and police authorities. He instructed all units to implement seven critical measures: close monitoring of released prisoners; regular checkpoints and patrols coordinated with village safety volunteers; continuous drug suppression and searches of abandoned buildings; strict enforcement of uniform standards; rigid compliance with firearm regulations; aggressive action against illegal drug manufacturing; and integrated operations among all relevant agencies.

Maj. Gen. Pongphan provided operational guidelines to all 23 station commanders emphasizing seven key approaches: information sharing and coordination among police, administrators, and local authorities; maintenance of suspect watch lists; enhanced security at vulnerable areas and tourist attractions; strict compliance with missing persons procedures; accelerated investigation of unresolved disappearance cases since January 1, 2567; community-based surveillance networks with village leaders; and regular progress reporting.

Regarding suspect Thana 'Pong'—allegedly linked to five deaths and now the subject of rumors connecting him to police—the provincial commander disclosed that investigations are ongoing under Regional Police Command 2 orders, examining electronic evidence, digital data, financial transactions, and all related information. Officers named or implicated in the case are currently under investigation.