Thailand's women's volleyball team delivered a dominant performance, sweeping host nation Vietnam to secure the first leg championship of the SEA V Cup 2026. The women's volleyball championship SEA V Cup 2026 (Leg 1) was held from July 31 to August 2, 2569 at Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.

On July 31, 2569, in the final match of the first leg, Thailand's team, ranked 17th in the world, faced hosts Vietnam, ranked 27th globally. Thailand's women's volleyball team had previously defeated Indonesia 3-1 in their opening match and defeated the Philippines 3-2 in their second match, earning 5 points. Vietnam, as hosts, had won both their matches with 6 points. Thailand needed to defeat Vietnam to clinch the first leg championship.

Coach Kitti Ratchatagriang selected the starting lineup including captain Nattanika Jaisai, Sasipaporn Chantvisuth, Warisra Sitaleert, Kanyarat Khunmuang, Archraporn Kongyos, and Keawkanya Kamulthala, with Chidapa Nahuanong as the libero. Vietnam was led by captain Tran Thi Thanh Tuy.

Thailand played with confidence and composure despite the overwhelming home crowd support for Vietnam, ultimately winning 3-0 sets with scores of 25-18, 25-17, and 25-14. This victory gave Thailand a perfect 3-0 record with 8 points, successfully claiming the first leg championship of the SEA V Cup 2026 women's volleyball tournament. Vietnam finished second with 2 wins and 1 loss, totaling 6 points.

The second leg of the BYD DMI 6th SEA V Cup women's volleyball championship will be held from August 7-9, 2569 at Chiang Mai 700 Years Stadium in Chiang Mai Province.

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

Phuket — Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom led a safety inspection on a recent morning, focusing on three critical areas: tunnel lighting, road accident prevention, and security at the Sarasin Bridge. The initiative follows heightened public concern on social media and is to strengthen both traffic management and public safety across the province. Governor Chotnarin, joined […] Phuket Pushes Tunnel Repairs, Road Safety Drive, and Sarasin Bridge Security -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Sena Hoy Kiatsakdi is continuing to pursue business opportunities and remains unbothered by outside commentary. Besides launching Hosomi, his matcha and bagel café at Maruay Plaza, he is preparing to reenter the noodle restaurant market with a new brand following his recent departure from Bua Lai Tom Yum Noodles. At the Preaw Pak Festival 2026 opening event at The Mall Lifestyle Store in Bangkok's Bang Kapi district, Sena shared details about his new business plans, including the upcoming noodle restaurant, and clarified remarks made by close friend Willie McIntosh.

Sena explained his venture into matcha: "I came to the festival for the first time to sell drinks—matcha water, actually. I'm being completely honest: I don't normally drink matcha at all. But my girlfriend Cake Som loves matcha. After she tried it, we went together and sampled 50 varieties of matcha powder from Japan, and we were completely mind-blown. We narrowed it down to four varieties." He discussed the tasting profiles and how they and Cake Som selected flavors without prior agreement, ultimately choosing nutty profiles.

For Hosomi, located at Maruay Plaza, Sena and Cake Som created a matcha and bagel menu. Their signature item, Coconut Cloud, combines whisked milk and matcha with coconut water at the base. A famous Thai chef who visited the shop inspired another menu item. Sena plans to introduce bagels soon, featuring designs reminiscent of his own hairstyle and fillings he discovered in Shanghai.

When asked if the shop has launched, Sena confirmed: "We've opened but are still serving only beverages and cheesecake for now. The cheesecake is almost ready." Regarding his return to noodle restaurants, he added: "After the old shop closed, I thought, 'Well, I love eating noodles, so I'll find my own recipe.' My grandnephew is making it."

On August 2, 2025, Narathiwat Governor Bunchaihor Homyamyen arrived at the Prai Wan Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Tak Bai District to command and monitor the situation following an armed shooting incident. Gunmen fired on Tak Bai Police Station investigation officers during an operation, resulting in the deaths of two police officers and injuries to three others.

The governor coordinated operational plans with Region 9 Police Commander Piyawat Chelemsiree and ordered a coordinated response involving civil administration, police, and military forces to conduct thorough searches and pursue the perpetrators with maximum attention to public and officer safety. Village headmen, assistant headmen, and village security volunteers were tasked with establishing seven checkpoint zones across Prai Wan and Sala Mai subdistricts to intercept escape routes and screen suspicious persons and vehicles.

Additionally, 54 volunteer territorial defense volunteers from the area, along with the three-agency force, have intensified area security operations and conducted systematic searches. Initial operations have resulted in the detention of three suspects currently undergoing legal investigation and evidence collection, while two additional suspects are reported to have fled into a forest area. Authorities are tightening the cordon and continuing pursuit operations.

The public is asked to avoid the operational area, follow official instructions, refrain from sharing operational information or photographs, and report any suspicious persons, vehicles, or activity to local security personnel or the emergency hotline 1341 immediately.

Madam Pang Nualprann Lamsam, chair of the Football Association of Thailand, praised the Thai national team's young squad after they demonstrated hunger and desire to prove themselves. She announced a 2 million baht bonus if the team finishes as group champions and advances to the AFF Championship 2026 semi-finals.

Thailand collected six points from their first two matches with outstanding performances, first defeating Laos 5-0 away and then beating Malaysia 2-0 at home in front of 16,000 fans at Rajamangala Stadium on August 1, 2025. Pang said, "This tournament is not during FIFA international windows, so we are without key players and have made many changes. But from the first two matches, what impressed us is the hunger, fighting spirit, and desire to show their abilities from the young players, such as Yotsarun Buppha, who was brave enough to score a penalty against Malaysia, building confidence for himself and the team, and Theerarak Phaipimarn, who scored in two consecutive matches."

"Besides the young squad worthy of praise, we must also appreciate the senior players who have supported this team well, including Sarachchai, Kampon, and Manuel Tom Biere. From the first two matches, we earned full six points and conceded no goals, which is good overall performance and increases our chances of advancing to the semi-finals."

"Tonight the team will travel to the Philippines. I want to tell everyone that to boost morale and encouragement, if we advance to the semi-finals as group champions, I will give a 2 million baht bonus. I ask football fans to send their support to this team. Of course, every away match is not easy, but with the team's current spirit, I am confident we can do it."

Thailand's next match is the third game of Group B in the AFF Championship 2026 group stage against the Philippines, ranked 135th in the world, at New Clark City Athletic Stadium in Capas, Philippines on August 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM Thailand time. The match will be broadcast live on the TrueVisions Now application.

A heartbreaking case has sparked widespread social media backlash after the private detective team "Boy Detective" was hired by Ms. Wan to investigate the behavior of her husband, Somchai, a firefighter and disaster prevention officer. She suspected he was having an affair with a young nurse.

The incident occurred on the night of their daughter's 4th birthday. Somchai told his family he was tied up with urgent work and could not attend the birthday celebration or blow out candles with his daughter. His wife decided to hire private detectives to shadow him and document his activities throughout the entire day.

The detective team gathered conclusive evidence showing that Somchai never reported for duty as claimed. Instead, he picked up and walked arm-in-arm with a young nurse from the same province, went out for walks, ate together, and drove to a hotel in Muang District, Chon Buri, on the night of his daughter's birthday.

The most heartbreaking moment came when, while Somchai was with the nurse, his 4-year-old daughter called him, missing him and asking for a birthday gift. He told her he was still at work and could not return. His daughter had to blow out her birthday candles with only her mother present.

Ms. Wan is currently collecting all photographic evidence, video footage, and timestamped location data to pursue legal action and file disciplinary complaints.