TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand and Toyota Motor Thailand are advancing their vision of "Making Ever-Better Motorsports-Bred Cars" by deploying three Hilux TRAVO vehicles in the Asia Cross Country Rally 2026 (AXCR 2026), scheduled for August 10–15, 2026, covering 2,200 kilometers from Pattaya to Phitsanulok. The initiative represents a collaboration between TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand, Thai engineers from Toyota Motor Asia (Thailand), and TCD Asia, fielding six drivers and co-drivers alongside full engineering and service support to demonstrate the new Hilux TRAVO's capabilities on the demanding international cross-country rally circuit.

Nutthadej Sriniwet, Assistant to the Managing Director of Toyota Motor Thailand, emphasized that the company uses motorsports as a critical platform for developing vehicle technology and innovation. He noted that data gathered from competitive testing helps improve durability, performance, and quality of production vehicles. Toyota's racing team achieved 2nd and 5th place finishes in the T1D class at last year's AXCR 2025, and this year aims to prove the Hilux TRAVO's strength across diverse terrain including dust, mud, gravel, and steep inclines over the grueling 2,200-kilometer course.

The Hilux TRAVO has been specially developed and prepared to handle the varied conditions of the Asia Cross Country Rally, serving as a critical testing ground for engineers to gather real-world performance data. This year, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Thailand will enter three Hilux TRAVO vehicles across two classes: in the T1D class, vehicles 102 (driven by Nueng-Mana Pornsirichierd with co-driver Ton-Kittisak Glimjanthorn) and 107 (driven by Chub-Nattapol Angruthananont with co-driver Tam-Thanyphut Minil); and in the T2A-D class, vehicle 130 (driven by Keng-Phurimasup Thinchanthorn with co-driver Lek-Prakay Namjai Thaharn). Team director Sutthipong Smitchart confirmed that drivers, co-drivers, engineers, and service teams are fully prepared to tackle every challenge and showcase the Hilux TRAVO's potential on the international rally stage.

On August 6, reporters documented scenes at the Samoed Subdistrict home of Borawattana Pengsuk, known as "Hulun Solo," a popular travel vlogger who died in Georgia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated the return of his body to Thailand early that morning. Relatives want a second autopsy to clarify the exact circumstances of his death.

Neighbors, fans, and well-wishers have been streaming to the house to offer support to the family, bringing food, water, and encouragement throughout the day. The funeral venue has been decorated with enlarged photographs of Hulun Solo, and the Samoed Subdistrict Municipality has provided tents and chairs for visitors. Local government offices are assisting with preparations. Relatives expect large numbers of fans and friends to arrive when the body reaches the house, with accommodations in the area already fully booked.

Family member Chanthapenp Kaewboonjai, 53, a chef helping with funeral preparations, said the family is anxious to learn the cause of death and hopes to share this information with relatives once the autopsy results are known. She noted that fans from various provinces and different school groups where Hulun studied have already sent support and flowers. Local tradition requires providing food for all visitors, regardless of distance. The family expressed gratitude to fans, reporters, teachers, and officials from schools and Chulalongkorn University who have provided assistance and donations of food and beverages.

Poor lifestyle habits, inadequate physical activity, and unhealthy eating are major risk factors for non-communicable diseases, particularly diabetes, which remains a serious health challenge in Thailand. According to the Disease Control Department, approximately 6.5 million Thais have diabetes, with many unaware of their condition. Without proper blood sugar control, complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve damage can develop.

In response, the Sweet School at Tha Thrai, located within the Tha Thrai Subdistrict Administrative Organization in Mueang District, Nakhon Nayok Province, has become an important tool for managing diabetic patients and at-risk groups. The program shifts from "waiting for treatment" after symptoms appear to building protective measures by providing knowledge and skills that enable people to manage their own health in daily life through learning, hands-on practice, and encouragement, with support from health personnel, village health volunteers, and community members.

Thawachchai Deetongsouk, director of the Tha Thrai Subdistrict Health Promotion Hospital, explained that the Sweet School was established in 2567 (2024) in response to the high number of diabetes patients in the area. The hospital recognized the need to find ways to reduce risk and slow disease progression. The school's goal is to help at-risk groups and patients access knowledge and behavioral change methods they can apply in their daily lives to reduce disease risk and prevent complications.

The Sweet School is managed by the subdistrict health center director working with trained volunteer teachers from the community and health volunteers who have received capacity development from Nakhon Nayok Hospital. They serve as teachers, imparting knowledge, building skills, and encouraging learners throughout the behavioral change process. The Local Health Security Fund (part of the local government's health insurance scheme) works with the National Health Security Office to fund health promotion activities, disease prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation, ensuring the school's behavior-change program runs continuously.

"The core of the Sweet School is behavioral change that emphasizes patient learning, knowledge, and ability to self-manage and continue that management until the disease is controlled," Thawachchai said. "At minimum, we want patients to understand complications and become aware of them. Even if they can't do everything, it still helps delay the deterioration that will happen to the patient."

The director added that the Sweet School uses a four-month curriculum in which learners meet once a week on Mondays. The program begins with a health screening to gather baseline data before moving into learning about diabetes and its complications. Learners also receive instruction on appropriate exercise from trained teachers and learn about food choices, including carbohydrate management guidance from nurses. The program also creates space for learners to exchange experiences, encourage one another, and monitor their health changes each week.

On August 6, 2026, Sopanat Saramet, President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives, delivered a keynote address at the opening of the exhibition "The Woven Ties: Celebrating 50 Years of Thailand–Vietnam Diplomatic Relations" in Hanoi, hosted by the Thai Embassy with support from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Saramet underscored the evolution of Thailand-Vietnam relations over the past 50 years since diplomatic ties were established on August 6, 1976. The relationship has grown from that of neighboring nations into a comprehensive strategic partnership grounded in trust, sincerity, and mutual support across political, security, economic, and people-to-people spheres.

He emphasized the critical role of both parliaments in advancing legislative cooperation, exchanging experiences, and driving initiatives that benefit the peoples of both nations, while jointly addressing contemporary challenges such as drug trafficking, transnational crime, and strengthening cybersecurity to promote peace and stability in the ASEAN region.

Saramet expressed confidence that the steadfast friendship between Thailand and Vietnam will continue to be nurtured and expanded across all levels of cooperation, creating shared prosperity and sustainably improving the quality of life for citizens of both countries.

Following the opening ceremony, Saramet led a Thai parliamentary delegation on a tour of an exhibition featuring Thai textiles and national dress that reflect the cultural identity and wisdom of both nations. The group met with Ha Thi Nga, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Committee and deputy chairperson of the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Central Committee, along with Thai government representatives, private sector figures in Hanoi, and Vietnamese officials to strengthen cooperation networks and deepen relationships across government, business, and civil society.

After the exhibition, Saramet and the delegation visited Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, welcomed by Ting Gong Si, deputy chairman of the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Ngoc Son Temple, or "Jade Mountain Temple," is a revered historical and cultural monument symbolizing Hanoi's heritage. Located on a small island in Hoan Kiem Lake, it is renowned for the legend of Emperor Le Loi returning a sacred sword to a giant turtle after Vietnam's independence struggle, reflecting Vietnamese national pride and millennia-old spiritual traditions.

The temple houses sacred objects and honored figures including Wen Chang Di Jun, the deity of wisdom and education; Tran Hung Dao, the hero who defended Vietnamese independence from Mongol invasion in the 13th century; and Guan Yu, a symbol of loyalty and virtue. These reflect a synthesis of Confucian, Taoist, and local beliefs that form the cultural foundation of Vietnamese society.

During the visit, the Thai parliamentary delegation learned about Vietnamese history, beliefs, and cultural heritage.

Theerutham Suphavibulpon, former director-general of the Department for Local Government Promotion, appeared before the Anti-Corruption Division to face six charges related to improper performance or omission of duty, falsification of government documents, and certification of false documents. After giving an initial statement, he denied all accusations and demanded to fight the case in court, maintaining that his examination administration followed proper procedures as chairman of the local government employee examination committee and that this constitutes his right to contest the allegations in court. In the broader exam fraud case, police have identified 13 suspects. Eleven are local government officials caught altering answer sheets and face charges under computer crime laws. The other two are Theerutham and the director of Mahasarakham University's Education and Psychology Testing Office who won the examination contract. The Anti-Corruption Division expects to finalize findings for submission to the National Anti-Corruption Commission on August 12 for further investigation. The highest-ranking official charged is the former director-general. Separately, the Interior Ministry is handling 5,925 individuals whose exam scores were altered and will revoke their appointments as local government employees. The provincial civil service commission will notify each local government organization to remove the incorrectly placed candidates and replace them with properly ranked alternatives. However, complications remain: 561 candidates have not yet been registered, and 97 others already hired have had their scores inflated. The Interior Ministry's handling of these cases and potential litigation remain uncertain. Analysts note that the scale of this exam fraud scheme resembles the notorious parliamentary election fraud case, with both politicians and major political parties implicated. The question arises whether exam fraud and electoral fraud ultimately represent the same systematic process.

Rattanathib Police Station in Nonthaburi received an unexpected delivery of 18 premium coffees worth approximately 3,200 baht on August 5, with no indication of who sent them or who they were meant for. A rider delivered nine bags between 2:20 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to the station's public relations desk, leaving the staff confused.

When no one came to collect the coffee, officers called the coffee shop to clarify. The shop confirmed the order was paid in full through a rider app, but the customer provided no name and gave only vague instructions to deliver to the police station. The shop agreed the officers could consume the coffee and took responsibility for the order.

Public relations officer Areeja Chue-Vongse explained that the busy afternoon made it impossible to question the rider immediately. "We were confused because there were so many coffees," she said. "At first we thought it might be a large catering order, and we were worried about a delivery mistake or potential problems." Officer Nakorrin Man-Thup confirmed the station contacted the coffee shop and verified there were no safety concerns before distributing the drinks to officers on duty.

Station Commander Pruet Jamroongsasn thanked the generous benefactor, suggesting they were likely a member of the public who had received good service and wanted to show appreciation to the hardworking staff.