KO PHA-NGAN — A British man has been arrested after allegedly hitting a prominent Thai doctor with a motorcycle on Ko Pha-ngan and fleeing the scene, with cocaine found in his system following the incident.

The collision occurred at 21:21 on 23 May 2026 on the road between Ko Pha-ngan Hospital and Thong Sala, in front of Noppharat Furniture Shop, Moo 1, Ko Pha-ngan subdistrict, Surat Thani province.

The victim, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thirasak Kaew-Amatawong, a respiratory medicine specialist and lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, was struck while walking and left critically injured. Bystanders rushed him to Ko Pha-ngan Hospital before police arrived.

The suspect fled the scene immediately after the collision. Officers reviewed CCTV footage from the area and surrounding roads, eventually identifying and locating the man on a tour boat moored at Wok Tum pier, Moo 4, Ko Pha-ngan. He was found with multiple abrasions on his body.

The suspect, identified as Duncan Wilcock, 51, a British national, confessed to police that he was the driver. He then led officers to the motorcycle used in the incident.

A drug test found no alcohol in his system, but detected cocaine. Wilcock was immediately charged and remanded in custody. Investigators presented him to Koh Samui Provincial Court on the morning of 26 May to seek a detention order. Police opposed bail, citing the severity of the charges, the risk of flight as a foreign national without a fixed address, and concern that he could flee the country if released.

As of 26 May, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thirasak remains in a critical but stable condition at Bangkok Hospital Samui. His medical team and family were making arrangements to transfer him by Royal Thai Police Aviation Division aircraft to Ramathibodi Hospital in Bangkok for further treatment.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thirasak has long been known for his volunteer work supporting the Ko Pha-ngan community.

May 26, 2569 – True Corporation reported usage statistics for the Paotang application on True and dtac networks during registration for the 'Thai Help Thai Plus 60/40' program on May 25, 2569, the first registration day. Nationwide usage surged 1,864% throughout the day compared to normal periods, reflecting overwhelming public enthusiasm with users registering from the moment registration opened. Usage spiked dramatically from the first minute on True and dtac networks. True Corporation's network and IT teams activated a War Room at the Business Network Intelligence Center (BNIC) with AI-powered Autonomous Network technology managing the network 24/7 to ensure continuous, stable, and efficient nationwide real-time service.

Peak usage occurred between 6:00–7:00 AM, followed by 7:00–8:00 AM, 8:00–9:00 AM, 5:00–6:00 AM, and 9:00–10:00 AM. The data shows many citizens prepared by accessing the app before the official 6:00 AM opening, with usage hitting maximum during the first minute of nationwide registration (data from full 24-hour period on May 25, 2569).

By region, Bangkok had the highest usage, followed by Chon Buri, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi. By zone, the Central Region (including Bangkok and metropolitan areas) led, followed by the Northeast, South, North, East, and West regions, reflecting broad digital access and service adoption nationwide.

True Corporation prioritizes digital connectivity during critical national moments, particularly for government services with mass simultaneous users. For the 'Thai Help Thai Plus 60/40' registration, the company prepared network capacity through 5G and 4G expansion, AI-powered intelligent traffic management, load balancing in dense areas, and 24/7 signal quality monitoring to support continuous nationwide usage.

Network and IT teams staffed the War Room at BNIC before registration began to maintain signal stability, data transmission speed, and real-time connection security, demonstrating True Corporation's capability to leverage AI and Autonomous Network technology for intelligent network management, support large-scale national digital services, and assure True and dtac customers smooth Paotang application performance at all critical moments.

At 3 p.m. on May 26, 2025, the Bhumjaithai Party parliamentary group convened to discuss and vote on the DSI's request to summon MP Chonnapat Naksan of the Kla Tham Party for questioning regarding an online gambling investigation. The House of Representatives has scheduled an urgent agenda item for May 28 to consider whether to authorize his interim detention. Party Secretary Chaiyachon Chidchop, who chaired the meeting, stated the party would first hold discussions, noting that some view this as a parliamentary privilege. However, he emphasized universal disapproval of the alleged conduct and pointed out that the MP himself posted that he is ready to face justice—which could change the situation entirely. Chidchop confirmed a resolution would be reached today, as the matter is straightforward. Should the MP voluntarily enter the justice process, the Bhumjaithai Party would vote accordingly without invoking parliamentary privilege. When asked about Pheu Thai's stance, Chidchop said no clear conclusion had been reached yet. He dismissed concerns that voting to send the MP constituted political manipulation, noting similar procedures have been standard practice across parties historically. Regarding accusations that not sending him would constitute protecting the Kla Tham Party, Chidchop argued such claims were baseless, as the justice system will ultimately determine guilt or innocence, with only about six weeks remaining before the process concludes regardless.

Complete results and prize breakdown for the Lao government lottery (Pattana Lottery) held on May 26, 2569, under supervision of the Lao Ministry of Finance. Prize categories include: 6-digit prize, 5-digit prize, last 4-digit prize, last 3-digit prize, and last 2-digit prize. The Lao lottery, officially called Pattana Lottery, is operated by the state-owned Pattana Lottery Company under the oversight of the Lao Ministry of Finance and is the legally sanctioned government lottery of Laos. Drawing schedules and broadcast information: Drawings occur Monday through Friday, with the 5/45 Pattana Lottery drawing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Live broadcasts begin at 8:00 PM Thailand time on Lao National Radio and Lao National Television Channel 1 (LNTV). The lottery system draws a single 6-digit winning number that can be separated into multiple prize categories based on regional popularity, with the last 4-digit number being the most commonly used format. Additional games include dream number lottery (4/40) and animal name numbers, which are distinctive features of Lao gambling.

Many people wear earbuds before bed to listen to music, mask noise, and fall asleep more easily—and research shows this can improve sleep quality. However, ear specialists caution that despite generally being safe, there are overlooked risks. Stanford Medicine doctors explain that in-ear earbuds that seal the ear canal tightly can trap moisture, allowing bacteria to accumulate and increasing the risk of ear infections, especially for those who shower before bed, have sensitive ear canal skin, or existing ear problems. Warning signs include ear pain, unusual itching, fluid discharge, or abnormal odors. Prolonged earbud use can also lead to earwax buildup, causing hearing difficulty, ear fullness, pressure, or ringing—conditions requiring medical cleaning or standard earwax removal kits. Volume level is another critical concern: the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that continuous exposure to sounds above 80 decibels for several hours weekly can damage hearing permanently, while 60-70 decibels (normal conversation) is considered safe. Doctors also warn that noise-canceling earbuds or loud audio while sleeping may prevent you from hearing fire alarms, wake-up calls, or emergency alerts. For those needing earbuds before sleep, experts recommend soft earbuds that don't seal the ear canal too tightly, over-ear headphones, or flat speakers under a pillow to reduce moisture and ear canal irritation.

On May 26, 2569, Chiang Mai police executed an arrest warrant against 43-year-old Kamolthep, known as "Ajarn Sua Ban Fon," a well-known spiritual master specializing in tattoos, candle-making, and karma-cleansing rituals. He was arrested at his residence in Nong Kwai Subdistrict, Hang Dong District, Chiang Mai, on charges of sexual assault using force and coercion.

During the search, officers discovered six registered handguns, one homemade rifle, hundreds of rounds of ammunition, and five methamphetamine pills. Kamolthep denied the sexual assault allegations, claiming he didn't know how he ended up in the ritual room and had done nothing to his stepdaughter. Police records show he was previously imprisoned for 1 year and 8 months in 2551 for methamphetamine possession.

According to 41-year-old Thitaree, the victim's mother and Kamolthep's wife, she had been his disciple for years, attending fortune readings, water blessings, and karma-cleansing ceremonies. They had been together for 8 years and were registered as married. On April 16, the stepdaughter finally disclosed that since January 2567, when she was 18 years old, Kamolthep had repeatedly sexually assaulted her under the pretense of completing spiritual rituals. He allegedly threatened her with a loaded gun, told her sexual intercourse was necessary for the ritual to work, and said he knew high-ranking police officers. The assaults occurred approximately five times. The victim had remained silent out of fear, living in the same house and threatened by the suspect's weapons. She eventually gathered courage and told her mother, prompting them to file a police report and commit to pursuing the case to its conclusion.