CHONBURI — May 4, 2026. A fight erupted on Pattaya beach after a foreign tourist allegedly assaulted a Thai man who had asked him to stop smoking cannabis in a public area, according to police reports.

Kittipong Sa-ardchandee, 29, the victim, said he had been relaxing and eating with relatives by the beachfront when a group of foreign tourists at a nearby table began smoking cannabis, with the smell drifting to other visitors.

He said he approached them politely to ask that they not smoke in a public space. Despite the tourist's Thai girlfriend attempting to intervene, the man reportedly became angered.

Kittipong said that as he turned to walk back to his table, the foreign tourist adopted a fighting stance and attacked him from behind, triggering a scuffle. The assailant allegedly claimed to be a boxer.

The victim added that earlier, another group of Thai diners had also warned the same tourist and were similarly assaulted.

Municipal officers quickly intervened to stop the incident, but the foreign tourist continued to provoke the group, pacing near the scene and making obscene gestures. Authorities eventually ordered him to return to his accommodation and instructed both parties to disperse to prevent further escalation.

At 9:30 a.m. on May 5, 2025, at Government House, Senator Norrasetr Prajyakorn, chairman of the Senate Committee on Political Development, Public Participation, Human Rights, Liberties and Consumer Protection, announced the postponement of a bill requesting the government to reconsider the Land Bridge project. Although the bill had been added to the Senate agenda, numerous senators expressed strong interest in debating it and requested time to study the details. At least two Senate committees, including his own and the Transport Committee, have been studying the issue and calling relevant agencies to clarify the facts. Senators requested moving the bill to next week to allow adequate time for preparation. "After careful consideration, I believe we need sufficient time to thoroughly study the information without rushing and without debate lacking a proper factual basis. Therefore, I've decided to postpone this bill to next week so that senators can properly prepare for the discussion," Norrasetr stated. He also mentioned submitting an interpellation to Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, already on the agenda, requesting him to present clarifications and answer questions confidently about how this project will drive the nation's economic development. When asked whether appointing Deputy PM and Finance Minister Ek Niti Nitithaprasop as chairman of the Land Bridge project study committee and confirming no conflicts of interest could ease concerns, Norrasetr said the concerns remain unresolved. He noted the project is extraordinarily large with significant impacts, yet was not part of the ruling party's campaign platform nor the government's policy statement—making it suspicious that such a major initiative wasn't in the government's declaration but became the first priority it pushed aggressively. "This raises a question: why the rush? Is it to solve economic problems or to rush closing a deal?" Norrasetr asked. He warned that the government's introduction of the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC) law covering Chumphon, Ranong, Surat Thani, and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces should be closely monitored, as there are lessons from the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). The SEC law reportedly mirrors the EEC entirely, and the EEC experience—with its powerful committee expediting environmental laws—has essentially turned the eastern region into a "zero-margin capital" zone.

The Ministry of Public Health's Dental Institute warns the public not to believe false information being spread online about treating tooth cavities through various methods claiming to cure "tooth worms." The actual cause of cavities is bacterial infection, not parasites or insects. Cavities are caused by Streptococcus mutans bacteria, which is found in dental plaque and is the primary cause of tooth decay. When these bacteria break down starches and sugars from food, they produce acid that gradually destroys tooth enamel and dentin, creating cavities. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the tooth pulp, causing inflammation, severe pain, or abscess.

Proper cavity prevention methods include: brushing teeth with fluoride toothpaste at least twice daily, regularly using dental floss to remove plaque between teeth, and visiting a dentist every six months for checkups and tartar removal. The Ministry urges the public not to share or forward unscientific claims and to rely only on information from trusted sources.

A Chinese man was arrested at Krabi Airport after stabbing his wife and 13-year-old son, causing serious injuries. The suspect had purchased airline tickets for flight AK867 from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur departing at 11:50 AM in an attempt to escape the country.

According to reports on May 5, 2569, police received notification on May 4 about a foreign national using a knife to injure his wife and child. Officers found substantial bloodstains inside the residence located in Moo 5, Chalong Subdistrict, Muang Phuket District. The injured victims were transported to the hospital.

Neighbors revealed that the couple, 48-year-old Zou Yan and 30-year-old Chi Ting Lin, frequently argued. They shared a 13-year-old son together. Following the incident, the suspect drove a red Suzuki Swift to the hospital before fleeing.

Police determined that the suspect had escaped to Krabi Province and booked flight AK867 to Kuala Lumpur. Coordinating with Krabi Provincial Police, officers successfully apprehended him at Krabi Airport. Both victims are out of danger and recovering in the hospital. The suspect was brought in for questioning at Chalong Police Station before formal charges are filed.

It was almost a crocodile-sized encounter! Content creator Pong Gapol posted a startling video on May 5th showing a large silver and gold-colored python slithering into his house, causing his wife to scream in terror. In his caption, he wrote: "Friends, my wife almost had a heart attack! She screamed so loud thinking she saw a ghost. The door creaked, she thought it was strong wind—AHHHHH...the python got inside!" Entertainment figures commenting on the video expressed shock, describing the snake as crocodile-sized and noting it seemed reluctant to leave the house. Many commenters jokingly begged for his house address, flooding the post with requests like "Almost a crocodile!", "So huge!", "Give us the house number!", "What's your address, sir?", and "You're definitely winning the lottery!"

Bangkok Heart Hospital is advancing cardiovascular care to become a CVT Hospital of Asia Pacific under the 'BEYOND HEART CARE' concept, emphasizing its specialization in heart, vascular, and thoracic (Cardiovascular & Thoracic) care across all patient dimensions—from prevention and diagnosis through treatment and quality-of-life rehabilitation.

Dr. Kriengsak Hengrasmi, Director of Bangkok Heart Hospital, revealed that heart disease is no longer exclusively an elderly person's condition, with increasing incidence among working-age and younger people due to lifestyle factors such as stress, poor sleep, and unhealthy eating habits, as well as Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic (CKM) Syndrome linking heart, kidney, and metabolic functions. Comprehensive heart disease treatment requires care across the entire cardiovascular and thoracic system for optimal outcomes.

The hospital has cared for over 800,000 Thai and foreign patients over the past 20 years, with foreign patients comprising 45-50% from countries including Myanmar, Qatar, UAE, United States, and Bangladesh.

This elevation is driven through five core pillars of excellence:

1) Beyond Cardiac Surgical Precision elevates heart surgery to the minimally invasive era with rapid recovery. Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS) techniques reduce pain, blood loss, and post-operative complications while enabling faster patient recovery and return to normal life. Offerings include: • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (MICS CABG)—small-incision bypass without opening the sternum, reducing blood loss and pain with faster recovery • Totally 3D Endoscopic Valve Surgery—high-definition 3D endoscopic heart valve repair or replacement with enhanced precision and reduced tissue trauma • TAVI/MitraClip—catheter-based techniques for treating valve stenosis or regurgitation without sternotomy, ideal for elderly patients or high-risk surgical candidates • Robot-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (RATS) and Advanced Video-Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS)—robotic and camera-assisted minimally invasive thoracic procedures for lung and chest diseases with reduced muscle and rib injury and faster recovery

2) Beyond Advanced Intervention offers new catheter-based treatment options for patients with severe or complex coronary stenosis using the Complex High-risk Indicated PCI (CHIP PCI) program, incorporating advanced technology for detecting and expanding severely narrowed arteries through cardiac catheterization without open surgery, suitable for high-risk patients or severe artery blockages. Techniques include: • Intravascular Imaging (IVUS/OCT) and Functional Assessment/Flow Study (FFR/iFR)—endoscopic visualization inside coronary arteries measuring blood pressure and flow rates