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An American man who allegedly stole beer from a convenience store in Bangkok while high on methamphetamine and later slashed a policeman’s neck when he tried to arrest him will be charged with attempted murder.

According to the Metropolitan Police Bureau, Alexander Lopez, 29, showed a box cutter while he snatched cans of beer from a 7-Eleven on Phadung Dao Road in Samphanthawong district about 10am on Saturday. He then fled the store.

Pol Lt Prasarn Somkanay, 58, was on duty at a nearby traffic light booth at Suea Pa intersection on Charoen Krung Road, and he chased the man on his motorbike and tried to arrest him. The American allegedly resisted and slashed the policeman’s neck with his cutter before again fleeing.

Witnesses rushed the injured policeman to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration General Hospital, where he received timely treatment.

The fleeing suspect exhausted himself and was finally arrested on Chalermkhet 1 Road in Pomprap Sattruphai district about 11.05am on Saturday.

Mr Lopez tested positive for methamphetamine use, according to police who said he was unable to answer police questions and was uncooperative with interrogators.

They planned to resume questioning the suspect in the presence of representatives from the US embassy on Monday.

In addition to attempted murder, Mr Lopez faces charges of resisting arrest, carrying a knife in public without permission or good reason, robbery and theft, according to police.

Police said the American is also accused to stealing a bag and a mobile phone from Thammasat University about 1am on Saturday.

There were 51 violent incidents in the three southernmost border provinces on Saturday night, almost half of them occurring in Narathiwat.

As of midnight, the southern command of the Internal Security Operations Command reported 51 violent incidents in Narathiwat, Pattani and Yala provinces. Most involved arson, along with bomb explosions, public shootings, property destruction and government vehicle theft.

There were 22 attacks in Narathiwat – in Chanae district (4 incidents), Sri Sakhon (1), Waeng (1), Bacho (3), Muang (1), Cho Airong (1), Rangae (5), Sungai Kolok (1), Tak Bai (2), Yi-ngo (1), Rueso (1) and Sungai Padi (1).

They included bombings, public shootings, state vehicle theft and the torching of buildings, power poles and a backhoe. Two women, aged 45 and 46 years, were injured when a bomb detonated on Ban Tham Niap Road in tambon Lamphu of Muang district, Narathiwat.

One woman suffered ruptures in her chest and left arm, the other a severe wound to her left thigh.

The tambon Bo Ngo administration organisation office in Rangae district was torched. A state-owned pickup truck was stolen from there and was later found burnt-out.

In Pattani, there were 11 violent incidents – in Yarang district (3), Yaring (2), Nong Chik (3), Sai Buri (1), Thung Yang Daeng (1) and Khok Pho (1). There were no injuries.

In Yaring, a 7-Eleven convenience store was bombed. Suspicious objects were also left there by the attackers, who fired gunshots skywards and set fire to tyres. In Sai Buri, a new municipal office in tambon Taluban of Sai Buri district, Pattani, was set ablaze.

In Yala 18 violent incidents were reported – including 8 in Than To district, 6 in Bannang Sata and 2 in Raman. There were no injuries. Most involved attackers burning tyres, surveillance cameras, mobile phone cellular towers and state vehicles. Spikes were also scattered on main roads.

Security officials advise people not to touch any suspicious objects they come across, and to immediately report them.

The Internal Security Operations Command condemned the incidents, saying they did not demonstrate courage, only an intention to hurt people and instill fear.

A new 73.8-kilometre railway linking Suphan Buri with Ban Phachi in Ayutthaya is being developed to close a missing link and improve freight connections.

Pichet Kunadhamraks, director-general of the Department of Rail Transport, said the Suphan Buri-Nakhon Luang-Ban Phachi Junction route would connect the southern railway network with northern and northeastern lines, as well as the eastern network, without trains having to pass through Bangkok.

The project will include five stations and two freight yards. The State Railway of Thailand is preparing detailed designs and an environmental impact assessment, expected to be completed in January 2027.

The route is intended to improve freight connectivity, reduce logistics costs and support agricultural and industrial supply chains.

Mr Pichet said the project would help create a seamless rail network and strengthen the country’s long-term competitiveness.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul on Sunday ordered state agencies to speed up flood recovery, compensation payments and infrastructure repairs in Nan and other flood-affected provinces, while maintaining heightened monitoring for further flooding and landslides during the remainder of the rainy season.

Chairing a flood-monitoring meeting in Nan attended by cabinet ministers and the governors of 37 northern and northeastern provinces, Mr Anutin said state agencies must move quickly to restore damaged communities while remaining prepared for renewed heavy rain.

The prime minister instructed officials to accelerate damage assessments, compensation payments and repairs to homes, roads, bridges, electricity and water systems. He also ordered agencies to strengthen flood forecasting, mapping and public-warning systems, and called on the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) to improve information-sharing technology and develop more modern tools for delivering updates to residents.

‘Once we know where floodwaters are heading, people must be informed immediately. Don’t wait until the water arrives,” Mr Anutin said.

“Residents need time to move their belongings, relocate vehicles and, most importantly, evacuate vulnerable people from high-risk areas.”

Although flood conditions have improved in many areas, Mr Anutin said authorities could not afford to become complacent. Fresh flash floods and landslides could stilll occur in parts of the North.

Mr Anutin also praised Deputy Prime Minister Yodchanan Wongsawat, who chairs the committee overseeing flood and drought prevention and response in the North, for quickly travelling to affected areas and coordinating relief efforts with relevant agencies.

He said Mr Yodchanan had overseen operations on behalf of the government from the early stages of the crisis and worked closely with ministers and local authorities to manage the situation.

He also wanted closer monitoring of rainfall and upstream runoff, particularly in high-risk areas, and said the government would use lessons from the recent floods to improve long-term flood-prevention measures.

– Compensation payments –

Nan governor Chainarong Wongyai said floodwaters had receded across the province and recovery operations were now focused on cleaning homes, roads and public areas damaged by mud and debris.

Personnel, machinery and equipment from multiple agencies, including the military, had been deployed to the worst-affected districts, including Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Muang Nan, Phu Phiang and Wiang Sa.

He expected major cleanup work to be completed in four or five days.

The governor said the first round of compensation would be paid between Aug 30 and Sept 1. Affected households would receive 6,700 baht to cover essential items such as bedding, clothing and kitchen equipment damaged by the floods.

A second round of assistance for damaged homes would follow after engineers complete detailed assessments. At least 30 engineers from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning were assisting local survey teams.

– Businesses reopen as water recedes –

Floodwaters have drained from Nan municipality, with the Nan River now flowing almost four metres below its banks, signalling a marked improvement from the flood’s peak.

Municipal workers have been clearing mud and debris from streets and low-lying riverside communities, where thick layers of silt remain after the floods.

Markets, shops and roadside businesses have gradually reopened, with commercial activity returning to many parts of the city.

A string of unrest occurred at multiple locations in southern border provinces on Saturday night, with explosions and arson attacks damaging vehicles, communication infrastructure and other property. Two people were injured in Narathiwat.

In Narathiwat, an explosion occurred at about 8.15pm along the road linking Kampong Pare village Moo 8 in tambon Maruebo and Kuching Luepa village Moo 4 in tambon Chaloem, both in Rangae district. No injuries were initially reported.

Later, an arson attack was reported at the Bongo tambon administration organisation (TAO) office, where a black Mitsubishi pickup was reported missing or removed from the area. Officials were investigating

At Mo Sa Wa village in tambon Bongo, Rangae district, tyres were set on fire and an explosion was reported. No injuries were initially reported. A backhoe was also torched near a bridge at Arnae village Moo 8.

In Cho Airong district, tyres were burned in tambon Bukit and tambon Maruebo-ok. An explosion was reported near a DTAC telecommunications tower in village Moo 2 of tambon Chuap. Another explosion was heard in the area.

In Yi-ngo district, one tyre-burning incident was reported on Highway 42 near Thung Kha village Moo 8 of tambon Lahan.

In Sungai Padi district, the Narathiwat 932 police task force received a report that two passengers were injured when an explosion struck a car carrying five people – one man and four women -who were travelling home in this district.

The blast occurred shortly after the vehicle drove past Dalaepalas mosque intersection. Shrapnel damaged the vehicle and injured two women. Both were taken to a nearby hospital.

Officials later reported that the attacks occurred at 11 locations in Narathiwat.

In Yala, suspected insurgents set fire to telecommunications towers operated by two networks and torched two vehicles belonging to a tambon administration organisation in village Moo 4 of tambon Ban Rae in Than To district.

Sungai Kolok district chief Sopiyan Daemoleng said a preliminary investigation found that suspected insurgents planted a bomb at a roadside shelter in front of the Narathiwat Provincial Transport Office’s Sungai Kolok branch, located along the Sungai Kolok-Muno road.

No injuries or deaths were initially reported. Security officials cordoned off the area and were investigating the incident while maintaining heightened security in surrounding areas.

Mr Sopiyan said Sungai Kolok district had immediately tightened security measures and temporarily closed routes into and out of the town, as well as connecting areas between Sungai Kolok and Tak Bai districts and neighbouring districts.

The measures were intended to allow officials to assess the situation, screen people and vehicles and prevent further attacks.

He urged residents to remain at home or in their accommodation and avoid unnecessary travel in and out of the area so security officials could carry out their duties effectively.

The Narathiwat Special Task Force later imposed a curfew from 10.15pm on Saturday until 6am on Sunday in an effort to tighten control of the situation following a series of incidents in several areas.

The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 Forward Command urged residents to remain vigilant, avoid attack sites and areas designated as security zones, and refrain from approaching or moving suspicious objects.

It also warned the public against posting photographs, video clips or the real-time locations of security personnel, saying such information could undermine security operations and efforts to track down those responsible.

When Aor visited the Din Daeng district office sometime in June, a registration officer questioned her about the number of Myanmar children listed on her family’s household registration.

The answer shocked her. Sixty-four foreign children, aged five to 15, had been registered at the address where her younger sister, Sarina, lived.

Sarina told officers she had received 5,000 baht in cash after messaging her sister Chalermsri, who works at the district office, to ask for a loan. Chalermsri had asked for copies of Sarina’s household registration and identity card.

Sarina believed the documents were needed to apply for a newborn-child subsidy. She had never visited the district office and insisted she had not agreed to have foreign children registered at her address.

The flat, measuring about 30-40 square metres, was among 47 flats where more than 16 foreign children had been registered.

A subsequent police-led examination found at least 1,468 foreign children aged five to 15 listed in household registrations across the Din Daeng complex, which contains 5,726 rooms.

Complaint uncovers network

After discovering the 64 names, Aor first reported the matter to local police, but recalled being challenged over the fact that her sister had already taken the money.

“You already took their money, why are you filing a report to arrest them?” she was told.

Aor then went to the district office but received no clear answer. Instead, she was told that once a foreigner’s name had been entered in a household registration document, further registrations could be made.

Her concerns deepened when she found Noi, a neighbour and a broker involved in arranging documents, waiting for her on the stairs at the flat.

Noi told Aor she knew about the complaints made to police and the district office, suggesting information was reaching the network.

Aor later took the documents to the Office of the Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC).

PACC secretary-general Bhumivisan Kasemsook said on Wednesday the agency had received information about suspected corruption involving the misuse of pink identification cards and had shared it with state agencies.

That triggered an operation on Tuesday involving the Interior Ministry, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), Royal Thai Police and the PACC, leading to searches at seven locations, including three Din Daeng flats.

Mr Bhumivisan said the evidence obtained could lead to additional suspects. Claims by the broker that similar practices occurred in every district required verification, he said.

System flags fail

The registration database generates a warning when more than 16 people are registered at a single address. But the alert has little effect if staff with the power to approve household registrations keep processing applications despite it.

Police and the Department of Provincial Administration’s National Identity Crime Enforcement task force found that 64 Myanmar children had been registered at Sarina’s flat within two days, on June 6 and 7.

Chalermsri’s room had 41 names on its household registration and Noi’s had 35, bringing the total across the three rooms to 140.

A wider BMA review on Friday found 16,634 foreign nationals holding pink identification cards registered at 10,066 homes across Bangkok’s 50 districts. Thirteen of those homes, spread across nine districts, had more than 16 pink-card holders at a single address.

Pol Gen Adis Ngamchitsuksri, an adviser to the Bangkok governor, said most addresses appeared to have normal occupancy. The 13 flagged properties were reported to include factories, workers’ dormitories and rental homes, meaning each case must be examined individually.

The BMA will run detailed checks on the 13 addresses, examining actual occupancy, relationships among registered residents and the documents supporting registrations and transfers.

Three Din Daeng district-office employees, including Chalermsri, were later named in arrest warrants. They are accused of receiving and approving applications despite unusually high numbers, accepting documents prepared in advance and approving applications carrying allegedly forged signatures.

Police arrested seven suspects during the raid, comprising the three district-office employees, three household owners and Noi’s niece, who allegedly signed as a witness for the registration of the Myanmar children.

On Friday, the BMA identified a fourth Din Daeng district-office employee as linked to the case. Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt ordered all four staff members to be placed on temporary leave.

Brokers open gateway

The network centred on household registration, which could then be used to obtain pink identification cards for people without Thai nationality.

Noi told officers she had helped foreign workers obtain documents for years, describing a process in which household registrations were arranged so migrant workers could obtain pink cards and work legally.

She said household owners received about 5,000 baht per person, while she collected 500 baht for arranging the registration and another 300 baht for processing the identification card. She did not say how much she paid the district staff.

Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasert described brokers as key players in the process.

“Sometimes the foreign workers who come in do not know much about what is happening. The broker tells them to come and says, ‘You pay this amount and I will arrange it'”, he said.

Brokerage fees could range from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of baht, depending on the arrangement.

Mr Worasit said a pink card is not Thai citizenship or a Thai identity card. It is an identification card issued to non-Thai nationals whose names are recorded in Thailand’s civil-registration system.

Depending on their legal status, holders can use the card for certain transactions and access education and employment under applicable conditions. It may also open a pathway towards applying for Thai nationality, he said.

The case has also raised concerns that improperly obtained registration and identity documents could be linked to mule bank accounts, scam networks or transnational crime.

Probe goes nationwide

The Interior Ministry is widening the investigation beyond Din Daeng. Mr Worasit said the Din Daeng case was a starting point, and the ministry would examine the area further and extend checks to other parts of the country as need arose.

The ministry will also coordinate with the Labour Ministry because foreign-worker registration is linked to the civil-registration process. Mr Worasit said agencies would need to cross-check information to determine whether people had been falsely represented during registration.

The Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) is examining the financial dimension. Amlo deputy secretary-general Kamolsit Wongbutnoi said it would consider whether conduct involving public servants and brokers constituted a predicate offence under the current legal system.

If the legal threshold is met, Amlo can trace assets and pursue civil measures against property linked to wrongdoing, he said.

What began with 64 children registered at one small flat has become a wider test of civil registration safeguards. The unanswered question is whether Din Daeng was an isolated failure or evidence of a system open to abuse.

An overnight bomb explosion damaged the southern rail track in Rangae district of this southern border province, and it was closed for security checks and repairs, affecting 10 freight and long-haul passenger services.

The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) said on Sunday that the track was closed between Ma Ru Bo and Tanyong Mat stations. There were no injuries.

Repairs would begin once security teams confirmed it was safe to do so.

Ten passenger and freight trains are affected. They include long-haul services between Bangkok and Sungai Kolok, which is the southernmost railway station in Narathiwat, and local services between Sungai Kolok and Nakhon Si Thammarat, Tanyong Mat and Yala, Phatthalung and Sungai Kolok, Surat Thani and Sungai Kolok and Yala and Sungai Kolok.

The SRT decided not to provide affected passengers with a shuttle bus to detour around the closed track. Repairs were expected to take no more than three hours after receiving the green light from security officials.

The Internal Security Operations Command said that one of the bomb explosions on Saturday night damaged concrete sleepers on the track.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) is accelerating upgrades to regional airports and the aviation network to accommodate rising air travel, with a focus on safety, readiness and tailored development under its “Small Airports, Not Small Standards” concept.

Thailand handled 85.16 million air passengers from January to July, up 1.48% year on year. Domestic passenger numbers rose 1.64% to 39.26 million, while international passenger numbers increased 1.34% to 45.91 million.

ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon, director of CAAT, said regional airports are critical to decentralising travel and economic activity, connecting secondary cities with major centres and creating opportunities for tourism, trade and investment.

“Regional airports are not merely places for aircraft to take off and land. They are infrastructure that connects people, tourists and businesses with cities,” he said.

Domestic flights totalled 281,896 during the first seven months, up 1.77%. Department of Airports (DOA) data showed its airports handled 14.23 million passengers in 2025, with Surat Thani, Ubon Ratchathani, Khon Kaen, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Udon Thani and Krabi handling an average of 2,500-5,000 passengers a day.

CAAT said development would not follow a one-size-fits-all model, but would reflect each airport’s capacity, traffic levels and local economic potential. Its programme covers airport readiness, airspace and air traffic management, Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS), and safety oversight of airlines and new routes.

Meanwhile, direct Thailand-Europe services expanded, with 16,998 flights recorded from January to July, up 9.02% year-on-year, despite a 1.63% decline in overall international flights. The DOA has also introduced a 50% reduction in aircraft landing and parking charges for new domestic and international routes.

For some middle-aged and older people, working as companions offers more than just an income: it brings conversation, social connection and a renewed sense of purpose.

For “Uncle Nat” in Nakhon Ratchasima province, more than 80% of his customers are people who feel bored or lonely and want someone to accompany them for a day.

Some ask him to drive them to another province, visit a temple or walk around a shopping centre. Others simply want someone to eat with and talk to.

Nat holds a public driving licence and has undergone a criminal background check. His service costs 900 baht for three hours or 2,200 baht for eight hours.

“Renting an uncle is an honest occupation. I don’t sell my appearance. I sell friendliness, listening without judging, photographs and encouragement,” he said.

One customer aged over 60 said the arrangement had given her companionship and made everyday activities easier. She does not enjoy driving, so she invites Nat to drive, share a meal and chat.

“Having Uncle Nat as a friend means I don’t feel depressed,” the customer said.

The service is not limited to men. In Hat Yai, Songkhla, a “rent an aunt” service offers companionship, driving and outings.

One customer hired a woman named Nonni for an hour to accompany her to a funeral. When she could not attend, she asked Nonni to take a donation envelope to the ceremony instead.

The service costs 399 baht an hour. “I did what the customer instructed me to do, and I got paid for an hour’s service,” Nonni said. “Boy! I really like this job,” she said.

Loneliness behind the trend

The growing interest in such services comes as Thailand’s ageing population changes the way people live and maintain relationships.

According to the National Statistical Office, about 1.8 million people aged 60 and above live alone, or about 12.9% of the country’s older population of 14 million people. The number continues to rise.

Dr Supanan Janeteerawong, a psychiatrist at Pranangklao Hospital, said senior companionship services could help reduce loneliness as long as they were not linked to illegal activity or fraud.

Thailand has many communication applications that allow people to contact friends and relatives, she said, but online communication cannot replace face-to-face interaction.

People who hire an older companion may want someone mature with whom they can share stories or seek advice.

“They have not chosen to share their own story or problem with their relatives because of poor connections within the family,” Dr Supanan said.

Some may also feel more comfortable speaking to someone they believe will not pass their personal stories to others.

“If relationships in the family are strong enough, this kind of business would not exist,” she said.

The appeal, therefore, is not necessarily that customers have no family.

It may reflect the reality that family relationships can be complicated, geographically distant or emotionally disconnected.

Paying for companionship

Prof Chalidaporn Songsamphan, a Thammasat University political science professor, places the trend within a broader phenomenon she calls “purchasing intimacy” — paying for emotional connection and companionship.

The concept is not new. Similar forms of commercialised companionship have existed in countries such as Japan and China.

Many older people have spent decades working and living independently, Prof Chalidaporn said, making it understandable that some want to remain active rather than withdraw from society after retirement.

The important question, she said, should not simply be whether kindness or companionship can be commercialised, but how risks are managed.

People who spend time with hired companions can be emotionally vulnerable, while providers also face risks when meeting strangers. Clear boundaries and safeguards are therefore essential.

Technology is also changing how people seek emotional support. Some now turn to artificial intelligence because it is readily available and responds quickly, Prof Chalidaporn said.

But AI cannot provide the same form of physical human presence as a companion sitting beside someone over a meal, accompanying them to an appointment or driving them somewhere.

When friendship becomes work

The emergence of these services raises questions about where friendship ends and paid work begins.

For customers, the arrangement provides something that may be difficult to obtain elsewhere: a person willing to listen without the expectations and obligations that can accompany family relationships.

For older workers, it can provide income while allowing them to use the skills and experience accumulated during their working lives.

One example is Supaporn Asadamongkoln, 58, a JoyLife member who has completed a successful assignment as a mentor.

She was hired by a medical practitioner for a four-hour session costing 750 baht.

Drawing on two decades of experience in the media, Ms Supaporn coached him on communication techniques, pitching stories to introduce products, and developing a personal brand suited to his profession, personality and social media presence.

For her, the experience shows how senior rental services can create a two-way exchange, allowing older people to share their expertise while continuing to learn and grow themselves.

Prof Chalidaporn said the trend should not automatically be viewed through a moral lens. The more pressing issue is whether people involved understand the boundaries and risks.

Boundaries matter

The services have rules designed to keep companionship separate from other forms of commercial intimacy.

JoyLife, for example, prohibits romantic arrangements and assignments in private spaces. Requests are screened before companions, most of them retirees, accept them, said Nattakarn Denwanichakorn, JoyLife’s CEO and founder.

“Every booking isn’t just a service transaction — it is a collective effort to build a society where the elderly remain valued, hold active roles, and pass down their life experience to younger generations,” she said.

The service also aims to bridge generational divides through shared learning and mutual respect, allowing older people to remain socially engaged with dignity, she said.

The independent “rent an uncle” service has similar safeguards, prohibiting romantic relationships and gambling. Customers must be at least 18 and pay in advance. Such measures reflect the nature of the business: strangers enter paid relationships that can involve personal conversations, travel and spending extended periods together.

But the services also point to a broader reality of ageing in Thailand. Loneliness is not necessarily solved by having relatives. Someone can have children, siblings or friends and still lack a person available to share an ordinary afternoon.

That may be the most revealing aspect of the “rent an uncle” and “rent an aunt” phenomenon. What people are paying for is often not a novelty, but something simple: a driver when they do not want to drive, company when they do not want to eat alone, someone to accompany them to a temple or funeral, or simply another person willing to listen.

For the older people providing the service, the exchange can offer something beyond income — a reason to remain socially connected, active and involved in everyday life.

Thai Airways International will resume direct flights between Bangkok and Auckland next year.

Government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek said the flights would support greater movement of people and business between Thailand and New Zealand.

The resumption was included in a joint statement issued after Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held talks in Auckland on Friday.

Thai Airways suspended the route after more than three decades when the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted international air travel.

Mr Luxon welcomed the return of the Thai flag carrier, saying it would boost tourism and trade, restore an air-freight link and improve connections through Bangkok to wider Asia.