Starfighter Co., Ltd., headed by Alongkot Sangkahapon, is organizing the seventh consecutive Teen Star International 2026 competition on a grand scale, cementing its position as one of the world's premier youth pageants with the highest number of international participants. This year features 35 youth representatives from 13 countries around the globe who have traveled to exchange cultures and demonstrate their talents on a stage of friendship.

The competition will be held in Chiang Mai Province from June 30 to July 7, 2025. Contestants will experience the charm of Lanna arts and culture and tour significant attractions while contributing to Thailand's economic and tourism development. Finals will be held on July 5, 2025, at the Kuang International Conference and Exhibition Center in Chiang Mai.

Winners of all six categories are:

TEEN STAR INTERNATIONAL 2026 WINNERS A Girls: Bethanie Emmairah (Philippines) B Girls: Hanya Hussen (Thailand) C Girls: Anyya Aronya Auttaen (Thailand) D Girls: Pochratida Suksamran (Thailand) A Boys: Thara Netprapai (Thailand) C Boys: Phuthanes Sangchina (Thailand)

Watch the global competition live on YouTube: Starfighter. A follow-up event, Kids Star International 2026, will bring together youth from around the world again in December.

UK interim Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that if England's national football team wins the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the government would declare an additional public holiday. England has qualified for the semi-finals of the 2026 World Cup, where they will face Norway on July 12 at 4:00 AM Thai time. The Three Lions have not reached a World Cup final since their home victory in 1966, which remains their sole final appearance. Starmer recently indicated that an extra bank holiday might be announced should England claim the World Cup title. "Regarding bank holidays, I don't want to say anything that might jinx us, but ask me again if we reach the final," he said. According to BBC, the additional holiday would fall on Friday, July 24, the day following England's championship. The UK has eight standard public holidays each year, with extra days off typically declared only for major royal events such as Queen Elizabeth II's state funeral in 2022 and King Charles III's coronation ceremony in 2023.

Internet users are showering praise on talented actress and event organizer An Thongprasoom for her strikingly youthful appearance and glowing skin. Regardless of the setting or styling, her flawless complexion and baby face command universal admiration, with followers consistently attributing her looks to disciplined self-care. Her recent work has generated widespread online praise, with many remarking on her radiant complexion and youthful appearance that defies her actual age. Those who regularly follow An's Instagram can see her beauty secrets extend beyond just exercise—she maintains a strict regimen of regular skincare clinic visits and consistent self-care both inside and out, which clearly contributes to her perpetually youthful and healthy appearance.

At a parliamentary anti-corruption committee meeting on July 9, 2025, Chairman Asapoldh Sannitripath announced that Srinakharinwirot University was summoned to explain the exam procurement, question preparation, and grading procedures. The committee is investigating a widespread cheating scandal involving 5,000 of 15,000 newly hired local government employees. The board's chairman claimed to be unavailable and sent no representative, prompting Asapoldh to warn that mandatory legal action would follow if the board fails to appear at the next meeting.

Asapoldh emphasized the need to determine whether the 5,000 employees implicated in the fraud should remain on duty or be suspended pending final anti-corruption findings. He noted that this is the first major fraud case caught in the local government hiring process, despite investigations dating back to 2022. The committee will not interfere with ongoing investigations by other agencies but will monitor the case to ensure all wrongdoers face disciplinary action and criminal prosecution.

Asapoldh also raised questions about whether senior officials bear responsibility for the scandal and pledged to prevent future exam fraud through comprehensive system reviews. He confirmed that innocent candidates on the reserve list will be considered for promotion to fill positions vacated by those disqualified for cheating.

The Mass Transit Organization of Thailand (MRTA) has inspected water seepage into an underground tunnel section of the Purple Line extension near the Sai Yai intersection, confirming no structural subsidence in the tunnel or adjacent buildings while maintaining continuous safety monitoring.

The water seepage incident occurred in a sump pit approximately 30 meters below ground level in the construction area of the Purple Line extension project (Lime Kiln to Rat Burana section, Kaen Kanachanaphisek Ring Road), Contract 4 (Phra Phuttha Bridge to Dao Kha Nong section) on July 8, 2025.

As of July 9, 2025, the MRTA clarified that water seepage is preliminary suspected to originate from the sump pit joint and poses no impact to tunnel structural integrity. The Contract 4 construction contractor is expediting ground improvement work to halt seepage while maintaining strict engineering control of water infiltration. The current water leakage volume is manageable, with no effects on road or building subsidence. The MRTA has instructed construction supervisors PMCSC2 and the Contract 4 contractor to continuously inspect and monitor the stability and safety of adjacent structures.

On the evening of July 8 at 11:00 PM, Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, Deputy Prime Minister Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, and Transport Minister's deputies, along with representatives from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and police, conducted on-site monitoring. The Prime Minister ordered the MRTA to enhance safety surveillance of adjacent buildings to assure public confidence and safety, with emergency response plans prepared.

UDON THANI — Three Chihuahuas were rescued from a smoke-filled house after a fire believed to have started from an electric motorcycle parked outside spread to a car and part of a home in Udon Thani on July 8, 2026, officials said.

The Emergency Call Center 199 received a report of a house fire in Ploy Villa housing estate in Nong Bua Subdistrict, Mueang Udon Thani District, at 4 p.m. Fire engines from Nong Bua Municipality and Udon Thani Municipality were dispatched to the scene.

Firefighters found flames engulfing an electric motorcycle parked in front of the single-storey house. The fire spread to a nearby car, and crews sprayed water to prevent the blaze from reaching the main structure. It took about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

The electric motorcycle was completely destroyed, while the car's front half sustained significant damage. An air-conditioner compressor and parts of the house were also damaged.

During the operation, residents informed firefighters that three dogs were still trapped inside. After the flames were extinguished and the smoke cleared, crews searched the interior and found the three Chihuahuas hiding in a bedroom. The dogs were carried out safely one by one, though visibly frightened and trembling.

The homeowner was away working in another province at the time, leaving no one inside the house. Neighbours reported hearing three loud bangs similar to firecrackers before seeing smoke and flames erupt from the property. They attempted to extinguish the fire with a garden hose while alerting emergency services.

A 67-year-old neighbour, identified as Em, rushed his family to safety after hearing the loud noises and spotting the flames. Another neighbour, Chakkrit, heard three to four loud bangs before seeing flames rise from the parked electric motorcycle.

Police investigators and forensic officers are scheduled to inspect the scene on July 9, 2026, to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess the extent of the damage.