On July 1, 2569, Arthit Samphantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry, gave an interview at the ministry headquarters regarding progress in the local government exam fraud investigation. Deputy Permanent Secretary Santhithorn Yimlamnai, overseeing community development and local administration promotion, reported that the fact-finding committee has completed its seven-day review and will finalize conclusions today before reporting tomorrow (July 2).

Following the report, results will be disclosed to the public. The Interior Ministry's investigation will identify any ministerial shortcomings requiring further action. Separately, police are conducting a parallel criminal investigation, while the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) is developing a timeline with a 3-6 month review period. The two agencies must coordinate to ensure unified information before the Interior Ministry identifies specific failures and those involved.

When asked which government officials are implicated, Arthit said details must come from the deputy permanent secretary heading the investigation. He confirmed that once completed, results will be publicly announced with no concealment.

Regarding the audio clip allegedly involving the Permanent Secretary's wife in the fraud scheme, Arthit stated that law must be enforced in all cases and that those presenting false information will face consequences, though he denies personal involvement.

On reports of an individual named Jit filing charges at Thung Song Hom Police Station, Arthit said he was unaware. Regarding Jit's complaint against someone named Som, Arthit welcomed the revelation and emphasized the need to identify the mastermind behind the scheme. He reiterated having no acquaintance with anyone named Jit, described as being involved in local political circles.

Rising actor Em Bhumipattra Thavasinsiri is tackling his biggest challenge yet with the large-scale stage production "Once Again...The More It Hurts, The More I Remember, The More I Love." Performing at the 1,500-seat Rachadalai Theatre, Em acknowledges both his excitement and anxiety about reaching audiences seated far from the stage, marking his first major theater production.

In an interview, Em explained the scale of the challenge. "This is my first large-scale theater production. The Rachadalai Theatre seats 1,500 people, which is difficult. It's a completely different format from the smaller 200-seat venues I've worked in before. The acting techniques, directing, and stage presence all differ significantly. That's why I said yes to this project—I wanted to discover how to perform at this scale so that even people in the back row feel what the character feels."

Em will star alongside Perth Veeranithat Siraphan, an actress he admires despite never having worked with her before. "I've seen Perth's performances and watched her in the film 'Mae Soo.' I think she's an incredibly skilled actress who completely transforms into her characters, completely different from who she is in real life. She's a new generation actress who I can confidently say is very talented and deeply understands acting."

When asked about finding chemistry with Perth, Em noted their different acting approaches. "Perth has much more experience than me, especially in series and television work. She has the technique to enter and exit scenes sharply. When a character needs an emotion, she can be that immediately. I'm more like a diesel engine—I start slowly. Perth is like an electric EV car; she hits 200 and she's at 200."

Em's character is 25 years old—significantly different from the actor himself. "The character is very young and vibrant, with qualities I don't have. I'm an old, silly, overweight cat that doesn't want to play anymore. But this character is like a young, energetic Beagle puppy. We're completely different, but I have to try to become that."

When asked about the expectations that come with his reputation as a quality actor, Em was candid about the pressure. "People set their guard up. If I'm cast in a role, they expect a villain reveal later, which I've stopped doing. It spoils the surprise. There's a branding aspect to my reputation, but the downside is that people guard their expectations. It's like telling a joke—people wait for the punchline. Managing expectations is crucial to artistic impact, but setting expectations is also unavoidable for marketing.

"I'm happy when people say they watch Thai films because of me, but it also pressures me. Every time I perform, I still don't feel safe. Before every action scene, before rehearsal, I'm still nervous. The excitement never goes away—only the audience's expectations grow as I get older."

On whether he sees himself as having a full glass, Em reflected philosophically. "I think everyone's glass is both full and empty. Every time we think it's full, it becomes empty. We must constantly refill, check, and explore ourselves. I'm not someone who constantly self-examines—I wait for others to tell me. But self-awareness is most important. I try to understand what I'm feeling and what I'm thinking."

The Government Savings Bank released the results for its special 2-year lottery drawing conducted on July 1, 2026, covering draw periods 254-271 and 273-276 for July 2026.

First Prize: One winner of 30,000,000 baht from period 264, ticket number 8178884.

Second Prize: One winner of 1,000,000 baht from period 268, ticket number 6898632.

Third Prize: Five winners of 10,000 baht each across 3,990 tickets (0496896, 0522940, 1244775, 1358451, 3472592, and others).

Fourth Prize: Ten winners of 3,000 baht each across 7,980 tickets (0794542, 2481391, 3744857, 4312860, 4987780, and others).

Fifth Prize: Fifteen winners of 1,000 baht each across 11,970 tickets (0134048, 1995448, 2673847, 2757627, 4400488, and others).

Last Four Digits Prize: Multiple categories offering 800, 700, 600, and 500 baht prizes depending on the draw period, totaling 529,037,000 baht in payouts. The number 7720 was among the winning combinations.

Tee Nattee Tienpairojn may be recognized by many as "DJ Ton Hom's younger brother," but in the permanent makeup world, he is "Grand Master T" from CT Studio—a Thai artist who has won top lip tattooing championships in Thailand, South Korea, and Indonesia.

Transitioning from on-camera work in media and advertising to the PMU field, which demands both scientific knowledge and artistic precision, Grand Master T's reputation has grown on the international stage. Most recently, he was selected as the sole Thai artist to showcase his self-developed 9D lip tattooing technique at Vietnam's largest eyebrow and lip tattooing competition, which hosted over 2,000 competitors from around the globe.

At the same event, "Jade Master" from CT Studio also successfully brought home the first runner-up award in the hair stroke eyebrow category. This demonstrates that Thai PMU artists—whether specializing in lip tattooing, color lip enhancement, or hair stroke eyebrows—can stand shoulder to shoulder with international experts.

Currently, CT Studio continues to refine eyebrow and lip tattooing with an emphasis on detail, natural appearance, and personalized design. The studio's co-founder, Grand Master Claudia, who developed the 9D hair stroke eyebrow technique, has helped establish design standards that complement facial structure and deliver naturally beautiful results.

Once known primarily as a celebrity's younger sibling, Grand Master T is now building his own reputation as a Thai artist bringing Thai PMU expertise to the world stage. CT Studio, meanwhile, is gaining recognition as a dedicated Thai team pushing the boundaries of Thai eyebrow and lip tattooing further than many expected.

PATTAYA — A 28-year-old employee was killed after becoming trapped in a fire that tore through an unlicensed host bar in Pattaya early on 1 July 2026, authorities said.

The Pattaya City Land Disaster Relief Radio Center received a report of the blaze at 00:16. The fire broke out at the Catwalk entertainment venue in Soi Chalerm Phrakiat 29, Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chonburi province.

Police from Pattaya City Police Station, Bang Lamung district administrative officials, Sawang Boriboon Thammasathan rescue workers and firefighters were dispatched to the scene.

The fire engulfed the pub-style host bar, sending thick smoke billowing into the air. Firefighters deployed three fire engines to contain the blaze. A private groundwater delivery truck passing nearby also joined the effort by supplying water to help extinguish the flames.

It took firefighters more than 30 minutes to bring the fire under control.

Investigators found the fire had started near the venue's entrance. Inside, they discovered the body of Thanaphon Boonchan, 28, an employee of the bar. He was found dead beneath a table after apparently being unable to escape as the flames spread.

Somchai Nawacharoen, 63, the owner of the groundwater delivery truck, said he had been making a delivery to a nearby business when he spotted the fire and immediately reversed his vehicle to help firefighters by spraying water on the flames.

Other employees told police they received a phone call from a colleague who was inside the venue reporting the fire. They rushed to the scene, where a worker said the blaze appeared to begin near the roof before spreading toward the exit. Everyone attempted to flee, but the victim was not seen leaving and is believed to have been trapped inside.

A preliminary investigation found the entertainment venue was operating without a licence. Authorities also said the victim was unable to escape because the fire blocked the main exit, while the premises had no emergency exit.

The exact cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Forensic police will conduct a detailed examination to establish the origin of the blaze.

Casio has opened lottery registration in Japan for a limited-edition G-SHOCK x Pokémon watch celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary, bringing together two collector-heavy worlds: Pokémon nostalgia and one of G-SHOCK's most recognisable modern silhouettes.

The watch features a transparent case accented with colour details referencing the original Pokémon Red, Green and Blue games. Its strap is printed with illustrations of 30 Pokémon to commemorate the anniversary, while the subdial is designed as a Poké Ball and the hands are inspired by Pikachu's tail. Additionally, the case back is engraved with a 30th anniversary logo, and the watch comes in a Poké Ball-shaped box designed specifically for this release.

In addition to its themed design, the GA-110 retains the core features of the standard model, including G-SHOCK's shock-resistant construction, 200-metre water resistance, world time, a stopwatch, countdown timer, multiple alarms and an LED backlight.

The timepiece is priced at 33,000 yen (about 6,700 baht or US$202.72), excluding applicable taxes and shipping charges.

Casio says the lottery is not first-come, first-served, and applicants must register for a Casio ID and are limited to one entry each. The Japan lottery is limited to residents of Japan, and Casio warns that entries may be invalidated if they appear to involve false information, multiple accounts, forwarding services or resale purposes.

The collaboration continues Casio's long-running strategy of releasing special-edition G-SHOCK watches based on popular entertainment franchises, many of which have become sought-after collectibles in the secondary market.

A Thailand release has not been announced, but Singapore has been listed for a regional launch later in July. Thai collectors can monitor Casio Thailand and authorised G-SHOCK distributors for further updates.