AIS and Bangkok Land have announced a strategic partnership to upgrade the Muang Thong area—spanning over 4,000 rai—into Thailand's prototype smart city using 5G, broadband, and enterprise solutions. Under the concept "Muang Thong NEXT: The Smart & Connected City," the collaboration aims to transform Muang Thong from a national event and conference hub into a connectivity hub that integrates all urban ecosystems including residential living, workplaces, education, entertainment, business, events, transportation, security, and future economic opportunities.

AIS will provide network capabilities, technology, and digital platforms across multiple dimensions. These include nationwide 5G-Advanced coverage using frequency aggregation to boost speed and strength while reducing latency, supporting dense usage in large venues and concerts; upgrading households to Smart Living with AIS 3BB Fibre3 and WiFi 7 standards for smart homes, remote work, and telemedicine; delivering business transformation through Hyper Connectivity, Sovereign Cloud, Data Center, and AI Solutions; and enhancing IMPACT's concert and event experiences with WiFi and connectivity systems supporting thousands of attendees, plus 5G VIP Ultra and Boost Mode services.

The digital infrastructure will extend to comprehensive smart city management, including AI CCTV, Smart Access, Digital Signage, Smart Meters, IoT, digital payments, data analytics, virtual classrooms, and cyber security. Data from conference centers, business zones, residences, retail, schools, security agencies, and public spaces will feed into a Smart City Data Platform and Digital Twin, enabling real-time city oversight, traffic and energy planning, and enhanced safety management for citizens, businesses, and communities.

A curry vendor in Trang Province has criticized the government's proposed 40-baht rice-and-curry scheme, arguing it is a superficial fix that ignores regional cost differences and ingredient price hikes. Orauma Sritep, owner of Ran Yae Sip curry shop, sells curry for 20 baht per bag and single-dish rice curries for 20 baht, with two dishes for just 25 baht per plate. Under the current "Thai Helping Thai Plus" initiative, customers pay only 8 baht per bag of curry.

She expressed skepticism about the 40-baht rice-curry program, saying that even with state subsidies for ingredients, the government cannot pull it off. She cited past failed interventions—from tuk-tuk regulations to coconut price controls—as proof that the government struggles to solve deep-rooted problems. Ingredient costs have spiked sharply: her daily food preparation, which once cost 4,000 baht, now costs 5,000 baht, with separate expenses for spices and seasonings. Coconut milk and eggs in particular have become expensive.

She argued the 40-baht scheme treats only the symptom, not the cause. Since she already sells curry cheaper than the government's proposed price, she doubts the plan will work. The real solution, she said, would be for the state to lower the price of raw ingredients, gas, water, electricity, and fuel. If ingredient costs fall, vendors naturally pass savings to customers. But mandating a 40-baht price with state compensation won't work because ingredient costs vary by region and supplier.

Nitya Rodsatung, another curry vendor, said she would not join the program even if it existed. With ingredient prices rising across the board—particularly fish like grouper at 200 baht per kilogram—she cannot sell curry for 40 baht per serving. Moreover, curry prices naturally fluctuate daily based on cost; vendors charge anywhere from 30 to 60 baht per bag depending on ingredients.

On July 15 at 1:30 p.m., DSI officers brought Theeraphong, known as Coach James, to the Ratchadaphisek Criminal Court for detention after completing his interrogation. He faces charges under arrest warrant 4028/2569 issued July 13 for defrauding investors in foreign exchange trading.

When questioned about his investment advice, Coach James maintained that most of the financial flows involved were his own money deposited for trading. Regarding viral video clips showing him promoting "ALL IN" strategies, he denied guaranteeing returns, stating that investors must study and trade themselves. He insisted he never told people to sell cars or homes to go all-in, but rather suggested reinvesting profits within a trading portfolio. He characterized his work as education rather than solicitation and requested fair treatment while rejecting all charges.

The DSI reported that Coach James is a well-known short-term trading coach with hundreds of thousands of social media followers. He acted as an introducing broker (IB), taught trading strategies for companies within trading networks, and encouraged participation in foreign exchange investments promising returns exceeding legal interest rate caps. He faces charges including conspiracy to defraud the public and operating as an unlicensed securities broker.

The 'Angel of Stray Dogs' decided to sell her golden Buddha frame as a final option to support over 1,700 stray dogs and cats, with monthly costs approaching one million baht. She disclosed that she was previously a multimillionaire but lost her entire fortune to employee fraud, which became widely publicized.

Kramjao Winidtaopatham and her son traveled from Mueang District in Saraburi, bringing the golden Buddha frame to sell to Namo Banchangtong after redeeming it from a pawn shop, where it had been mortgaged for 100,000 baht due to inability to pay interest. She explained that she currently supports only 1,700 dogs in shelters, down from the previous number, and still pays staff to prepare food for the stray animals, resulting in substantial expenses.

She attributed the need to sell the Buddha frame to lack of funds for caring for the animals. Previously, she possessed hundreds of millions of baht in the form of two concrete mixer truck companies with 280 vehicles total, but lost everything to employee fraud over five years with nothing remaining.

She has cared for stray dogs and cats since 2002, spanning 24 years. Previously, she spent 600,000-700,000 baht monthly with over 2,000 animals. When funds were available, she didn't worry as the companies generated approximately 20 million baht monthly, allocating 1.2 million baht for animal care including medical treatment and spaying. Currently, the royal household assists with 100,000 baht monthly against expenses of 600,000-700,000 baht.

The golden Buddha frame, previously housed at Wat Rakhang, was sold for 3 million baht to a renowned Buddha amulet collector. Additionally, she holds numerous pawn tickets which she abandoned as she couldn't pay interest. Namo Banchangtong promised to help settle the pawn tickets and assist with remaining funds. The Buddha frame ultimately sold for 122,938 baht after being melted down.

At 13:50 on July 15, 2026, at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Police Hospital, Washin, husband of Jatuporn, one of the victims of the nightclub fire, arrived to claim his wife's body. He revealed that he learned of his wife's death around 11:00 a.m. on the day of the incident, when her friend called to notify him.

He then traveled to the scene to inquire with police officers before being advised to check various hospitals, as authorities were unable to immediately confirm the identity of victims.

Washin stated that initially he did not know the names of the affected individuals. Police informed him that two women in critical condition were being treated at Rachavithi Hospital, so he went to check and found his wife there. Throughout this period, no authorities contacted him to provide information or assistance—only his wife's friend called with news. He had to handle all matters himself, including tracking down the injured and coordinating with various agencies. It was only upon arriving at the Institute of Forensic Medicine that he received guidance on procedures for receiving the body and other support.

His wife, who lived in the Tha Phra area of Bangkok, had told him on the day of the incident that she was going to a friend's birthday party before leaving home. She did not regularly visit that particular venue. The friend who accompanied her remains in critical condition at Phra Mongkut King's Institute of Technology Hospital.

Regarding compensation, Washin acknowledged some concerns but declined to comment on the initial assistance of 10,000 baht that the establishment would provide, saying he still lacks details and must prioritize funeral arrangements first.

Washin added that he and his wife have two adult children—a daughter and a son—both of whom have finished their education and are employed. Despite this tragic loss causing great trauma to the family, he is not overly worried about their future. When asked how he would manage life without his wife by his side, he simply replied, "It's alright, I still have my children," before excusing himself to handle paperwork and take his wife's body for religious rites at Wat Predoo in Thonburi, Phetchkasem Soi 15, his wife's family temple.

CHUMPHON — Thailand's Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division (ATPD) arrested a 28-year-old man known as "Check" on 15 July 2026 under a Criminal Court warrant issued 7 July on charges of human trafficking for sexual exploitation of minors aged 15–18 and operating a prostitution-related business at a Muay Thai camp in Rayong province.

The ATPD, working with a multidisciplinary child rescue team and provincial social development officials, launched an undercover operation after receiving intelligence that minors at the camp were being exploited for commercial sexual purposes. Officers posing as prospective students found approximately 30 boxers, both male and female, ranging from under 18 to 35 years old, including Thai and foreign nationals.

During the sting, the suspect allegedly told undercover officers he could arrange minors for sexual services, claiming the children came from troubled backgrounds and needed money. He showed photographs and discussed prices, ultimately agreeing to provide three boys, aged 16, 15, and 13, at 3,000 baht each, with 1,000 baht for himself and 2,000 baht per child.

Officers arrested Check after he brought the three alleged victims to a resort in Chon Buri province; he later confessed during questioning. In a concurrent search of the boxing camp, investigators found 15 boys aged 11–19 without parental supervision. During interviews with child protection specialists, several children alleged that a Norwegian national using the alias "Mr. Kim" had financially supported the camp and was regularly given access to boys living there. Investigators are expanding their search to locate the Norwegian national and determine the full extent of exploitation at the facility.