Anti-Corruption Panel Backs PM Anutin in Local Exam Scandal

An anti-corruption committee chair expressed confidence in PM Anutin's innocence after complaints linked him to a civil service exam fraud scandal, while investigators continue probing officials' involvement in the recruitment scheme.

23 Jul Khaosod

At 10:15 a.m. on July 23, 2569, Asapol Sannitriphop, a Phumi Thai Party MP from Sisaket and chair of the House committee on anti-corruption and misconduct prevention, spoke to reporters before the committee meeting to examine allegations of state officials' involvement in fraud during recruitment exams for civil servants and local government employees.

Asapol revealed that the committee had invited relevant agencies including the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), the Financial Intelligence Unit, the State Sector Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), the Royal Thai Police's suppression division, the Department of Special Investigation, and the Thai Anti-Corruption Organization. These bodies are tasked with investigating and prosecuting disciplinary and criminal cases related to the scandal. The meeting was called to monitor progress—specifically, how far various units have advanced. The NACC, for example, released 50 names of implicated officials but notably omitted the Permanent Secretary of the Interior Ministry and the Director-General of the Department of Local Administration, raising public questions about their absence from the investigation scope.

On the question of complaints filed with the House legal affairs committee that implicated Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul in the fraud, alleging proceeds would fund past elections, Asapol expressed full confidence in the premier's innocence, noting that he himself was the first to raise the exam fraud issue with Anutin in 2566, leading to a joint resolution by five agencies. "I can confirm that the Prime Minister wants wrongdoers held accountable under the law, and as chair of the anti-corruption committee, I am committed to collaboration—whether with opposition or government committees and anti-corruption bodies—because we want all involved in misconduct, regardless of rank, to face legal punishment," Asapol stated.

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National

PM Anutin Won't Reconsider Lawsuit Against iLaw Director

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has dismissed any chance of reconsidering a defamation lawsuit against iLaw director Yingcheep Atchananont, whom he accuses of defaming parliament members.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, 2025, at Government House, Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, in his capacity as Palang Pracharath Party leader, addressed the decision to file a lawsuit against Yingcheep Atchananont, director of the Internet for the People project (iLaw), over claims he defamed parliament members. Anutin stated firmly that he will not reconsider the decision to sue.

When asked when the lawsuit would be filed, Anutin indicated he has already delegated the task to his legal team but is unsure whether it will happen this week. When pressed on what specific grievance prompted the lawsuit, Anutin redirected journalists to ask his lawyers for details.

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National

Thailand Pitches ASEAN Aviation Hub Plan to French Investors

Thailand is stepping up efforts to become a leading aviation and logistics hub in Southeast Asia, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul promoting the country's aviation potential during his recent v...

23 Jul Thailand.go.th Issues

Thailand is stepping up efforts to become a leading aviation and logistics hub in Southeast Asia, with Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul promoting the country's aviation potential during his recent v...

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National

Thai Airways Expects Recovery in Second Half Despite Fuel Costs

Thai Airways expects to recover in the second half of the year as tourism stimulus measures take effect, though rising jet fuel costs from US-Iran tensions pose an ongoing challenge.

23 Jul The Phuket News

BANGKOK: The financial results of Thai Airways International (THAI) are expected to bottom out in the second quarter, while recently approved tourism stimulus efforts should help airlines in the second half even as renewed US-Iran tensions cause jet fuel prices to rise, say analysts.

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National

Thailand Game Show 2026 Expands to Four Halls, Tickets Now on Sale

Southeast Asia's largest gaming festival returns October 29–November 1, 2026, expanding to four halls at Bangkok's convention center with keynote speaker John Romero, co-founder of id Software. The event expects 206,000+ attendees and aims

23 Jul Khaosod

gamescom asia x Thailand Game Show 2026, the largest gaming festival in Southeast Asia, returns in grand fashion from October 29 to November 1, 2026 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre (QSNCC). The collaboration between gamescom asia—Asia's leading global gaming showcase—and Thailand Game Show, the region's largest gaming event, is organized by Show No Limit and Online Station under True Corporation Public Company Limited, combining the strengths of both events. Building on last year's historic success, which drew 206,159 attendees from 95 countries and 294 brands, the 2026 edition adopts the theme "The Heart of Gaming," positioning itself as the central hub consolidating all dimensions of the gaming industry. The event aims to attract investors, industry leaders, and gamers worldwide while generating approximately 1.22 billion baht in economic value, underscoring Thailand's global potential. The expanded venue covers 35,000 square meters.

Business Zone The business zone runs October 29–30 and serves as a complete gaming business investment hub. A major highlight is a special appearance by John Romero, co-founder of id Software and legendary creator of Doom, Quake, and Wolfenstein 3D—games that revolutionized the first-person shooter genre worldwide. Romero will deliver a keynote titled "Why We Still Make Games," sharing decades of industry experience, lessons in overcoming challenges, and insights on gaming's future. The zone exclusively welcomes gaming industry entrepreneurs and media, providing a platform for game developers, business executives, investors, and distributors to network, conduct business negotiations, and participate in in-depth seminars. This strategic hub drives Southeast Asian gaming economics and investment while elevating Thai studios to international standards.

Over 70 speakers from 20 countries will share expertise covering game design, business strategy, and publishing from leading companies including Roblox (USA), Rovio Entertainment (Finland), Gameloft (Indonesia), Tencent (Singapore), and Godot Foundation (Spain). The business zone also features pitch competitions for independent game developers, Invest Circle activities, VIP mixers to match developers with investors, and the Thailand Game Talent Showcase presenting games from Thailand's leading student teams, with Xsolla as the primary business zone sponsor.

Entertainment and Gaming Exhibition Zone The entertainment and gaming exhibition zone runs October 30 through November 1.

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Police

Drunk Son-in-Law Wields Knife, Damages Property in Nonthaburi

A 27-year-old man was detained in Nonthaburi after police found him drunk and wielding a knife at a workers' dormitory; he claimed family mistreatment drove his actions.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 23, Deputy Superintendent Suksun Saengtanchai of Thai Noi Police Station in Nonthaburi received a radio alert about an intoxicated man wielding a knife and vandalizing property at a construction workers' dormitory in Moo 9, Thai Noi subdistrict. Police officers responded to the scene, and when the suspect retreated into the building, officers spent approximately 20 minutes persuading him to come out. The man identified himself as Kritsana, 27 years old. During questioning, he explained that he felt wronged by his wife's family, saying both his father-in-law and mother-in-law had treated him poorly and blamed him for everything. He stated the knife was used for cutting cannabis and, during the police interview, removed his pants to demonstrate he was not carrying any other weapons. Police then escorted him to Thai Noi Station for emotional stabilization.

Kritsana's mother-in-law stated that she, her family, and her son-in-law all worked together on a construction contract, but the son-in-law regularly drinks alcohol and smokes cannabis. When intoxicated, he frequently throws bottles at the house, sometimes wields a knife to damage household items, and has previously assaulted her daughter.

Kritsana claimed he had never gotten along well with his father-in-law. Before the incident, he had consumed white liquor and smoked cannabis, though he was primarily drunk on alcohol. He insisted the knife was meant only for cutting cannabis and that he had no intention of harming anyone. He said that whenever he argued with his wife, his father-in-law would interfere, making him unable to tolerate the situation any longer and forcing him to back down repeatedly.

Police initially charged him with public intoxication and disorderly conduct, then took him to the holding cell for emotional observation until he sobered up.

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National

Thailand Investment Applications Surge 37% in First Half of 2025

Investment applications in Thailand surged 37% in the first half of 2025, reaching 1.47 trillion baht and creating 82,000 jobs, with digital industry and foreign direct investment leading growth despite global economic uncertainty.

23 Jul Khaosod

The Board of Investment (BOI) announced that investment promotion applications in the first half of 2025 (January–June) reached 1.47 trillion baht, generating 82,000 jobs and over 1.2 trillion baht in annual export value. BOI Secretary-General Nurat Therdsteerasukdi stated that despite global economic headwinds from geopolitical instability, energy price fluctuations, and global supply chain restructuring, Thailand's investment outlook remains strong and continues to grow steadily.

From January to June 2025, the board received 1,299 project applications worth 1,473,718 million baht in total investment, up 37% from the same period last year. This growth demonstrates investor confidence in Thailand's role as a future-industry investment base.

The two highest-value investment sectors align with global trends. Digital industry investment topped the list at 1,115,260 million baht from 90 projects, followed by electronics and electrical appliances at 120,230 million baht from 179 projects. Other major sectors included agriculture and food processing (61,388 million baht, 131 projects), high-value logistics services (40,217 million baht, 170 projects), energy and basic infrastructure (39,461 million baht, 221 projects), automotive and parts (25,662 million baht, 122 projects), minerals, metals and materials (20,399 million baht, 128 projects), chemicals and petrochemicals (16,533 million baht, 110 projects), and machinery, automation and robotics (13,093 million baht, 82 projects).

The energy and basic infrastructure sector recorded the highest project count, with 198 renewable energy projects worth 26,354 million baht, mainly solar, wind, biomass, and biogas facilities. This reflects growing investment in clean energy and infrastructure systems such as water supply and industrial water to support industrial demand and future-industry investment.

Geographically, most investment concentrated in the Central Region at 903,759 million baht from 513 projects, followed by the Eastern Region at 495,737 million baht. Other regions included the Northeast (14,985 million baht), South (11,864 million baht), West (8,162 million baht), and North (7,733 million baht). Although the North showed the lowest investment value compared to other regions, it recorded a 93% growth rate year-over-year, signaling expansion in high-potential sectors, particularly energy, infrastructure, agriculture, food processing, and healthcare.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) also expanded significantly, with 877 project applications totaling 1,368,493 million baht, an 80% increase. The top five source countries and regions were Singapore (1,121,742 million baht, 158 projects), the United Kingdom (47,193 million baht, 11 projects), China (45,766 million baht, 321 projects), Taiwan (38,014 million baht, 47 projects), and Japan (32,790 million baht, 123 projects). Most foreign investment targeted the digital industry, including data centers, data hosting, and cloud services, followed by electronics and electrical appliances such as optical transceivers, printed circuit boards (PCBs), hard disk drives, wafer testing, and network systems.

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Community

CJ MORE Golden Mic Tour Brings Singing Dreams to Factory Workers

CJ MORE held its Golden Mic On Tour singing festival at a shopping complex in Ayutthaya, giving factory workers a chance to pursue music dreams through a competition offering fast-track entry to a national TV show. The event drew crowds of

23 Jul Khaosod

Factory workers in Ayutthaya, one of Thailand's major industrial zones, face exhaustion from long work weeks and need accessible spaces to rest and find joy nearby. CJ MORE recently continued its role as a "community hub" by holding the fifth Golden Mic On Tour festival at its Narativet City Park branch on Saturday, July 18, 2025. The event blended entertainment and shopping with a singing competition, free concerts from famous artists, and discounted quality goods aimed specifically at factory workers and families in the industrial estate.

The venue was bustling from morning as crowds arrived to participate in activities and shop. The plaza became a gathering point for the community before the main singing competition stage opened, giving contestants a chance to showcase their talent and pursue their dreams amid cheers and encouragement from spectators throughout the day.

The event's key highlight was offering factory workers the chance to "shine" and fulfill their singing dreams through a country music competition to find representatives for the seventh season of "Golden Mic Three Generations" on Workpoint 23 via fast-track entry. Many young factory workers who harbor musical dreams but must set them aside for work and family obligations found new hope.

One contestant was 38-year-old Kachanipa Pinichkij (Nuch) from Uthai Thani, a factory worker returning to pursue her childhood dream of becoming a singer. She explained that her work usually leaves no time for rest or reflection on her singing dreams. After learning about CJ MORE's singing competition through television, she was inspired to return to her dreams. With the national-level event held near her residence, she could easily travel there and trade her factory uniform for a microphone after work, creating a meaningful opportunity to find happiness and renewed motivation. She advanced to the final ten and chose to perform "Kiss and Say Goodbye," a song she had used successfully in past competitions.

Beyond entertainment, CJ MORE also partnered with leading brands to offer special promotional merchandise deals.

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National

Lawmaker Pom Discloses 529 Million Baht In Assets, Zero Debt

People's Party MP Pom Pongwittayapanu disclosed combined assets of 529 million baht with zero debt upon taking office in March, according to NACC filings released July 22.

23 Jul Khaosod

On July 22, 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) publicly released asset and liability disclosures for Pom Pongwittayapanu, a People's Party list-system MP, filed upon taking office on March 15, 2025. Pom and his wife Krokamol Sriiam reported combined assets of 529,153,101 baht with no liabilities.

Pom's personal assets total 243,331,825 baht, comprising 1 million baht in foreign currency cash, 22.7 million baht in deposits, 93 million baht in company investments, and 80.2 million baht in loans extended to three companies. He also owns one plot of land in Bang Chak Sub-district, Taling Chan District, Bangkok, valued at 18.06 million baht, plus buildings and structures worth 17.9 million baht, rights and concessions valued at 1.98 million baht, and other assets totaling 8.4 million baht. His annual income is 6.59 million baht, derived from salary (854,760 baht), parliamentary allowance (507,960 baht), stock dividends (2.5 million baht), and interest from company loans (2.7 million baht). His annual expenses total 3.58 million baht for utilities and insurance (1.6 million baht) and other costs including children's education, parental support, travel, and donations (1.98 million baht).

Krokamol's assets total 275,021,655 baht, including 5,000 baht in foreign currency, 24.1 million baht in deposits, and 130.6 million baht invested primarily in TTB funds and holdings in LHM Holdings (1997), 3D M Group, and Quick Leasing. She owns two plots of land in the Bang Sao Thong area, Samut Prakan Province, worth 110.49 million baht combined, plus rights and concessions (1.27 million baht) and other assets (8.5 million baht). Her annual income from salary is 2.86 million baht, with annual expenses of 1.95 million baht for utilities and insurance (1.15 million baht) and other costs (800,000 baht).

Their minor child reported combined assets of 10,799,620 baht, comprising 3,693 baht in deposits, 4.5 million baht in investments, and 6.3 million baht in rights and concessions.

Notable luxury items disclosed by both include 7.73 million baht in Goldnow gold bars, a Rolex Datejust watch (140,000 baht), an Omega Speedmaster Professional (150,000 baht), gold Buddhist amulets and coins valued at over 500,000 baht, 7 million baht in gold jewelry, and Rolex and Patek Philippe watches worth 1.5 million baht.

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National

PM Anutin Pushes Evidence-Based Anti-Corruption Fight

PM Anutin chairs anti-corruption meeting, emphasizing evidence-based enforcement and institutional oversight rather than perception-based rankings to rebuild Thailand's international reputation.

23 Jul Khaosod

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul chaired the Anti-Corruption Coordination Committee meeting on July 23, 2025, at Government House's Phakdi Bodindorn Building, with Deputy Interior Minister Paradon Pariyannantakul, Deputy Minister for Digital Economy and Society Nann Bunyathida Somchai, and committee members in attendance.

Anutin opened the meeting by saying Thailand has gained international trust and confidence, and that reform goes beyond preventing corruption to embracing the rule of law, transparency, accountability, and verifiability. He acknowledged that while the system has gaps, these represent a starting point for reform rather than failure. The government's goal is not merely to improve rankings based on public perception but to rely on solid evidence and documentation. He noted that asking opponents claims the government is corrupt while supporters claim it is not yields no substance, so Thailand must base anti-corruption efforts on verifiable references and evidence.

Anutin added that public sentiment both domestically and internationally about corruption has declined, damaging the nation's reputation. The government must strengthen prevention and prosecution efforts strictly. Thailand has declared war on all forms of corruption, drug trafficking, scams, human trafficking, and money laundering, with authorities seizing 40 billion baht in assets from law violators under this administration.

The Anti-Money Laundering Committee reported significant asset seizures, with the National Anti-Corruption Commission, State Audit Commission, Ombudsman, and Public Sector Anti-Corruption Committee all conducting investigations. Anutin explained that various agencies—including the NACC, AMLC, and police—are already investigating local civil service exam fraud, contrary to claims that internal investigations would be like having the defendant judge themselves. Deputy PM Pakorn Nilpraband leads an appointed committee coordinating agencies to maximize enforcement efficiency, with multiple agencies now effectively competing to tackle corruption.

Anutin expressed confidence that no one can escape accountability given the parallel institutional oversight demonstrating clear government intent to build credible systems. The AACC seeks cooperation as a linking mechanism between government, private sector, civil society, and academia to work on unified data and goals, while pushing legal reforms, technology application to reduce discretion, and transparency.

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National

BIOTEC Develops Smart Farming for Centella Production

Researchers from National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) under National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) are applying science and technology to im...

23 Jul Thailand.go.th Issues

Researchers from National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) under National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) are applying science and technology to im...

No. 11 of ∞ Read at source → Next