Astrologer White reveals the top 5 zodiac signs for the second half of the year who will encounter wealthy partners and prepare for prominent social roles with substantial financial gain. Each zodiac sign will experience changes—some positive and some requiring caution. Here are the top 5 zodiac signs:

Rank 1 - Virgo: Breaking free from single life with powerful energy. A true soulmate with an influential or prestigious aura is coming to boost your fortune with significant wealth.

Rank 2 - Gemini: Preparing to assume a prominent social position with a wealthy partner. Expect sponsorship and financial support.

Rank 3 - Cancer: Locking in a foreign spouse. A good person full of resources will support you and make you forget what poverty feels like.

Rank 4 - Dragon: An introverted homebody who enjoyed solitude has become an expert at being alone. However, this year fortune brings someone who has already achieved wealth.

Rank 5 - Aries: Preparing to end single life with a soulmate of equal virtue. This partner serves as both a financial sponsor and a karmic friend.

PHUKET: The contractor behind Phukets delayed underpass smart-lighting project is seeking to have more than B7 million in late-completion penalties waived or reduced, but officials say no decision has yet been made.

Heartbreaking: Former lam singer Phra Rattacha Thongburan, father of well-known young singer Oy Saengsilp, has died along with his monastic group in a tragic accident. A monk procession was struck by a pickup truck driven by an 11-year-old boy on a road in Maha Sarakham Province, killing dozens of monks and injuring many others. Phra Rattacha Thongburan, also known as Karom Thongburan, was a beloved former lam singer before he ordained to pursue the monastic path. His son Oy Saengsilp has posted emotional tributes to the tragedy.

Phra Rattacha's final post showed video clips of the monastic procession from Ubon Ratchathani visiting Wat Roi Phra Phutthabat Phum Naram in Maha Sarakham, overlooking the Laotian landscape near the main Buddha image. The group was on a 20-day pilgrimage walk from Maha Sarakham back to Nakhon Ratchasima Province.

In his last caption, Phra Rattacha wrote: "As a monk, I wish to do good deeds for the prosperity of Buddhism." His post has drawn countless sorrowful comments.

Facebook posts from musician Bank Rocktobhoo shared a heartfelt tribute, posting a video of Phra Rattacha performing as a skilled lam singer with the caption: "Closing a legend—Somsi C Nee, former lam singer Karom Thongburan, will remain in my memory forever. #Luang Pee Karom." The video has been viewed over a million times with emotional comments from viewers.

Thailand's Excise Department intensified enforcement against smuggled goods in June 2024, with illegal cigarettes remaining the top contraband violation. Excise Director-General Pornchai Theeravech revealed that smuggling operations are becoming more systematic and complex, utilizing border zones, natural transit corridors, and rental properties as storage points before distribution to retailers.

For the nine-month fiscal period from October 2023 to June 2024, the Excise Department arrested 29,411 cases worth over 817 million baht in fines, with estimated total penalties exceeding 4.28 billion baht. In June alone, authorities arrested 3,104 cases, generating 73.63 million baht in fines. Cigarette smuggling cases totaled 1,993, representing 64 percent of all contraband violations, highlighting the persistent challenge of illegal tobacco in enforcement efforts.

Notably, smuggling networks have adapted their tactics to evade detection, dispersing storage locations and exploiting border areas as entry points. High-profile cases in June included operations in Phatthalung Province, where authorities seized 52,500 foreign cigarettes worth approximately 32.97 million baht, and 14,350 additional cigarettes worth 22.34 million baht from a rental room used as a storage hub. In Narathiwat Province, officials seized 14,000 untaxed cigarettes near the Sungai Kolok River worth 13.66 million baht. Pornchai emphasized that enforcement aims beyond prosecution to protect state revenue, ensure fair trade competition, and safeguard citizens.

Bangkok's Bang Khae Police Station deployed personnel to oversee safety at Phranakhon Rajabhat University's 2025 freshman orientation, preventing violent incidents and disturbances. On July 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., Police Major Anant Worsathorn, the station commander, joined University Rector Dr. Prueng Kitratanphorn and officers from the patrol and investigation divisions, along with faculty, medical teams, and rescue units, to monitor security during the freshman reception activities at the university's Bang Khae campus on Chaengwattana Road.

The Bang Khae Police coordinated with Phranakhon Rajabhat University to maintain safety and prevent violence and rights violations during the orientation period. Officers conducted patrols to monitor high-risk areas and prevent incidents. If any freshman activities involving violence or alcohol consumption are detected, police will intervene immediately and prosecute offenders under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. Police also announced measures to prevent unsupervised off-campus orientation activities by conducting patrols in vulnerable areas.

Deputy Prime Minister Yadech Wongswatsdi delivered Thailand's first homemade train to the State Railway of Thailand on July 3, 2025, at Bangkok's Hualamphong Station. The prototype passenger train was developed through research collaboration involving over 30 Thai researchers and private companies, designed and manufactured entirely domestically with 100% local content to promote the nation's rail economy and reduce import dependency.

The train operates on a luxury-class electric system, engineered entirely by Thai researchers and engineers. Notably, production costs run 30% lower than imported alternatives, demonstrating Thailand's competitive manufacturing capacity. Over the next 20 years, Thailand will need approximately 2,000 additional passenger train cars for its expanding rail infrastructure. Yadech emphasized that developing a domestic "Rail Economy" is essential to reduce import reliance, create manufacturing industries, generate jobs, and ensure advanced technology transfer keeps economic benefits circulating within Thailand.

Kittipong Kittayarak, President of King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, highlighted how this success reflects Thai capabilities in developing indigenous knowledge and reducing dependence on foreign technology. Anant Podhimredang, SRT Governor, expressed satisfaction at receiving a train using high proportions of locally-sourced materials, which significantly reduces national expenditure.

The prototype, developed with Sinogen Phinpetch Company Limited, features a 25-seat passenger car that is 22% lighter in structural weight and reaches maximum speeds of 120 kilometers per hour. It has completed over 10,000 kilometers of test runs, uses 44.1% domestically produced components, and generated seven additional intellectual property results. Following the handover ceremony, officials and media took a special test ride to Phrachomklao Station, marking another milestone in advancing Thailand's rail industry toward genuine self-reliance through homegrown innovation and technology.