The cabinet has approved 4.679 billion baht for two major infrastructure projects by the Rural Roads Department: a bridge connecting Ko Lanta in Krabi and a bridge spanning Songkhla Lake linking Songkhla and Phatthalung provinces. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploytale Laksameesangjun announced that the cabinet approved the projects with World Bank financing totaling 140.76 million US dollars (approximately 4.55 billion baht) in loans and 4 million US dollars (approximately 129.3 million baht) in grants from the IBRD.

The cabinet also approved loan agreements and grant agreements for both projects, including the Ko Lanta Bridge connecting tambon Ko Lanta Klang and tambon Ko Lanta Noi in Amphoe Ko Lanta, Krabi, and the Songkhla Lake Bridge connecting Amphoe Krasaesindhru in Songkhla and Amphoe Khao Chaison in Phatthalung. The projects will use arbitration for dispute resolution under World Bank conditions.

The cabinet authorized the Minister of Finance or their designee to sign loan and grant agreements, tasked the Office of the Council of State with preparing legal opinions for both projects, and assigned the Rural Roads Department, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Department of National Parks, and Department of Fisheries to fulfill their responsibilities under the project administration manual and World Bank regulations.

At 2 p.m. on July 7, 2026, Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Perischvivat announced that the Cabinet had approved a draft Interior Ministry announcement to amend zoning regulations in Ayutthaya Province, effective since 2017. The amendment updates land-use requirements for rural and agricultural areas to reflect changing economic, social, and environmental conditions.

Ayutthaya is a strategically important area within the Central-Western Economic Corridor, serving as a hub for high-value agricultural processing, high-tech manufacturing, and logistics. It connects Bangkok, the North, Northeast, and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), making updated zoning essential for appropriate development.

The key changes allow certain activities and buildings on green or agricultural lands according to specified heights and sizes. Height restrictions are waived for certain building types, including religious structures, utilities, warehouses, silos, factories, and water towers in designated areas.

The amendment also permits commerce, condominiums, dormitories, and residential buildings in some areas under specific conditions, such as not being oversized structures and being located along public roads with right-of-way of at least 30 meters. This ensures systematic urban development without damaging surrounding agricultural land while maintaining the balance of rural and agricultural areas.

The Interior Ministry followed Town Planning Act procedures, with the Town Planning Committee's approval and a 30-day public comment period that received no submissions. The Cabinet instructed the Interior Ministry to address concerns from relevant agencies, particularly regarding water maps, flood zones, activity controls, and strict compliance with environmental and natural resource laws.

The government emphasizes balanced urban development that supports economic, industrial, agricultural, and residential growth while preserving agricultural land, natural resources, and environmental quality. The Ayutthaya zoning update will enable appropriate, systematic development benefiting the public, business sector, and the nation's long-term economy.

Results from the latest Lao government lottery draw, officially called Pattana lottery and operated by the state enterprise under Laos's Ministry of Finance, held on July 7, 2025. All prize results are as follows:

6-digit prize: XXXXXX 5-digit prize: XXXXX Last 4 digits: XXXX Last 3 digits: XXX Last 2 digits: XX

Lao Lottery Prize Rates and Calculation Methods When checking Lao lottery results, ticket buyers can calculate winnings based on their purchase amount in kip as follows:

4 digits: Receive 6,000 times the purchase amount (for example, buy 1,000 kip and receive 6,000,000 kip) 3 digits: Receive 500 times the purchase amount (for example, buy 1,000 kip and receive 500,000 kip) 2 digits: Receive 60 times the purchase amount (for example, buy 1,000 kip and receive 60,000 kip)

What is the Lao Lottery or Pattana Lottery? The Lao lottery, officially called Pattana lottery, is operated by the state-owned Pattana lottery company under supervision of Laos's Ministry of Finance. It is the legally authorized government lottery of Laos.

Lao Lottery Schedule and Broadcast Channels Drawing days: Monday through Friday; the 5/45 Pattana lottery draws on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Time: Live broadcast begins at 8:00 PM Thai time Broadcast channels: Lao National Radio Station and Lao National Television (LNTV) Channel 1

How to Check Lao Lottery Results: 6-digit, Last 4-digit, Dream Numbers, and Animal Numbers The Lao lottery system draws only one 6-digit winning number, but prizes can be divided into multiple categories based on regional preference. Most areas primarily use the last 4-digit results. The lottery also features dream number draws (4/40) and animal number games, which are unique characteristics of lottery games in Laos.

General Decha Meekrasri, vice president of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) and president of the Thai Cycling Association, announced simultaneous training programs for Level 2 mountain bike coaches and new referees scheduled for July 2025. The association's comprehensive personnel development strategy covers administrators, athletes, coaches, and referees across all cycling disciplines. Current Thai coaches including Witthayu Kasiyapat, Puchong Saiudomsil, Jutathip Maniphan, Adisak Wansoree, and Jay Angsuthasawit have all passed UCI Level 3 coaching certification and are advancing Thailand's national cycling program. Thai international referees Nathpong Lohinawi and Khatiya Srisoda have been appointed to officiate the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal (September 19-27) and the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya (September 19-October 2), respectively. The Level 2 coaching course, conducted by Robert Hebert Jr., head mountain bike coach for the Thai national team, runs July 22-26 at the Vasitee City Hotel in Suphan Buri. The basic referee training targets candidates aged 20-45 across all four cycling disciplines—road, track, mountain bike, and BMX racing—and will be led by international referees Nathpong and Khatiya, with support from elite national commissaires Saroach Kanjananon and Navapon Sukpra.

On July 7, 2569, a Corruption and Misconduct Court delivered its verdict in a case brought by the Office of the Attorney General against Somchai, former mayor of Rachathewa Subdistrict Municipality in Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province, and nine others. They were accused of abusing their official positions, violating the Anti-Corruption Act, and breaching public procurement laws. The defendants were alleged to have jointly created a project to purchase decorative genie lamp-shaped streetlights around 2013 and subsequently reallocated budget funds to the project in 2019 inappropriately.

All 10 defendants denied the charges, though defendants 1-3 admitted to being the same individuals named in related cases. The court found Somchai (defendant 1) and Wasana (defendant 2) guilty under the Criminal Code Section 157 and the Anti-Corruption Act Section 123/1, sentencing each to five years imprisonment. For Somchai, the sentence is to run consecutively after his prison time in case number Ot 53/2568. The court acquitted defendants 3-10 and dismissed other charges. Following the verdict, both convicted defendants posted 400,000 baht bail each pending appeal.

This marks the second conviction for Somchai, who was previously sentenced to four years imprisonment and fined 200,000 baht in June 2568 for another corruption case involving a surveillance camera installation project in 2014 where benchmark pricing was inflated.

The Thai cabinet has given the green light to establish a new permanent border checkpoint at Sadao in Songkhla province, effective July 11, 2025. Government spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek announced on July 7 that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will officiate the opening during his official visit to Malaysia on July 9-10, invited by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. The new checkpoint, located at boundary markers 23/9 to 23/10, will operate daily from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM Thailand time, replacing the old crossing at markers 22-23.

The cabinet also approved accelerated road construction to improve traffic flow on the Thai side and address congestion at the border. Authorities must complete outstanding tasks including connecting road construction, traffic corridor improvements near the checkpoint, and shuttle service arrangements to interior areas. Songkhla province will monitor progress and report to the Interior Ministry and relevant agencies.

Relevant government offices are instructed to conduct public outreach explaining vehicle routes, customs procedures, immigration checks, and facilitation measures for trade and tourism. The cabinet further endorsed a joint statement between Thai and Malaysian prime ministers covering cooperation in border development, regional connectivity, security, food and energy security, and ASEAN-framework initiatives.