Commerce Ministry officials led by Poonpong Nainapakaranom, Director-General of the Business Development Department, announced that on Friday, July 10, 2025, the ministry conducted raids in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan districts of Surat Thani Province in cooperation with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and local agencies. The operation targeted 34 companies suspected of using Thai nationals as nominee shareholders to avoid restrictions under the Foreign Business Act of 1999. Five locations were initially searched.

The first target, Company J (Special Case 93/2569), allegedly used Thai nominees to hold shares on behalf of foreign nationals while owning land and conducting real estate business, which is prohibited under the Foreign Business Act. The company is developing a luxury villa project on over 14,000 square meters in Bo Phut Subdistrict, Koh Samui, for sale to foreigners. Investigation found Chinese nationals serving as board members and executives making policy and business decisions. The project address is registered to at least five interconnected companies operating as a complete network handling project management, construction contracting, land development, marketing, and property sales.

Further checks revealed the company holds 15 land parcels totaling 97 acres, 3 ngan, and 88.4 square wah, valued at approximately 1,567.54 million baht, with the overall project estimated at 1,600 million baht or potentially several billion more. The company's financial statements show total assets exceeding 1,692 million baht, with over 1,987 million baht circulating through bank accounts, mostly from foreign transfers. Six affiliated companies have combined assets exceeding 2,024 million baht. The search yielded documents on shareholding, land ownership, real estate contracts, construction agreements, project designs, and financial transactions. DSI is expanding the investigation to related individuals and entities, examining the complex ownership structures.

The second target, Law Office P (Special Case 94/2569), involves a Koh Samui entity with Thai shareholders and a Chinese national serving as board member and shareholder, operating as a real estate agent and broker with property holdings on the hillside in Bo Phut Subdistrict.

Thailand's women's volleyball team defeated Brazil 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-17) in Week 3 of the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) held in Osaka, Japan, effectively securing their qualification for next season's competition. After the match, star player Pimpichaya Kokram said she was pleased with the team's victory and emphasized the importance of taking each match one at a time, focusing solely on playing at full strength regardless of which squad Brazil fielded. Teammate Ajcharaporn Kongyos thanked all supporters for their encouragement, stating that the team gave their maximum effort and expressed confidence that Thailand would definitely return to the VNL next year.

PHUKET — 11 July 2026, Two British tourists narrowly survived after getting into difficulty while swimming at Nai Thon Beach in Phuket, despite red-flag warnings indicating dangerous sea conditions.

Police said the incident occurred at about 12:20 on Friday, when lifeguards stationed at Nai Thon Beach in Sakhu subdistrict, Thalang district, spotted the two men struggling in the rough surf and immediately launched a rescue.

The tourists were pulled from the water unconscious and brought ashore, where lifeguards administered first aid until both men regained consciousness.

They were later identified as Preston, 34, and Scott, 40, both British nationals.

Emergency responders from the Sakhu Subdistrict Administrative Organisation transported the pair to Thalang Hospital for further treatment.

Hospital officials later confirmed that both tourists were in stable condition and remained under close medical observation.

Authorities urged visitors to exercise extreme caution when swimming during the monsoon season, when strong waves and dangerous currents are common. They also reminded beachgoers to obey lifeguards' instructions and strictly observe red-flag warnings, which indicate that entering the water is unsafe.

Getting ready to welcome their first child, actress Minnie Panditthakorn and young billionaire businessman Hiso Sarawuth Sererathongkul have opened up about their pregnancy journey following their luxurious wedding ceremony on May 17, 2025.

While promoting the film "Muay Deva: High Stakes" at M Studio on Ratchayothin Avenue, Minnie expressed her excitement about becoming a mother. "I'm very excited. I originally wanted to have the moment of bringing my child to the wedding, but it came too late," she shared. "But being called 'mom' feels like it will be a bigger change. My friends told me, 'You're a mom now, you need to slow down.' I'm about three months pregnant now. Honestly, I'm tired, but I've always gotten tired easily anyway."

Speaking about her lifestyle changes, Minnie noted that while she's usually very active, she's now been restricted from riding motorcycles and has switched to driving a car instead.

Regarding her husband's reaction, she said he's over the moon about becoming a father. "He really wanted to have a child and was ready. It's another chapter in our lives," Minnie explained. "He's someone who gives me a lot of freedom. He supports whatever I want to do." She added that she plans to continue working and will even bring the baby to work with her.

On the pregnancy itself, Minnie revealed she's been craving many different foods and has already gained about five kilograms. "I know the baby's gender and Hiso's family knows, but I haven't told anyone else. We want to do a baby shower guessing game," she said.

The actress also confirmed that both she and her husband were aware they might have had to wait longer to conceive, noting that they started trying before their wedding. "My husband takes great care of me now. He's even more attentive since learning about the pregnancy."

At 10:24 a.m. on July 11, 2025, Mae Taeng Police received a report of a pickup truck colliding with a motorcycle on a rural road near Phudin House, Mule 9, Mae Hob Phra subdistrict, Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai. Police and Mae Hob Phra Subdistrict rescue units rushed to the scene.

Two victims were found at the accident site. A 12-year-old girl sustained a deformed right leg with open wounds and was quickly transported to Mae Taeng Hospital. The second victim, a 64-year-old woman, suffered severe injuries with her right foot severed. The severed foot was thrown onto a nearby house roof. She was rushed to the hospital but died shortly after arrival.

At the scene, authorities found an overturned motorcycle with collision marks on the road and a pickup truck that had veered off the road in front of a house. The pickup truck driver, a resident of Lampun province, remained at the scene and was questioned by police. He was taken into custody pending further investigation into the cause of the accident.

A large fig tree collapsed onto the Naga Bridge at Kham Chanod Island around 3:30 a.m. on July 9, causing nearly 4 meters of damage to the sacred structure that serves as the main pathway to the shrine of Sri Suthod and Sri Prathum. The incident occurred at night, which fortunately prevented major disruptions. The collapse is believed to have been caused by severe weather conditions with strong winds or heavy rainfall, combined with the weight of the ancient tree in the Kham Chanod forest.

Lottery enthusiasts visiting the sacred site spotted lucky numbers appearing at various locations: figures 42, 24, 49, 94 visible on the tree trunk; numbers 73, 37 from candle wax at the altar table; and what they considered particularly auspicious numbers 450, 054 from the incense sticks. At a lottery vendor near Kham Chanod Island, an elderly woman seeking to purchase ticket 944—the last digits of a pickup truck involved in a fatal accident with a monk—found that number sold out, settling instead for ticket 244, the only remaining option.