A Bangkok court has sentenced the final account holder to 16 months in jail for conspiring to defraud the public and facilitating cybercrime in an elaborate online hotel reviewer scam. Actress Best Chanida Phongsilpipat, who appeared at Bangkok South Criminal Court on July 17 to give additional testimony, lost 1.2 million baht in a single day after being lured into the scheme.

Best recounted how the scam began when she was recruited through a Facebook marketing influencer page advertising positions for hotel reviewers. She was directed to Telegram, where she completed test reviews earning small payments of tens of baht. The scheme promised that accumulating 100 points would qualify her for genuine hotel reviews. However, she was gradually drawn into an elite group where scammers convinced her to make escalating fund transfers—starting at 400 baht and eventually reaching hundreds of thousands—under the pretense of resolving payment issues and unlocking accounts. Within hours, she transferred 250,000 baht, then 490,000 baht, then 600,000 baht, and finally 500,000 baht before realizing the pattern and stopping. Best reported the fraud to police and froze her bank accounts, then pursued the case as a plaintiff alongside prosecutors.

Best emphasized she initially believed the opportunity was legitimate, having verified the company existed, but the scammers were impersonating it. She appealed to the public to avoid becoming repeat victims and hopes her case serves as a warning about how modern scammers exploit people's desire to work and earn money.

Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation is partnering with Mahidol University's Institute of Management Technology and Innovation (iNT) and the University of Strathclyde to launch the Chief Innovation Officer Exchange Programme (CIOX) 2026, positioning universities as engines of national competitiveness rather than mere research producers. The program addresses a critical challenge in Thai higher education: despite abundant research talent and output, mechanisms to convert intellectual property into concrete economic and social value remain weak. The initiative will develop 23 senior leaders from 21 Thai institutions into "Chief Innovation Officers" capable of forging industry partnerships, managing intellectual property, and commercializing technology. After four days of intensive domestic training to align with private sector needs, participants will attend strategic workshops at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow from May 18–22, 2026, where they will study successful university-industry collaboration models and witness how research ideas transform into million-pound industries. The program aims to create "change agents" and "bridge builders" who will shift Thailand's science, research and innovation system from publication-focused work to delivering practical, market-ready innovations through joint ventures and strategic asset management.

BLCP power plant addresses the challenge of maintaining Thailand's energy stability while advancing sustainable environmental practices amid global climate warnings. Data from Copernicus Marine Service shows that average global sea surface temperatures in June reached historic highs, with marine heat waves covering over 82% of oceans, and 2025 is projected to rank among the four hottest years on record. The ocean heat crisis impacts not only coastal ecosystems and coral bleaching but also raises critical questions for the energy industry: how to balance reliable electricity production with sustainable environmental protection.

BLCP, a major independent power producer operating continuously as a baseload power plant for over 20 years, has demonstrated success in meeting this global challenge by converting its mission into a tangible sustainability equation.

Stricter standards than the law requires BLCP's recognition in the industry stems from its philosophy of "prevention is better than cure." It has set air pollutant emission standards in its Environmental Impact Assessment that exceed Thailand's standards across all parameters:

– Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): BLCP limits emissions to 262 ppm, stricter than Thailand's 320 ppm standard – Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): BLCP limits emissions to 241 ppm, compared to Thailand's 350 ppm standard – Particulate Matter: BLCP limits emissions to 43 mg/m³, nearly three times stricter than Thailand's 120 mg/m³ standard

These rigorous standards reflect BLCP's concrete commitment to environmental and air quality protection.

Three key technologies capture pollution at the source To achieve its goals, BLCP integrates three international technologies into its production process:

– Low NOx Burner: Controls combustion and air flow to prevent nitrogen oxide formation at the start – ESP (Electrostatic Precipitator): Uses static electricity to capture particulate matter with up to 99.7% efficiency – FGD (Flue Gas Desulfurization): Uses seawater to capture sulfur dioxide gas

All pollutants are monitored continuously 24 hours through an automated system (CEMS) from a 200-meter stack, with data sent directly to government agencies. Additionally, four air quality monitoring stations (AQMS) around the plant provide real-time surveillance and transparent data sharing via signboards, website, and social media.

Three-tier cooling water system protects marine ecosystems In response to concerns about rising sea temperatures, BLCP uses a closed-loop cooling system, an international standard, where seawater undergoes multiple filtration stages before being returned to the marine ecosystem.

A retired police general and well-known amulet collector, who previously valued a solid gold Buddha amulet at 300 million baht, has expressed frustration with a prominent amulet expert over recent television statements about pricing and specifications. On July 17, 2025, Pol. Lt. Gen. Somsak Chai Amornsongjareun responded after the amulet expert appeared on a television program discussing a rare imperial-series gold Buddha amulet, claiming it must feature specific flower petal designs on the front and stamped garuda codes and the year 2411 on the back with embedded pins. The general argues that the expert's stated valuation conflicts with information in the expert's own published book, which valued the amulet at only 1 billion baht rather than the 3 billion mentioned on air.

Somsak Chai explained that he has long respected the expert and even allowed him to examine his own imperial-series amulet in January 2022, receiving praise and advice to preserve it carefully. He supported publication of the expert's recent book issued for the expert's birthday in October 2024 and is listed as a donor in it. However, he contends that the televised statements contradict the book's own text at pages 122–123, which acknowledges uncertainty about how many versions of the imperial-series amulet actually exist, creating confusion among followers.

Regarding pricing, Somsak Chai points out that page 128 of the expert's book itself states that a wealthy Japanese collector purchased an imperial-series gold amulet for 3 billion baht per unit, contradicting the expert's televised claim of 1 billion baht. To resolve the matter and locate other genuine specimens, Somsak Chai announced he will immediately pay 100,000 baht to anyone who can produce a gold amulet matching his own, subject to verification through X-ray fluorescence scanning, high-magnification imaging, and assessment by the PSDA Standard Institute or other recognized authorities—and provided the mass of the specimen does not vary by more than 10 percent from his own. He believes the amulet was genuinely produced but contends that the exact number of variants remains unknown and can only be determined through scientific material analysis and age verification of the ancient gold.

Nakhon Ratchasima — Following a meeting of the Provincial Land Transportation Management Subcommittee, a representative from the Department of Rail Transport reported that the Bangkok-Nakhon Ratchasima high-speed rail project (Phase 1, 250.77 kilometers) is 55.272% complete as of June 2025, falling 32.93% behind schedule. In Nakhon Ratchasima province, seven contracts are active, with two completed and five under construction. Contract 3-5 (Khok Khuad-Nakhon Ratchasima, 12.38 kilometers) is particularly problematic, with only 18% progress and an 81.92% schedule delay.

The contractor's financial difficulties, labor shortages, material supply issues, and site access problems have caused delays. Additionally, a design change from ground-level to elevated track (Elevated) through community areas requires cabinet approval. The latest estimate suggests full operations will not begin until 2025.

Representative Chatthawan Suphattrawanit (Pheu Thai, District 1) conducted a site inspection after receiving public complaints via Facebook and Line. He found the work site abandoned for over two months, with temporary worker camps dismantled and equipment removed. The infrastructure—electrical, water, and utilities—has been stripped and cleared. Suphattawan announced he would file an interpellation in parliament's August session, demanding the Prime Minister or Transport Minister explain the repeated delays and provide a concrete timeline for when Nakhon Ratchasima residents can use the rail service. Contract 3-5, valued at 7.75 billion baht and running from January 26, 2021 to January 10, 2024, covers construction of ground-level track over 7.85 kilometers.

The Narcotics Suppression Command (NSC) launched operations on July 17, 2025, following government and National Police Office policy to seal off the community along Khlong Phra Khanong canal and arrest small-time drug dealers under the "Safe Community" initiative. Under national police leadership, including Police General Kittirat Panpetch, Deputy Police General Samran Nueamma, Police General Sompraseong Yenthuum, and Police Lt. Gen. Kritsada Kanchanalong, the operation designates drug problem resolution as a critical national priority requiring urgent action due to its impact on public suffering and safety.

Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayan Kraitong, commander of the Narcotics Suppression Command, recognized the importance of building strong community immunity and initiated the "Safe Community, Families Return" project aimed at making the public feel safe, reducing fear, and creating sustainability through a "people's state" mechanism. The NSC is driving this project to integrate drug prevention and suppression at the community level, emphasizing public participation in monitoring and preventing drug problems. The program develops civilian networks as a critical force for reporting drug dealers and monitoring at-risk individuals to prevent children and youth from becoming involved with drugs.

The NSC has coordinated with state agencies, network partners, and community leaders to improve the community environment through street lighting, closed-circuit television (CCTV) installation, and strengthened relationships between police and residents to enhance safety, reduce crime opportunities, and build public confidence. Since December 2024, the NSC has implemented the nationwide project in five communities covering 726 households, benefiting over 3,500 residents, installing 36 CCTV cameras and 40 streetlights, and arresting over 60 small-time dealers and users. Despite success in many areas, drug proliferation persists in some communities.

The NSC is therefore conducting proactive operations under the "Safe Community" project, coordinating with relevant agencies to implement encirclement measures, search drug-affected areas and drug caches, and work with community leaders and residents to prevent drug networks from re-entering the area, thus creating sustainable safety and improved quality of life. Today at 3:00 p.m., Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayan Kraitong and deputy commanders, together with police deputies and partner agencies including the Metropolitan Police, Department of Special Investigation (DSI), and Office of the Narcotics Control Board, announced the arrest of three drug dealers in the Khlong Phra Khanong community. Police seized 3.3 grams of crystal methamphetamine and conducted additional community searches. They also distributed essential supplies to 19 bedridden patients and elderly residents to relieve hardship and boost public morale. Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayan Kraitong stated that the "Safe Community" project is a continuation of efforts to secure neighborhoods.