PHUKET — 1 August 2026, A 36-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly killing and decapitating her 74-year-old mother-in-law during a dispute at a home in Phuket on Saturday morning.

Chalong Police Station was alerted to the killing at a house in Chalong subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district, at about 09:15.

Police and other officials found the body of the victim inside the house. She had suffered severe wounds from a bladed weapon, and a large amount of blood was found on the floor.

According to the preliminary police investigation, the victim had been inside the house with her 36-year-old daughter-in-law before the pair became involved in a heated argument.

Police allege that the younger woman assaulted the victim, causing her to fall, before attacking her with a knife and striking her repeatedly on the body and face. She then allegedly used the knife to decapitate her.

A neighbour who witnessed the incident alerted police.

Officers arriving at the house found the suspect hiding inside a bathroom and took her into custody. She was later brought to the police station for legal proceedings.

Investigators, forensic officers and a duty doctor examined the scene and conducted an initial examination of the body.

Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the killing and the suspect's possible motive. Charges had not yet been formally announced.

The Bank of Thailand has revealed that Thailand's informal economy ranks 14th worldwide, causing the state to lose tax revenue and budget funds. On July 31, 2025, Sethaput Ratanapor, Governor of the Bank of Thailand, delivered a special address at The INTANIA Forum on surviving under the new world order at Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering, with Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in attendance. Ratanapor explained that the traditional economic world driven by globalization, free trade, and maximum efficiency has changed, and the global economy has entered a multipolar era where no single power determines direction. He highlighted how tariffs and trade measures are now used as tools of power competition, while global shocks from COVID-19, the Ukraine war, trade conflicts, and Middle Eastern tensions occur frequently.

Ratanapor stated that Thai economy must not only be flexible but also absorb shocks, adapt, and move forward. The key is structural economic reform, particularly addressing resource misallocation, which hampers productivity and the nation's GDP potential. He noted that Thailand does not lack capital—the Bank of Thailand currently absorbs liquidity through various channels worth approximately 5-6 trillion baht daily—but much of this money does not flow to efficient business units, resulting in below-potential economic growth.

Data reveals clear anomalies: over 75% of capital is allocated to large businesses, while SME credit has remained negative for 15 consecutive quarters. Even the top 30% of high-performing SMEs access only 21% of credit compared to large businesses accessing 63%. Ratanapor highlighted that financing cost disparities worsen SME competition, with efficient small businesses paying average interest of 7.8% while large enterprises pay around 3.9%. The solution involves creating a large-scale database to improve credit disbursement accuracy, reduce credit risk costs, and lower operational expenses. This database would integrate credit information, utility consumption data, and alternative data to more comprehensively assess borrower potential.

Ratanapor said this aligns with government policy, with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitivattananon leading the initiative and using the government's Connect mechanism as the driving force. Success would help small-scale individuals and disciplined SMEs without sufficient collateral to access credit at reasonable costs. He emphasized that reallocating resources to more efficient business units would improve the Thai economy, increase productivity, and expand GDP potential.

Another major problem, he noted, is underground capital and the informal economy, which drain resources from the real economy. Thailand has the world's 14th-largest informal economy, representing 9-13% of economic activity as gray economy, preventing the state from collecting taxes and keeping money out of the budget system. The Bank of Thailand is closing multiple loopholes, including requiring explanations for cash withdrawals exceeding 5 million baht monthly. This followed the discovery that old 1,000-baht banknotes worth 140,000 million baht had disappeared from the system. Authorities are also monitoring gold transactions through apps that affect the baht's value. Ratanapor stated that gold regulatory measures are being implemented.

The death of Bavortthat Pengsuk, known as Hlun Solo, a Class of 71 political science graduate from Chulalongkorn University and prominent Thai YouTuber, while traveling in Georgia to film travel content from sociological and anthropological perspectives, has drawn significant public attention.

His personal history shows he was an excellent student with strong aspirations for self-improvement and personal development who successfully qualified for admission through the Chulalongkorn-Rural Scholarship Program as a Class 37 fellow, realizing his dreams.

The Chulalongkorn-Rural Program was initiated by the late Rector Prof. Dr. Kasem Suwannakul to provide higher education opportunities at Chulalongkorn University to high school graduates who otherwise lacked the financial means to study alongside regular students. Prof. Dr. Manu Viraborusat, the Academic Vice-Rector at that time, oversaw establishment of the "Chulalongkorn-Rural Unit" to administer the program. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Grich Supsandi, a faculty member from the School of Journalism, served as the unit's first director.

The program began accepting high-achieving students from economically disadvantaged families who could not afford university education in 1982, covering those who met entrance exam criteria and passed selection. Full scholarships were awarded covering tuition, accommodation, and personal expenses. The first cohort consisted of 41 students selected from Eastern and Northeastern provinces. The program has since expanded to accept students from target areas across various faculties at Chulalongkorn University.

The program's early years faced considerable challenges and obstacles, but efforts focused on establishing a solid foundation aimed at creating educational opportunities and providing life capital for qualified rural students. The process included recruitment drives and examinations held in different provinces. Once results were released, the program committee would visit students' hometowns to personally assess their family circumstances.

Chulalongkorn University has since elevated the Chulalongkorn-Rural Unit to the status of Chulalongkorn-Rural Center, providing educational opportunities to more than 170 rural students annually. To date, the program has supported 44 cohorts and has graduated over 1,500 successful professionals serving in government, state enterprises, and the private sector, many holding recognized and prominent positions in their respective organizations.

Applications are accepted approximately August to September each year. Information is sent to schools in target areas, and recruitment is announced through the website http://www.rural.chula.ac.th. The university hopes the Chulalongkorn-Rural Program will continue fulfilling its mission to expand educational opportunities and support high-achieving, economically disadvantaged youth across all academic disciplines.

A 36-year-old daughter-in-law has been arrested on suspicion of fatally attacking her 74-year-old mother-in-law at a home in Muang District, Phuket. Police are investigating the motive and gathering evidence for prosecution. The suspect has been receiving psychiatric care since 2016.

Family members interviewed at the scene expressed shock at the incident and the suspect's behavior. The home has been cleaned, with bloodstained furniture placed outside. The victim's sister-in-law said a child alerted her to blood outside, and she arrived to find the suspect attacking the victim. She said the suspect then stared at her menacingly.

The sister-in-law explained that the victim normally lived with the daughter-in-law, while her son resides in Bangkok. She said the suspect had been caring for the elderly woman very well since arriving in January—washing her clothes, helping her bathe, and bringing her breakfast daily. "We don't understand why she would do something like this," the sister-in-law said. "They seemed to get along so well."

A neighbor who discovered the victim said she first saw her lying outside the door with blood. When she returned on her motorcycle, the victim was still lying motionless with her leg extended.

Police Colonel Sinlerp Sukum, commander of Phuket Provincial Police, said the attack occurred around 9 a.m. No one heard screams. During questioning, the victim's son revealed that the suspect has been undergoing psychiatric treatment since 2016 and continued regular appointments.

The household consisted of three people: the elderly mother, her husband, and the suspect, who had lived together for about 10 years. The suspect had been providing good care, cooking meals and changing her mother-in-law's clothes. The victim's health had been declining. Her husband works in Bangkok and was scheduled to catch a flight this morning when he learned of the incident. Police have charged the suspect with murder.

On August 1, Prime Minister Anuthon Charnweerakul, accompanied by National Police Commissioner General Kittarat Panpetch and Chon Buri Governor Narit Niramaiwan, visited the locations where Russian tourists and others were found dead in Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The prime minister arrived by helicopter and inspected the site where two Russian visitors were discovered in the Chakangaew forest, then traveled about two kilometers to a coconut plantation where the bodies of three family members were found.

Anuthon stated that the government will not support reducing sentences for those convicted of violent crimes that harm public and tourist confidence. He ordered increased security measures and area patrols to prevent similar incidents. The prime minister expressed condolences to the victims' families and apologized to Russian tourists and citizens, emphasizing that the crimes were the acts of individuals, not a reflection of Thailand's overall safety.

Regarding the suspect's previous criminal history, Anuthon indicated the need to review law enforcement measures and instructed investigators to prepare comprehensive case files for the court's sentencing consideration. He noted that while Thailand retains capital punishment under law, sentencing remains the court's authority, and the government's role is to prosecute through the full justice process to ensure the perpetrators receive appropriate punishment.