Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul presided over the Thailand Zero Dropout Plus (TZD+) awards ceremony on July 24, 2025, at Government House's Pakdi Bodin Building to honor individuals and organizations driving efforts to bring out-of-school children back into education. Former PM Srettha Thavissin, who initiated the Thailand Zero Dropout program as a national agenda, received a special award for his role in creating opportunities for marginalized youth.

This marked Srettha's first visit to Government House in nearly two years since leaving office on August 14, 2023. Anutin gave Srettha a tour of his Thai Together Building office before the ceremony, the two men emerging together in good spirits. Anutin told reporters with a smile, "Look who came," gesturing toward Srettha.

In his opening remarks, Anutin expressed pride that his former superior had visited and acknowledged working under Srettha as education minister. He congratulated all award recipients and emphasized that multi-sector cooperation can transform youth quality of life and the nation's future. Anutin stressed the government's commitment to educational equity, noting that human potential is Thailand's most important development resource.

Anutin highlighted that the Thailand Zero Dropout Plus program goes beyond simply returning children to classrooms—it aims to equip them with market-relevant skills and stable futures. He noted satisfaction that the initiative has reduced out-of-school children from one million to 600,000, demonstrating what collective effort can achieve.

MK Restaurants has announced a new business model called MK Buffet Subscription, offering unlimited buffet dining for the entire month of August at 2,990 baht per person, limited to 100 subscribers only. Registration opens July 27 and closes August 9 at 9:00 a.m., with the subscription period running from August 1 to 31. The restaurant is offering four package options: the Unlimited Package (2,990 baht for unlimited dining, 100 slots only), KhumMax (eat 10 get 3 free for 2,990 baht), KhumPlus (eat 7 get 2 free for 2,093 baht), and Khumkhum (eat 5 get 1 free for 1,495 baht). Each subscription includes daily QR code activation for one visit per day to MK Buffet restaurants, with one package per person per visit. The package is non-refundable and non-transferable, valid only at MK Buffet locations, and cannot be combined with other promotions or member discounts. Additional menu items can be purchased separately, and the company reserves the right to modify terms without prior notice.

BANGKOK — Thailand and China have agreed to strengthen defense cooperation, with talks focusing on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, defense industry collaboration and efforts to resolve the Thai-Cambodian border issue through peaceful dialogue.

Defense Minister Lt. Gen. Adul Boonthamcharoen met Chinese Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun on Friday during the latter's official visit to Thailand.

According to the Defense Ministry, the two sides discussed expanding their comprehensive strategic partnership, including responsible AI, cybersecurity, military technology and closer cooperation against transnational crime. They also reaffirmed support for resolving the Thai-Cambodian border issue through bilateral mechanisms and peaceful negotiations.

After the meeting, Adul said Dong had pledged China's support for Thailand while stressing Beijing would remain neutral because both Thailand and Cambodia are "good friends of China." Adul said China is looking to expand military cooperation with Thailand beyond defense equipment to include training, technology and AI, but denied reports that Beijing had offered to mediate the Thai-Cambodian border dispute. "He did not say that," Adul said.

On July 24, 2025, at the Central Investigation Police Division's complaint center, Prommmasad Kritthayavir, 47, founder of Sri Maha Kali Temple (Thung Dok Krajiao Temple, Thep Sathit District, Chaiyaphum Province), filed a formal complaint with police and gave interviews to media regarding suspected police misconduct in a theft case involving an electrical transformer, meter, and high-voltage power pole. He is requesting an investigation into whether the investigators and the Thep Sathit Police Station commander violated Section 157 of the Criminal Code through negligence or improper conduct.

According to Prommmasad's account, on April 22, 2025, while he was away, approximately 5-6 men with a large crane forcibly removed the transformer, meter, and high-voltage pole from the temple and fled. When questioned, they claimed to be acting under orders to remove and sell the equipment. The incident caused damage estimated at no less than 260,000 baht and posed danger to passing traffic.

Prommmasad alleged that police made no progress on the case, claiming the transformer had already been sold and could not be recovered. For three months, the temple had no electricity. Finally, on July 3, 2025, he paid an additional 380,000 baht to purchase a new transformer set. However, just three days later, on July 6, the investigating officer informed him that the crane company had voluntarily returned the power pole to Thep Sathit Police Station as a gesture of good faith—but without the transformer, the essential component.

"For three months, the temple had no power. Police said they couldn't recover the equipment because it was already sold, so I had to struggle to buy new equipment. But after only three days of having the new transformer, police suddenly said the crane company brought back the pole out of good faith. If they were truly acting in good faith, why didn't they return everything from the start? Why did they let me waste money buying replacements?" Prommmasad stated, adding that he has submitted all evidence to the police for investigation into potential Section 157 violations.

Investigating officer Chakking Tangthim Saphan Mai echoed concerns about the suspicious work practices at Thep Sathit Station, questioning why there was no urgency in pursuing and recovering the seized goods over several months, yet suddenly the crane company voluntarily returned the pole just three days after the victim purchased new equipment. He also questioned the true whereabouts of the transformer allegedly sold and who benefited from the victim's additional losses.

Central Investigation Police Division investigators are currently gathering witness statements and evidence to proceed with legal action.

A 31-year-old woman, identified as Ms. A (pseudonym), filed a report with investigators at Chana Songkhram Police Station after being chased by two Cambodian men to her home and having them attempt to force her door open. The incident occurred on July 21 around 11 p.m.

Ms. A recounted that while returning home after drinking with friends—an area she had lived in for over 30 years—she spotted two men standing by a wall. Initially thinking they were acquaintances, she quickened her pace, clutching her bag and recording on her phone. When they asked her to join them for beer, she declined. Seconds later, the man in the red shirt charged toward her, prompting her to run inside and lock the door. He attempted to pry open the door's window grill, causing her to scream in alarm. She shouted that she would call police before running upstairs.

CCTV footage revealed that after initially leaving, the man returned while the victim was calling police, and both suspects attempted to force the door again. Following her social media post, community member "Mr. Bang Talad Indie," a relative, organized neighbors to track down the suspects. By the evening of July 23, they apprehended the man in white at a boarding house and subsequently located and arrested both men.

During detention, the suspect apologized by placing his hands together, but Ms. A responded coldly, reminding him she had warned him not to act that way. She remains traumatized, crying nightly and unable to sleep at home, having relocated temporarily. She intends to pursue the case to its conclusion and does not wish to see the men again.

Miss Sinh Sinh, 23, girlfriend of Mr. Chanvesna Touch, 24 (the suspect in the red shirt), visited him at the police station with snacks and drinks. She stated they have been together for 8 years and have a 10-month-old daughter. She learned of his arrest when many community members came looking for him at his workplace, leading to minor physical altercation. After reviewing the incident footage, she acknowledged her boyfriend acted wrongly but believed the matter should be handled by police rather than vigilante violence.

The suspect claimed he was intoxicated after consuming approximately 7 beers with Cambodian friends and merely complimented the woman's appearance before following her. He denied harming or touching her and said he returned to apologize out of concern that he had frightened her. The man in white, he claimed, simply walked along without instigating anything.

The suspect's girlfriend apologized to the victim, asserting she did not take her boyfriend's side because she is also a woman and would feel equally terrified in such a situation. She reiterated that her boyfriend claimed he only intended to flirt, having been struck by the woman's appearance.

PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (GC), a leader in international chemical products and the core chemical business of the PTT Group, is preparing to issue and offer unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives to the general public. The bonds will be divided into two series: a 7-year maturity bond and a 10-year maturity bond, with the issuer retaining the right to redeem early. Subscription is expected to open between September 14–21, 2026, through six major banks: Bangkok Bank, Krung Thai Bank, Bank of Ayudhya, Kasikornbank, Siam Commercial Bank, and CIMB Thai Bank. Priority subscription rights will be allocated to existing bondholders, senior citizens, and retail investors to broaden the investor base and support GC's long-term capital management plan.

The company plans to use the proceeds as working capital for operations and debt repayment to enhance financial flexibility and strengthen its financial structure, enabling it to weather energy price volatility amid global economic conditions and geopolitical factors. GC will maintain financial discipline while advancing toward high-value, low-carbon business segments to achieve sustainable long-term growth.

Titipong Julphornsiridi, Senior Executive Vice President of Finance and Accounting at GC, stated: "This bond issuance marks our return to unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives for the first time in four years, following subordinated bonds with capital-like characteristics issued in 2024 and 2025, which received strong investor reception. This reflects investor confidence in GC's potential as the core chemical business of the PTT Group. GC remains committed to financial discipline and systematic capital management aligned with our Portfolio Transformation strategy, positioning the company for steady and sustainable growth in the high-value, low-carbon business segment."

The bonds being offered are unsecured, unguaranteed bonds with bondholder representatives, with the issuer retaining early redemption rights. They are divided into two series: Series 1, a 7-year maturity bond with an interest rate between 2.65–2.80% per annum, and Series 2, a 10-year maturity bond with an interest rate between 3.00–3.15% per annum. The company will announce final interest rates at a later date.

The company is opening the offering to diverse investor groups in three phases: Phase 1 (September 14–15, 2026) for existing PTTGC296A bondholders; Phase 2 (September 16–17, 2026) for senior citizens (individuals aged 60 or older, or turning 60 in 2026, meaning those born on or before December 31, 1909); and Phase 3 (September 18 and 21, 2026) for retail investors. Interested investors can subscribe through bank branches and online channels via the managing underwriters.

The managing underwriters added: "GC's return to issuing unsecured, unguarantee bonds after four years will grant existing PTTGC296A bondholders priority subscription rights in Phase 1. Phase 2 targets senior citizens, a group GC has consistently valued, offering them a meaningful investment option."