Police arrested 38-year-old Vunchai on July 1 on a court arrest warrant dated June 10, charging him with theft at a public shrine. The arrest came after an American tourist filed a complaint on February 13, reporting that his iPhone 16 Pro Max was stolen from inside Wat Pho temple on Maharaj Road in Bangkok's Pranakorn District. Investigators reviewed security camera footage to identify the suspect before issuing an arrest warrant and locating him.

During questioning, Vunchai claimed he was formerly a watch seller who became interested in Buddha amulets and visited amulet markets, including Tha Phra Chan Market, to resell items. On the day of the incident, he entered Wat Pho to pray and wait for transportation home to Bang Khae. He claimed he found the phone abandoned at the base of a Buddha statue, took it, and sold it as a used device for 800 baht.

Investigators determined he had committed similar thefts three times at Wat Pho between January and February. In the first incident, he stole a tourist's wallet. In the second incident, he stole a mobile phone. In the third incident, he stole another mobile phone. After the third incident, he attempted to enter the temple again but was pursued by security guards and fled. He has now been taken into police custody for legal proceedings.

Customs officers at Phuket International Airport, working with relevant agencies, arrested two Uzbek nationals after discovering they had concealed dried cannabis flowers and cannabis products in their luggage for unauthorized export on July 1, 2026.

The first suspect, 26-year-old Jalilboyevich from Uzbekistan, was found with dried cannabis buds packed in 30 vacuum-sealed bags weighing 9.8 kilograms total, along with 14 processed cannabis sticks weighing 1.03 kilograms. Officers inspected his luggage on the first floor of the international departure terminal and identified two suspicious bags among his four total pieces of luggage.

The second suspect, 26-year-old Mukiddinnovitch, also from Uzbekistan, was found with 30 dried cannabis flower bundles (9.8 kilograms), 8 bags of cannabis resin (4.1 kilograms), and 5 processed cannabis sticks plus 9 cannabis blocks in one package (2 kilograms total). His luggage was inspected on the third floor of the international departure building.

Both suspects acknowledged ownership of all luggage and consented to searches, with X-ray examinations confirming the contraband. They face charges under the 2017 Customs Act for attempting to export controlled goods without customs clearance, as well as violations of narcotics and controlled botanical substance laws. Both remain in custody pending investigation and legal proceedings.

The Faculty of Dentistry at Prince of Songkla University officially inaugurated the PSU Microscope and Esthetic Dentistry Center (PSU-ME) on June 26, 2025, to enhance specialized dental services with advanced technology, improve diagnostic and treatment precision, and provide Southern Thailand residents with access to quality oral healthcare.

The opening ceremony was attended by Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab, PSU rector, as well as Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, and Associate Professor Dr. Gawlin Thamsitthiboon, PSU-ME director, who welcomed distinguished guests and media representatives.

Developed under the 2568 fiscal year state budget, PSU-ME modernized the conservative dentistry clinic facilities to support comprehensive treatment, teaching, research, and personnel development. The center stands out as the first and largest microscopic dentistry and esthetic treatment facility in Southern Thailand, featuring 21 service units equipped with over 10 dental microscopes that enable dentists to visualize treatment areas more clearly and increase efficiency and precision when addressing complex dental conditions.

Beyond clinical services, PSU-ME serves as a learning hub and capacity-building center for dental professionals, including dental students, dentists, specialists, and oral health personnel, while accommodating domestic and international continuing professional education and study visits.

Assistant Professor Dr. Niwat Kaewpradab stated that establishing PSU-ME represents a significant step in advancing health science excellence and elevating healthcare services in Southern Thailand through investment in modern technology alongside healthcare workforce development to create long-term public benefits.

Associate Professor Dr. Thongchai Thitsomkul noted that PSU-ME was designed as a comprehensive clinical service center, learning hub, and capacity-building facility for dental professionals to support high-quality treatment and prepare the profession for technological changes and evolving oral health needs.

The PSU-ME opening reflects the Faculty of Dentistry and Prince of Songkla University's commitment to introducing modern dental innovations and technology to elevate standards in treatment, education, and research while developing knowledge and personnel to advance Southern Thailand's and the nation's oral health system sustainably.

A dog caregiver's heartbreak: approximately ten stray dogs living at a cemetery in Chachoengsao Province have been found dead, allegedly poisoned by an unknown person. The woman who regularly feeds the dogs pleads with the culprit to stop, urging them to contact authorities instead.

On July 1, 2025, at 6:30 p.m., news arrived of multiple dogs killed by poison and gunshot within a cemetery in Moo 3, Samnuak Bok Subdistrict, Muang District, Chachoengsao Province. Reporters traveled to investigate.

Upon arrival at the cemetery grounds, multiple Thai-breed dog carcasses were found scattered throughout the area. Some had begun to bloat, others were decomposing and emitting foul odors across the entire site. Investigation confirmed ten dogs had died in total, shocking all who discovered them.

Interviewed at the scene, 50-year-old Wanwadee, who regularly brought food to feed the cemetery dogs, tearfully explained that she had been bringing rice and meals to the dogs daily because she observed they had no owners. Some had been abandoned there, others had lived in the area for years. Moved by compassion, she cared for them as best she could.

Wanwadee revealed that recently, the dogs that used to run to eat had begun disappearing one by one. She subsequently found some dead scattered throughout the cemetery, one or two per day, until discovering a large number of bodies altogether. She suspects someone maliciously placed poison or used firearms to shoot them, evidenced by wound marks on their bodies and what appeared to be bite marks or gnaw wounds on their legs.

"It breaks my heart. The dogs just lived their lives and didn't harm anyone," Wanwadee said through tears. "I want to beg whoever did this to stop. If you don't like them, report it to authorities to handle it properly. Don't resort to poisoning or shooting them to death, because they have lives just like us."

Local dog caregivers and residents are calling on relevant authorities to investigate the facts, find solutions to help, and address the stray dog problem appropriately to prevent similar tragic incidents. They urge the perpetrators that if dogs cause trouble, officials should be notified rather than resorting to violence, as these animals are innocent and do not deserve to be killed so brutally.

Nattapong Ruengpanya, Pheu Thai Party list MP and party leader, concluded the three-day budget debate by assailing the government's budget proposal as inadequate to address the nation's financial crisis and future prospects. He criticized the administration not for trying to help Thailand, but for propping up the blue government's political foundations, accusing officials of borrowing 400 billion baht simply because they had run out of ideas.

Speaking at 7:50 p.m. on July 1, Nattapong noted considerable agreement with Prime Minister Srettha's earlier remarks on budget reform, saying they almost seemed scripted. He commended Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan for clarifying the government's position from day one. Pheu Thai had proposed amendments to the Budget Act for comprehensive structural reform, and Nattapong urged the government to approve the party's draft bill. He noted that true state finances vastly exceed the formal budget, encompassing state enterprise spending of roughly 4 trillion baht annually, state funds, and local government resources—with off-budget spending estimated at around 10 trillion baht total.

Nattapong stressed that restructuring budget architecture to integrate all state spending toward unified national goals and productive investment would create growth opportunities. He expressed disappointment that over three days of debate, ministers' explanations had failed to inspire public confidence in economic security or the nation's future direction.

Criticizing the budget as a mirror of government performance, Nattapong questioned whether it truly served the people or hidden interests supporting the ruling coalition. He noted Thailand's tax revenue to GDP ratio at just 14-15%—below many peer nations in the region—and warned that budget reforms appeared misaligned with decentralization goals. He cited an example: 22,000 million baht cut from provincial administration budgets was meant for decentralization, yet only 7,000 million baht reached local governments—raising questions whether this constituted genuine power devolution or merely budget cuts.

Nattapong also challenged the government's 400 billion baht borrowing decree, particularly 200 billion baht earmarked for energy sector restructuring, questioning its urgency and necessity.

Two people died and three 14-year-old girls were injured when two motorcycles collided on Thalang Road in Phuket. At 5:45 p.m. on July 1st, officers from Tha Chatchai Police Station in Phuket received a report from Phuket Kusol Tham rescue volunteers about a serious motorcycle accident on Thepkrasattri Road (opposite DeeDee Metal Power Tool shop, Maikhao branch) in Maikhao Subdistrict, Thalang District. Officers found two motorcycles had collided and overturned, with five people injured.

The accident involved a white Honda Scoopy and a red-black Yamaha XMAX ridden by Sarawut. Three teenage girls—Saranya, 14; Thidawan, 14; and Sasiwan, 14—were passengers on the back of Sarawut's motorcycle. All five injured were taken to Thalang Hospital.

However, Sarawut and the Honda Scoopy driver (name unknown) died at the hospital shortly after. The three teenage girls remain hospitalized with injuries. Tha Chatchai Police are investigating witnesses and gathering evidence to determine the cause of the accident and pursue legal proceedings.