On July 23, 2025, at Parliament, Rangsimanth Rom, a Pheu Thai party list MP and chair of the House Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights Committee, spoke about the appointment of General Samran Nuelamae as the 16th National Police Chief for a seven-year term.

Rangsimanth said his main concern was why this particular candidate was chosen. Under the law, selection must be based on knowledge, ability, and seniority. Therefore, he stressed that whoever becomes National Police Chief must demonstrate transparency. He did not fault the nominee personally but called on the Prime Minister and the outgoing Police Chief to explain to society what criteria were used and what facts justified the decision.

Secondly, Rangsimanth asked what society should expect from General Samran over the next seven years and how he would transform the police organization. The committee is currently discussing police and justice reform, focusing on what changes citizens might see or whether the appointment would simply perpetuate old problems.

"If corruption among officers continues, if gray-market problems persist, then these seven years will be wasted," Rangsimanth said. "We hope the new Police Chief will seize this opportunity to make the police organization truly capable of enforcing the law effectively, without bias and without fear of powerful figures."

Rayong clothing shop seeks responsibility from customer defecating in fitting roomLegacyA clothing shop in Rayong filed a police report after a customer defecated inside a fitting room before leaving the premises, calling on the woman to accept responsibility or face legal action. The incident took place at a clothing shop on Sukhumvit Road in the Ban Chang district of Rayong on July 21. The owner said the woman has until the end of next week to come forward before legal proceedings are pursued using CCTV footage as evidence. Speaking to Channel 7, 49 year old shop assistant Joom said the customer arrived at the store at about 3.20pm in a dark blue sedan. She was wearing a black T-shirt and white trousers. According to Joom, the customer entered the shop and loudly asked to use a toilet. The staff member said she believed the woman appeared to be under the influence of alcohol, although this has not been confirmed. Photo via Channel 3 Joom said she directed the customer to the shop’s bathroom, but the woman instead picked up a pair of shorts from a display rack and entered a fitting room. After the customer left, staff noticed a strong odour coming from the fitting room. Joom said she entered the room and found human faeces on the floor along with the woman’s trousers. She then photographed the registration plate of the customer’s vehicle before contacting the shop owner. According to Joom, staff cleaned the fitting room themselves. She said the experience was distressing and encouraged customers facing emergencies to inform staff, adding that employees are willing to assist when needed. Photo via Channel 3 The shop owner said she later gave Joom 500 baht as a gesture of appreciation after the incident. The owner reported the matter to police and said she hopes the customer will come forward voluntarily before legal action becomes necessary. The incident follows a similar case previously reported in Phuket, where a restaurant owner said a foreign woman defecated outside the premises, leaving staff to clean the area. The owner also called for more public toilets to help prevent similar incidents. Another case was reported in Saraburi, where CCTV footage captured a man defecating beside a road despite a petrol station with public toilets being located about 100 metres away. Photo via Channel 3

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Human rights networks submitted a letter to Thailand's Legal Affairs Committee on July 23, requesting that the government halt plans to deport three Chinese refugees who have already received UNHCR status cards. Puthanee Kangkan, director of Fortify Rights, expressed concern that the Thai government may push the three individuals back to China or Hong Kong, where they face risks of execution or continued detention. Under Thailand's Anti-Torture and Enforced Disappearance Prevention Act, the country is legally prohibited from returning individuals to countries where they may face torture, cruel treatment, or inhumane punishment.

The principle of non-refoulement is a fundamental international law protection that all countries must uphold, and Thailand is a signatory to multiple international human rights treaties that protect refugee status. Thai authorities should urgently release the three from immigration detention and permit them to resettle in a third country. Committee chairman Rangsiman Rome acknowledged the concern, noting that if the facts prove valid, such action would contradict Thailand's domestic law. He stated the committee will investigate the matter and question all relevant parties before proceeding further.

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Phuket – The recent government-led effort to reopen public access to Nui Beach in Phuket may appear at first glance to be a local dispute over land use. Yet, the case has quickly become emblematic of a broader national challenge: how Thailand manages its natural resources, enforces the law, and protects the public’s right to […] Phuket Nui Beach: A Model for Thailand’s Coastal Encroachment Reform -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Phuket – The Governor of Phuket, Chotnarin Kerdsom, has personally extended support to a student intern who was assaulted inside a hotel kitchen in Patong, Kathu District. In a meeting at the provincial hall this afternoon, the governor presented a gift basket and financial assistance to encourage the victim’s continued education, while stressing that all […] UPDATE: Phuket Governor Steps In After Intern Assault in Patong Hotel -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

YouTrip, a multi-currency digital wallet and travel card provider, has announced a premium market expansion strategy in Thailand with the launch of "YouTrip Metal," an invitation-only travel card in partnership with Kasikornbank—Thailand's first of its kind. Juthasri Kuvinichwkul, YouTrip Thailand co-founder, said the new product emerged from continuous analysis of actual customer usage data, which revealed a distinct upper-tier user group with behavior markedly different from typical customers in travel frequency, number of countries visited, and spending value.

Company data shows A-List users spend an average of 63% more than regular users. Though representing only about 5% of Thailand's user base, this segment generates 1 billion baht in total spending, with some customers spending over 10 million baht annually across multiple currencies. Unlike typical consumers who limit travel to Asia, these customers regularly visit Europe, the United States, Africa, and Australia, even during economic slowdowns. Some use as many as 20 currencies within 12 months, and over 40% spend across four or more currencies yearly, reflecting visits to four or more countries annually.

"We didn't start by thinking a premium card was needed, but from customer data showing a user group that uses YouTrip as their top-of-wallet consistently and behaves distinctly differently," Juthasri said. "That drove the development of a product tailored to this segment." Despite high purchasing power, these customers still prioritize value—exchange rate savings can exceed 9% compared to some payment methods. YouTrip Metal is designed as more than a travel card; it builds a premium ecosystem for high-end travelers through benefits aligned with their lifestyle.

Key benefits include complimentary access to The Coral Lounge airport lounges in Thailand and Japan (three times yearly), free Metal eSIM for international roaming once per 12 months, special Cashback privileges through YouTrip Perks, and 24/7 global assistance via The Metal Priority service. The invitation-only model doesn't aim to grow user numbers but to elevate relationships with current customers. Invitations are gradually sent through the app to users meeting criteria based on frequency of use, service consistency, and spending value—not just a single high transaction.