Residents of Phimai, Nakhon Ratchasima, are at their breaking point as daily-rate loan sharks intimidate and threaten elderly residents to collect debts run up by family members who have disappeared, leaving the elderly to bear the burden despite having no income.

On July 23, 2025, a social media account posted secret video footage showing daily-rate loan collectors repeatedly circulating through a home to try to collect interest payments from residents in the Phimai Municipal Subdistrict, Phimai District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province. This has pushed residents to their limits as they face harassment and intimidation from the ruthless lending gangs. Some have closed their homes and fled; others have hidden away, abandoning elderly family members at home to face the gangs' verbal abuse and threats in their place. The elderly are unsure where to turn, as these groups have no fear of the law. The situation has become a family crisis, with some resorting to stealing and selling household items, and others mortgaging homes and vehicles to raise money for daily debts.

Residents are now appealing to authorities to take strict legal action, saying they have lost all patience. Phimai should be a tourist destination, but instead it is plagued by gangsters and predatory daily-rate lenders who operate freely throughout the town, intimidating and threatening residents without any fear of legal consequences.

An elderly resident in the area explained that the loan collectors come to demand payment from him almost every day because his grandson borrowed money. The grandfather was unaware of the loan initially, and his grandson has since moved away for work, but the collectors cannot reach him and have turned to demanding repayment from the elderly man instead. He said, "We don't know where to find the money to repay them. We only have a meager elderly pension and state welfare card—a few hundred baht a month—but the loan gangs still track us down, curse us, and threaten to beat us and cause us harm. We are at a loss."

Deputy Director-General Patchanathorn Panyasilp opened the "Moral Meditation for Life Balance" program on July 3, 2026, under the annual national vipassana meditation initiative. The program honors Somdet Phra Sangharaja's 99th birthday and dedicates merit to Princess Patcharakitiyabha. Held at Bodhi Dharmma Sthan in Hat Yai, Songkhla, the event was organized by the Ministry of Culture's Department of Religious Affairs in cooperation with Songkhla's Cultural Office, the Noingbuddha Foundation, and Buddhist network partners.

Patchanathorn stated that the Ministry of Culture aims to promote meditation training under a broader national ethics and virtue initiative. The program seeks to help people develop mentally through meditation practice, build self-awareness, strengthen emotional resilience, and improve quality of life amid rapid digital transformation and artificial intelligence impacts on mental health.

Thailand possesses strong potential in Buddhist practice and meditation, with over 2,000 meditation centers nationwide. The government is positioning the country as a "Thailand Meditation Hub"—an international meditation center—to promote mental wellness and life quality for both Thai and foreign citizens.

The opening ceremony drew 150 participants, including 50 practicing monks and 100 attendees. Key activities included mindfulness breathing exercises, walking meditation, and the "Journey to the Mind" curriculum, designed to develop awareness, concentration, and mindset to help participants understand their own thoughts and emotions, then apply Buddhist principles meaningfully to daily life.

The initiative aligns with government policy to develop human resources across all age groups through Buddhist teachings that strengthen wisdom, inner peace, and quality of life, while building an ethical society through the "three pillars"—home, temple, and government—for sustainable Thai social development.

Prime Minister chairs anti-corruption coordination committee meeting and approves six key strategies to combat graft. Phot Arom­wat­ta­nanth, chairman of the Zero Corruption working group, revealed that the private sector praised the government's concrete efforts to fight corruption, shifting from case-by-case remedies to systemic reform aimed at reducing corruption opportunities, increasing transparency, and strengthening national confidence.

Many of the committee's resolutions align with private sector proposals reflected through the three-institution joint committee, including establishing anti-bribery mechanisms, promoting the "One Department, One Transparent and Bribery-Free" project, improving public sector licensing and service processes, and raising Thailand's corporate governance standards to support OECD membership.

"Today marks an important starting point because private sector proposals are being translated into concrete action. We believe reducing corruption requires cooperation from all sectors—government, private business, academia, and the public," Phot stated.

To support government operations, the Zero Corruption working group will drive six main strategies:

1. Campaign for "private sector rejection of bribery" to create a culture of "no giving, no taking, no paying bribes" 2. Promote corruption reporting through safe and accessible channels 3. Organize closed-door dialogues to gather business insights, analyze pain points, and develop joint policy recommendations with government 4. Support Thailand's OECD membership through advancing governance standards, transparency, and corporate accountability 5. Address "nominee ownership, shell companies, and money laundering" issues in coordination with relevant agencies to close loopholes undermining the economy and national confidence 6. Scale up model agencies for transparency and link licensing and public service reform to reduce hidden costs and improve service quality for citizens and businesses

Phot noted the group will also support implementation of the 2025 Public Services and Licensing Facilitation Act, a key law reducing unnecessary steps, limiting official discretion, and improving government service transparency, speed, and accountability. The law employs a "reduce two, increase one" mechanism—reducing discretion and face-to-face interactions while increasing transparency and accountability—to lower bribery opportunities, reduce hidden costs, boost investor confidence, and improve Thailand's Corruption Perceptions Index while preparing for OECD accession.

"The group is ready to work with the OFEC in communicating this law's importance to business and the public, ensuring all sectors understand their rights and can fully benefit from it, while gathering real-world feedback for continuous improvement," Phot stated.

The working group will also organize closed-door dialogues with government, business, and academic stakeholders.

During the rainy season, many Thais abandon travel plans, particularly outdoor activities, under the assumption that rain and golf are incompatible. Yet Pinehurst Golf Club & Hotel transforms the monsoon months into its most vibrant season, showcasing its sprawling green landscape near Bangkok. The facility now functions as a Golf & Lifestyle Community, offering not only a championship 27-hole course but also a hotel, spa, café, restaurant, swimming pool, and nature-immersed recreation areas available year-round.

Korn Patcharasoong, Vice President Advisor of Pinehurst Group, explained that modern urbanites no longer seek golf-only venues but green spaces where they can relax, work, socialize, and spend family time in one day. Pinehurst has evolved beyond golf into a "happiness destination" where rainy season—typically low season for many businesses—becomes the most beautiful and ideal escape near Bangkok.

The venue offers ten reasons to visit, even for non-golfers: a legendary championship course just minutes from central Bangkok; a 27-hole international championship layout designed by renowned Japanese architect Yoshihara Aihara; historic hosting of global tournaments including the 1992 Johnnie Walker Classic and 1994 Thailand Open; and official accommodation for international badminton and water polo athletes.

Thai coffee brand Gafae Phansai Thai is expanding beyond beverages into the booming street food market with a new concept called Kuaytiaw Reua Phansai Thai. The flagship location opened in Rangsit Khlong 3 in early 2025, featuring a complete food and beverage experience with coffee, bakery, and traditional boat noodles under one roof.

According to Anon Rattanamankhong, operations director at Gafae Phansai Thai, while coffee remains the company's core business, the new venture addresses growing market demand and expands the brand's lifestyle appeal to modern consumers. The expansion leverages the brand's existing Max Card membership program to connect coffee drinkers with exclusive benefits at the new noodle shops. Currently operating five locations, the company aims to reach 20 branches by the end of 2026.

The boat noodle shop maintains the brand's Creative Thai Taste philosophy, sourcing quality local ingredients for signature dishes. The signature menu features En Moo Hatyai—tender pork shipped directly from Songkhla—served in a clear broth infused with herbs. The restaurant emphasizes premium-quality ingredients, meticulous preparation, and authentic recipes, including special chili paste and fresh daily pork cracklings. Bowls start at 65 baht, with appetizers including fried dumplings, grilled meatballs, and spicy salad, plus desserts. The concept targets upmarket street food diners seeking cleanliness, quality, and comfort in an air-conditioned setting.

ICS Lifestyle Complex and Thailand Board Game Show are hosting "Thailand Board Game Show Go arounD," bringing the Thai board game festival on the road. The event offers attendees a chance to meet players and collectors, and experience Thai board games firsthand through hands-on play, learning, and competition. The festival runs July 24–26 at the M Floor Event Space of ICS Lifestyle Complex (opposite Icon Siam).

The festival is divided into three main activity zones serving both newcomers and board game fans. bgn Squad Activities offers intense gameplay experiences including Trench Crusade (a dark fantasy war game), tabletop role-playing games, DIY My Meeple where visitors can design custom game pieces in their own style, and silent bidding for exclusive promotional cards.

Another highlight is the Mini Thai Board Game Exhibition, a curated showcase of Thai board game works and stories reflecting the development of Thailand's creative industry, which is gaining recognition from players domestically and internationally.

For competitive players, the Thailand Board Game Play Area features various board games with a Mini Competition allowing players to test their skills in popular games with prizes, plus Board Game Bingo where participants hunt for Thai board game symbols to collect special sticker prizes.

All participants in the DIY My Meeple activity receive a custom meeple as a souvenir, while competition winners receive trophies and a board game carrying bag from bgn. The event invites visitors to explore the world of board gaming beyond entertainment at Thailand Board Game Show Go arounD 2026, running July 24–26, 2025 at M Floor ICS Lifestyle Complex opposite Icon Siam.