A mother-in-law is seeking justice for her daughter-in-law after being lured to a resort by a village headman who claimed he would help resolve a legal case, then subjected to sexual assault. Fortunately, the victim managed to call a friend for help in time.

On July 13, 2569, at 1:45 p.m., at Muang Saraburi Police Station, Chalida Phralammat, director of the Pen Neung Foundation, brought the 25-year-old victim (referred to as "Ms. A") and her mother-in-law (Nang Perm) to meet with Pol. Col. Sakkhai Kraiviradetkachai, commander of Muang Saraburi Police, and investigating officers to follow up on the case against "Mr. B," a village headman from Kud Nok Plao subdistrict in Muang district, Saraburi province. He allegedly lured Ms. A to commit indecent assault and attempted rape at a resort in Dao Ruang subdistrict on July 2, 2569. Officers from Saraburi's Justice Ministry and Department of Social Development and Human Security were present as observers.

Ms. A recounted what happened: On July 1, a friend from a birthday party informed her that she had stolen her mobile phone and suggested meeting to discuss returning it to police. However, the phone's owner refused to drop the charges, making her anxious. She decided to contact a local authority figure—the village headman—to mediate. After discussing the matter at a guesthouse around 1:00 a.m. on July 2, everyone dispersed.

The next morning, the village headman called her and asked her to meet him, claiming he would take her to speak with police and meet with officials to help resolve the case. She hurried out hoping for assistance. Before leaving, she tried to call a friend to accompany her, but the headman insisted she come alone, saying he didn't want others to know about it. She agreed.

Once in the car, the headman said he would take her to meet a police officer he knew to help with the case, and he did. After speaking with the officer briefly, he said he would take her to meet another official for additional help. She believed him and hoped for assistance, so she continued. Along the way, the headman repeatedly assured her he could resolve the case, building her trust.

He then drove slowly through small sois for a long time before claiming the official hadn't arrived yet and suggesting they get something to eat while waiting. Instead of going to a restaurant, he drove into a resort that had a food shop out front. He claimed he didn't want to sit at the restaurant because he was worried people might see them and think he was helping with a legal case, so he asked her to wait for him in a room inside. He said he would call the official from outside.

Once inside the room, she grew frightened and quickly called a friend, giving her location and saying, "I'm scared. Please stay on the phone with me and come find me." Shortly after, the headman asked who she was talking to, ordered her to hang up, turn off her phone, and forbade her from contacting her parents.

Terrified, she ended the call. She then asked to use the bathroom and secretly texted her friend: "Come pick me up. I'm scared." While in the bathroom, the headman followed, knocked and banged on the door, shouting and asking what she was doing, why she brought her phone in, and demanding she turn it off immediately. She lied and said she had already turned it off, though she hadn't, and tried to secretly message her friend to come help.

Meanwhile, the headman ordered beer. She volunteered to go get it.

Tourist Police arrested a Myanmar national accused of operating an illegal tour business after officers went undercover as Mexican tourists during an operation at Wat Chedi Luang in Muang district, Chiang Mai. The suspect, identified as Saw, 39, was arrested following an investigation by Tourist Police Division 2 under the direction of Pol Maj Gen Olar Iamprapas and Pol Col Phitsanu Triamdee. Police charged the suspect with multiple offences including operating a tour business without a licence, working as a tourist guide without a valid licence, misusing a registered vehicle, working as a foreign national without a work permit, and violating the Foreign Business Act. Following the arrest, the suspect was handed over to investigators at Muang Chiang Mai Police Station for legal proceedings. Tourist Police said they would continue cracking down on unlicensed tour operators and illegal tourist guides to strengthen confidence in Thailand's tourism industry and raise service standards.

By Nopporn Wong-Anan

When Mark Gooding arrived in Thailand in 2020, the country was locked down by COVID-19. Tourist arrivals had collapsed, diplomatic exchanges had slowed to a trickle, and much of his first year was spent studying Thai instead of attending official functions.

Six years later, as the British ambassador prepares to leave Bangkok at the end of July, the relationship between the United Kingdom and Thailand is arguably stronger than at any point during his tenure.

Trade has surged by around 60 percent to £8 billion, Britain and Thailand have upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership, British tourist arrivals have reached record levels, and the Embassy in Bangkok now runs the UK's largest consular operation anywhere in the world.

In an hour-long interview before taking up his next post as Director for Asia at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Gooding reflected on geopolitics, Brexit, trade, cannabis smuggling, and why Thailand remains one of Britain's closest partners in Asia.

A More Dangerous World

Looking back, Gooding said the biggest change during his six years in Thailand was not confined to Thailand itself but to the international environment.

"The world is more fragmented than at any point in my lifetime," he said, pointing to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, growing geopolitical competition, and increasing pressure on the rules-based international order.

Those developments, he argued, make cooperation between countries like Britain and Thailand more important than ever.

"We have shared interests in international law, multilateral institutions and free trade. These are all under pressure, so it's important that countries like ours work together."

Gooding also noted that both countries have experienced significant political turnover during his posting, with several prime ministers and governments taking office in both Bangkok and London.

Strategic Partnership: More Than Symbolism

One of the biggest diplomatic achievements during Gooding's tenure was elevating UK-Thailand relations to a Strategic Partnership, making Britain Thailand's first such partner in Europe.

While the term may sound like diplomatic jargon, Gooding insisted it has practical significance.

"It's symbolic, because it reflects the importance of the relationship. But much more importantly, it's about what sits underneath it."

That includes closer cooperation on security, cyber issues, science, technology, education, climate change and trade.

Rather than representing the culmination of bilateral relations, he described the agreement as "the beginning" of a framework designed to deepen cooperation for years to come.

Brexit Didn't Change the Relationship

Asked whether Brexit fundamentally altered Britain's relationship with Thailand, Gooding said the answer was no.

The UK's friendship with Thailand stretches back 170 years diplomatically and more than four centuries between the two royal families.

"Fundamentally, the relationship remains one of partnership.

Three former Thai prime ministers from the Shinawatra family made an appearance in Indonesia, where the country's president opened his private residence to welcome them in a warm and cordial atmosphere. The photo has attracted considerable attention and sparked commentary from multiple angles, both critical and supportive.

Thaksin's detractors argue that he continues political activity without backing down, seemingly heading back to old patterns. Supporters, meanwhile, believe Thaksin should leverage his relationship with Indonesian leadership for Thailand's advantage.

According to Indonesia's Antara news agency, President Prabowo Subianto hosted Thaksin Shinawatra, Yingluck Shinawatra, and Phaetongtan Shinawatra at his private residence in Jakarta on July 8. All three former Thai prime ministers attended—a remarkable development.

The Indonesian President's Office stated the meeting was cordial and represented an opportunity to renew long-standing friendship between the two nations. They exchanged views on global conditions and strategic issues to expand international cooperation.

The scope of this meeting involving three former prime ministers suggests meaningful benefits for the nation. It remains to be seen what specific cooperation between Thaksin and Indonesian leadership may emerge.

The news also revealed that the Indonesian president recently appointed Thaksin as an advisor to Danantara, Indonesia's national sovereign wealth fund—the largest in Southeast Asia and closely watched. This demonstrates significant confidence in the former Thai prime minister's economic expertise.

Whether this relationship remains purely private business or represents broader economic cooperation between the two nations remains to be seen.

Since receiving a full pardon, Thaksin appeared during the Bangkok governor election in late June before traveling abroad, reportedly thanking friends in various countries. Now, seeing Thaksin, Yingluck, and Phaetongtan together meet with one of Asia's most influential leaders has become major news.

It is credible that Thaksin has learned harsh lessons and understands he should not trigger political turbulence in Thailand or become a target for lingering enemies. Additionally, with the Pheu Thai Party in the current coalition government maintaining good relations with government leadership, he may be choosing to operate at the international level instead.

At 6:10 p.m. on July 13, 2025, the family of Manirat Bomklang, a 38-year-old woman from Kokkhla subdistrict, Lamphaiyamit district, Buriram province, arrived at the Police Hospital's Institute of Forensic Medicine to collect her remains after she died in a fire at a beer hall in Bangkok's Ladprao area. After authorities completed the identification process, the family prepared to take her body back to Buriram for religious funeral rites. The atmosphere was heavy with grief as relatives waited to receive her remains.

During the wait, the victim's cousins wept intensely throughout, and some family members showed signs of weakness and nearly fainted, prompting officials and relatives present to rush to their aid and provide support. The victim's husband also cried continuously. According to relatives interviewed, the couple had only recently been married and had lived together for less than one month. The family initially declined to grant media interviews, as they were still in shock and unable to come to terms with the loss. They then departed for Buriram with the remains. She was the second victim of the fire whose family collected remains from the institute that day.