Mukdahan Provincial Police held a progress meeting on the case of an 11-year-old boy whose vehicle struck a group of monks on an alms walk, resulting in 10 deaths and numerous injuries. Deputy Commander Ammnat Hanchana reported that investigators have interviewed 28 witnesses, including eyewitnesses and people in the vicinity, while collecting evidence from security cameras, forensic analysis, and witness statements.

The investigation is divided into two main tracks: charges against the child driver and charges against his parents. The boy remains unable to participate in formal questioning because he is undergoing treatment at Phra Sai Maha Bodhi Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani Province, pending medical and professional team assessments of his psychological readiness for police interrogation.

Investigators are gathering evidence to determine if the parents violated the Child Protection Act through negligence, or face other charges. Key questions include how the child accessed the vehicle, who taught him to drive, and whether anyone allowed him access to the car and keys.

A major obstacle in the investigation is the inability to interview the child, as both he and his mother remain severely affected by the incident. So far, investigators have only been able to interview the child's grandparents. All information must be corroborated with other evidence before conclusions can be drawn about liability.

MP Phawut Pongwittayapanu underwent questioning by Thailand's Special Cases Investigation Department (DSI) for over three hours on July 6, 2026. He stated he could answer many questions about the source of funds in his accounts, backed by documentation. However, DSI had additional questions regarding other individuals involved, requiring him to return with further documents and information.

Regarding the 28 million baht in circulation, Phawut insisted the money did not come from illegal activities but declined to reveal details due to the ongoing case. He explained it related to forex trading conducted over 1-2 years with periodic income flows, ultimately admitting he suffered losses from his investments. When asked about companies named in the DSI investigation, he said he is no longer an executive at those firms and doesn't recognize some of them, promising to verify the information.

Concerning the France trip with a broker group, Phawut clarified it was a rewards redemption from product purchases, not a business trip, and he never solicited the public to invest in forex trading. While videos of his statements were circulated, he maintained they were personal investment experiences, not promotional material, and he received no benefits from the broker company.

Phawut expressed relief after the interrogation, noting he had wanted to meet with DSI earlier but had prior parliamentary commitments. He reiterated he has no connection to pyramid schemes or fraudulent networks, his current status is witness not suspect, and the funds came from legitimate sources unrelated to scams.

The Royal Gazette published a royal decree announcing the elevation of monastic rank. The King has graciously approved the elevation of Phra Phrom Wachirweti to Somdet Phra Ratchakhana, bestowed with the royal title Somdet Phra Yanawachirodom, residing at Pathumwanaram Rajavoravihara Royal Monastery in Bangkok. The elevation took effect on July 3, 2026, with the announcement issued on July 5, 2026, in the eleventh year of the current reign. This is the most recent elevation to Somdet Phra Ratchakhana rank. Previously, on April 18, 2026, Phra Phrom Muni of Wat Phra Sri Mahadhat was elevated to Somdet Phra Ratchakhana with the royal title Somdet Phra Mahawachiromuniwoong. Somdet Phra Ratchakhana is the highest monastic rank in the Thai Sangha, second only to Somdet Phra Sangkharat, who serves as the Supreme Patriarch and highest leader of the Thai Buddhist Monkhood. This prestigious rank carries significant honor and status, distinguished by the royal title prefix "Somdet," indicating a status higher than ordinary abbots. During the current reign, there are ten Somdet Phra Ratchakhana monks in total, excluding the Supreme Patriarch, comprising five from the Mahanikaya order and five from the Thammayuttika order. Four of these serve as heads of the Mahanikaya order and one as head of the Thammayuttika order, while others serve as advisors in the Mahathera Samakhom, the highest governing body of Thai Buddhism. In the royal decree, the King requested that the newly elevated monks accept the responsibility of propagating Buddhism, resolving disputes, and providing guidance to all monks and novices in their communities. The Queen also granted blessings for longevity, virtue, happiness, strength, wisdom, and prosperity in Buddhist practice. Both monks elevated this year are from the Thammayuttika order and hail from northeastern Thailand: Somdet Phra Mahawachiromuniwoong is from Maha Sarakham Province, while Somdet Phra Yanawachirodom is from Yasothon Province. Both play significant roles in advancing Buddhist teachings and strengthening faith in Buddhism.

The Thai government, led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchath Chomklin, is promoting conservation policies and sustainable natural resource management by accelerating agricultural land allocation to reduce encroachment while strictly enforcing laws against violators and restoring natural resources to abundance. Officials recently monitored the Thab Laan National Park task force operations, during which resort structures encroaching on park grounds were demolished and legal proceedings have concluded. The proposed delisting of Thab Laan National Park areas overlapping villagers' settlements has sparked broad discussion, especially among conservation and community rights groups. The article contends that extreme conservationists and hardline former officials are attempting to distort the narrative and create fear among urban middle-class citizens, portraying park delisting as deforestation and wildlife habitat destruction, giving rise to the "Save Thab Laan" campaign. However, the reality is that the park zone was carelessly declared over existing settlements, and the area now proposed for delisting contains no forest—only roads, houses, and agricultural plots. In a recent development, Democrat Party leader Thawi Sothong, chairing a special amnesty committee for citizens harmed by government land and natural resource policies, along with MP Rangsiman Rom of the same party, visited Wang Khao Khiao district in Nakhon Ratchasima to hear public input on the overlapping land dispute in Thab Laan National Park. Both concluded that unless approximately 150,000 rai of overlapping land is delisted, approximately 30,000 villagers face the risk of losing their homes and livelihoods. Their field investigation concluded that villagers are not encroaching on forest or wildlife habitat; rather, the national park itself is encroaching and forcing residents from their own homes.

Actor Nadech Kugimiya has spoken publicly for the first time about the controversy involving a ride-hailing driver who filmed video footage that revealed the route to his home. Nadech expressed understanding toward the affected rider and confirmed he has no intention of filing charges, viewing the incident as a mutual learning mistake stemming from both parties' lack of awareness. He hopes the situation serves as a lesson about privacy and safety for all service users, particularly women, and calls on ride-hailing companies to establish clearer guidelines and training for employees in the future.

Regarding the rider's situation, Nadech said: "I actually sympathize with him too, because public opinion has affected him quite a bit. I also need to protect my own private space. Really, I believe all riders would be happy to meet me, but there's no law or boundary that even I or the rider himself understands clearly about what the limits are. Nobody's wrong, nobody's right. We just didn't protect each other. So what we chose to do was have my manager communicate this, because we wanted it to be a lesson for ourselves, the rider, and many others. Nowadays riders can still film when I travel anywhere, but it was a real mistake for him to post such a long video from pickup to arriving at my home, which posed a safety risk to me and my household. It feels quite sensitive, but honestly having dashcam footage is normal. I believe notifying customers beforehand would be the best solution, or he could have asked me first whether he could post it. I think having a chance to clarify things here is the best outcome for everyone right now."

When asked if he knew about the filming at the time, Nadech explained: "I could see he had a camera, but I didn't know what exactly. Most of the time people just take still photos. In my experience it's usually still images, but really riders do need videos for their own protection, right? Accidents, aggressive customers—this incident has no right or wrong party. It's a lesson for both of us, and society has learned from it together."

Responding to concerns about the safety implications of filming the route to his home, Nadech said: "I appreciate the concern, but it was a lack of awareness from both of us. If I had noticed the camera, I could have asked, 'Brother, are you filming a video? If you are, please don't show my house.' I should have been more alert too. But I think we've become too accustomed to this. We're not protecting ourselves either."

When asked if he was upset about being secretly filmed, Nadech replied: "Not at all. I actually have a feeling that people will be scared of me now and won't dare take photos or meet me."

On his frequent use of ride-hailing services, Nadech noted: "Yes, I can't stand Bangkok traffic. I live around Sukhumvit where traffic is terrible, so walking or taking a motorcycle taxi feels like the best solution for us. That's why we meet riders regularly. Sometimes we even stop to take photos."

Many observers view this incident as a case highlighting privacy and safety concerns in the ride-hailing industry.

A Thai travel influencer living in Japan has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after posting photos and videos showing her lying and rolling on protected alpine plants during a trip to Mount Komagatake in Akita Prefecture.

The influencer, who has more than 100,000 followers, shared the content from the popular hiking destination in Akita Prefecture. It quickly spread across Japanese social media, where users accused her of damaging fragile vegetation inside a national park.

One viral post claimed the woman had picked alpine plants before lying on top of them, writing: "A troublesome foreigner from Thailand picked alpine plants at Akita Komagatake and even proudly showed herself lying on the vegetation, destroying nature in a national park."

The post also noted that such acts are prohibited under Japan's Natural Parks Act and that park rangers regularly patrol the area to protect its delicate ecosystem.

The backlash escalated as hundreds of Japanese users condemned the influencer's behaviour. Some said they were saddened to see mountain areas becoming increasingly vulnerable to irresponsible tourism.

"The mountains have suddenly become much less safe," one user wrote. "Even if you warn people, they don't listen. Increasing the number of rangers won't solve the problem. I want Japan to return to the peaceful country it used to be."

Others were even harsher.

"Never come back!" one comment read. "People posting the Alps on Instagram or YouTube—don't they care that foreigners end up ruining these places?"

Another user called the influencer "an embarrassment" and said she should return to her home country, adding that "people who destroy nature are not welcome, regardless of nationality."

Some comments went further, with one user calling for her deportation, saying the photos alone should be enough evidence for police and immigration authorities to act.