The Thai director of the Taiwan Documentary & Film Festival in Bangkok has alleged that diplomats from the Chinese Embassy sought to pressure organisers into removing the name and logo of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture from the festival's promotional materials.

"[On Monday], someone claiming to be an official from the Chinese Embassy called both cinemas hosting our film festival. They said they were uncomfortable seeing the logo of Taiwan's Ministry of Culture and requested that we remove it," organiser Thida Philtpolkarnpim told Khaosod English. She said the caller spoke Thai with a Chinese accent and became threatening, raising his voice when she refused to comply.

"Then today [Tuesday], another official from the Chinese Embassy went directly to one of the cinemas. Our team spoke with him, and he made the same request."

The festival is co-organised by Taiwan's Ministry of Culture, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Thailand (TECO Thailand) and other partners.

"We replied that we could not remove it because we are simply the organisers doing our job," Thida said. "If they have any issues, we asked them to follow the proper procedures—either by speaking directly with Taiwan or through Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs."

She said the Chinese official remained outside the cinema for some time before leaving, telling organisers that he would report the matter to his superiors and seek to escalate it into a national-level issue.

Khaosod English contacted the Chinese Embassy on Wednesday morning and afternoon to ask about the alleged incident and why the embassy had not instead raised the matter through Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. No response had been received by the time of publication.

A staff member at TECO Thailand confirmed the incident to Khaosod English on Tuesday afternoon. The staff member said TECO representative Peter Lan would address the issue during his opening remarks at the festival's launch at House Samyan at 18:00 on Wednesday.

Thida said she informed TECO Thailand of the incident on Tuesday and was told that if the Chinese Embassy wished to object officially, it could lodge a complaint with Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would then communicate with the Taiwan office through established diplomatic channels.

She added that the festival had been held for seven years without incident before the alleged interference surrounding this year's eighth edition.

The festival proceeded on Wednesday evening without further incident.

Peter Lan, representative of Taipei Economic & Cultural Office in Thailand, was asked about the alleged attempted intervention by the Chinese Embassy and said "We have all the supports from various partners. [There was] no call from [the Thai] Foreign Ministry," he said, adding that Thailand has freedom of speech and freedom of expression.

Police are hunting a black Volkswagen sedan with forged license plates in connection with the fatal shooting of Thaninchay, a cockfighting live-streamer, who was killed outside a small grocery store in Na Bin La, Muang District, Trang Province on the evening of July 21. Investigators suspect the assailant tracked the victim from a cockfighting arena.

On July 22, family members held a spirit-calling ceremony at the crime scene. The victim's girlfriend, Ms. Kamolrat, tearfully told reporters she had prepared a meal for him the previous day, but he never returned to eat it. She urged police to quickly apprehend the perpetrator and not let the case go cold, emphasizing that her boyfriend was a good man with no conflicts. They had been together for over five years and were saving to marry next year. She works at a nail salon while he was planning to supplement his income by tapping rubber.

Ball, a close friend who worked as a cockfighting commentator with the victim since first grade, described him as well-mannered, polite, and previously a mechanic before entering the cockfighting business about 2–3 years ago. He earned approximately 18,000 baht monthly plus annual bonuses and harbored no known disputes with anyone. Investigators believe at least two perpetrators were involved, with one possibly tracking the victim's movements before coordinating with the shooter. The attackers used a meticulously prepared forged license plate and appear to have followed him until he stopped to buy food, when they returned to attack. The victim earned income working for a group with servers based in Malaysia.

From October 1 onwards, the Royal Thai Police will enter a new chapter with General Samran Nualmaa taking the helm as the new national police chief, following a unanimous 12-0 vote by the Police Civil Service Commission on July 22. The decision was approved based on a proposal from Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and Interior Minister, who chairs the commission.

General Samran had been widely expected to get the position as the succession race drew to a close, with no real competitors. There had been earlier calls to support the deputy police chief based on seniority, making General Nirandon Luemsri, the most senior deputy, a serious contender. However, the rules for appointing the national police chief do not mandate strict seniority—instead combining seniority with competence and capability.

When competence came into question, General Samran stood out. His police career began at the police academy and progressed through numerous stations, covering investigation work, suppression operations, and traffic duties. He rose to become superintendent of the academy before commanding the special inspection and operations unit that oversees the 191 emergency hotline, including both crime prevention and VIP protection divisions. He also commanded the special operations unit 191 "Arintharaj" in handling serious violent crimes in the city, and later served as Bangkok Police Commander overseeing the capital.

With broad government backing and support from senior figures, Samran's appointment was eventually secured, despite earlier proposals to bring in a transitional figure for one or two years given his long remaining service life. The advantage many see in his seven-year tenure is the opportunity to conduct comprehensive reforms and overhaul an organization plagued with numerous systemic problems. Chiefs serving only one or two years often accomplish little, whereas seven years allows a committed leader to restructure and revitalize the entire organization.

A public interest group called Internet for Public Law (iLaw) has submitted evidence related to the Huas case to Priset Vachrasindhu, chair of the opposition coalition coordination committee. The group compiled the evidence starting in 2568 (2025) and argues that while the Election Commission has reviewed it, the opposition has a duty to scrutinize the government since senior officials face allegations in the case. Nine individuals—including the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, ruling party MPs, and a former House deputy speaker—have been named for opposition review.

The outcome of the opposition's investigation into the Huas case remains to be seen. Election Commission chair Nrong Klanvarindr stated there is nothing to worry about, confirming that the examination is proceeding on schedule with four more rounds of consideration remaining and substantial progress already made. Commissioner Sithichote Intrawisase, one of seven commissioners, confirmed progress with seven charges filed and additional charges being pursued. Critical aspects involving political figures remain under review, with the commission expecting to conclude by mid-August.

The Huas case is a major political scandal that has damaged parliament, the legislature, and democratic processes. After the Election Commission received the case, it established an investigation committee that recommended charging 229 individuals: 186 senators and senate candidates, and 43 political network members. However, a later subcommittee found the charges baseless and referred the case to seven commissioners for final review on whether to prosecute. Given the extensive evidence presented over years and broad public awareness, the article suggests all 229 individuals should be charged and tried in court rather than selected for prosecution.

Udon Thani Airport is launching a new international route to Tokyo via Suvarnabhumi Airport, positioning the northeastern hub as a regional aviation center. Thai Viet Jet will operate the service to Narita Airport with the Sky ConX connecting flight service, allowing passengers to check in and load baggage once in Udon Thani before retrieving it at their international destination.

Deputy Transport Minister Pattrapong Pattraprasit presided over the ceremony, describing the project as a crucial step toward making Udon Thani a fully-fledged international airport and supporting Thailand's goal of becoming a world-class aviation hub. The initiative will enhance travel convenience, strengthen international flight networks, and expand economic, trade, investment, and tourism opportunities across the Northeast.

Udon Thani Airport is currently seeking formal recognition as an international airport and upgrading its infrastructure to meet global standards, including improvements to passenger building B to accommodate immigration, customs, and control agencies. The airport can handle over 3.9 million passengers annually and currently operates more than 30 domestic flights daily. The new Tokyo connection via Sky ConX will strengthen Udon Thani's role as the Northeast's aviation hub and gateway to the Mekong subregion.

The Transport Ministry is also preparing logistics support for the World Horticultural Exposition scheduled for Udon Thani in 2569–2570 (2026–2027), using an integrated transport system with shuttle buses to accommodate the expected surge in visitors.