PATTAYA — 6 July 2026, A pickup truck taxi driver in Pattaya has been suspended for seven days after allegedly charging two Thai tourists 300 baht for a shared ride—normally 15 baht for most trips—even though the vehicle was already carrying several other passengers. The tourists said they were shocked by the fare and initially thought the driver was joking.

The Pattaya Transportation Cooperative took disciplinary action after one of the passengers shared the incident on Facebook, alleging they were charged an excessive fare for a trip from Runway Market Pattaya to Terminal 21 at about 23:00 on Sunday, despite the vehicle already being full of passengers.

According to the post, the driver claimed the requested destination required a charter fare. The passenger said they were not seeking a refund or upset about the money itself, but were deeply disappointed by the experience. As frequent visitors to Pattaya who had always encountered friendly locals, they said it was the first time they had felt taken advantage of.

Following the complaint, Thongchai Sukhochai, president of the Pattaya Transportation Cooperative Limited, said the cooperative immediately contacted the passengers to apologise and assure them that strict disciplinary action would be taken in coordination with the Department of Land Transport. He stressed that the cooperative would not protect drivers found to have violated the rules.

Thongchai said the driver was summoned for questioning and initially suspended for seven days, during which the vehicle must remain parked at the cooperative's office with a notice explaining the disciplinary action. The cooperative will also review the driver's disciplinary history before referring the case to the Chon Buri Provincial Land Transport Office for further consideration.

The driver apologised to the two passengers and the public. "It was raining heavily that night, and I am sorry for everything I did that harmed Pattaya's reputation," he said. "I apologise to the public and to the two passengers. I accept the punishment imposed by the cooperative and the transport authorities, and I want the opportunity to make amends."

A woman whose social media post about property damage sparked neighborhood controversy has acknowledged her parking violation was wrong while defending her decision to post about the incident as a legal case example.

On July 2, she parked her car across from a vacant house in her residential area while running errands. Upon returning home, she discovered brick fragments and building debris covering her car's roof. Security camera footage confirmed the material fell from the neighboring property. She attempted to contact the homeowner through community management, but the owner declined to discuss the matter and told her to pursue legal action independently.

After consulting a lawyer who said a lawsuit was possible but would cost more than the vehicle damage, she decided to post about the situation. She intended to raise a legal question about property owner responsibility and building maintenance liability—a situation that could affect any resident. However, public response focused primarily on her parking decision rather than the debris issue.

Regarding the parking criticism, she acknowledges this was a mistake and accepts responsibility, while noting the house was unoccupied and she had no intent to cause trouble. She remains uncertain about the homeowner's legal obligations to maintain the building's structural integrity.

She emphasized that hostile comments attacking her ancestry crossed a line and prompted her defensive posts. She expressed determination to pursue legal action against anyone making defamatory remarks about her family, though she will not pursue comments offering general criticism. She hopes her case becomes a reference point for others and requested legal experts clarify responsibility and liability in similar situations.

The film "SOS: A Misstep That Changes Life" reflects contemporary teen society and exposes diverse problems within educational institutions and dysfunctional families.

Jue Ling Daloenparn Siriyanont plays Tam, a debut actress and daughter of Emmy Maksim, just 17 years old. She boldly tackles intimate scenes within creative limits—the director notes that stricter content would prevent theatrical release, making this an impressive first film performance. Tam represents a girl from a failed family institution with a mother working as a sex worker, lacking warmth and affection. Seeking happiness like typical teens, she makes mistakes and develops relationships with multiple men, particularly her teacher.

Kimmon Vorodom Khemmounted, a renowned BL series star, breaks character by playing Teacher Kim opposite a cisgender woman for the first time, previously always acting opposite men. His fans won't be disappointed as the film features a love triangle with confusion over choosing the right path. This marks Kimmon's complete transition to lead film actor. His acting prowess is assured given his extensive performance background. His character is a teacher who crosses ethical lines through an inappropriate relationship with his student—a serious breach of professional conduct.

Lilly Ngian gained fame from a debt-collection media program, later becoming an influencer and entering entertainment fully. She's appeared in several comedies but takes on a dramatically stronger role here as a single mother and sex worker supporting her child. Her performance is compelling, delivering intensity in every scene, representing institutional family failure.

M-On Voravit Chantasen, a famous indie lam yai singer now married, was originally considered for the lead but didn't test well. She plays Japan, a flirtatious woman surrounded by men, representing the uneducated and impulsive—those lacking basic literacy who engage in reckless behavior that could lead to life destruction.

Rio Raveenart Govitvanit, a promising young actor with charm, caught the director's eye for a paired role with Kimmon. Playing Win, a student secretly fond of his teacher with clear ideals, he challenges the barrier between teacher and student relationships, raising questions about personal rights and equality in love.

"SOS: A Misstep That Changes Life" reflects society from another angle, with the director boldly exploring forbidden relationships between teachers and students—ultimately a matter of personal rights. Goldfinger's latest production exceeds expectations.

Myanmar's military has issued urgent orders to conscript all civilians aged 18-60 in northern Shan State into national military reserves, arming and equipping them to support 13 towns against armed ethnic groups. According to military sources, the Northeast Regional Military Command, headquartered in Lashio, has ordered all civilians aged 18-60 throughout Shan State's northern region to be registered as military reserves. This directive applies to police force members, firefighters, civil servants, and their families within the specified age range. Military authorities must compile these reserve lists and submit them to the Northeast Regional Military Command's personnel department immediately. The order comes as ethnic armed organizations such as Kokang MNDAA, Ta'ang TNLA, and Wa UWSA rapidly expand their forces and recruitment. To counter the growing military strength of these groups, Myanmar's military has issued emergency orders to quickly mobilize and register reserve forces.

Chonburi FC has officially signed right-back Tristong Do, a Thai national team player, to strengthen their defense and prepare for the 2026/27 Thai League season.

The Thai-French striker has professional experience in France with R. Strasbourg B, FC Lorient, SAS Épinal, and GFC Ajaccio before moving to Thailand in 2014. He has played for BEC Tero Sasana, Muangthong United, and True Bangkok United while earning caps for the Thai national team.

Do spent 2014-2016 at Police Tero FC, making 36 appearances with one goal and three assists. He had two stints with Muangthong United (2016-2018 and 2023-2026), accumulating 202 appearances with 15 goals and 37 assists. He played a key role in winning the Thai League 1 championship in 2016, League Cup titles in 2016 and 2017, the 2017 Thailand Champions Cup, and the 2017 Mekong Cup. He also played for True Bangkok United from 2019-2023, recording 107 appearances with six goals and 11 assists.

At international level, Do was part of Thailand's AFF Championship winning squads in 2016 and 2020, and has consistently represented the Thai national team.

Do is Chonburi FC's seventh new signing, following Wellington Priori, Ryoma Ito, Stenio Junior, Kravich Tasara, Chao Watthana Verachai, and Dennis Murillo. The club is building squad depth to compete for success in the 2026/27 Thai League season.

An independent investigation committee established by the Supreme Court President formally charged former Deputy Police Commissioner Pol. Gen. Suresat Hakkhapal and three others on July 6 over misconduct allegations stemming from claims that Ekavit Watchwalkul, a National Anti-Corruption Commission official, solicited 246 baht in gold from the general while the NACC investigated him for illegal online gambling profits.

After leaving the Supreme Court at 2:20 p.m., Pol. Gen. Suresat and his lawyer Sanyaphat Samart told media that details would be provided through counsel. Sanyaphat explained they attended to receive formal notification of charges—the first official notification after previous information came only from media reports. He stated a written response would be submitted August 5, with formal witness examination scheduled for August 27.

Sanyaphat raised concerns about the case being prosecuted in two separate venues despite stemming from the same incident. Police referred the case to the Anti-Corruption Office and it was escalated through Parliament to establish the independent committee. He questioned whether the same case would be handled differently in future proceedings and whether dual prosecution sets a problematic precedent.

Regarding reports that the committee voted 9-0 to press charges, the lawyer suggested this should not prejudge the outcome, noting that while some allegations align with media reports, not all claims are accurate. Pol. Gen. Suresat continues to deny involvement in bribery but declined to elaborate further to protect the case.