Quick-Thinking Shop Owner Thwarts Counterfeit Bill Scam Two teenagers fled on a motorcycle after discovering the bills were fake. On July 28, 2026, reporters met with Orawun, 36, and Parinyakorn, 46, a couple who own a mobile phone shop called Saphli Mobile along the Chumphon-Saphli road in Patiew District, Chumphon Province, after learning they had nearly become victims of a counterfeit currency gang.

Orawun recalled that on July 27 at around 3 p.m., while the shop was open, two young men arrived on a Honda Wave motorcycle with an unknown license plate and asked her to help transfer money into a bank account. The man who spoke had an accent suggesting he was from Tha Sae District.

When she asked for the destination account number, she found it was registered under a woman's name that did not match the man who came with him. However, she was not immediately suspicious, so she asked to receive the cash first before making the transfer. The man then handed her five 1,000-baht notes.

Upon careful inspection of the bills—including checking the watermark and using a counterfeit detection pen—she found there was no royal portrait, the paper thickness was abnormal, and she confirmed that four bills were counterfeit and only one was genuine. She immediately informed both men that the notes were fake.

The man claimed he did not know the bills were counterfeit and said he had received the money from an older contact. However, the shop owner said she would only return the genuine bill and would keep the four counterfeit notes as evidence to file a police report. Both men became alarmed and quickly left the shop, fleeing on their motorcycle.

Orawun noted that she had previously heard of merchants in the market being victimized by criminals using counterfeit 1,000-baht notes to purchase goods. Although this seemed to be a different group, she did not expect it would happen to her own shop. She plans to bring all the counterfeit bills to Patiew Police Station as evidence and asked officers to accelerate their investigation to apprehend and prosecute those responsible.

A chlorine storage tank at Phuket City Municipality's water utility exploded with a loud bang at 11:30 a.m. on July 28, 2025, at the facility on Damrong Road in the central district, startling residents in the surrounding area. Upon notification, water authority officials coordinated with four municipal fire trucks from Phuket City and two additional units from Ratsada Tambon, along with Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention Office staff and chemical response teams, to investigate the incident.

Traffic police from Phuket City Station, municipal officials, and Phuket Foundation staff cordoned off the area and Damrong Road temporarily to control the situation and prevent danger from chlorine gas leakage—a hazardous chemical that can damage the respiratory system if inhaled in large quantities. Investigators are examining the cause of the explosion and assessing resulting damage. Officials expect updates as the investigation progresses.

Phuket City Mayor Suphachoke La-ong Phet stated that staff are managing the damaged tank and, once the area is cleared, will urgently investigate what caused the blast. No injuries were reported among residents or water authority personnel. The mayor indicated the area should be cleared within half an hour and operations resumed normally, as only one tank exploded among several at the facility, making the isolated incident unusual and warranting investigation.

Eyewitnesses near the explosion reported hearing an extremely loud bang that echoed across the area. After the blast, they observed gas emission from the tank but initially detected no smell. Only after authorities arrived and a second explosion occurred did a noticeable odor become apparent, causing significant alarm among nearby residents.

The Department of Fisheries has warned against releasing non-native aquatic species into natural water sources, citing ecosystem damage and legal consequences. Fisheries Director Thitiporn Laopraserit noted that while releasing aquatic animals during important Buddhist days is a popular practice for merit-making, the choice of species and water source is crucial. Non-native and hybrid species can breed rapidly, compete for food and habitat, consume eggs and larvae of native species, spread disease, and cause long-term ecosystem imbalance and reduced biodiversity. Predatory species like snakehead fish can decimate native populations if released without control.

The department urges the public to release native Thai fish species in appropriate water sources to help conserve aquatic resources and restore natural ecosystems. Releasing non-native species under sections 64 and 65 of the Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 is illegal and punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years and/or fines up to 2 million baht. The public should also avoid purchasing protected wildlife under the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act B.E. 2562 for release, as violations carry penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment and/or fines up to 500,000 baht.

The Department of Fisheries recommends releasing native Thai species including snapper, barb, gourami, and various other indigenous fish in suitable habitats—loaches and frogs in wetlands and rice fields, catfish and other large species in deep rivers and canals with strong currents, and freshwater mussels in ponds and paddy fields. However, catfish releases are not encouraged due to difficulty in distinguishing native from hybrid and alien varieties. Prohibited species include guppies, plecos, tilapia, Japanese turtles, Australian and American crayfish, peacock bass, African catfish, and hybrid catfish. Those possessing unwanted non-native species should surrender them to local Department of Fisheries offices for proper disposal.

On July 28, 2025, political analyst Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanaporn Sriyakul commented on the case of Dr. Sonn Boonlabchaipruek, chairman of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), who attended an NBTC meeting despite a recruitment committee resolution finding him unqualified and thus in forfeiture of the position. Thanaporn stated that Dr. Sonn should cease his duties because the recruitment committee has already ruled that his disqualification constitutes voluntary forfeiture from the outset. The law clearly specifies that those appointed to this position must work full-time and resign from all other occupations within 15 days, with no exceptions for any professional practice. Since Dr. Sonn failed to comply with the legal requirements within 15 days, the recruitment committee determined that he willingly forfeited the position from the beginning. Thanaporn stressed that this qualification issue has directly impacted NBTC operations, as a majority of the board has refused to attend meetings, causing meetings to collapse and halting work related to telecommunications and television. The real victims are the public. He recommended that the remaining six board members convene to elect an interim NBTC chairman so the organization can resume its functions.

The article discusses several highly sought-after Buddhist amulets and medallions. Luang Pho Lae Titthapo of Wat Phra Thong in Phetchaburi province is featured, along with his notable "Phat Yot" medallion from 1996, which bears intricate Buddhist iconography including meditation figures and sacred yantra designs. The piece is crafted from metal and decorated with bird motifs, Khmer script, and fish-egg borders. The article also documents a commemorative medallion created in January 2020 for the golden casing ceremony of the Phra That Phanom Stupa in Nakhon Phanom province, as well as medallions from Luang Pu Tian Puphathamma and Luang Pu Peng Inthasaro, both renowned Buddhist masters. These amulets are highly valued by collectors for their rarity, historical significance, and exquisite Buddhist artistic details.

Shortly after launching the Chery QQ, a compact five-door hatchback EV, the Chery Thailand team promptly organized a test drive along the Bangkok-Kanchanaburi route covering approximately 300 kilometers round trip. Journalists took turns driving and riding in the vehicle to evaluate it thoroughly.

The Chery QQ is a rear-wheel-drive compact EV with a retro-modern design philosophy. Its Square-Circle Design balances angular lines with gentle curves, blending cuteness, modernity, and sportiness in one package—a design recognized by the 2026 German Red Dot Product Design Award. The car features LED headlights and taillights with a signature Q shape, two-tone side mirrors, semi-hidden door handles, 17-inch two-tone alloy wheels, and an electric rear gate. The front storage compartment with electric opening and closing is cleverly designed for strong-smelling foods or can serve as a cooler for cold beverages.

The rear legroom is adequate without feeling cramped, though the backrest is relatively short and doesn't fully support the thighs. With limited footrest space, passengers may need to tuck their legs under the front seat for relief. The suspension feels firm rather than soft, providing excellent body control through curves with minimal bounce, even at highway speeds. The safety system keeps the car remarkably centered in its lane, sometimes oversteering to the point where the driver must maintain grip on the wheel.

When taking the driver's seat, the battery showed 96% charge with a range of 384 kilometers. The cabin is spacious and airy, featuring a multifunction steering wheel, six-way electric driver's seat, and a 50W wireless smartphone charger. The 15.6-inch touchscreen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity with customizable features including eight character options. An 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster displays driving data, though its small font may challenge older drivers. The air conditioning system can be controlled by external buttons for temperature, fan speed, and direction—eliminating the need to take eyes off the road as with typical EVs. A charming feature is the Q Talk system, an external communication function with five preset messages and a microphone allowing drivers to broadcast voice directly outside, along with ambient sounds like whale calls, creating a pleasant experience for nearby drivers without resorting to horn honking.

Acceleration is characteristically electric—responsive from a standstill with smooth, continuous power delivery. On the elevated M81 expressway, wind noise begins above 110 km/h, with minimal noise at lower speeds. Cruising at 100-120 km/h with occasional acceleration for overtaking, lane changes at highway speeds are smooth with no unsettling body roll or sway, partly due to the car's excellent suspension tuning.