Half-Italian actress Prim Ranida expressed frustration over an incident involving Italian students on the Bangkok BTS and praised Sugas, a Thai woman who filmed the encounter. When a group of Italian students made noise on the train and were politely asked to be quiet, they responded with rude behavior and inappropriate comments, while their teacher failed to discipline them.

Prim Ranida, who grew up in Italy from childhood through her teenage years and is fluent in both languages, posted the viral video with a caption saying "Still cringe." She commented: "I'm embarrassed to say it, but as a half-Italian who lived in Italy as a child and teenager, I would have loved to be on that train to really let them have it." She noted that some Italian social circles still hold outdated, uncouth attitudes and praised Thai people for raising awareness.

Sugas, who recorded the clip, commented on Prim's post saying: "Thank you so much for being another voice on this issue and explaining that Italian teenagers come in many different types." Prim responded by praising Sugas's courage to speak up and wishing her better days ahead.

Prim also checked Italian social media and found that the Italian community itself is deeply embarrassed by these students' lack of manners. Many comments mentioned that Italians have similar reputations in other countries like Switzerland, Germany, and England.

Sugas later posted a photo hugging the group's teacher, revealing that he apologized sincerely. She stated: "We thank everyone who stood by us when we were disrespected and harassed. We recognize the good intentions behind your support and will never forget the encouragement. We believe the tourists now understand how their actions affect others, from legal consequences to public criticism. However, the woman in this incident is now facing severe harassment, threats, and death wishes—the same treatment we experienced. We don't want anyone to go through this. We hope this becomes a lesson for everyone: whether Thai or foreign, all people deserve respect and no one should be disrespected or harassed as happened in this incident."

KALASIN — Two people were killed and a baby survived after a pickup truck carrying fresh vegetables crashed into the back of a trailer truck.

At 02:00, police received a report of the crash near the entrance to Phon Thong Municipality on the Kalasin–Somdet Road in Mueang district. Emergency responders from Kalasin Hospital and local rescue units were dispatched to the scene.

They found fresh cucumbers, eggplants and tomatoes scattered across the road. A white Toyota Revo pickup truck, registered in Yasothon province, had slammed into the rear of a trailer truck registered in Khon Kaen province. The pickup's front end was severely damaged, with the driver's cabin crushed. Rescue workers used hydraulic cutting equipment for more than 20 minutes to free those trapped inside.

Two people were found dead in the wreckage: the 39-year-old male driver, identified as Somjai, and a 26-year-old woman, identified as Ariya, from Roi Et province. Two others survived. A 32-year-old woman, identified as Wayuda, suffered minor injuries, while Ariya's baby, aged under one, survived unharmed.

At the time of the crash, Wayuda was reportedly holding the baby in her arms. Both were taken to Kalasin Hospital for further medical checks. Wayuda said the group had travelled from Roi Et to deliver fresh vegetables to customers in Somdet district. Her husband, Somjai, was driving, while the vehicle carried four people — herself, her husband, her niece and the niece's baby.

She said the pickup suddenly crashed into the rear of the trailer, killing her husband and niece while she and the baby miraculously survived. The trailer truck driver, identified as 32-year-old Danai, said he was transporting cassava and had moved his vehicle towards the right side of the road while preparing to make a U-turn and stop to wait for a factory to open.

He said he suddenly heard a loud crash from behind and discovered that the pickup had slammed into the rear of his truck. Police have inspected the scene, collected evidence and questioned those involved, including the trailer truck driver. Investigators will also review nearby CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the crash before taking further legal action.

At Parliament on July 26, Korn Chatikavanich, a Democrat party MP and deputy faction leader, addressed the DIP16 youth leadership development program on "Financial Factors Affecting the Nation," outlining major challenges in the global and Thai economies and policy solutions.

Korn said that the free-market capitalism that has driven global economics since World War II now faces challenges from inequality and environmental damage. Thailand, meanwhile, prioritizes profit-making without proper safeguards or fair competition, hitting Gen Z hardest. Young people struggle with housing costs, employment, supporting aging parents, and children's education, while artificial intelligence simultaneously restructures society into five groups: 0.01% controlling AI and global platforms; 1% owning traditional assets and real estate; 10% using technology to enhance work; 20% providing specialized services such as medicine, nursing, and craftsmanship; and the remaining majority left behind by the economic system awaiting state aid.

Korn noted that the world is transitioning from the energy era to full AI dominance, visible in how the world's top 10 companies shifted from energy and finance in 2006 to technology and AI by 2026. Thailand faces additional pressure from an aging population, low birth rates, and education inequality, leaving the national budget locked in place. Sixty-nine percent of spending goes to recurring expenses and obligations: 39.5% to civil service salaries and welfare, 15% to social welfare including gold card healthcare (214 billion baht), elderly pensions (100 billion baht), free schooling (80 billion baht), and social insurance (65 billion baht); 12.2% to debt service; and 31% to other expenses.

If government continues mismanaging the budget without long-term strategy, prioritizing populist projects and allowing structural corruption, it risks losing capacity to support most citizens, Korn warned. He proposed two solutions: building a new economic engine through skills training and technology industry development to attract revenue, and pursuing political reform first by redefining the state's role, restructuring the budget, and using transparent fiscal tools to create welfare that genuinely reduces inequality before a financial crisis becomes irreversible.

PHUKET: A Myanmar national has been charged with drink-driving causing death after allegedly crashing his vehicle into a motorcycle and several parked bikes in Thalang on Saturday evening (July 25), leaving two people dead and two others injured.

Pol. Lt. Col. Thaweesak Soisong, leader of the Prachathai Party and former Justice Minister, has commented on plans by the Prime Minister, cabinet ministers, and several politicians to prosecute iLaw activist Yingcheep Atchanon for defamation following an event exposing alleged corruption by senators.

Soisong stated that the freedom to express political opinions represents an essential form of democratic participation that the government should promote, not restrict, in accordance with constitutional provisions. He emphasized this principle applies not only to Yingcheep but to all citizens. When officials believe allegations are untrue, they should respond with factual clarification showing where the public has been misled and demonstrate willingness to submit to judicial scrutiny, rather than filing charges that create conflict.

Soisong warned that pursuing cases against both Yingcheep and the public risks the appearance of using legal mechanisms to suppress freedom of speech on matters of public interest, constituting potential strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPP). Such abuse of criminal law—whether through harassment, exploitation, or filing suits in distant venues—distorts justice and uses legal process as a tool to intimidate public discourse, amounting to abuse of rights.

Soisong added that the Constitutional Court's 2569 ruling in the case filed by 92 senators against him and Phumidham Thammavikrom found no wrongdoing but established important standards: the constitution demands strict ministerial ethics because ministers wield broad state power requiring scrutiny of both private conduct and official duties. Ministers must demonstrate evident integrity—acting straightforwardly, honestly, and without deception—and must not behave deficiently or distort matters for personal or factional benefit. Public scrutiny of how state power is acquired serves the broader social interest.

"Critically, the state must protect whistleblowers exposing corruption," Soisong stated. "Disclosure serves a constitutional obligation. Oversight agencies like the Election Commission and DSI must treat reports as vital leads, not grounds for charging reporters. The state must also protect witnesses from harassment or strategic prosecution."

BANGKOK — 25 July 2026, A 54-year-old Chinese tourist has sought media attention for justice after allegedly being stopped from leaving Thailand over an additional complaint filed by a Thai woman who had previously accused him of rape and allegedly demanded a total of 220,000 baht.

At 18:00, the man, identified by the pseudonym Ma, arrived at Thong Lor Police Station with a Chinese interpreter and his lawyer, Sitthichok Pao-in Arunritthawin, to speak to the media.

Ma said he travelled to Thailand alone on 5 July. On the night of 18 July, he visited an entertainment venue in the RCA area, where he met a 36-year-old Thai woman. They drank together before moving to another venue in the same area.

Ma alleged that the woman encouraged him to drink alcohol, eat and try laughing gas, which he said he had never used before. He claimed that throughout the evening, both at the venues and later at the hotel, the woman repeatedly used her phone to take photos, record videos and make audio recordings. At the time, he said, he did not suspect anything and thought she was simply recording for fun.

After inhaling the laughing gas, Ma said he became severely dizzy, which felt different from ordinary alcohol intoxication. He felt weak and could barely walk, so he went to the bathroom and sat there for a while. The woman later came to find him and took him out of the bathroom.

He said she then called a taxi and took him back to his hotel. After arriving at his room, Ma said he took a shower before the woman initiated sexual intercourse. He claimed she continued taking photos, recording videos and making audio recordings during their time in the room before he eventually fell asleep due to exhaustion from drinking alcohol and inhaling laughing gas.

The following morning, Ma said he woke to find police officers at his hotel room and later learned that the woman had filed a rape complaint against him.

According to Ma, the two sides subsequently entered negotiations. He claimed the woman showed him the videos, photos and audio recordings she had made and allegedly threatened to pursue legal action unless he paid compensation.

Fearing the consequences, Ma said he agreed to pay 70,000 baht and that the matter was recorded in a daily police report at Thong Lor Police Station. He said he understood that the dispute had been settled.

However, on 25 July, the day he was due to return to China, Ma said he was stopped at Suvarnabhumi Airport by immigration officials after they found that an additional complaint had been filed at Thong Lor Police Station. He was reportedly placed on a watchlist preventing him from leaving Thailand.

Ma claimed the same woman had filed another complaint, alleging that she contracted an infection through sexual intercourse with him and demanding an additional 150,000 baht in compensation. This brought the total amount allegedly demanded to 220,000 baht, including the 70,000 baht he had already paid.

Unable to return to China, Ma decided to approach the media.