The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) officially closed applications for the position of governor for 2025 on July 29, receiving 10 candidates. The selection process will include credential verification, English language testing, and interviews before a ranked list is submitted to the SAT board and cabinet for approval of the new governor, who will take office on October 1 replacing Dr. Kongsakdi Yodmani.

The Thai Sports Enterprise Labor Union has launched a campaign calling for the selection of a new SAT governor who is prepared in administrative work and truly versed in sports science to advance Thailand's sporting direction. According to their statement, the position of SAT governor is one of the most influential posts in Thai sports history, as it is not merely an administrative chair of a state enterprise but a position that can control the entire direction of Thai sports and serve as a key driver to promote Thai athletes to compete on the world stage with the Thai flag and the word THAILAND.

The union emphasizes that the next governor must have management skills and expertise in sports science, and crucially, must be a visionary who sees sports as a nation-building tool and athletes as the heart of success. The union calls on decision-makers to select the 14th SAT governor with these qualities.

The 10 candidates for SAT governor are: 1. Sirichest Pooltipaiyanond, chairman of the Thai Mixed Martial Arts Association 2. Dr. Suwit Loirtanakul, local politician and social worker 3. Thanpawat Techabuvadon, advisor to the Thai Bodybuilding and Fitness Association 4. Jen Piyathat, chairman of Granular Badminton Club and board member of the Thai Badminton Association 5. Kunakorn Manantirairat, former MP and advisor to the Thai Military and Police Shooting Association 6. Pol. Lt. Col. Chaiporn Ofoowongse, deputy commander of the Legal and Case Office, Royal Thai Police 7. Dr. Meechai Inwood, deputy governor of SAT for Administration 8. Prorpraan Samanmit, deputy governor of SAT for Professional Sports and Boxing 9. Thanakorn Duangmani, CEO of The Agency Group 10. Dr. Mallika Bunyameetrasukul Mhasook, politician and former journalist

On July 30, 2569, Suphachai Jaismut, a Bhumjaithai list-system MP and legal affairs working-group chair, posted on Facebook addressing Democrat MP Nanthana Nanthawaropass, saying he has been a fan of hers since her talk-show days and noting that she remains true to form in how she speaks regardless of her position. He denied troubling himself or defending any particular MP, clarifying that his recent defense has been limited to the Bhumjaithai Party and nine party members facing old accusations of vote-buying from civil rights group iLaw and opposition parties. Suphachai questioned how the orange faction's procedures differed from the accusations, since both followed identical processes from district to national level, implying that if one constituted vote-buying, so did the other. He acknowledged the existence of coordination but stated it did not constitute fraud, and pointed out that the Election Commission has legal authority to investigate.

On the specific meeting at Jupiter Room in Muang Thong Thani, Suphachai said that although Nanthana confirmed 300 people gathered there—coming from districts to provinces to the national level—evidence he obtained contradicted her claim that expenses were not shared. According to his information, venue and catering costs were paid by a single person from a shared source, contrary to Nanthana's defense. Suphachai remarked that as a public figure, Nanthana should expect scrutiny and respect legal proceedings without defensiveness. He compared her personality to Professor Minerva McGonagall from Harry Potter and said he respected her, but emphasized he is not aligned with her or the opposition, and that if she holds her MP position based on reputation from her talk show rather than through organization, she has nothing to fear from investigation.

On July 30, 2025, Orman Sapthaweedham, director of the Intellectual Property Department, explained the copyright protection framework for Hulun Solo's case following his death. YouTube video clips are classified as audiovisual works under Thailand's Copyright Act of 1994, incorporating elements such as tourism footage, shot selection and editing, timing control, music and sound effects, and captions—all recorded in digital storage and reproducible.

Hulun Solo is the creator and automatic copyright holder of these works, with rights to reproduce, adapt, distribute, license, and take legal action against infringement for 50 years from creation or first publication. Each video upload marks its own "first publication," triggering a separate 50-year protection period from that upload date.

Copyrights are inheritable property like houses, vehicles, or land. With a will, rights transfer to named beneficiaries; without one, they pass to legal heirs in order of succession: children, parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and spouses. The department recommends heirs submit documents to court requesting appointment as estate administrators, allowing them to manage the YouTube channel, collect revenue, and oversee the channel's ongoing operations.

Chinese fugitive wanted in Taiwan arrested in Surat ThaniLegacyA Chinese national wanted by Taiwanese police was arrested in Surat Thani on July 28 after highway police stopped an SUV carrying an undocumented foreign national. Highway Police officers arrested two Chinese nationals on Highway 41 in Tha Chang district after stopping a grey SUV that was travelling slowly in the right-hand lane and obstructing traffic. Police identified the driver as 48 year old Cho and the passenger as 34 year old Hae. According to police, Hae was unable to produce documents authorising him to remain in Thailand. Through an interpreter, he reportedly told officers he entered Thailand about two years ago before travelling to Cambodia for work. Photo via FM91 Hae allegedly re-entered Thailand through a natural border crossing four to five days before his arrest and was travelling to southern Thailand in preparation for seeking work in a third country. Police charged him with entering the Kingdom without permission. Investigators said Cho admitted he had been paid 18,000 baht by a person identified only as “Sia Ju” to transport Hae from a market in central Thailand to a southern border province. Officers alleged Cho knew Hae did not have valid immigration documents and had previously carried out a similar job. FM91 reported that Cho was charged with assisting a foreign national who had entered Thailand illegally to evade arrest. Both accused were handed over to investigators at Tha Chang Police Station for legal proceedings. Checks with Taiwanese authorities found that Hae was wanted under an arrest warrant in Taiwan in connection with a criminal case. Officers said that once legal proceedings in Thailand are complete, Hae will be subject to the appropriate international procedures for his return to Taiwan. Photo via FM91 Elsewhere, a Chinese man wanted for embezzlement was arrested in Phuket after being tracked to a restaurant by immigration officers for overstaying his visa in Thailand. The story Chinese fugitive wanted in Taiwan arrested in Surat Thani as seen on Thaiger News.

PHUKET: Phuket officials have launched a series of raids on condominium developments operating as unlicensed hotels, targeting daily room rentals in Mueang and Kathu districts following complaints from local residents.

CP All Laos Company, part of CP All Public Company Limited, is strengthening its Seven Eleven convenience store business in Laos with a strategy to connect services to all customer groups, supporting an 8% increase in foreign tourist arrivals during the first five months of 2025.

The Lao News Agency reported that over 2.1 million foreign tourists entered Laos from January to May 2025, representing 8% growth compared to the same period last year and reaching 47% of the annual target of 4.46 million visitors.

These figures reflect growing tourism opportunities as the Lao government intensifies efforts to upgrade tourism service standards and tourist protection. Seven Eleven's operations in Laos focus on providing convenient services to all customer groups, positioning itself as a community partner that promotes sustainable and ethical tourism practices, builds tourist confidence, and supports Laos's sustainable tourism industry development.

Most recently, Seven Eleven expanded into the Laos-China Railway Station at Vientiane Railway Station, the country's main terminal, in early July to support growing travel demand and provide seamless service connectivity. This followed the opening of the first Seven Eleven branch at Luang Prabang Railway Station the previous year.

Chairojn Tiwatthuman, Senior Assistant Managing Director and Managing Director of International Business at CP All, stated that since opening the first Seven Eleven branch in Laos in September 2023, business growth has been satisfactory and well-received. The brand has gained recognition for implementing the Charoen Pokphand Group's three values—benefit to nation, people, and organization—which has helped the company navigate external challenges with flexibility and maintain expansion plans on track.

"Although geopolitical conflicts in the Middle East and rising energy costs have impacted economies, Laos is becoming an attractive destination for regional tourists with purchasing power, particularly Thai travelers, due to convenient transportation connections by land, sea, and air. This aligns with the Lao government's economic development policies investing in infrastructure to transform the country from landlocked to land-linked status and to develop tourism. Seven Eleven will be another business supporting this initiative and benefiting from these positive factors."

Currently, Seven Eleven operates 33 branches throughout Laos in Vientiane Capital, Vientiane Province, Luang Prabang Province, Savannakhet Province, Khammouane Province, and Champasak Province, located in community areas, at fuel stations, and at the Laos-China railway stations.