A heartwarming story has emerged from Samut Songkhram province. Arun Kleuan Panthu, director of Samut Songkhram Technical College, organized a 2569 candle-offering project where departments brought candles to various temples and encouraged faculty and students to volunteer cleaning temple bathrooms before the ceremony.

On July 15, Ms. Ubonrat Gaeochchaichareongkit, a culinary and nutrition instructor, led students in cleaning bathrooms at Wat Inthaaram. She personally cleaned three bathrooms and offered prayers for good fortune as usual. The next day, when the government lottery drew on July 16, she discovered she had won the three-digit prize.

This morning, she brought flip-flops as an offering to Phra Metthi Watcharaprachathorn (Assoc. Prof. Dr. Luang Pho Daeng), the abbot of Wat Inthaaram, and volunteered to clean six additional bathrooms. She hopes the merit will help her win the first-prize six-digit jackpot this draw. Ms. Ubonrat explained that after the initial three-bathroom cleaning brought her the three-digit win, she realized the power of her actions. She even touched a turtle statue for luck and prayed to the 300-year-old Buddha image before the bathrooms. When she later found a broken shoe in the bathroom, she decided to offer new flip-flops to the temple.

She forgot she had bought a lottery ticket through the Pao Tang app until money suddenly appeared in her account the next day. Now, having cleaned three bathrooms successfully, she is doubling down by cleaning six more, hoping for a first-prize match. Ms. Ubonrat noted that while luck and coincidence play a role, the real value lies in performing good deeds with a pure heart and removing filth—both literal and spiritual. She encouraged the public to visit Wat Inthaaram during the long holidays to participate in merit-making activities.

Arun Kleuan Panthu, the college director, stated that the institution emphasizes promoting Buddhism among teachers, staff, and students through candle offerings and community service projects. This year, 19 candles were offered to various temples, with bathroom-cleaning activities designed to instill public consciousness, patience, and sacrifice for the common good. The symbolic connection between cleaning away filth and removing obstacles and negativity from one's life is central to the initiative.

Abbot Phra Metthi Watcharaprachathorn praised the volunteers, noting that cleaning temple bathrooms represents great merit-making. Bathrooms are centers of uncleanliness, and by scrubbing them clean, volunteers benefit users while also training their minds to purify greed, anger, and delusion—like planting seeds that yield their own fruit. Such good deeds become lasting blessings in one's life.

The Royal Thai Air Force on Monday marked the 15th anniversary of the service of its Gripen C/D fighter jets and Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft with a large-scale "Elephant Walk" formation at Wing 7 in Surat Thani, underscoring its combat readiness and ability to defend national sovereignty.

The ceremony was attended by Supreme Commander Gen. Ukrit Boontanon and Air Force Commander ACM Seksan Kantha. The event featured formation flights by Gripen C/D fighters and Saab 340 aircraft, a Gripen flight demonstration, and exhibitions highlighting the Air Force's operational capabilities.

The centrepiece was the "Elephant Walk" — a coordinated taxiway procession involving nine Gripen C/D fighters and five Saab 340 aircraft, for a total of 14 aircraft. The display, commonly staged by leading air forces on significant occasions, symbolizes operational readiness and unity among air assets.

Speaking at the event, ACM Seksan said the Gripen C/D fleet had played an important role in supporting joint operations during the recent Thailand-Cambodia border tensions, describing the aircraft's performance as proof of the Air Force's 15-year investment in network-centric warfare.

He said the Air Force has focused on integrating information across its units to enable forces to "know first, see first, understand first, decide first and act first," a concept that has guided its operations for more than a decade. According to the Air Force chief, the Gripen fighters and Saab 340 airborne early warning aircraft have been among the most critical platforms during periods of conflict, achieving an operational success rate of nearly 100% while using relatively few weapons to engage identified targets.

Seksan said the effectiveness of the force depends not only on advanced military hardware but also on the personnel operating it. He credited Air Force personnel for maintaining seamless information-sharing over the past 15 years, helping ensure the military remains ready to respond to any threat against the country's sovereignty.

On July 21, 2025, at Parliament, Yingcheep Atchananont, director of the iLaw (Internet for People's Law) project, submitted evidence regarding the Senate election rigging case to Priset Wachrasindhu, opposition coalition coordinator and Thai Raksa Chart Party leader. Atchananont stated that iLaw has been gathering evidence since 2024, and many senior government officials have become accused persons in the case. He warned that suspects are undergoing prosecution but risk leniency through Election Commission manipulation, prompting iLaw to bring the evidence to the opposition coalition for scrutiny.

The evidence concerns nine government officials and MPs, including: Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, who in 2023 served as Bhumjaithai deputy leader and allegedly received 14 witnesses at Parliament requesting his help securing Senate seats; Deputy PM Songsak Tongsri, linked to witness accounts of coordinated Senate voter management at hotels in Northeast Thailand; Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office Bhradar Parisnanantakul, described as designer of Bhumjaithai's candidate deployment scheme offering 10,000-40,000 baht per candidate; and MP Kraveewan Parisnanantakul of Ang Thong, coalition president spokesman, whose assistant allegedly transported Senate candidates to coordination meetings at hotels in Nakhon Nayok and Maryarden Garden Hotel.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said during an interview at Government House on July 21, 2025, that he has learned the selection committee of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) voted to remove NBTC chairman Dr. Sorn Bunyaibchayaprueksa from office on grounds of disqualifying characteristics under Section 8(2) of the Broadcasting and Telecommunications Organization Act of 2010. "I have not yet received detailed information, only that there is a resolution to remove Dr. Sorn while he is overseas," Anutin said. "I have not yet received official notification. Everything must follow the law—we cannot break it." Anutin added that regarding past resolutions dating back to 2022 and previously signed matters, the law must be applied and appeals remain everyone's right. He said he must follow proper legal procedures and asked to wait until official documents arrive, as they have not yet been received.

In an age when smartphone apps drive financial transactions, using legitimate loan apps to access emergency funds is convenient for workers. However, this ease of access has created an opening for scammers to disguise illegal lending apps as legitimate services. Learning how to vet trustworthy loan apps can protect your finances and safeguard your personal data long-term.

Threats from underground lenders and fraudulent apps are widespread. Misleading advertisements from illegal online lenders often cause unexpected damage to users. The main scams used by fake apps include:

Exorbitant interest rates and hidden fees: While legal financial institutions set fair interest rates, fake apps hide the truth by advertising low rates on signup pages but actually charge daily interest far exceeding legal limits. They also deduct processing fees upfront, so borrowers receive less cash but must repay the full amount plus predatory interest.

Unauthorized access to personal data and contacts: When downloading these apps, users are forced to grant access to sensitive data such as all contact names, gallery photos, and current location—information irrelevant to loan approval. This data is collected to be used for threats and harassment later if payments are late.

Abusive and threatening debt collection: Scammers use psychological pressure, sending vulgar threats, doctoring and sharing borrowers' photos on social media, and calling coworkers or family members from stolen contact lists to shame and coerce payment.

To avoid becoming a victim, workers can use five key criteria to self-assess whether a loan app is legitimate:

1. Clear standards for verifying income documents and financial history: Transparent providers carefully assess repayment ability. Be wary of apps advertising "approval for everyone without income documents" or "no financial history check." Legitimate apps always request pay stubs or income certificates.

2. No requests for unnecessary personal data access: When installing a loan app, carefully check permission settings. Trustworthy apps do not request access to contact lists, photo albums, or other irrelevant data, as these are not needed for loan approval.

3. Transparent disclosure of interest rates and fees: Financial experts recommend calculating annual interest rates before signing any contract.

The Office of Trade and Strategy Policy announced that the construction material price index for June 2025 reached 113.3, representing a 6.3% increase compared to June 2024, though the rate of growth has slowed. All material categories showed price increases driven by elevated energy and transportation costs. Wood and wood products rose 4.5% due to higher raw material and shipping costs tied to oil prices. Cement prices increased 1.3% from demand in government construction projects. Concrete products surged 10.6% as raw material and diesel transportation costs climbed. Steel and steel products rose 2.0% due to higher billet and scrap prices alongside elevated shipping and freight costs. Tiles increased 2.8% from higher natural gas and raw material costs. Coating materials rose 2.2% as paint and resin prices climbed. Sanitary ware went up 2.7% from increased energy consumption in production. Electrical and plumbing equipment jumped 12.3% following rising global copper prices driven by demand in infrastructure, clean energy, and advanced technology sectors. Other building materials climbed 11.2% from increased glass and aluminum prices, with rubber rising alongside global oil prices amid Middle East tensions. The office projects third-quarter 2025 will see continued expansion due to high oil and energy prices expected to persist despite regional ceasefire developments, as refineries and natural gas facilities in the Middle East require time for repairs and recovery.